Making the most of my size 18 figure

[aqua]

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.

thats good advice but not right for me (I'm a size 18 top 20 bottom), esp the dress thing, dresses look good if your boobs are in proportion (and not tiny like mine) and tshirt do look alright on me but cos I think I've got small boobs

the rest is spot on and I agree, we need you at our next brum shopping trip

 

[aqua]

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

debehams yep always on the large size, H&M are just shit

 

[5t3IIa]

debehams yep always on the large size, H&M are just shit

I just 'guess' H&M sizes. Take arm fulls of stuff into the changing room. Size 3? Wtf? USA size 20 UK size 22 Euro size 24? Feck off!

Thw worst thing is when there is valuable rack space in the Fat Chick Section taken up by size 30 inches clothes that thick retail assistants have mis-hung

Larger London urbz: which H&M has the best Fat Chick Section? The one on Kensington High Street is OK but I live in Clapton and the ones on Oxford St don't have a FCS

 

[secretsquirrel]

The trouble with size 18, or rather with shops' attitude to size 18, is that it is quite often on the cusp of ranges: a number of shops (new look-standard, dorothy perkins, next etc.) will go up to a size 18/20 while the 'bigger' ranges (evans, inspire in new look) tend to start at an 18.

In theory this is the best of both worlds, but I often find that the mainstream ranges are designed and cut for smaller bodies, whereas the bigger ranges are full of giant smocks and elasticated waists.

Who wants to come in with me on a clothing business aimed at the mid-sizes with cuts that fit and flatter women from around a 14 to a 24?

I hear ya sista! As I've said before, I'm 6ft 1, size 9 feet, size 16-18 bottom and 14-16 top with tiny boobs. Oh the joy I have shopping! Mind you, I still have a huge wardrobe full of stuff

Agree with others on H&M - can never get my arse into their size 20 bottoms in their normal range and their plus range is cut all wrong for me. Have to say Next are getting better and better - especially their jeans - have just ordered a lovely pair of 'boyfriend' style jeans for the w/end. New Look have now introduced a fairly decent 'tall' range which goes up to an 18/20 I think.

One label I've just discovered is Phase Eight. They're not the cheapest but their cut and style really really suits me - bought a gorgeous black wool dress for £75. They go up to a size 18.

I guess I've lived with my shape for so long that I just get on with it now!

 

[May Kasahara]

RE. H&M and other cheap high street shops, I think their clothes are mostly cut badly anyway. I'm a 12 and most stuff I try on in H&M, Topshop, New Look, Primark etc. just doesn't fit - it might do if I stand still, but as soon as I raise my arms above my head, kneel down or do any of the other things that living people tend to do, I am guaranteed that what I'm wearing will gape, ride up or cut into me.

Am trying to wean myself off cheap quantity purchasing and towards pricier quality wear.

 

[aqua]

One label I've just discovered is Phase Eight. They're not the cheapest but their cut and style really really suits me - bought a gorgeous black wool dress for £75. They go up to a size 18.

I guess I've lived with my shape for so long that I just get on with it now!

yeah thanks for that *cuddles a nervous credit card*

I feel a bit like you, this is me, I'm so used to not being able to buy shoes and clothes that it only sometimes upsets me these days. meh, off to look at phase eight though

 

[baldrick]

they sell phase 8 in debenhams at the bullring. very nice

 

[secretsquirrel]

yeah thanks for that *cuddles a nervous credit card*

I feel a bit like you, this is me, I'm so used to not being able to buy shoes and clothes that it only sometimes upsets me these days. meh, off to look at phase eight though

Go try some of their stuff on love - I reckon it'd really suit you

(I'm not helping am I?!)

 

[May Kasahara]

No you're not! I'm hopelessly lusting for their stuff as well now

 

[secretsquirrel]

Sorry

Not really

 

[mrsfran]

I'm a size 18, a EE cup, a big fat bum... and I'm under 5ft. NOTHING fits me. Ever.

