I need a new wardrobe and suggestions

[pramspotter]

I just don't know where to shop. I used to like dorothy perkins etc but lately the stuff they have seems like it wouldn't suit me.

I haven't bought clothes in a long time. I am 30 years old and about 5'3. I am very pear shaped. I used to be about a 16-18 but after months of intense exercise and healthy eating I have lost tons of weight. I really need some new clothes but have been looking everywhere and cannot find anything decent. My jeans are all hanging off of me.

I think I have a really bad body shape and no matter what I wear I look frumpy. I lost all this weight yet I still have chubby legs and wide hips. My arms and stomach are toned now. I am now a size 8-10 on top and a 10-12 on the bottom. I hate these fat dumpy legs of mine. Thank god I haven't developed cankles yet.

I think I have the worst body shape in the world. Everything seems to be made for woman who are taller and slimmer with nice legs.

Any suggestions? I am sick of teeshirts and baggy jeans. I haven't bought any clothes in awhile so money is no object (within reason). I just need things that are comfy but nice. I do have to chase after little ones and do the school run twice a day.

[19fran76]

You don't have a bad body shape. It sounds just like mine, only difference being I'm 5'6 & I'm my tummy is not as toned as it was pre-baby. Sure, I will always envy slender elegant legs, mine are naturally 'heavy' & muscular but they are a good defined shape. I think you can wear loads of different stuff. Accentuate the positive e.g. your top half, your small waist. Bet other MNers will give you loads of good advice & you have money to spend. Hurrah

[macherie]

You must be really proud of yourself for losing so much weight, so you are right you deserve a new wardrobe to celebrate. You have a figure that lots of women you kill for, so skim over what you don't like, an accentuate your assets.

I am exactly the same size as you - 8/10 on top, 10/12 on bottom. The part of my body I like least is my thighs, so we must have been parted at birth.

I bought 2 pairs of jeans recently which gave me a total ego boost, both from Topshop - baxter skinny jeans, size 12 PLEASE go and try some on, thay look amazing on and I would never have thought they would. I wear them with tunic tops to hide the thighs. I also got a pair of boyfriend jeans, size 10, totally camoflage the thighs, wear these with layered t-shirts and cardigans.

Another brilliant purchase was a leather jacket, got it from Comptoir des Cottoniers, it's a fitted biker style, looks great with the layered look, and with dresses....

Dresses, I love them, they love me, completely solve the thigh problem, I particularly love A-line ones often use a belt to accentuate small waist.

A-line skirts are great too, skim over thighs. Wear them a lot in winter with boots.

Toned arms are fab - lucky you You can wear vests and slim fitting t shirts, no more baggy ones. How abot an a-line skirt, camisole, pretty cardigan/ denim jacket for taking dc to the park, etc.

Let me know what colours and styles (chic/boho/casual etc) you like and I'll have a look for some links tomorrow.

[19fran76]

Y'see you'll be fine macherie sounds like just the tonic/source of good advice you need You're gonna look fabulous!

[traceybath]

Pramspotter - i'd recommend you went and saw a personal shopper. All the dept stores do them from Harvey Nicks to Debenhams/John Lewis.

You have a chat discuss your requirements and budget and they give you lots of options/suggestions to try on.

Just good to have a fresh pair of eyes when you've lost so much weight.

Well done on your weight loss! And am very envious of toned arms.

[MrsMattie]

Well done for losing all that weight. V jealous!

As it's summer, I'd go for dresses that accentuate your waist worn with wedge heel sandals. If you're small and pear shaped, that style could work really well (trust me, I am 5'11 and long legged and just look like a comedy tranny if I wear heels and summer dresses!).

I think you need to give yourself a couple of shopping trips just for looking around, trying things on and failing to buy anything . I always need to do that before I find anything I like.

[PutDown]

Am same height as you but size 12,36DD,could do with losing flabby tummy and love handles...
I wear in summer
Wide floppy linen trousers with fitted vest/cardigan and wedges
Aline skirts with vest and shrug
Pretty dresses with ballet flats or wedges
Tunics over slim jeans or cream linen trousers.
Chunky jewellery.
I like White Stuff,Fat Face,some Boden,Autograph,Some Monsoon,Great Plains,Kew,Noa Noa.New Look good for shoes,little knits.
HTH!

[pramspotter]

Thanks. I may think about the personal shopper thing. Sounds like a fab idea. My mum and sisters are over 3000 miles away and I hate shopping on my own!