Making the most of my size 18 figure

[Callie]

I tend to find that most high street shops which either have a section which caters for larger sizes or are specifically for larger sizes (grr evans) are full of shit

i dont want to wear a big bloaty tent in a crazy pattern

i want to have the same range and options as people who wear <size 16

but wtf do i know, i look like hippo with no dress sense.

*dons tent*

 

[spanglechick]

the quality of simply be clothes is generally very disappointing. Think "Mark one"/"New look".

some general rules for flattering a slightly larger figure.

• T shirts are not, and never will be, a flattering clothing option for you.
• dresses are more flattering than seperates.
• deeper necklines are flattering and make you look thinner.
• pale colours make you look larger.
• Sleeves that end on the elbow, or three quarter length, are most flattering, especially if flared.
• bootcut, wide legged or flared trousers are good. Tapered , skinny or cigarette cut are evil.
• larger patterns are better than smaller, but patterns haed to toe make you look like a sofa.
• horizontal lines make you look wider - therefore, if you want to wear a belt (it may well suit you), it should be the same colour as your clothes.

Try a kneelength crossover dress, with a vest underneath, so you aren't too booby - over some light wide legged trousers. Bit of a heel, and you'll look pretty good, i reckon.

fwiw, I'd kill to be a size 18 again.

 

[mentalchik]

Yes, i have a lot of red herring stuff.....they do some really quirky things, not sure if they go over an 18 though (i usually find their sizing quite spot on)


The most annoying thing for me is that they dont seem to take account of your bust.......often could quite easily fit a 16 but can't get my tits in, then an 18 is far too big everwhere else...........


and don't get me started on H&M's sizing


trousers are also a big problem for me which is why i love dresses over them !

 

[catinthehat]

John Rocha at Debenhams appears to realise that the more plumptious woman does not always want to wear a floral crimplene marquee.

 

[moomoo]

the quality of simply be clothes is generally very disappointing. Think "Mark one"/"New look".

some general rules for flattering a slightly larger figure.

• T shirts are not, and never will be, a flattering clothing option for you.
• dresses are more flattering than seperates.
• deeper necklines are flattering and make you look thinner.
• pale colours make you look larger.
• Sleeves that end on the elbow, or three quarter length, are most flattering, especially if flared.
• bootcut, wide legged or flared trousers are good. Tapered , skinny or cigarette cut are evil.
• larger patterns are better than smaller, but patterns haed to toe make you look like a sofa.
• horizontal lines make you look wider - therefore, if you want to wear a belt (it may well suit you), it should be the same colour as your clothes.

Try a kneelength crossover dress, with a vest underneath, so you aren't too booby - over some light wide legged trousers. Bit of a heel, and you'll look pretty good, i reckon.

fwiw, I'd kill to be a size 18 again.

Please come up to the next Birmingham shopping trip!

I'm going to buy some dresses and skirts when I next go clothes shopping and plan to wear them with boots and black tights for the winter.

Possibly................

 

[spanglechick]

Please come up to the next Birmingham shopping trip!

I'm going to buy some dresses and skirts when I next go clothes shopping and plan to wear them with boots and black tights for the winter.

Possibly................

that sounds very similar to the look i'm planning on working this autumn. if i can find/afford any boots that'll go over my enormo-calves.

 

[moomoo]

that sounds very similar to the look i'm planning on working this autumn. if i can find/afford any boots that'll go over my enormo-calves.

I have that problem as well but it's all muscle. I've got footballers legs.

 

[wtfftw]

I got some simplybe stuff today. I don't think I'd pay full price but I found a 20% discount code and it was sale. I got a purple top and black skirt and they're rather flattering (but I have been wearing tracky bottoms and tents recently).

 

[felixthecat]

that sounds very similar to the look i'm planning on working this autumn. if i can find/afford any boots that'll go over my enormo-calves.:D

DUO! http://www.duoboots.com/

 

[mentalchik]

I have that problem as well but it's all muscle. I've got footballers legs.

Hehehe so have i moomoo, sturdy legs my ex father in-law commented once !

 

[spanglechick]

DUO! http://www.duoboots.com/

i know - i want the bern boots in soft cranberry. But they're not cheap, hence the "afford" aspect.

 

[felixthecat]

I'm going to get the 'Penna' boots this year. I have 2 pairs of Duo boots already and I sooooooooo want another!

(I have the Bern boots in brown - if they'd had soft cranberry when I got mine i'd have had those instead)

 

[moomoo]

That Duo site is fab!

But I've just shown my daughter some boots that I like and she said I can't afford them.

It's because I've turned the heating off and she is in a strop!

 

[butterfly child]

I live in wide leg trousers at the moment.

But I bought the most gorgeous black swishy skirt whilst my mum was up - £75 and worth every penny.

I happen to like bright colours, and have moved away from "baggy is good" - people can take me as I am, or they can fuck off.

People always tell me I look good, which is always nice to hear.

I'm totally up for a shopping trip, but I have to admit to only knowing the best shops for larger sizes in London.

This is where I usually go...

http://www.larger-than-life.co.uk/home/index.php

 

[gaijingirl]

Not much use for now... but in the new year the Duo sale is AMAZING. I got there just too late - March in fact... but did get some gorgeous shoes (instead of the boots I wanted).

 

[butterfly child]

Not much use for now... but in the new year the Duo sale is AMAZING. I got there just too late - March in fact... but did get some gorgeous shoes (instead of the boots I wanted).

Not long 'til new year.. lol

 

[scifisam]

the quality of simply be clothes is generally very disappointing. Think "Mark one"/"New look".

some general rules for flattering a slightly larger figure.

