Ask Belle Roundup: Vol. III, No. Thirty-Six

Nov 4, 2013

Hi Belle,

I wonder if you could help me find a pair of jeans for girls that have zero junk in the trunk. I have tried so many pairs from Jeggings to boyfriend but can not seem to find a jean that stay up without a belt or gives the appearance of something more. I find that by the end of the day I am constantly pulling my jeans up.

Any suggestions?  Thanks!  Angela

This would be the opposite problem that most women have, but that doesn’t mean that it’s any less frustrating.

First, let’s address how to make the rear view fuller: pockets.  You need flap pockets.  They add bulk, and if placed correctly, shape.  The 7 for All Mankind flare legs or these Lucky Brand Cate bootcut jeans are a good place to start.  Looking for skinny jeans?  These Hudson Colin jeans or these Kut from the Kloth jeans.

Sadly, most flap pocket jeans have a lot of embellishments.  Grommets, studs, sparkles and thick stitching.  I tried to choose pairs that were more plain.

Second, to solve the waist-fit issue, you need to see a tailor.  There is no other solution.  Every woman’s body is unique, the standard sizes on the rack are NOT made to fit you.  They are made to fit a non-existent person proportioned to that retailers specifications.  So your jeans will need to be nipped in at the waist.  Even women with full hips often need this service or else they can’t bend over or sit without flashing their undergarments.

Belle!

I’m hoping you can help me.  I’m looking to replace my worn out tan pumps (nude-to-me is too pale to be a look I’m going for in fall/winter).

I’m looking for cognac pumps, preferably less than 3 inches and with an almond or round toe and no texture, preferably in the under-$150 range.  Seems pretty simple to find a work-appropriate heel in cognac, which has been a dominant fall color for the last few years, right?  I can’t find them anywhere.

Molly

These Pour la Victoire Christelle heels come in a 4″ and a 2.5″ version.  I also found these Aldo Brasilia heels that measure in at 3″.

If you can’t find cognac, my fall, bare-legged shoe is a tortoise shell heel.  It has lots of shades of brown in it to blend with other pieces.

I’m cool with bare legs in the fall from-time-to-time, especially if tights would just look awkward.  But if you want to wear nylons, Donna Karan sheers are the best I’ve found.  I also wear micro-fishnets sometimes.

Hi Belle,

What kind of lipsticks do you like best?  I’ve seen your tweets about trying to wear more lip color, and I also need help in this area.  I’d love to know what you’ve discovered.

Yes

True, I have been trying to wear lipstick on a regular basis.  I’ve always loved Clinique Black Honey and Fresh’s Sugar Plum, but I wanted something with more oomph.

Unless you find a shade you can’t live without at the beauty counter, I’m a big fan of drugstore lipstick.  I recently purchased CoverGirl Outlast Double Lip Shine in perennial plum, and I love it (It’s long wear, so you have to remove it with eye makeup remover to get it off without scrubbing.).  I also bought CoverGirl Jumbo Gloss Balm in a couple of shades that worked for me.  But my favorite purchase so far is Rimmel’s Kate Moss Collection in shade 08.

Hi Belle –

I recently bought the Gigi Pant from JCrew Factory — and I was wondering if it was appropriate to wear to work? I realize this answer might depend on the office. I work in a somewhat conservative office but really want to wear these pants – they are so comfortable! Do you have any styling suggestions?

Kaitlyn

You’re right, whether you can wear skinny pants to work depends on the office.  These have a waistband, so they’re pants not leggings, so that’s a start.  But in a conservative office, I would still relegate them to casual days.  I’ve seen lots of women in skinny pants and blouses/sweaters standing next to men in suits and they just don’t project the same level of professionalism.  But on a day when the men will be in jeans or khakis anyway, that sounds like a great option.

Also, I bit the bullet and bought the White House Black Market Perfect Form Ankle Pant, and even on my pear-shaped rear, they look pretty good. Definitely worth a look.

Dear Belle,

I was trying to figure out what type of tights you wear.  I found a post saying you love Commando, but another saying you don’t.  Can you clear up the confusion?  

Love the blog!  KW 

I wore Commando tights religiously for two seasons.  The comfort waist band, the dark black color, they were perfect.  Then, I bought a pair that stretched to high heaven.  I thought it was a one-off, so I bought to more and had the same problem.  I hated having to repeatedly go into the bathroom to readjust my tights, so I switched.

My favorite brands are DKNY and Spanx.  I also bought a pair of Topshop 120 Denier Tights this season, but I haven’t had a chance to wear them yet.

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  1. Laura says:

    For #1, what about men’s brands? Men tend to have a more straight up and down shape, and there are all kinds of jeans out there for guys now, even skinnies.

    • Rachel says:

      It’s a decent thought, but having a flat butt doesn’t mean no having any curves. I’ve got hips and thighs, but my ass is as flat as a board.

    • A says:

      Try Nudie Jeans – they’re unisex, but they’re great for me if I have the waist taken in a bit!

  2. MCD says:

    https://www.sephora.com/breakthrough-performance-lipstick-spf-15-P241306?skuId=1178995

    Lorac Breakthrough in Premiere is a great neutral lipstick. The online coloring doesn’t do it justice.

  3. Addison says:

    As someone with plenty of junk in the trunk, I can tell you you’re not the only one who has to wear a belt with all her pants. If you don’t want to pay to have the waist taken in, which can be pricey, you just have to try on lots of brands. I recently discovered completely by chance that Old Navy’s super skinny rockstar jeans actually stay up without a belt and don’t expose too much when I sit down.

  4. saltylady says:

    Try AG jeans. I have these exact issues and I’ve had decent luck. I think my flat ass means I need a smaller size, but AG gives enough room in the hips so there’s no camel toe issue, while still having a small enough waist.

  5. GNG6 says:

    Molly, I love-love-love my Franco Sarto pumps. They’re super comfortable and beautiful.

    https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00CDL5TY6/ref=gno_cart_title_1?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER

  6. Mary says:

    For tights with tall boots, I love plain old Hue footless tights. They give the right amount of smoothing without feeling corseted (a la Spanx), and going footless lets me wear comfy socks with the boots without get too hot and sticky. They wash/hold up well.

  7. Capitol Hill SE says:

    I work in a fairly conservative office with mostly older men, but I sometimes sneak in my skinny black pants on Fridays. I wear them with a longish sweater or button-down– something that covers most of my butt but is not so long that it looks like I’m wearing a tunic with leggings (if that makes sense).

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