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Thursday’s TPS Report: Pintuck Ponte Knit Sheath Dress

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Our daily TPS reports suggest one piece of work-appropriate attire in a range of prices. 8Loving this deep blue sheath dress by Maggy London. Love the pintucked shaping, love the sleeves, love the stretchy ponte knit. We'd pair it with lighter accessories now — say, a long strand of pearls and nude pumps– and switch to opaque black tights and, perhaps a charcoal gray boyfriend jacket or cardigan in the fall. Fabulous color! It's $98 at Nordstrom, available in sizes 2-16. Maggy London Pintuck Ponte Knit Sheath Dress Seen a great piece you'd like to recommend? Please e-mail editor@corporette.com with “TPS” in the subject line. (L-2)

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  • Spanx – Lots of workwear on sale, some up to 70% off
  • Talbots – 30% off entire purchase w/Talbots card

And some of our latest threadjacks here at Corporette (reader questions and commentary) — see more here!

Some of our latest threadjacks include:

121 Comments

    1. Yes, me too! Love the colour/cut and the fact that it’s a neckline that’s conservative but works with large chested people.

      Not sure how tall model is/where dress hemline would hit though….

    1. I think it could look very Joan from Mad Men on someone with wide hips – could be a good or bad look depending on your preferences.

    2. I tried on a similar dress that was featured here last year and was surprised at how good it looked on me. I am about 2 sizes bigger on the bottom than I am on top, but still have a mid-sized chest.

      1. Fair or not, I think this is the kind of dress that might have different levels of work-appropriateness depending on how curvy you are. (I mean “curvy” literally–even if you’re a size 0.) On this model it looks totally professional, but I’m afraid if I wore it to work I’d look like I was seeking the wrong kind of attention.

        1. I didn’t think it looked too sexy on me. I think with ponte knit you do have to size up, but it doesn’t have to look sexy or too tight. I think it depends more on how thick the knit is than anything else. I haven’t tried on this dress specifically to know, but with a thicker knit, it’s not too sexy.

          1. Good point about the thickness of fabric. Maybe I have more options than I realized! :)

    3. I am an hourglass shape and I look very Joan from Mad Men in ponte knit dresses in this style, especially with some good foundation garments. That’s fine (more than fine really) with me. It may not be the look everyone’s going for, though.

      1. If you look anything like Joan on Mad Men, more power to you! She is sooo gorgeous. That red dress she wore on the last episode was a knock out.

        1. Same anonymous from 10:33… I am just so happy that being curvy is ‘in’ again. I’m going to wear as many damn pencil skirts as I can find.

  3. Pretty color, but I have never been a fan of Maggy London dresses. Somehow the quality always seems to be pretty poor.

  4. I love this dress- but not for work. I think I am too hippy to wear something like this in a work setting, particularly in light of the fact that it is ponte knit. Also, did anyone else think that the rays in the back draw a little too much attention to the rear?

    Thread hijack:
    I am finishing up my summer clerkship tomorrow (!!!), and I have had no work to do since yesterday morning. Most of the attorneys are tied up in hearings today, and the others have no work for me to do. I have been trying to do law-related things (i.e. read law reviews, treatises, etc), but I am starting to run out of ideas. I still have to put everything down on my timeslips so that the managing partner knows how long I have been here, even if I am not billing anyone for it. I do not anticipate receiving any more assignments while I am here. I have stayed busy the entire summer, so I am not really sure what I should do. Should I keep doing what I am doing? Do I keep asking the attorneys who are here for an assignment?

    1. Do what you’re doing. Like you say, it’s unlikely you’ll get any more work before tomorrow. Is there cleanup work you can do or thank-you notes you can write for people who have helped you during the summer? Filing?

      Otherwise, see if anyone wants to go for lunch, and then leave a bit earlier than normal. :)

    2. I think what you’re already doing is great, but I always think it’s difficult to absorb material from just reading treatises without a purpose. So, I would also recommend using some of this downtime for YOUR benefit to make the most of your summer clerkship experience. Spend some time seriously thinking about your time there and recap what you’ve done during this clerkship so you have it as a reference later on when you’re updating resumes or preparing for future interviews and such – Make a list of the types of projects you’ve been able to do this summer, what you’ve learned from them, the skills you’ve developed etc… Also, take inventory of the people you would like to remain in touch with and develop a personal plan for making that happen.

