to hate clothes shopping soooo much...

[FairLadyRantALot]

that if I never had to do it again I would be a very happy person....

I never liked my body and bodyshape, tbh...so...even when I was smaller I didn't really like it....always flet ugly and bumpy and lumpy in the shop mirrors, etc...

I also find current treends a bit yuk...so, simply don't really like what is on offer...

another thing the things I do like never seem to hang right ....

it's just so frustrating...I truely can not understand women who go shopping for clothes to cheer themselfs up....all it does is depress me...and that has always been that way, even when I was a size 10 (which at a height of 5'6 isn't exactly large)....

am I the only one hating it so much?

[potatofactory]

I always look really old and half-bald under the bright lights! Always a depressing experience...

[FairLadyRantALot]

it's not just me than....
it always makes me wonder what they are trying to achieve by using such horrid lighting that makes most people look like death warmed up, lol...surely having more flattering light would sell clothes better....

oh, and yeah my hair always looks horrid, too

[staryeyed]

I hate it too but I so need to go. I have an odd shaped body and can never find things that truely fit well. Jeans are the worst. Always end up feeling depressed and coming back empty handed. Was vaguely considering hiring a personal shopper just so I dont have to go, as things are even harder with some baby belly left over on a slim figure. I cant afford it ofcourse and was just dreaming really.

[FairLadyRantALot]

now that would be nice, sigh...

[OhBling]

I am not the most stylish person around, but... I do seem to have a good eye and as a larger lady, I have more sympathy for women who don't have stick thin figures. I've been seriously thinking about an informal personal shopping service - something much less hardcore than the ones you read about in magazines and more "I'll help you, even if really you just want a couple of £10 t-shirts and a new pair of trousers for work". Maybe I should think more about it if there are lots of people who feel this way.

In the meantime, I highly recommend online shopping. as long as you are good about sending the items you don't want back, it's a great opportunity to try on a variety of clothes, in the comfort of your own home.

[FairLadyRantALot]

am rubbish sending things back...lol...so...online shopping doesn't work for me...

I think it doesn't help that I am quite fussy about how clothes fit....generally this of course means that I tend to look o.k. in clothes, lol, it just makes it difficult to buy anything....because if it isn't fitting just so it's a no....

[FairLadyRantALot]

urgh, and just remembering that before autumn I have to get a bit of a casual smart wardrobe together, as my next Placement is in a mental health Unit, where I won't be wearing Uniform....argh....that will be fun....especially as I will have to wear flat shoes, but am more of a skirt wearer....oddly enough Jeans are fine, but me trying to buy trousers is an absolute mare....

[OhBling]

If you're a stickler for fit, you need to pick where you buy clothes carefully. It can get expensive. I'm still looking for that magical shop that just fits me always - I had one where I used to live but don't seem to here.

[FairLadyRantALot]

well...Dorothy Perkins seems, so far, to cater best for my figure, and sometimes I am very lucky and find something nice but cheap in Peacocks...., Asda for Tops is o.k. but trousers and skirts DO NOT fit, lol....

I wish I could make my own clothes...but sadly I have got 2 left hands ...lol

and money is always the issue....whish it wasn't...sigh....

[OhBling]

have you tried Next trousers? I find them a bit erratic and annoying in that their sizes vary and some are good and some not so much, but... I successfully by trousers there more than other places.

[OurLadyOfPerpetualSupper]

Fairlady, could you take the attractive but ill-fitting clothes to a good seamstress? Might be worth the cost.

Or, if you can save up for it, have a session with an image consultant - then you'll know what suits you no matter what your weight.

[FairLadyRantALot]

next doesn't seem to work for me, for some reason....

ourlady...one day I might be anle to afford an imageconsultant....although, I do tend to get it right, i.e. pewople generally seem to think I am lighter than I am....iykwim...it's just difficult to find those clothes....

[golgi]

I agree. Nothing fits me. I hate it. And don't get me started on shoes....
I'm 5ft 10, everything is too short (arms, legs - I once tried on a swimming costume that went under my boobs).

[OurLadyOfPerpetualSupper]

Actually, I know just what you mean. Every summer for as long as I can rember I've had several fruitless attempts to buy a summer dress.

