I’m 5’ 3”, so still technically petite and have many of the same issues. My torso is pretty short while my legs are a bit longer than the average petite inseam.
In an effort to balance out my top and bottom, I usually try to wear fitted tops in darker colors on top OR bodysuits. I wear turtlenecks and high necked tops because I refuse to have the girls out all the time, but my most flattering neckline is a boat neckline. My jeans tend to be at least a Levi’s 501 style fit or a wider fit to balance out my bottom half. You could apply the same principle with a wide legged trouser as well.
Pic for illustrative purposes. Left is an everyday outfit and right is me in workout clothes.
https://preview.redd.it/1m8s02xmou8d1.jpeg?width=1936&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=f220b3dff1b3d742373fced541e269d023412110
I'm about 5'3" too! I love a boatneck as well. For some reason turtlenecks are labeled a no for wide shoulders but i think they flatter mine, despite my shorter neck. Guidelines are not guidelining! 🤣 Love your left outfit btw, it looks so classy and really flatters you. I'll try out something similar!! ♥️
Thank you!
It also helps that I’m a Deep/Dark Winter color season so having darker jewel tones and black close to my face works in my favor.
I think there’s a lot of style rules that don’t take into account the full picture of one’s body. I have the measurements of a top-heavy hourglass but I present as an inverted triangle in pictures. I also have a shorter neck, but all that means is that I choose mock necks or turtlenecks that aren’t made for high necked people.
First, grab a buddy (or not), go to a big department store or Ross/Burlington type place (stores with a broad variety of styles) and spend time figuring out a few complimentary silhouettes, colors and size ranges. Play in the juniors, mens, plus size, everything, the goal is to find out what looks good on your body, despite what modern fashion trends advise. Because I could only do this on weekends l, it took me about a month, I usually went to the outlet mall .
After you know your silhouettes and color palettes, you'll be able to shop anywhere without confusion. The next molehill is accessories.
I know I've suggested it a lot but vintage reproduction really is the most flattering style for curvy girls. A lot of "historical" styles were designed for an hourglass figure. And because fashion is cyclical, a lot of the silhouettes are coming back in style again. Check out Unique Vintage first. They have tons of options with models of all shapes and sizes so you can figure things out a bit easier and they have sales all the time. After that I'd check out Vixen and the sister brand, La Femme en Noir. They're a little pricier but really high quality, they have a lot of options for more formal and business type clothes, and the owner has an hourglass figure so a lot of the styles are designed to flatter that body type. I have several pieces from them and they're some of my favorites!
It kind of depends on which brand because they carry a lot of them in stock but so far everything I've bought there have been extremely comfortable. Even in the dead of SoCal summer I don't have any issues. And I have a heart condition that makes me more sensitive to heat so comfy clothes in summer is a must!
I think they have some stuff that would work. I think the stuff styled after the 20s and 70s would work best because those styles tend to be looser with more airflow and more lightweight fabrics. The stuff from the 60s could also work but i think the stuff from the 50s requires too many layers to look right and tends to be a bit more snug which can get a little hinky in the humidity.
Okay, so I’ve been lucky enough to never really struggled when it comes to aesthetic vision but I have struggled with what shapes to put on my body to reach that goal. I’m also a wide, short girlie with no love for oversized clothes. I’m sure we have different aesthetics but here’s what I’ve learned in terms of shape:
+ Pick clothing that mimics the shape of your body. For tops, I like pieces that fit my shoulder (seam of the shirt right on top of shoulder joint) and then taper in towards my waist. A soft button up blouse that can be tied or tucked works for this purpose too. Alternately, a top that fits closely and then flares out at my waist. I need a good amount of chest to show to not look like I have a uniboob lol. Tight tops just aren’t the best for definition. You want make a contrast from broad shoulder to smaller waist. For bottoms, I like stiffer materials that hold their shape well - or thinner materials with a shape built in (for me, that shape is bell, tulip, or circle). Either way, they fit right at my high waist, slightly flare out over my hips, and then taper back in. For dresses, I combine these principles into one piece of clothing. These shapes together mean that I always look like I’m rocking a trim, snatched hourglass. If I put on flowy clothes without definition, I’d look as wide as my bust and my hips all over.
