please help style my plus sized body for my dds christening

[ReastieHorrorShow]

My body shape has completely changed in the past year with being pg and I've gone up 2/3 dress sizes and am very unconfident in how I look/nothing works anymore. I'm now a size 20/22.

In a month it's my dds christening and I have no idea where to go or what to get. Can anyone point me somewhere/show me some stuff?

All the places I used to shop in don't sell my size and I find myself inched away from the high street except evans, which tbh last time I went in most of the fabrics were quite synthetic and cheaply cut.

My usual fave haunt is prob monsoon and I tend to favour dresses (mostly empire) than skirt combos, but am happy to give anything a go. My shape is a v big chest, massive tum, v flabby arms and wobbly thighs.

I need something that is beautiful and makes me feel confident for once.

[Selks]

I hear ya.

How about this, black but the simple pattern lifts it; could be nicely flattering
Or this one, nice in orange or purple
Or blue shift, look nice with black tights and black shoe-boots

[ReastieHorrorShow]

thanks selks. they are all a bit short in length for me

[Selks]

Some from Debenhams:

red print georgette
smudge leopard tie dress
blue print

[Selks]

Yeah, lots of dresses are very short at the moment. One or two of the styles would work with black tights though. Or have a look on the Debenhams site - they seem to have lots of size 20 and 22 in various lengths. I hope you find something that you love.

[smackapacca]

I had a very successful personal shopper session at Debenhams on Saturday. Really good. I have no idea how to dress anymore. She picked stuff I wouldn't have done, and got some nice bits. (More casual than Christening gear). I'd really recommend it - especially as it's not commission based.

[Northernlurker]

Ok step away from Evans stuff. It's horrible.

I am a 22 and I can get things in M&S also Wallis and Monsoon. I get quite a bit from Boden too. this is nice.

[smackapacca]

I like that dress - really nice cut.

[ReastieHorrorShow]

smack did you have to pay for it? How do you go about doing it? . Does she take you round the shop or pick stuff out for you?

northern I had no idea boden sizes went up that big . I love the purple dress but my mum always says purple is funerial, and given my granny is dying of cancer and may pass around the time of the christening I don't think I could wear purple . `the other pattern I like has an 8 week wait . DO boden sizings come up big or small?

[polyhymnia]

Also suggest you try looking at Boden NOT Evans (or other super-cheapies).

It doesn't have to be that dress, all go up to 22. If you have a browse on the site and find something you like you can always find a code on here which gets you 15% off.

The sizings are generally pretty true but do vary from item to item. however, the reviews are helpful in alerting you to which come up bigger/ smaller.

[Northernlurker]

Yes I find a 22 pretty good for me. Am short and 38H boobs if that helps to give you an idea.

[polyhymnia]

And I'm tall and bigger-busted - not everything works, lots go back but have found plenty of good things.

[Northernlurker]

It's the cut that's good. A lot of the Boden stuff is genuinely cut for the less than catwalk figure and in decent quantities of decent material - so you do get a better result than the cheap places.

[maighdlin]

ive just bought myself this outfit and I'm a 22 i think it would be nice for a christening with a mid hight heel.

[LikeABlackFlameCandleBNQ]

Dont know if you are a fan of dottyP's

would look lovely with opaques and black courts

[PerryCombover]

I know this is obv but...
get yourself a decent bra with side support preferably as that will keep your norks contained to the width of your ribcage
wear spanx from bra to mid thigh

anna scholz have some brilliant things interesting
v nice neither are cheap though but it is a christening

no idea of the quality but there is this line out for asos that might yield something

[PerryCombover]

also la redoute have some bits worth at least browsing through

[ReastieHorrorShow]

Thanks so much for the help guys - just ordered 4 dresses from boden. Really hope one of them works

May well be back on this forum soon for some advice on where to get plus sized high waisted jeans as my 2 pin plug figure has always been a nightmare to get trousers to fit, let alone now I'm pretty much banned from the high street

[smackapacca]

I see you're sorted but just for info - my DH booked it as a 'treat', but I was really reluctant as I thought it'd be a nightmare. Without trying to sound like an advert, it really was great. She sat me down with a coffee, discussed what my life was like (used the term 'yummy mummy', but I won't hold that against her). She then went off, left me reading magazines in a massive changing room. She returned about 15 mins later with LOADS of clothes on a portable rail. Left me in peace again. Didn't 'advise' me as such but I just took my time, and came away with 3 tops and one pair of trousers.

She was clear to tell me it wasn't commission based. At the end I even got a free gift (Estee lauder stuff) I'm definitely going to do it again.

[ReastieHorrorShow]

ohh smack that sounds ace, might keep this in mind for some work outfits when returning from mat leave in jan. Did you have to pay for the service though and how much (if you know that is)?

[smackapacca]

No payment at all - there wasn't a catch. Couldn't quite believe it myself.

[ReastieHorrorShow]

wow, which debenhams did you go to? [nosey]

[smackapacca]

I've PM'd you. I'm pretty sure the whole concept is nationwide though. I'm such a fan. I'm going to do it every 6-8 months and buy NOTHING else in between. No more crappy supermarket ill fitting tops and t-shirts for me!