I have a reasonable figure, but my boobs are a 32FF, with size 14 hips (narrow back but child-bearing hips and big boobs stuck in front), which means that if a dress accommodates the bosoms it's too big on the shoulders, and makes me look fat and shapeless.

Also, a lot of skirts seem to end at or below the knee ATM, which is not a flattering length for me as it widens the bottom half.

[FairLadyRantALot]

oh yeah, below the knee skirts, i.e. just below...unless you got pin legs stay well awway....because your legs wil;l look chunky....and how many women don't see that? just amazing....I see faR TO MANY WEARING THEM THINKING....ERM...NOPE...YOU SHOULDN'T...
ooops caps lock was on!"
I have , and always had, even when I was skinny and a little girl a big belly....his sadly never ever changed...and it is not the kind most women have...i.e. near their pubic line mine starts under my ribs (my chicken cheast)horrible....but...to make it worse, I don't even have pin legs, like most women with that sort of belly do (i.e. blokish beer belly build)....I hvae got the hips/thighs of a woman....but I do have long legs-ish...although, wiht saggy bum...they are getting shorter....sigh...

oh, I just hate my body...just, I don't hate it more then I use dto...because I had a shit body even at a size 10....even smaller...it has always been shit and pointed out to me...

[OurLadyOfPerpetualSupper]

Much sympathy with you re. the body ishoos... I've had similar things pointed out to me regarding my face.

You're right, there are loads of women wearing those shortish sticky-out skirts - I can see why they buy them as they feel lovely and swishy - but they're right up there with cropped trousers; they only flatter Audrey Hepburn types.

Googli, have you tried LongTallSally? I went in recently to try and solve my knee length skirt dilemma (felt dwarfed at 5'7'') and they had some lovely things, not grossly expensive (about on a par with Next, maybe a bit more expensive).

[FairLadyRantALot]

i LIKE LONG FLOWY, ALMOST GYPSY SKIRTS, BUT WITH SHAPE, AS DF DO.... ooppps caos agaiun..any advice what sort of low healed shoe one could wear? currently in winter I wear boots...and always wear some kinda low heal, but a heel....

[OurLadyOfPerpetualSupper]

I'd go for ballet pumps, maybe with a feature like a bow if you like a 'pretty' look, or gladiator sandals (which look terrible on me but suit 'natural' types), or if you're a bit more glam, some posh jewelled thong-type sandals.

Don't know where you're finding those skirts, though - I've got a couple from two summers ago but can't find them now.

[OurLadyOfPerpetualSupper]

Just realised I interpreted low heel as flats.

I think if the skirts are almost hippy style it's going to be difficult to get heels to suit - but I agree heeled boots fine.

Oh, wedges might be the thing.

Off to bed now, good luck.

[FairLadyRantALot]

at the mo i wear wedged sandals with them, in winter long boots with heel...just not alloed in mental health ward, has to be flat and closed....some kinda "protection", lol....
skirts from Dorothy perkins...but re hard to find...kinda gypsy skirt but with shape around waiat and hips

[OurLadyOfPerpetualSupper]

They sound like the sort of skirts that suit me - as long as they don't have elasticated waists! (Stern).

[FairLadyRantALot]

nooooo elasticated waist....shudder....
nice zip....

it's this one

[FairLadyRantALot]

oh, those kinda hitchy skirts are pretty Might get myself one of those....

[serajen]

Totally agree with you about clothes shopping, would rather watch sport than spend a Saturday afternoon traipsing around same shops selling same stuff that everyone wears, there's no individuality anymore as every high street or precinct is ruled by the big stores, it's like cloning and we're all sheep, I blame the onslaught of designer rubbish, everyone had to wear 'a label'! I hate the undressing, dressing, hot, lights, crowds, etc

[rimmer08]

i sympathise. i am 5ft 1 30 ff. nice womanly hips and fairly muscly legs. getting clothes to fit is a nightmare and leaves me feeling bad about myself and fat even though i am not. i would reccommend online shopping although ordering sorts and jeans online can be hit and miss. fair lady- those hitch skirts are excellent and look lovely- i have two from all saints