Fun Stuff > CHATTER
Can we have another fashion/clothing thread? Pretty please?
Papersatan:
I have been facing a similar problem as I try to build a more professional wardrobe which looks nice on me and is comfortable. Here is my advice based on my last year of shopping.
First pick a neutral: black, navy, tan, cream, grey
Pick the one you think looks best on you, and perhaps which matches somethings you already own (shoes, belts, tops...)
Once you have a base neutral you can reject items which will not look nice with that color so that your separates are easier to mix and match.
Buy a skirt, a top, a cardigan or two and/or blazer in that color. You may want to get two skirts, in different styles/lengths, or even a dress if you can find one. These items make a good base to build the rest of your wardrobe from.
Once you have these things, adding pieces is easier, as long as you limit yourself to things that match. If you buy a patterned skirt, you will know you have a solid top that will go, you will know you have a cardigan to go with a sleeveless dress, a solid skirt to go with a patterned top... and the solid pieces are easy to re wear without people noticing,
Styles of items:
Skirts.
I always picture you in full skirts, do you wear tighter ones too? If so I would say one full skirt and one a-line or even a pencil skirt. If you are comfortable with the silhouette, a high-waisted pencil skirt usually looks good on an hour glass figure.
Cardigan/blazer:
I recommend making the cardigan the best quality you can afford. I find mine are the best way to tie an outfit together, to cover something sleeveless, to turn summer clothes to winter clothes etc, so you want it to look great and wear well. Make sure it fits well, but is not too large. You want to be able to wear it buttoned or unbuttoned, but if it is too big it will look frumpy and not professional. The same goes if you opt for a blazer. Something simple that fits well.
Tops:
Tops are the hardest I think. I know that you like to dress more modestly than I do, and I know even I have trouble finding tops that cover me well. My standard top right now is a lace topped camisole like this:
it has adjustable straps, so there is some control over cleavage, and I wear them with cardigans, and sometimes under a dress that is low cut. These can be pricey (in my size anyways) but if you keep an eye out on clearance racks you can probably find something similar at a good price. I also grab for nice looking tank tops this time of year, again to wear under a cardigan. You can get these in any color or pattern that will go with your base neutral.
As far as button down tops, it's hard to find ones which wont gape at the breasts. My solution to this is to sew them shut. If you try on a top you like and it gapes when you move (but stays shut if you are still), you can blind stitch the placket and just put it on over your head. (Do you or someone you know sew, this is an easy job).
Dresses:
That dress you linked is lovely. I would say it is actually suitable, with a cardigan over it, to look pulled together and adult, but not too fancy. That is definitely a style that would flatter your figure.
Let me know what you think. And I would be happy to adjust based on your feedback (and to start prowling online shopping sites for you!)
lepetitfromage:
You can't wear typical prom dresses every day, but a dress like that? You could make that work! That silhouette is so classic- and you can dress it up or down, depending on what you're doing. A nice pair of ballet flats and a cardigan would be adorable :-)
I had a nice, long response typed up and then my stupid browser crashed, but I'll try to replicate what I had as best I can.
To make your money go as far as you can, try to look for things that you can mix and match- neutral colors like black, brown, tan and even navy can go with basically anything. Even a nice, just-above-the-knee denim skirt could be cute and just hit that sweet spot between smart and formal.
I also like to find a few key pieces that are multicolored, so that if I'm feeling lazy about putting effort in, I can just grab that piece, pick a color in it and coordinate. I am NOT a morning person, so the easier it is to get dressed, the better.
Cardigans are a great way to make any outfit instantly look nicer. I can never button mine without fear that all the buttons will pop open, but I like to do a nice camisole with a cardigan over it, opened. Still professional because shoulders are covered, but no fear of buttons.
As far as other professional looking tops for us busty ladies- wrap tops are a good bet. If it's too low cut, a cami underneath makes it more appropriate. Clearance racks are awesome for tanks/camis :-)
Also- never underestimate the power of accessories. They are a fun and cheap way to instantly look more "put together". Scarves are the best :-)
*red text*
Darnit Kat, you beat me. :-P Posting anyway!
