8 April 2009, originally uploaded by academichic.Sources:
- Navy Pencil Skirt – J Crew
- Teal Sweater – BR
- Maroon Cardigan (below) – BR
- Wedges – Gap Outlet
- Necklace – Limited
- Textured Tights – Gap
Endnotes:
I’m back at Academichic central and ready to begin our Fashion 101 on Proportions. I spent the very long plane ride thinking about what kind of body type I am. It’s not something I have thought a lot about before – I’ve just always known that my hips and thighs were the biggest part of me and the first place I always gain weight (unfortunately fat or muscle).
I suppose I am somewhere between a pear or an hourglass but I like S’s discussions of “muffinage” so much that I have decided I am an upside down muffin!
Before this 101 I was well aware of my body shape but only had a few strategies for dealing with it that I could articulate off the top of my head. So, instead of starting with those this week, I decide to pull something out of my closet that I knew I felt good in and then try to figure out why.
The Pencil Skirt: I have come to love pencil skirts but quickly learned that not all pencil skirts are created equally. The line of this skirt is straight up and down, it doesn’t tapper in towards the bottom as many do, and the waist line is not overly high. Some pencil skirts are cut to intentionally create hips – no help needed here, thank you! This skirt instead gives me long straight legs (the length is genetic but the straight line is all illusion). The fabric here is also essential I think, but I’ll save that for a later post.
The Waist, originally uploaded by academichic.The Fitted Sweater: I’ll have more to say bout my top half next week when we talk about the proportions of our bodies we like. But, in terms of minimizing the hip/thigh area, this sweater has a nice thick band at the bottom that cuts right through the widest part of me. Note this is not a blousey look that comes in with a tighter band at the bottom, but rather it fits close to the body all the way down allowing my waist to show.
The Long Cardigan: when long cardigans became trendy I had my doubts (and still do really) but have come to embrace them. This is a tricky look for my proportions as some long cardigans can fit much like a shift dress which is the single worst possible clothing item for my body. In some cases this can be fixed with a wide belt and I do often wear my cardigans with a belt, however, this too is tricky because when a bulky long cardigan is belted it can over do the whole hourglass thing and really call attention to the drastic size difference between waist and hips. I think this cardigan can be worn open over this longer straight skirt partially because of the thick trim down the front, which are just more long straight lines that people might mistake as my body line.
8 April 2009 – With Cardi, originally uploaded by academichic.
You ladies really got me thinking this week. I blogged a bit about my feelings on proportion this morning and can already think of so many other things I can start doing to help hide the things I hate, and accent the things I love. Thanks again!
What a great approach to proportions: Starting with an outfit you love and analyzing it. And I agree about pencil skirts – you’ve GOT to get just the right cut or they can wreak havoc on your figure!
Hi, my sister just tuned me into this lovely blog last week and I am already hooked! You all have such cute clothes and creative minds. I’m starting grad school this summer so your quest for fashionable academic wear is certainly pertinent to my life.
I can especially identify with this post since I am a pear shape. I used to be skeptical of pencil skirts and long cardigans too, but done right they can be quite flattering!
My hips are the widest part of my body, and I think J Crew makes amazing pencil skirts for our body type.
I think I have a smiliar shape – I have heard it referred to as an x-shape.
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