+ Materials matter! Some materials just naturally look better or worse on certain people. They also perform differently. Figuring out if you need slinky, silky, satiny, stretchy, matte, nubby, ribbed, etc will go a long way.
+ Show your bones. This one sounds weird, I know! But as a shortie, I’ve figured out that I look best if at least two out of the three are visible in an outfit: ankles, wrists, collar bones. Otherwise, I look drowned in fabric and my petiteness is lost.
I hope that these are good starting points!
Thank you SO much oh my gosh.
I know what i like when it comes to buying clothes before i put them on.. its just when i put them on my dreams are crushed because what i like doesn't flatter me.. and I can tell when something looks objectively bad on me, but identifying what works and what looks good is the harder battle, and sometimes it seems all of my clothes that i liked in the beginning have devolved into something that no longer flatters me, however that works 😭 stupid brain i think LOL
Thank you again for advice and tips🥹
I totally get that - it took me a lot of trial and error to get to the point of being able to look at clothes on the hanger and accurately guess how they’ll fit. It sounds like we have similar body proportions, so here are some of my favorite outfits that follow the tips in my comment:
https://preview.redd.it/kej7qld16x8d1.jpeg?width=2048&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=b3fc8adf295d01c4591054f46a245975746e238b
you’re an angel, wow. thank you again. i love your outfits, especially the jumpsuit, tied shirts, and skirt outfits! i’ll definitely be taking inspiration from you ❤️🔥
I have largely accepted that there aren't real options for me unless I were surgically altered. Sure I can find stuff to just not be naked, stuff to not be too hot or cold, and stuff that doesn't fall apart. But I don't have a shape that can be styled to actually look sexy or feminine. I end up just always looking like I'm trying and not quite getting it. Life as a flat chested lumpy pear just isn't great. And sure I can lose weight, but when I do the result is just a flat chested less lumpy pear.
yes exactly T\_T never effortless, always like trying and not quite getting it, looking like im playing dressup when i try to dress feminine or sexy :((( and same... losing weight wont get rid of my linebacker shoulders, and i fear that even worse, my hips will disappear and ill be build like an upside-down dorito chip ... life is hard....
I could be wrong, but if you have a decent bust you probably do have something to work with. Of course accenting the bust is not for everyone so even that is an option it may not be feel like one.
You have to shop alot (not always with the goal to buy), and try on every piece of garment in the store. Aka you need to do alot of research. And also spend time looking at your body NOT to judge, but to understand composition and angles, etc.
I have broad shoulders too. Learning about Kibbe lines helped me pick out the right shapes. If you have broad shoulders you’re prbly a “natural type”.
If you have a long/tall shape and clothes that “hang” look good you’re prbly Flamboyant Natural (I am). You’re saying that doesn’t look great — the alternative is “soft natural” which needs waist definition to look best. This might be you! You can google it a bit and check out some different cuts for soft natural and why they work.
In Kibbe it sounds like you're a soft natural. A brand you can look to for reference would be Free People, it's ubiquitous. Natural is associated with bohemian style (like Free People), but you can actually wear any style and incorporate the same concepts.
* **Waist definition:** Incorporate some light waist definition. You can do this through fit and flare dresses, button downs tied at the waist, coats that have attached belts, tucking in tops, crop tops, wrap dresses/tops/skirts, color blocking, or rouching
* **Soft lines:** Opt for less constructed garments that harmonize with the roundness of your body.
* **Proportion:** Sometimes it's not about the item being as tight as possible to show the smallest waist but adding more fabric above or below the waist to make the waist look smaller by comparison. Flared pants, A-line dresses, can help add volume on the lower half to make your midsection look smaller. Wide neck styles like boat necks, off the shoulder, scoop necks, and wide Vs can help your upper half wider and your midsection narrower.
Hopefully this helps!
