Help needed to dress a triangle!

[alexw]

I am really stuck at the mo with what suits me. Am 5'3", a size 8/10. Have very broad shoulders and therefore very defined waist and slim hips. I am keen to get some dresses, but which style would be right?? Am totally clueless when it come to clothes. Thanks.

[JackieNo]

OK - I've just had a bit of a look and found this about dressing for wide shoulders (it's about swimsuits, but I think will also hold good for other clothes):

"If you have wide shoulders, your main goal is balance. Accomplish this by wearing bottoms that have lots of colors and prints. Go for bottoms that have sporty accents at the hips such as ties, belts, and sashes.

Wide shoulder straps and square necklines will also look fabulous on you."

So for dresses, look for something with a belt, and maybe some detail at the bottom half of the dress, with a plainer top half. Does that make sense at all? I'll see if I can find the sort of thing I mean...
(oh, by the way - do you have large norks, or not so large? Will make a difference too, I suspect).

[MrsBadger]

also full skirts

have you norks to match the shoulders or is it all structural with no padding?

[alexw]

Thanks both of you - small boobs. All due to too much swimming when younger!! Wish I was that toned now though.

[JackieNo]

(hurray - the cavalry has arrived! welcome home MrsB)

[JackieNo]

Mmm - maybe something like this? But looks like a special occasion one rather than an everyday one.

[JackieNo]

I wonder whether halter necks might turn the shoulders into an asset, rather than the problem you currently think of them as?

[JackieNo]

Something like this? Has the full skirt, and the belt, to balance out the top half.

Apparently raglan sleeves are good too.

[JackieNo]

This looks good too - also in blue and grey. Or this, maybe.

[MrsBadger]

aha, my little sis is the same (too much rowing)
well, Jackie is spot on with the 'wide shoudler straps and square necklines' thing - halternecks can make you look even musclier and spaghetti straps look too spindly against wide shoudler expanse. If upper arms still reasonably toned sleeveless things (ie not strappy) can work v well, but avoid like the plague cap sleeves and short puff sleeves that make shoulders even wider.

Depending on your style, Fat Face, White Stuff and similar surfy labels have very good full-ish skirts in funky patterns, esp some that have detail at the hem.

The other thing to do is make a virtue of your shoulders and small frame, wear things with slash necks and turn the rest of us green with envy.
Try some of the slightly 50s-type dresses in places like Monsoon and Laura Ahsley - this or this kind of shape.

It might even be worth trying this summer's sack-like dresses (eg on right here) as you are one of the few women whose arse won't look abominable in them.

[alexw]

Thank you both - some great ideas here. Will go for a try-on day and report back.

[fishie]

alexw i am similar shape but sadly not 8/10. anyway, despite my substantial bosom, slash and especially boat necks do look quite good, so you on they would be marvellous. i also find that am different size top and bottom so dresses just don't fit, they have to be big enough for shoulders and so swamp my bottom half. non-dainty shoes are excellent for balance if you are wearing something tight on bottom / loose on top.