It's so weird that there are so few fashion icons with totally awkward body shapes

February 11, 2012 11:23 AM

Style icons for the in-between sized woman?

I will just come out and say that I have no idea how to dress my body. After a lot of research, I've come to the conclusion that I would have an easier time if I were 20 pounds lighter or 40 pounds heavier. I'm not thin enough for magazine styling to work, and I'm not fat enough -- or maybe more to the point, not zaftig/curvy enough -- to go that route. More or less, I am tall with long legs and arms, not a ton of waist definition, average sized bust and hips that are pretty much the same size. shoulders and just on a larger scale in general than most women. I'm definitely not skinny; I'm about a size 12, but I'm also
I'm also big-boned in the non-Eric Cartman sense -- broad shoulders, big hands and feet, and just generally on a larger scale than most women. So I'm stuck with my awkwardly sized, not super curvy, not athletic-type body, and I just don't know what to do with it.

So how do I dress? Can you think of anyone whose style I could emulate? Or any stores that might work well? Thanks!

posted by LittleMissCranky to clothing, beauty, & fashion (12 answers total)

I like the blog Bright Side Dweller. I don't know what size she is, she's not "fashion blogger skinny" though. She looks tall to me. I don't know what your style is, but maybe looking through her blog would help you figure out what kind of looks you like and looks you don't like.

Then, when you go out to try things on, keep in mind that fit is SO IMPORTANT. It really sucks to try on 15 things and then have only one of them fit right, but you'll look more put together if everything fits well, even if you just throw your clothes on in the morning without much thought. If it's hard to find things that fit right, you can buy clothing that fits almost-perfectly then get it tailored.
posted by insectosaurus at 11:38 AM on February 11 [9 favorites]

Tilda Swinton?
posted by kagredon at 11:40 AM on February 11

Hey! I'm right about where you are, body wise (12, average-ish height at 5"7, large frame) and I love clothes to death. The usual rules apply, of course- find jeans that flatter you (at my size/age, I usually go for a looser skinny with a medium rise waist- dark as you can find), a little black dress that works (you'll want something that nips in at the waist and flares at the hip), a good belted trench with some shoulder detailing and a nice shape.

My style secret for my body type is boots: I have wide hips and shoulders, so throwing some weight in at the bottom really gives a good sense of proportion. Get something with a chunky heel and a wide calf opening (like these Frye boots, if you're not 100% super-feminine). A nice flared trouser pant or boot cut jean with a chunky heel also accomplishes pretty much the same thing.

Avoid jersey knits up top; unless you have a really clearly defined waist and absolutely no belly, they cling in all the wrong places. I find at my size I can get away with a wrap top that might not look as flattering on a slightly larger person. I also do a lot of menswear- a tailored oxford/button-down paired with a cardigan or sweater can be really flattering and create a lot of shape, as long as they're fitted properly. A-line skirts are your friend.

Anthropologie has really great structured tops (like this one) that I find do really well to create the illusion of a smaller waist and give a little bit of coverage to my hip area/waistband.

Generally, I think that structure and draping are the most important things to keep in mind at this size. Wearing tailored pieces made of sturdy fabric that nip in at the waist and/or flatter your legs and hips are absolutely key. Layer, or pair them with something that's drapey and hangs away from the body (I live in open cardigans like this one). Up top, look for ruching around the waist, a belt to give the illusion of a more defined waist, and eye-catching details at the neck.

Also, do not fear vintage. 1950's shapes and styles are much better for a size 12 than 1970's (willowy) shapes and now's (super extra ridiculously thin, especially on the runway) shapes. Stop Staring is a great place to start.

Ha, can you tell I think about this a lot? Really, the best way to learn is to go to a huge store and try a million things on in your size you never would have tried on before, but I hope these ideas help guide you in your shopping. Good luck!
posted by libertypie at 11:49 AM on February 11 [7 favorites]

J Brand jeans have a very useful fit guide.
posted by Ideefixe at 12:13 PM on February 11

There's an excellent image consultant (the term skeeves me out, but she herself is great, very low-key and encouraging) from Australia named Imogen Lamport. Her blog, Inside Out Style, has a whole series on body shapes and what to wear with what. I think you might be what she calls a V shape (or inverted triangle -- with more tips on what to wear). Iif the description doesn't ring true for you, browse her other posts explaining the body shapes and see what works. (Here's one of her posts on what to look for when you're figuring out your body shape.)

Also, Already Pretty ("Helping you recognize your own beauty, one post at a time") is a good place to ask questions, voice frustrations (and joys), find out what other people are doing, get links to beauty/style/feminism/body image posts from other blogs, and generally get an emotional and logistical boost. (One good thing about both Sally McGraw, the Minneapolis woman who hosts Already Pretty, and Imogen Lamport is that they both use lots and lots of photos to illustrate their points.)

I second insectosaurus' point about getting your clothes tailored (or learning how to do it yourself, which I, a total loss at the sewing machine, have never learned to do, unfortunately). As Sally says in a post about tailoring and alterations, "Clothes should fit you, you needn't fit them."

Amen.
posted by virago at 12:27 PM on February 11 [2 favorites]

Bree Warren (5'11")
Beyonce (5'7")
posted by thinkpiece at 12:37 PM on February 11

Gabrielle Reece, 6'3" and 170ish. I guess she's mostly in a swimsuit, but there must be pictures of her in a range of clothes.
posted by cocoagirl at 1:49 PM on February 11

Oh hi person who could be me! I am tall and long waisted with broad shoulders and cyclist legs, so most women's clothes look ridiculous on me. I have a closet full of clothes that don't fit well, so maybe I try them on occasionally, and back in the closet they go. My current go-to jeans are Old Navy. Men's button down shirts are fantastic. You can layer them with a sweater or a V-neck tee shirt.

Stay far, far away from the skinny jeans. You'll just feel awful for not being able to fit into a 10 or 12 or whatever is on the rack. Flared legs or boot cuts are awesome, and will accommodate those heeled boots you're going to be wearing out in short order. Ditto for capris and those ridiculous itsy bitsy tops in the junior (aka the 15-year-olds) department. None of that three-quarter sleeve nonsense.

Also, buy clothes that have some nice detailing, a bit of color, and accessories that will work with a variety of outfits. One of my best purchases in recent years is a Kenneth Cole Reaction mid-thigh trenchcoat with a zip-out liner that has bright pink accents. That pink is on the inside of the coat, so 97% people are not going to see that, but I feel like a bazillion dollars when I'm wearing it.
posted by computech_apolloniajames at 1:50 PM on February 11 [1 favorite]

I covet Emily McCombs' wardrobe. Like her, I'm in the tallish size-12 zone, although I'm not quite as cool and confident as she is (but I'm trying!).
posted by elizeh at 2:45 PM on February 11

I meant that capris and juniors' tops are to be avoided at all costs. Blurgh.
posted by computech_apolloniajames at 3:19 PM on February 11

Hello body type twin! I often look to 1950s stars for fashion inspiration. Lucille Ball was about our dimensions in her youth, as was the singer Dagmar and some great B-movie actors like Barbara Steele.

Anjelica Huston is a role model for me, too.
posted by Sidhedevil at 3:43 PM on February 11

Liv Tyler comes to mind with your description of yourself, although I have a hard time picturing her in regular clothes so I'm not sure what her style is like. I've seen Lord of the Rings too many times, apparently.
posted by something something at 4:55 PM on February 11