      I also second L’s suggestion to ask someone to go to lunch or helping with other small tasks.

    3. I remember being in the same position, and then having to scramble to clean out my office on the last day. Can you start putting your files into boxes and cleaning out your desk?

      Another thing I did toward the end of my summer was print off a few writing samples, redact them, and ask partners if I could use them for my judicial clerkship application.

    4. Are there any lower level associates around? They are always getting asked by partners to write articles and rarely have time to get around to doing it. See if any of the associates has a pending article to write and maybe you can do some googling/westlaw stuff on the topic to give them a jumping off point.

      If not, do some googling on topics of interest to the various practice groups and maybe leave a “for your information” packet for each practice group head. You can leave a note that says “I finished my work just before my last day and spent some time reading legal news. I came across this and thought it would be of interest to you.”

  5. Thread hijack:

    I wanted to ask your opinion on linen suits in NYC? Are they appropriate for Court in dark colors, or not appropriate at all? I’m rarely in a suit for work, but I have an appearance in Supreme Court coming up at the end of the month, and I’m debating whether to buy a dark brown linen suit (pants and jacket on sale at Talbots.com) for the comfort factor.

    Please help! Thanks in advance.

    1. I have sworn off linen for all work occasions simply because it wrinkles so quickly. Beware, especially for court.

    3. I’d say no linen for court, and in general sparingly (because of wrinkle factor). Get a good quality thin tropical wool instead. I prefer unlined (pants at least) for comfort in summer but good wool should not feel itchy or overly hot.

      1. Do you have any tropical wool recommendations? Something that might come in a plus-size?

        I have a Talbots “seasonless” wool suit that I bought recently and that fits well (unlined pants, and lined skirt and jacket), but I wore the pants and jacket for an appearance at the beginning of July and I roasted. I’m considering the skirt and jacket combo for my upcoming appearance, but I’m not comfortable appearing in court without wearing panty hose, so I’m not sure if I’d gain any comfort from the heat.

        Oh course, maybe we’ll have an unexpected cold front move in by the end of the month, and then I won’t have to worry about this at all! :-)

        1. I know it’s not a suit, but I just bought the tropical wool bateau neck sheath dress from Ann Taylor (and wearing it today and loving it). I got the black but they also have it in a gorgeous gray. It’s the kind of dress that can stand alone or you can throw a great blazer on top.

        2. My favorite tropical wool fabric is Theory’s “tailor” wool/lycra blend, but I don’t think they go past size 12 unfortunately.

          I’ve also had luck with Ann Taylor’s tropical wool unlined pants, I just buy one size up so they can be loose on me.

          I’d do a skirt (also not too tight on the body) with no hose myself.

          Also make sure you’re not wearing the jacket when you’re outside and allow yourself some moments to cool off when indoors in the AC weather before putting on the jacket if possible.

        3. TAH — as someone with a lot of experience with NYC Supreme Court, you will probably be just fine in linen in a dark brown color (esp. if it’s a hot day). I have seen worse — no suit, included. That said, you may not be all that comforable if you feel that you’re being too wrinkled or too casual & that’s something else to consider.
          Also — take note — judges vary. I would ask around how formal the judge you are appearing before is — some care, others do not.

    4. I have a black linen suit which I NEVER wear – every time I consider it, I remember how awful it looks by the end of the day because of the wrinkles it accumulates. Never should have bought it in the first place. Particularly if you are rarely in a suit and, I assume, don’t have many, I would recommend getting something more versatile.

    5. Thanks for the responses. The wrinkle issue was my main concern, but I’ve never owned any linen, so I wasn’t sure how bad it would actually be.

      1. I am opposed to linen. Period. It looks great when you put it on but looks horrible within the hour. If you’re looking for a classic suit, how about something like this?

        http://www1.macys.com/catalog/product/index.ognc?ID=449510&CategoryID=40425

        The pants are unlined and seem to be a loose cut which will help with the heat. You could get good use out of this by buying the 3 pieces. I’d also recommend wearing a cotton top. Silk tops don’t breathe as well.

    6. I think linen’s too casual for court. It’s a casual, relaxed fabric. The wrinkle factor itself isn’t the problem because linen is supposed to wrinkle – the problem is that linen’s inherently informal.

    7. I just wanted to thank everyone again for all your responses. I’ve nixed the linen suit idea, because I really won’t be comfortable if I’m all wrinkled. I think I’ll just go with what I have, and try to make the best of it.

