It is so hard to find pants and skirts to fit when you’re carrying an inner tube of fat around your lower abdomen, which happens to be my particular challenge and I’m sure you pigeons have your own. The waist fits and the butt fits and the thighs fit but the stomach doesn’t. Or if you’re pear-shaped, the hips fit and the waist is huge. Or if you’re slim, the waist and thighs fit great but the bum is sagging with tons of extra fabric.
Extra fabric is a very sad tailoring issue to have, as it just seems like such a waste to get your polished self all together and then have to trim away all that CLOTH. But the fact is, kids, you gotta get that stuff taken in. It’s a mess. Gentlemen and trouser-wearing people, the swags of excess fabric dragging around your shoes makes you look like someone is drowning you in gabardine. Take care of it!
As I like to joke, I have a perfectly fine shape but a LOT OF IT. I have so. much. shape. A full skirt on me that fits my waist and hip girth is going to involve a lot of fabric around my thighs and legs and unless the fabric and cut are just right, that look is going to add a whole lot of volume where I just do not need it. I love a full skirt but if I’m going to wear one, I need to balance the width with a high heel, and because my feet are ridiculously tiny, those shoes need to be sturdy enough that I don’t look like a meatball on sticks.
It’s all about proportion. When you’re 5’3″ and a size 20 with short limbs, a small head and tiny hands and feet, you gotta think about proportion a lot.
I was so happy, therefore, when I found this skirt by Lane Bryant. I have determined that as much as I love full skirts and find them breezy and comfortable, there is nothing so comfortable as feeling confident.
What works for me about this skirt is the stretch cotton blend, which is ALWAYS the friend of the girl with curves. I am not in love with the asymmetrical hem but it’ll do. What also works is that the skirt is snug around the waist and tush and legs so that you can see my shape rather than a big bunch of fabric.
I think this skirt is a bit on the expensive side, so I waited for a sale. I am LOVING the images of fat fashionistas on Instagram and Pinterest rocking full skirts and fitted tops but must sadly acknowledge that for the most part, it doesn’t work for me. So I take the inspiration from their looks and adapt for my own bod.
I’m PeaceBang on Instagram and Pinterest, if you want to follow.
Cheers, dears!
That’s a really nice look!
You look great! Can you tell us more about your shoes? I love your necklace. Can we just set aside a room at UU General Assembly and set up shop to talk about clergy image?
On the topic of Too Much Fabric. I’m 5’2″, pear shaped, on the smaller side. I ordered a few dresses from eShakti (love!). Two of them have full skirts – and I feel like I’m being swallowed up in all that fabric. Is there anything I can do about that? Can the fabric be taken in somehow?
[The shoes are ancient 3″ Mary Janes from Indigo, which used to be a sub-brand of Clark, I think. I rarely wear them. The necklace was a Christmas season purchase 100 years ago. Yes, by all means, let’s talk at GA! I can be had for the price of an iced latte.- PB]