viv

programmer & tinkerer with adhd

generalist software engineer at microsoft and author of https://twitter.com/dkpunchbot. check out @hell-labs for some other cool stuff

other places: @viv@snoot.tube, https://github.com/vivlim, https://twitter.com/vivviridian


shel
@shel

Women's fashion is a complicated and confusing world and I can hardly call myself a expert. But it's been ten years or so of trying my best and I feel like I've figured out two good fashion tips that are generally applicable to most people interested in wearing clothing from the women's aisle and which apply pretty broadly across different aesthetics.

Tuck your tops in (Try it!)

If you grew up in the 90s/00s it's very likely that you perceived tucked in tops as being very dorky and unstylish. Among kids, this is especially the case; especially young boys. However, as an adult, I've learned that tucking in your tops (unless they're crops or the like) pretty consistently results in a more neat and stylish looking appearance in even the most simple outfits.

An untucked blouse over a skirt is flowy on top of flowy and creates the silhouette of a lumpy pyramid. A blouse tucked in to a skirt looks almost like a neat dress with a cinched waist. It highlights your natural curves and just looks good. This is a great way to shift emphasis to a fantastic skirt rather than just letting it be blank space.

An untucked tee over jeans looks relaxed and casual but also a little lazy, like you didn't put any effort into your outfits. But tuck that tee in and suddenly you look stylish, neat, clean, like you belong in an art studio. Your curves are emphasized. Your shirt lays flat. Your jeans stand out. A pair of black pants with a bright tucked in top will stand out as a stylish simple outfit even though it doesn't take any more effort than a relaxed tee over jeans. Add some accessories and this simple base lets those accessories stand out.

This probably doesn't universally make any outfit or aesthetic look better but it's definitely worth trying it for any outfit to see if it makes an improvement.

Don't be afraid of your own body!

With few exceptions, most women feel insecure about our bodies. Especially for women who grew up as young boys, there can be this sense of needing to hide your body and cover it up to avoid being clocked. But draping yourself like a nun only makes you more conspicuous. Showing some skin is normal and healthy, and even if you're trying to dress modestly, you can make your physical assets work to your advantage. Going to services at an orthodox synagogue? A cinched waist will still make you look better while still remaining modest.

Whatever your body type is, lean into what makes you special and try to execute it well rather than hiding it. Are you tall? Don't try to look shorter, lean in and be tall like a supermodel. Are you small? The oversized look emphasizes how small and cute you are, like a mouse girl saying "cheesed to meet'cha, I'm so small I can't find clothing in my size so all these clothes are sooooo big on me." Are you curvy? Emphasize your curves. Are you skinny and flat? Try some boot-cut jeans to make yourself look dynamic and striking. It's not about averaging yourself out to being medium in all categories, it's about good execution of your natural assets.

Because you will never ever look like the supermodels in magazines. Those bodies are not real bodies. They are photoshopped and their entire lives are structured to maintain the figure that they do have. That is not you. Don't try to be someone else. Be you. Own your body. Your body is you. So show skin, show off your curves, show off your lack of curves, you can really pull off something special you just need to experiment to find what works.

Every body is different, not fashion tips of universal, so experiment experiment experiment.


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in reply to @shel's post:

Yeah most cisgender women are clockable right like nobody is the standard model start comparing yourself to people who are more normal and you realize we look the same

A tip: high waisted pants/jeans are an absolute blessing for all body types. Perfect for tucking in relaxed shirts! Add a belt to accentuate your waist! Bigger pockets! I'm partial to high waisted pants with slanted front pockets. Visually flattens the front and gives a good line from waist to hip.

Also, as a cis girl, myself and most of my friends have never and will never achieve what the magazines want us to look like. We've spent so much time and grief trying. Don't be like us! Treat your body as your art. Make youreself look the way that's interesting to you, express yourself. Every body is a perfect and beautiful canvas ready to display your creativity and inner world!!!

Bodysuits are great for if you want that perfectly tucked look. They're also great for creating dimension while layering.

For other shirts that eventually become baggy over the tuck as I lift my arms and such, I like to tuck and then pull my shirt out slightly to slightly cover the top of the pants so that I've controlled the bagginess in a way that looks good.

I also like to tuck some shirts completely on one side and have it gradually untucked to 100% untucked on the other. There's a name for this, but I forgot.