      Thanks again.

    8. I can’t give you advice for court in New York. That said, I can say that here in the South linen is a given for sensible dressing and most of us understand that 100% linen wrinkles. Wrinkles are not, then, such a big no-no so much as they signify quality. Best suit on a man I ever saw was an Irish linen summer tweed which, since he had driven an hour to court, looked like crumpled tinfoil in its texture. Several of us thought it was a beautiful suit, and only a couple of people who wear only polyester-type clothing because they cannot live with wrinkles made negative comments about it. So, just know your audience.

  6. Love this, but it looks too short on the model for me to be comfortable at work. I err on the long-side, generally. The site says it is 39″ from shoulder to hem. I’m a smidge over 5’9″ – would this work on me?

    1. I’m 5’10 and generally want my work dresses to be 37″ to hit an inch or so above the knee, so 39″ would hit bang on the knee.
      It looks so short probably because the model is tall, and I think someone mentioned it on this site a while back but some stores pin up their dresses oddly for photography.

    2. I would suggest getting a dress that fits you the way you like and measuring it. Everyone’s different — I’m 5’4″ and 39″ in length usually hits me at the knee, 37″ is a couple of inches above the knee. Knits also tend to stretch sideways, so that might make them look a little shorter than they are.

      1. Agree. I’m 5″4 and 39″ (hits at knee) is the shortest I’d go, perhaps 38″ . It’s the “sit down-ride up” factor that I’m most concerned with.

    3. I’m 5-8 and 39″ hits me just above the knee, 41″ hits just below. In my experience these types of dresses ride up like crazy when you sit, though, so definitely try on and sit before removing tags!

  7. I think suits and separate pieces are almost always better for work than dresses, with a few exceptions. Hate to use the word “classic” because maybe it does not have much meaning, but….when I look in my closet and see which dresses are really good for work, they tend to be classics, very pared down, not much trim, no belt, very symmetrical, good fabric, good color, nice backdrop for a scarf or for a necklace that’s a real winner. These dresses stay in style for a longer time-frame than others.

  8. So freakin’ cute. But I agree that the pintucks across the bum are a bit attention grabbing. Kind of looks like she got worked over by wolverine (yes, I know he only has 3 claws). Still love it though, and surprisingly it measures long enough for work (39″)!

    My mother’s wedding is on Saturday! I spent hours beading french flowers to put in our hair, and I really recommend it as a craft if you want to make your own accessories. It is time consuming but so worth it, and this was my first time and they look so professional, plus you can make them any colour, any size, any shape!
    http://kimberlychapman.com/crafts/bfbasic.html – this is the pattern I used for one of them, you can also find free e-book downloads with patterns.

  10. I think that there is a bit too much going on in this dress, and that the fabric looks casual.

  11. Thread hijack!

    Tomorrow is my last day at my summer internship in government. I’m going into my 2L year, so no job offers, etc, are relevant to me. Any advice on what to do or say on my last day? Final conversations to have with my supervising attorneys?

    1. Are you interested in returning next summer? You may want to slip that in if you are… but generally a thank you for the experience, and if you feel that it is an appropriate person to ask, a request to use them as a reference in the future (appropriate meaning, did you do a fair amount of work with them, did it go well, etc.)

    2. Also make sure to ask about writing samples, if you have something you want to use – you may need to cut part of it to maintain confidentiality, and if your supervisor isn’t the promptest at returning emails, it may be easier to get approval in person for the portion you want to use.

    3. I would recommend you just make sure to keep in touch with them after. Check up on things, email interesting articles, whatever. Just keep in contact. Also, get all the relevant contact info for referrences, etc.
      Ask for rec. letters if you need them.

  12. I’m not super-curvy, and I have a couple Maggy London ponte knit dresses that are totally work-appropriate. However, the tucks across the rear are too much for me. Too bad, because from the front this is really cute. And I like the hem! It’s different yet not weird.

  13. Threadjack!

    I had a second interview in City A yesterday. It went REALLY well. I am not super thrilled about the job itself – it is more of a stepping stone sort of thing that is neccesary for the career transition I’m attempting. This job would allow me to relocate to City A, where my overall career prospects are MUCH better, and it would allow me to learn some very neccesary skills and then put myself on the market again in a year or so. So….I really want this job, even though on paper it would be a step down in prestige (and salary…but I can budget like no one’s business)

    They asked for my references, which I hope is a good sign, and they said they will make a decision soon.