Not Evans, not SimplyBe, none of the large ranges because they all assume you're also tall. I can get jeans at M & S but that's it. Absolutely nothing. My clothes are all baggy

 

[Vintage Paw]

thats good advice but not right for me (I'm a size 18 top 20 bottom), esp the dress thing, dresses look good if your boobs are in proportion (and not tiny like mine) and tshirt do look alright on me but cos I think I've got small boobs

the rest is spot on and I agree, we need you at our next brum shopping trip

You sound like me - I love dresses (over jeans - yes I'm lame) but it's hard to find ones that don't emphasise my out of proportion boobs. I'm a size 18 on the bottom, 16 on the top, but with A-cup boobs (and that's if I pad them too!). Bloody nightmare. It adds another dimension of crapness to the way I feel on a 'fat day'. I keep thinking if only I had bigger boobs, that balanced out against my mahoosive arse and hips, I'd actually feel feminie and be happy to flaunt it. As it is I feel a bit like a weird nothing really.

 

[ada]

I've always drooled over the retro style dresses at http://www.modemerr.com and http://www.daddyos.com/retro/retroldy.html - many of their things go up to a 46" bust. And given the pound versus dollar, not absurdly expensive.

In a completely different style, gudrun sjoden http://www.gudrunsjoden.com/ does unusual clothing up to 48/50" bust.

 

[felixthecat]

I've always drooled over the retro style dresses at http://www.modemerr.com and http://www.daddyos.com/retro/retroldy.html - many of their things go up to a 46" bust. And given the pound versus dollar, not absurdly expensive.

Oh you utter bitch !

I'm supposed to be saving money not spending it.

 

[May Kasahara]

Aaaagggghhhhh My overdraft is going to hunt you down, ada

 

[Mogden]

I've always drooled over the retro style dresses at http://www.modemerr.com and http://www.daddyos.com/retro/retroldy.html - many of their things go up to a 46" bust. And given the pound versus dollar, not absurdly expensive.

In a completely different style, gudrun sjoden http://www.gudrunsjoden.com/ does unusual clothing up to 48/50" bust.

Oh noes, more linkz

but also

The Ulla Popken catalogue was waiting for me when I got back tonight. It was Gudrun last week. And now Flashy wants a Gudrun style catalogue for men

ETA: And it doesn't help that I found out that Lagenlook is the official name for the layered look so now I have a new search term to drool over on eBay.

 

[moomoo]

Why on earth was I in favour of this forum?

*looks in purse and weeps*

 

[Ms Ordinary]

Larger London urbz: which H&M has the best Fat Chick Section? The one on Kensington High Street is OK but I live in Clapton and the ones on Oxford St don't have a FCS

There's a branch in Wood Green which is pretty good, and not too far from you.
Its not huge but I've often found an item I liked in the Oxford Street / Covent Garden stores (in the standard range which goes up to 18/20), which wasn't stocked (or instantly sold out) in size 18 - but there were plenty in the Wood Green one .

I don't think they even bother stocking the larger sizes in the central branches tbh

 

[ada]

(sorry folks about the enabling links

i agree, this forum is trouble!)

 

[butterfly child]

There's a branch in Wood Green which is pretty good, and not too far from you.
Its not huge but I've often found an item I liked in the Oxford Street / Covent Garden stores (in the standard range which goes up to 18/20), which wasn't stocked (or instantly sold out) in size 18 - but there were plenty in the Wood Green one .

I don't think they even bother stocking the larger sizes in the central branches tbh

Erm, one of the Oxford Street branches stocks BIB or whatever it's called.

At least, it did the last time I went in. It's not the one at Oxford Circus.

They're shit, so I don't really shop there.

 

[butterfly child]

360 - 366 Oxford Street.

Also, Whiteleys, whether they are "Central" or not is relative, I guess.

 

[aqua]

(sorry folks about the enabling links

i agree, this forum is trouble!)

thankfully for my credit card I look like a tit in those style dresses

 

[5t3IIa]

There's a branch in Wood Green which is pretty good, and not too far from you.
Its not huge but I've often found an item I liked in the Oxford Street / Covent Garden stores (in the standard range which goes up to 18/20), which wasn't stocked (or instantly sold out) in size 18 - but there were plenty in the Wood Green one .

I don't think they even bother stocking the larger sizes in the central branches tbh

Thanks, and butterfly child

<looks in purse, figures can afford £18 for work trousers and top>