• T shirts are not, and never will be, a flattering clothing option for you.
• dresses are more flattering than seperates.
• deeper necklines are flattering and make you look thinner.
• pale colours make you look larger.
• Sleeves that end on the elbow, or three quarter length, are most flattering, especially if flared.
• bootcut, wide legged or flared trousers are good. Tapered , skinny or cigarette cut are evil.
• larger patterns are better than smaller, but patterns haed to toe make you look like a sofa.
• horizontal lines make you look wider - therefore, if you want to wear a belt (it may well suit you), it should be the same colour as your clothes.

Try a kneelength crossover dress, with a vest underneath, so you aren't too booby - over some light wide legged trousers. Bit of a heel, and you'll look pretty good, i reckon.

fwiw, I'd kill to be a size 18 again.

I think that's good advice - and so is t_p's. Except that dresses are only more flattering if your torso is of the right length. If you have a long torso, then bunched-up dresses don't look so good.

You're tall enough to have an advantage over many women: when you stand up, you're at the height where most men and taller women will be looking down your cleavage just to talk to you, and most short men or average-height women will be conversing with your breast area. This means you can use the power of the boob. This is your focal point, because it is theirs, whether they want it to be or not.

This means that nobody will be looking at your waist or arse; even if you're sitting down, they'll be looking at either your face or your feet, if not your boobs, because who looks at someone's arse or waist on a chair - who can even see it?

So, basically, you need stuff to draw attention to your boobs and to your feet. This is true for everyone, to be fair.

 

[treefrog]

Good advice there la spangles and co

I'm thinking of getting a good pair of jeans (not £10 bollocks ones) and some nice dresses to wear over the top after the advice on this thread.

I know I'm probably still a lardy mare compared to a lot of women on here, but by god am I happy to be a 16 again! I tried on a suit I bought when I was 18 for interviews and couldn't wear for years, and it's a touch too big

(just wanted to share the joy )

 

[Geri]

Ohhhh Red Herring in Debenhams do sizes over 16 now.

Red Herring jeans are great - I can fit into a 16 there and I'm normally an 18

They're really soft and comfy as well.

 

[gaijingirl]

Red Herring jeans are great - I can fit into a 16 there and I'm normally an 18

They're really soft and comfy as well.

Heh heh.. yes.. my size 12 trousers are from there.. usually these days I'm a 14 - although I'm going to have to put a stop to recent eating fiestas if I want to stay that way. Anyway, I said to one of their shop assistants that I liked their clothes because they come up larger and she said..."oh no I think they're smaller than most shops... "

which is absolute bollocks but made me very happy...

 

[Tank Girl]

I find anything that's sold in debenhams comes up big. I can fit into size 14 winter coats in there

and I agree with mentalchik - h&m sizes are

 

[Guineveretoo]

East sells quite a lot of clothes in larger sizes, and some of their stuff is gorgeous.

A shop which I recently discovered, which only does larger sizes, is Ann Harvey. I have spent quite a lot in there recently, in their sales! It's not cheap

 

[butterfly child]

East sells quite a lot of clothes in larger sizes, and some of their stuff is gorgeous.

A shop which I recently discovered, which only does larger sizes, is Ann Harvey. I have spent quite a lot in there recently, in their sales! It's not cheap

Ann Harvey is so inconsistant though - sometimes they have lots of lovely stuff, other times they have sod all.

One of my current favourites is from there though, £6 (maybe £6.99) in the sale, a lovely slouchy soft citrus coloured top. Was perfect when I was sunburnt because it was so soft, didn't hurt my skin at all.

Watch what you buy though, a lot of their t-shirts/cotton tops shrink terribly when you wash them. I hate wearing tops that have shrunk and sit halfway on my tummy

 

[5t3IIa]

I was in Evans Marble Arch last night and the section on the till side is now all denim 'Oh, it's Autum stuff innit darlin', said the size 10 assistant, though she did apologise. I want a work dress as I've got some of their nice faux-suede stunted kitten heel knee-high boots

Incidentally - what dress size is 12 stone/5'3?

 

[Tank Girl]

that's not far off what I am stella, and I'm anything between a size 14 - 16 on the bottom and a 16 - 20 on the top, depending entirely on which shop I'm in.

 

[5t3IIa]

that's not far off what I am stella, and I'm anything between a size 14 - 16 on the bottom and a 16 - 20 on the top, depending entirely on which shop I'm in.

Perfect

I'm trying to lose a *lot* of weight and my mate gave me 'The Twelve Stone Challenge', which is if I make it by 01/09/08 he'll pay for me to visit him in San Franscico

 

[Tank Girl]

nice incentive

good luck

 

[5t3IIa]

nice incentive

good luck

Thank you. I'd be totally happy with being a mixture of 16-20 after hefting 20-24 around for a couple of years.

Also - I'm excited to try this challenge as well S'weird. Finally feel motivated, which of course is the point

 

[jusali]

My missus is a size 18 and is about 5ft 8" she looks great in A line skirts and v neck jumpers which are well/tightish fitting.
Personally I wish she'd wear tighter fitting rubber/pvc stuff but that's 'cos I'm a perv!
I think a lot of bigger women make the mistake of wearing baggier clothes to hide their figures when in actual fact it makes them look twice as wide. If you are tall which you are then I think you're just as in proportion as a 5ft 3" size 12/14 person.
Also as said by someone earlier show of the boobs it's great and gives you a lot of power, ergo eventually confidence!

 

[5t3IIa]

I've got to the stage were I just wear what fits and is 'fashionable'. I figure that it'll look alright if I at least like it and...it fits.

This is what's happened to me since I've got fat - there just isn't any further point in worrying about it, or hiding it