    So please cross your fingers for me! And if anyone has any advice on how I explain (if it comes up) that I would be THRILLED to take a paycut in order to take this job (going from corporate to non-profit) please let me know.

    1. I think most nonprofit employees understand why you’d be thrilled because many of us have made this transition ourselves and the rest decided never to work in the private sector in the first place :). It probably won’t come up.

    2. I was in non-profits for many years, before going corporate, and we interviewed and hired many people making the switch to non-profits from a corporate environment. I would be surprised if they asked you about the difference in salary, or rather, if it would be an issue for them. I think everyone understands the salary differentials and that there are many other benefits to non-profit work that can make up for that. If they would ask, I would simply acknowledge it and then talk about the other things that have you drawn you to the np sector. GOOD LUCK!

    3. I made the switch and the reason I gave – and still give to anyone who asks – is the absolute truth:

      I love knowing that I’m part of something bigger than just another business, that I work in an organization that makes the world a better place, and I believe in its mission.

  14. PSA: I just purchased 7 of these washable shells (one in each available color), at $5.59 each (with code 4RFOLKs) plus $7.5 total shipping. Not sure about quality but for that price I thought others might be interested.

    http://tinyurl.com/37s9pgz

    1. Wow, thank you so much for this. I live in these kinds of blouses (for about 10X the price elsewhere), so it’s definitely worth a try.

      1. I agree! I’ll report back as soon as I have them. They totally fit my bill of non-cap sleeves + high neck + washable. Let’s hope they look as good in person as in the pictures :)

      1. I haven’t gotten them yet so no idea unfortunately. I sized my normal size (corresponding to the same size I wear on Ann Taylor shirts for example)

  15. I love the idea of this dress, but I think I’d need to try it on. The seaming on the bust has the potential for weirdness, I think.

  16. Threadjack:
    I am working on overhauling my wardrobe and I want to incorporate belts. Specifically, I would like to wear belts over cardigans. But I don’t know what type of belt I should be looking at. I’m a pretty definite apple shape–I store all extra weight in my stomach. But I also have a 36 C (almost D) bust. I have noticed that my clothes look a little boxy because although my natural waist (right above where the stomach pooch starts) is defined, my tops fall straight from my bust to my tummy and that definition is lost. I thought maybe belting at the natural waist might help? But I don’t want to emphasize my stomache, and I don’t want to play up the bust too much at work. Should I be looking at skinny belts? Wide belts? Shiny belts? Matte belts? I am so clueless about where to even start. Thanks so much for your help corporettes!

    3. Belts over cardigans is one of my pet peeves – personally, I think it look good on very few people. I would say, beware that your cardigan is the right size for you, and you haven’t layered too much, before putting a belt on top of it. It can quickly get to a very “stuffed sausage” look, for all body types.

      If it is done right, it can look fantastic.

      I actually think it might be better to get tops that are more tailored to your silouette, if possible.

    4. I am a big fan of belts, though I don’t belt over cardigans often. Belting at your natural waist will really give you definition, and to avoid ’emphasising’ your stomach make sure whatever top, cardigan, etc you’re belting drapes away from you. Obviously don’t wear a tent, but if you have something that curves in under your belly, it can look like a stuffed sausage (to quote from N), if it drapes straight down it can have a minimising effect.
      I was always a wide-belt fan, but I love the new trend of the thin patent belts over cardis which accentuate without looking like you’ve strapped yourself into a corset. I’d avoid stretchy belts, I have them but they aren’t good for going over cardis.

    5. I always thought it looked nice when a longer cardigan was open and then belted. That way, you get to see the shell/shirt underneath and I feel like the vertical lines have a slimming effect (if you’re looking for that).

    6. The answers to Legally Blonde’s questions were helpful, but I would love a Corporette session on this topic. I have tried thick belts, but I’m short and they kill me when I sit down (and look silly). I really want to wear some over cardis, but can one wear a top, skirt, cardi AND a belt, or is that just too much? Should one limit the belt over cardi to being worn over a dress/cardi combo?

  17. Threadjack – anyone attend a NYC bar mitzvah recently? My (much much younger) cousin’s bar mitzvah is in late October, and I’m already stressing a bit about what to wear – I have a lot of very chic, fashionable relatives that I tend to only see at these types of events every couple years… It’s a Saturday night affair, and they’re renting out a night club/lounge for it.