I’m 5’ 3”, so still technically petite and have many of the same issues. My torso is pretty short while my legs are a bit longer than the average petite inseam. In an effort to balance out my top and bottom, I usually try to wear fitted tops in darker colors on top OR bodysuits. I wear turtlenecks and high necked tops because I refuse to have the girls out all the time, but my most flattering neckline is a boat neckline. My jeans tend to be at least a Levi’s 501 style fit or a wider fit to balance out my bottom half. You could apply the same principle with a wide legged trouser as well. Pic for illustrative purposes. Left is an everyday outfit and right is me in workout clothes. https://preview.redd.it/1m8s02xmou8d1.jpeg?width=1936&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=f220b3dff1b3d742373fced541e269d023412110
I'm about 5'3" too! I love a boatneck as well. For some reason turtlenecks are labeled a no for wide shoulders but i think they flatter mine, despite my shorter neck. Guidelines are not guidelining! 🤣 Love your left outfit btw, it looks so classy and really flatters you. I'll try out something similar!! ♥️
Thank you! It also helps that I’m a Deep/Dark Winter color season so having darker jewel tones and black close to my face works in my favor. I think there’s a lot of style rules that don’t take into account the full picture of one’s body. I have the measurements of a top-heavy hourglass but I present as an inverted triangle in pictures. I also have a shorter neck, but all that means is that I choose mock necks or turtlenecks that aren’t made for high necked people.
First, grab a buddy (or not), go to a big department store or Ross/Burlington type place (stores with a broad variety of styles) and spend time figuring out a few complimentary silhouettes, colors and size ranges. Play in the juniors, mens, plus size, everything, the goal is to find out what looks good on your body, despite what modern fashion trends advise. Because I could only do this on weekends l, it took me about a month, I usually went to the outlet mall . After you know your silhouettes and color palettes, you'll be able to shop anywhere without confusion. The next molehill is accessories.
I know I've suggested it a lot but vintage reproduction really is the most flattering style for curvy girls. A lot of "historical" styles were designed for an hourglass figure. And because fashion is cyclical, a lot of the silhouettes are coming back in style again. Check out Unique Vintage first. They have tons of options with models of all shapes and sizes so you can figure things out a bit easier and they have sales all the time. After that I'd check out Vixen and the sister brand, La Femme en Noir. They're a little pricier but really high quality, they have a lot of options for more formal and business type clothes, and the owner has an hourglass figure so a lot of the styles are designed to flatter that body type. I have several pieces from them and they're some of my favorites!
Thank you so much!! I'm definitely going to check them out.
I love Unique Vintage, but am not quite the body for it. I do wonder how wearable their stuff is given the lack of breathable fabrics.
It kind of depends on which brand because they carry a lot of them in stock but so far everything I've bought there have been extremely comfortable. Even in the dead of SoCal summer I don't have any issues. And I have a heart condition that makes me more sensitive to heat so comfy clothes in summer is a must!
Curious how their stuff would do in a more humid climate.
I think they have some stuff that would work. I think the stuff styled after the 20s and 70s would work best because those styles tend to be looser with more airflow and more lightweight fabrics. The stuff from the 60s could also work but i think the stuff from the 50s requires too many layers to look right and tends to be a bit more snug which can get a little hinky in the humidity.
Okay, so I’ve been lucky enough to never really struggled when it comes to aesthetic vision but I have struggled with what shapes to put on my body to reach that goal. I’m also a wide, short girlie with no love for oversized clothes. I’m sure we have different aesthetics but here’s what I’ve learned in terms of shape: + Pick clothing that mimics the shape of your body. For tops, I like pieces that fit my shoulder (seam of the shirt right on top of shoulder joint) and then taper in towards my waist. A soft button up blouse that can be tied or tucked works for this purpose too. Alternately, a top that fits closely and then flares out at my waist. I need a good amount of chest to show to not look like I have a uniboob lol. Tight tops just aren’t the best for definition. You want make a contrast from broad shoulder to smaller waist. For bottoms, I like stiffer materials that hold their shape well - or thinner materials with a shape built in (for me, that shape is bell, tulip, or circle). Either way, they fit right at my high waist, slightly flare out over my hips, and then taper back in. For dresses, I combine these principles into one piece of clothing. These shapes together mean that I always look like I’m rocking a trim, snatched hourglass. If I put on flowy clothes without definition, I’d look as wide as my bust and my hips all over. + Materials matter! Some materials just naturally look better or worse on certain people. They also perform differently. Figuring out if you need slinky, silky, satiny, stretchy, matte, nubby, ribbed, etc will go a long way. + Show your bones. This one sounds weird, I know! But as a shortie, I’ve figured out that I look best if at least two out of the three are visible in an outfit: ankles, wrists, collar bones. Otherwise, I look drowned in fabric and my petiteness is lost. I hope that these are good starting points!