Lupercal:
May, do you have any morals about Primani? You may be able to get a decent wardrobe for that much money. Or H&M, Uniqlo, etc. They tend to cater for younger crowds but do have appropriate work-wear!
I guess you can't really go wrong with shirts. But I may eject myself from this conversation right now as I am in no way capable of telling you how to dress. But congratulations on starting a new degree!
Anybody else hate jeans shopping as much as I do? (I hate wasting an entire day finding no good jeans. Skinny and button fly? Fuck off!)
Lines:
May, I definitely agree with everything Kat said. She's pretty spot on the money. Personally, I am a huge fan of grey as a go to neutral (especially darker heathered greys) because it also goes with other neutrals easily and black because pretty much everyone and every body type looks good in black.
Dresses: I would try to find a dress or two that is solid and in a color you really like. I would try to find something that has a defined waist, because it highlights your figure and keeps you from looking frumpy, which is easy to do when you have a larger bust. I would also try to find something that borders casual and dressy, because depending on how you accessorize it, it can go either way. Something like one of these: shirt dress, belted dress, basic scoop neck dress, dress with waist detail. Throw a cardigan and flats on for casual, add some nice jewelry and fancier shoes for going out.
Skirts: I've only ever seen you in fuller and A-line skirts and I think the shape works for you. To draw attention away from your bust, you can get skirts that have more of an overall pattern or a solid (maybe one or two of each?) and I would stick with knee length (or slightly above or below) and stay away from mid-calf maxi length, because I feel like long skirts make shorter people look even shorter. So things like these I think would work really well: stripes, flowy with bow belt, polkadot circle skirt, bigger floral print, smaller floral print. Again, these can be dressed up or down depending on what kind of top, shoes, and accessories you wear with them.
Shirts: This is a little more difficult. I've never had good luck in finding buttoned shirts, but if you can find a pretty buttoned blouse that fits, especially a white one, invest in it. I also wear a lot of solid knit tops, basically nicer looking t-shirts and long sleeved shirts, and they suit me well. They're comfortable and you don't have to worry about fit too much because they stretch. I go with solids because then I can wear them with prints if I feel like. I would avoid striped shirts and shirts with larger print, because they draw a lot of attention to the bust. Since I know you're modest, I would stick with crew or boatneck cuts or anything that is adjustable, like the cami Kat pictured.
Also, you mentioned wanting to know about color and I think THIS could help you out a lot. Your complexion, from what I can remember, seems to be what this lady calls Cool & Delicate: Light Summer and she's got a whole color palette there that you can jump off from, including neutrals. I would definitely check this out!
Barmymoo:
Thank you so much to all of you. A couple of specific responses, but I'm taking on board everything that has been said, it's really helpful.
The dress I linked to is very prom-dressy, because it has underskirting and lace that makes the skirt stick out and have a very bell-like shape. It's just a bit too formal to wear every day, but it's the perfect shape so I'm on the lookout for more like it. The downside is that it cost £70, and I simply can't afford to buy clothes that cost that much per item.
I don't wear tight skirts, partly for modesty reasons but more for practicality - you can't cycle in the damn things! If I can't run, climb trees, squat on the floor to play with a toddler and cycle, then it doesn't work for me. I do need to stop wearing mid-calf skirts though, just touching the knee or slightly above is the right length for my height even if I have a hangup about showing my knees being immodest (I actually think it's worse to wear badly-fitting clothes and stand out that way than to wear well-fitting clothes and not get people staring trying to work out what's wrong, so I need to get over that).
I'm not comfortable with Primark's ethical record, but I'm not delusional, no company is perfect. My problem with shops like that is the lack of quality. I've spent the last ten years buying cheap clothes that wear out after six months and then wearing them for three years or more. I want to buy decent stuff now, because that is what adults do. It's just getting up the courage to pay all that money for clothes! Clothes are really not essential in my life.
I think my list is currently: good-quality navy blue cardigan, possibly another one in maroon or dark red or whatever that colour is called, navy blue skirt that falls to just around the knee, cream or white blouse, tank tops in the colours from the colour pallette Linds linked and if possible, a dress in a similar shape to that prom dress. Now I have to figure out where on earth to find those things without my bank account bursting into flames.
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