    Cocktail dress? More dressy? Less? These are the same relatives who a decade ago held a birthday party for my grandmother in NYC with a dress code of “casual chic”

    1. Having been to a few, I would go cocktail length, but sparkly. As a girl born and bred in the NW, I was shocked at how fancy a party for a 13 year old was. But if it’s in a club in NYC on a Saturday night, I would go glam cocktail — maybe a knee length black sheath with embellishments, and high heels?

      1. Yes. Also — there will be a lot of 13 year old girls in short (some really short) dresses. You don’t want to dress like them (if you’re not 13 ;) ) — I think knee length or just above is your best bet.

      1. Ha, no! It just came online today, as far as I can tell. I have to go to Nordstrom to do a bunch of returns this weekend, so I’ll see if it is there and try it on. Unfortunately it wasn’t listed on the Nordstrom site as a dress that is good for pears, but I kind of vaccilate between an hourglass and pear so who knows.

  19. I like the Maggy London dress–its cut and style are great, assuming it looks on you like it looks on the model. However, there’s something about that particular shade of blue that to me says ‘not power’—in contrast, the more intense shade of blue of the dress the Legally Brunette posted says ‘power’ to me. So, my conclusion on the ML dress is ok for work for non-power meeting/court days. Same dress in a nice black or gray or, IMHO best of all, lipstick red, would be killer.

  20. Love Maggy London dresses! A few months ago, Corporette posted one like this but in purple with longer sleeves, and I loved that too!

    1. I got that dress also, and I agree. Definitely a fall dress, due to the fabric weight and texture.

  22. Threadjack:

    Disclaimer: If this is too off-topic for Corporette, please feel free to ignore and I will get the message :)

    Anyone with experience in therapy have some good guidelines for knowing whether or not your therapist is a good “fit” for you and that you are making progress, versus simply paying someone to listen to you rant/stress/etc?

    1. Excellent question! In the true psychological spirit, I’d ask myself some questions in return (sorry, couldn’t resist):
      1. Do I feel supported by my therapist, and can I talk about the parts of myself that scare me the most and still feel accepted afterward? This is huge — in many ways, a good therapist is reparenting you, and if you can be brave enough to open up about the tough stuff and still feel a connection afterward, that’s great training for being able to do so in “real” relationships.
      2. Do I feel challenged, at least 1/3 of the time, to consider things a different way or try something differently in my actual life as a result of the therapy? This goes to the making progress part.
      3. Does the therapist ever suggest that it would be good to stop ranting/stressing and look at how you want to address whatever the situation is? If not, would he/she do so if you asked? If they are willing to listen to you go around endlessly in circles without offering some insight, steering you in a new direction, or making some other kind of helpful intervention, I’d be looking elsewhere.
      4. Have you discussed this with the therapist? It has been my experience that whenever I’m having strong feelings about mine (irritation, wondering if we’re wasting time) and we discuss it, core issues come up and we make a great deal of progress.
      Hope this helps — and good luck to you!

      1. If you’re asking yourself this question, perhaps you already know the answer. I don’t advocate jumping therapists if the real reason is you are delving into issues that make you uncomfortable that you don’t want to face. That said, I really liked my first therapist as a person, but I ultimately realized that his style wasn’t a good fit for me – what I wanted, expected, needed, etc. He was too – “and how did that make you feel” – for me.

        I switched therapists who had a different style and felt much better about what we accomplished. I told him that I didn’t need kid gloves – I needed someone to hit me over the head with a hammer and just tell me “the answer” sometimes.

        Good luck!

    2. As someone who has been to hordes of therapists since childhood (some willingly, most not), my biggest advice is to not take advice. Go with your gut.
      Also, know what you’re looking for. It sounds like you’re really looking for someone to work with and progress, whereas I know a lot of people who prefer to use therapy as a dumping ground and figure things out on their own once they’ve vented. Different strokes for different folks.
      I figured out after forcibly being taken to therapy and then seeking it out on my own, that I don’t do therapy. This goes against every fibre of my psychotherapist mother’s being (she is also probably one of the reasons I don’t do therapy), but I really can’t do it. I have never found a therapist that I want to talk to, or that I come away from feeling better.

      Bottom line: trust yourself. If you don’t like a particular therapy style switch it (try to switch the style rather than therapist so you don’t need to re-do the beginning), if you plain don’t like therapy then don’t force yourself. But don’t give up after 2 or 3. I have seen every style of therapy out there (minus that re-birthing therapy… I’m skeptical about that) and that is how I know.