Wow, this is excellent advice! All seemingly obvious stuff that I'd never heard before.
Thank you SO much oh my gosh. I know what i like when it comes to buying clothes before i put them on.. its just when i put them on my dreams are crushed because what i like doesn't flatter me.. and I can tell when something looks objectively bad on me, but identifying what works and what looks good is the harder battle, and sometimes it seems all of my clothes that i liked in the beginning have devolved into something that no longer flatters me, however that works 😭 stupid brain i think LOL Thank you again for advice and tips🥹
I totally get that - it took me a lot of trial and error to get to the point of being able to look at clothes on the hanger and accurately guess how they’ll fit. It sounds like we have similar body proportions, so here are some of my favorite outfits that follow the tips in my comment: https://preview.redd.it/kej7qld16x8d1.jpeg?width=2048&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=b3fc8adf295d01c4591054f46a245975746e238b
you’re an angel, wow. thank you again. i love your outfits, especially the jumpsuit, tied shirts, and skirt outfits! i’ll definitely be taking inspiration from you ❤️🔥
I have largely accepted that there aren't real options for me unless I were surgically altered. Sure I can find stuff to just not be naked, stuff to not be too hot or cold, and stuff that doesn't fall apart. But I don't have a shape that can be styled to actually look sexy or feminine. I end up just always looking like I'm trying and not quite getting it. Life as a flat chested lumpy pear just isn't great. And sure I can lose weight, but when I do the result is just a flat chested less lumpy pear.
yes exactly T\_T never effortless, always like trying and not quite getting it, looking like im playing dressup when i try to dress feminine or sexy :((( and same... losing weight wont get rid of my linebacker shoulders, and i fear that even worse, my hips will disappear and ill be build like an upside-down dorito chip ... life is hard....
I could be wrong, but if you have a decent bust you probably do have something to work with. Of course accenting the bust is not for everyone so even that is an option it may not be feel like one.
You have to shop alot (not always with the goal to buy), and try on every piece of garment in the store. Aka you need to do alot of research. And also spend time looking at your body NOT to judge, but to understand composition and angles, etc.
Great advice. Im trying hard to look at my body objectively these days, but ya know how it is, body dysmorphia and all that jazz~
Totally totally understand and get how that can be a barrier . Sending you the most positive vibes and healing 💝
I have broad shoulders too. Learning about Kibbe lines helped me pick out the right shapes. If you have broad shoulders you’re prbly a “natural type”. If you have a long/tall shape and clothes that “hang” look good you’re prbly Flamboyant Natural (I am). You’re saying that doesn’t look great — the alternative is “soft natural” which needs waist definition to look best. This might be you! You can google it a bit and check out some different cuts for soft natural and why they work.
In Kibbe it sounds like you're a soft natural. A brand you can look to for reference would be Free People, it's ubiquitous. Natural is associated with bohemian style (like Free People), but you can actually wear any style and incorporate the same concepts. * **Waist definition:** Incorporate some light waist definition. You can do this through fit and flare dresses, button downs tied at the waist, coats that have attached belts, tucking in tops, crop tops, wrap dresses/tops/skirts, color blocking, or rouching * **Soft lines:** Opt for less constructed garments that harmonize with the roundness of your body. * **Proportion:** Sometimes it's not about the item being as tight as possible to show the smallest waist but adding more fabric above or below the waist to make the waist look smaller by comparison. Flared pants, A-line dresses, can help add volume on the lower half to make your midsection look smaller. Wide neck styles like boat necks, off the shoulder, scoop necks, and wide Vs can help your upper half wider and your midsection narrower. Hopefully this helps!