      P.S. To qualm suspicion that I am a nutter, I’ll clarify I was forced into therapy after my sister died when I was 12 and I wasn’t grieving in the way my psychotherapist mother believed I needed to.

  23. So I’m having trouble finding an appropriate dress for a particular special occasion (grr) and my s.o. offered to go shopping with me so we can find something together. Awesome, but no idea what to expect – do others shop frequently with their so’s and is this a fabulous idea or a recipe for disaster?

    1. My experience has been that even when my boyfriend offers to take me shopping aftre about 15 minutes he’ll get that “look” on his face and I will feel bad and rush through the store.

      2. My S.O. does this and it makes me nuts…so he just doesn’t get invited anymore. I’m better off shopping alone.

    2. I agree. My husband is so nice about coming along with me and he is usually patient, but he definitely zones out after a while. If you go with him, try to just select a few stores. Or, better yet, go by yourself and shop for as long as you need to, and then bring him with you a second time and then show him your top choices.

      I usually will shop by myself, buy a few dresses, and then show them to him at home. OR, we both will go to a department store and split up (he’ll go to the men’s section) and then we’ll reconvene and decide what looks best on the person.

      1. My S.O. hates shopping with a passion. His dream would be to have his clothes magically appear in his closet. As you can imagine, he hates shopping with me even more. The last time we went shopping together, he studied his CPA books at the food court while I shopped some magnificent sales.

        1. My s.o. also does not like to shop – I don’t think he’s been clothes shopping for himself in years – which is why I have no idea what to expect.

          1. I don’t buy clothes w/out my S.O.! He is masculine, really, but has the best eye for women’s clothes. If not for him, I’d still be wearing maroon on a daily basis (I have no idea why I’m drawn to maroon, it looks awful on me!) So, if you haven’t been shopping w/ your man before, give it a try. You might be pleasantly surprised!

    3. My husband is helpful because he usually has a better eye for what looks good than I do (I’m hopeless). But he is mall-phobic and wears out after a few hours.

    4. If you’re going for a specific item it may not be so bad. A shopping spree may be an entirely different experience.

    5. Completely agree with teacher turned 1L. I dress waaaaaaaay better now that my husband gives me advice and offers tips on what looks good on me. He knows my body so well by this point and has a really good eye for what color and styles suit me. My fashion has completely evolved since I’ve been married to him!

    6. I think men prefer a goal-oriented shopping trip rather than ambling around and just trying on stuff for fun. So, as long as there’s a goal in mind, it might work out great. Also, if he starts to look tired, send him off to a store he likes. Another useful thing is that almost all stores have “husband couches” :) So if he gets bored, he can sit down and read or something.

      1. And, agreed with the other posters – I love going shopping with my boyfriend, he gives great advice.

    7. Make sure there is a coffee place/bookstore etc where you can send him after 10 mins (or whatever his boredom threshold is). And if he’s like most men, don’t bother asking how you look in anything!

  24. I wanted to put a word in for these shoes.

    http://www.johnstonmurphy.com/product.aspx?c=715&pid=74462

    They are on sale for about $80, still available in many sizes and are a nice basic pump, and super comfortable. Kat posted about another pair of Johnston & Murphy shoes a little while ago, and these have the same awesome insoles as those. These are a little on the sporty side and are going to be my new go-to for fall, especially with slacks- that is when I don’t want to wear my Stuart Weitzmans.

  25. I’m new to this site and have been browsing around seeing that some folks call themselves hourglasses, pears, apples, etc. I think I am more of a pear but a friend recently told me that I’m an hourglass. I’m wondering if anyone can help. Here are my measurements:

    Shoulders – 34 inches
    Bust – 32B
    Waist – 27 inches
    Hip – 35 inches

    When I look in the mirror my eyes immediately go to my hips/saddlebags, which is why I thought that I was a pear. Any ideas?

    1. Maybe it’s weird to plug a different blog in this blog, especially one I’m not affiliated with in any way, but I’d suggest you check out youlookfab.com. She does a great job explaining different body types.

      1. I’ve actually seen that site, thanks Ru. The reason why I’m still not sure about my shape is that while I’m overall relatively proportioned, I have a really small bust and I always thought hourglasses were more busty.

        1. I think an hourglass by definition has to have relatively similar bust to hips ratio. So if your bust is 32 but hips 35, that would be “pear”, strictly speaking.

    2. I think you’re an “hourglass” but some might say “straight” depending on how dramatic one defines an hourglass (meaning, how much smaller the waist must be in comparison to the shoulder/hips).

      Some websites I’ve looked at say an hourglass shape has 8-9″ smaller waist than shoulder/hips but to me that is very dramatic and because it’s an absolute number, not very accurate for everyone.

      I would say you’re an hourglass given that your waist is less than 20% of your shoulders/hips measurement.

      1. I’m sorry but doesn’t an hourglass have to have the same proportion on top and bottom . . . like an actual hourglass?

        1. I never understand these shape things — something I saw recently talk about women as letters: X, T, Y . . . I find it all somewhat confusing.

          1. You don’t measure shoulders to hips. It’s bust to hips.
            Per wikipedia (what did we ever do without it) —
            “The hip and bust are almost of equal size with a narrow waist.[1] Body fat distribution tends to be around both the upper body and lower body. This body type enlarges the arms, chest, hips and rear before other parts, such as the waist and upper abdomen.”

            Also according to wikipedia, the “straight” is also sometimes termed a “banana.” Who knew.

          2. I think bust is misleading. That would mean that you could change your body shape simply by getting a boob job or adding super padding in your bras. To me, shoulders are much more accurate to what we visually see as someone’s shape.

      2. Not sure how she could be considered straight given that she has an 8 inch difference between her waist and her hips. Am I missing something? I think she is an hourglass as well but with pear tendencies if that makes sense (ie: bigger hips but overall proportioned like an hourglass). I agree that if she were a conventional hourglass her hips would be a bit smaller.

        At any rate Body Shape, I’m sure that you look great! :)

        1. The typical hourglass proportions are usually about a 9-10″ difference between waist and hips with a pear having a larger difference and someone who is straighter having a smaller difference (assuming she isn’t in petites- I’m not sure how it works there).

    3. I think there are more shapes than just the classic 4 (apple, pear, straight, and hourglass). Going with Trinny/Susannah’s shapes, I think you are more of a vase. A vase is kind of like an hourglass but with a wider waist in comparison to the shoulders/hips (think something between straight and hourglass).

      1. Can someone explain to me why knowing your body shape matters? Does it help with shopping? I’m not trying to be snarky but I’ve honestly never really given it much thought so I’m a little confused here.

        1. Nordstrom allows you to search for dresses by shape, which is really helpful if you’re ordering things online. I’ve seen other sites that also allow you to find items that are good for certain shapes, but it’s usually limited to apple, pear, straight, and hourglass.

          1. Yeah, but half the dresses (at least) end up being recommended to all shapes, anyway, so I wouldn’t go by that, personally. It’s sort of like their “wear to work” — half those items are WTHs for me. I think it also leads to a lot of missed opportunities, as in “I cant wear that . . . I’m a pear” when in reality how something is cut as opposed to if it’s, say, a pencil skirt, matters much more.
            I don’t think it hurts to know but the whole thing should be taken with a big grain of salt.

        2. It helps me pick out styles of clothing that fit. I know I’m an apple so I look for styles to create a waistline and elongage my rather slender legs.

      2. There are a ton of books out there that recommend clothing based on body type that I have found very, very helpful. Once I identified myself as a pear, it was easy for me to see that I looked really good in certain types of styles. I also like the Nordstrom recommendations as well by dress type, although they’re not perfect.

    4. A 32B probably means your actual bust measurement (all the way around your breasts) is around 34 inches, which is about the same as your hips. Obviously everyone’s chest measures differently. Your waist/hip ratio is .77. Generally a really dramatic hourglass figure will be about a .7 waist/hip ratio. So you’re somewhere between hourglass and rectangle/straight, I’d say.

      This blogger divides body shapes into 8 different categories. You might find her explanations more useful than the YouLookFab ones: http://www.insideoutstyleblog.com/search/label/Body%20Shapes%20Explained

    5. Sounds like a “pear” to me – but do check out Trinny & Susannah (What not to wear) – they explain multiple body shapes.

    6. Thank you all for the feedback, what a helpful bunch of women you are! I really don’t think that I’m straight because I have a very defined waist. I think I will use the guidelines for clothing for hourglasses and pears and see where that leads me. Thanks again.

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