Plus size work stuff...

[Fruitbatdancer]

Aibu to ask where you buy stuff that makes you look like a shit hot professional even though your carrying baby weight 5 years post pregananct
I’ve got a job after being a stay at home parent, a good job, a really good job, and I need to look the part but don’t know where to bloody start? I need tops/ trousers/ skirts? Dresses? Can I wear a skirt with tree stump legs? God I’m petrified of looking like a fat lump.
I need shoes/ accessories too?
Help! Size 22, 5ft 4 - big boobs big tum no arse. Please help!
Thanks!

Meant to link the navy sorry

Congratulations - how brilliant and exciting for you 🙌🙌🙌

Lots of great tips from other posters.

In my work, over the years we’ve moved away from the mandatory skirt or trouser suits to dresses, trousers, tops / blouse - pretty much anything goes as long as as you smart and well put together. I wear lots of dresses with ankle boots now which I wouldn’t have 5 or so years ago.

It’s great as I yo-yo with weight but always at feel good in my work clothes.

My tips:

Really good hair & make up (if you wear it)
Lots of scarves & accessories
Great shoes - travel in flats and change in office - - Clarkes do wide-fit and comfortable higher block heels which are surprisingly stylish
Lots of jackets - don’t need to do up - check out eBay

Snag do some great tights too - lots of different sizes & colours - look great & very comfortable.

Good luck with your wardrobe - and your job 😄

Sargasso and Grey shoes are fantastic

I’m a plus size although taller that you OP.

My office is smart but not corporate, I find very few places are now outside of London. I wear smart dark trousers which I can only get from Navabi (love KJ brand) or the US as no UK high street/online stores make them that fit my shape. Then I team the with a nice top my go to brands are Studio 8 and Live Unlimited as I like a jersey under with a chiffon top layer. I don’t wear jackets, I just have a couple of smart long length cardigans for chilly days (I am rarely cold). On my feet I wear smart Gabor flats.

My meetings are with high level executives such as the marketing directors of large national charities and I always feel appropriately dressed.

Awesome ladies! You’ve helped me spend nearly £400 this morning 🙈

I would also recommend a personal shopper if you're doing a wardrobe overhaul. They can be amazing! You could pay for an independent consultant or try one at a department store you like. I do worry being plus size you wouldn't be catered for too well in one department store but shops are getting a much better range of sizes in now and they'll help you pull outfits together.

My favourite thing I've done is Pinterest and search plus size fashion. By God you have to look through a lot of crap but every now and then you'll see models looking fabulous and then when I had a bit more of a board together started to wonder what it is that made X look smart. Eg I realised in most pictures they had brown boots. I made it my priority to buy a pair, wear them all the time now and often work to balance an outfit from looking too heavy round the middle.

Just handy to see cut and drape and layering and pick up a few tips. What jewelry works, hair, what colour ranges work well. Etc.

I like Boden's Jersey dresses and their 7/8 trousers (which are a perfect full length on my legs!)

I'm going to look into the rest of this thread. Thanks. And congrats!

Re shoes: I know that they have a reputation for being frumpy old lady shoes, but hotter do some smart two inch heels or slightly lower, tapered so they look higher that actually look very good and are amazingly comfortable. My manager wears them (I asked her and she told me but asked me to keep quiet about it because of the brand reputation 🤣) May be a staging post from flats and smarter than Mary Janes?

M and s foot gloves seem to be a good go to business shoe too. Classic tends to work best, and is safe especially as you don’t know the current code in the office yet.

If you want designer: sixteen47.com

Another vote here for navabi. I'd also say work out your colours and invest in jackets and scarves.

The dresses that I ordered from Everything £5 ... are awful

Ambrose Wilson are ok too

We have to larger ladies in our organisation who always look amazing. One is at least a 26 I would estimate. No idea where they shop but I think their trick is that every look is put together perfectly. Both wear bright colours but everything matches from clothese to shoes to handbag to earrings to eyeshadow. They dress to stand out not blend in as I at size 18 do.

I couldn't get most blouses to fit me when I was a 12-14 on the bum with a Slim middle, because of my massive bust and wide shoulders. If that was me today id be fine but now a 22 with massive boobs and no plus size blouses fit me. When I wear floaty things I look a state.

So good luck and I hope you find something. I'll be looking at some of the suggestions for myself.

Great advice again ladies thank you!
So in the end I’ve gone for; Evans tapered leg trousers, studio 8 tops- mostly bright colours and longer ish with 3/4 length arms, couple of Evans blouses, snag tights, m&s footsies and ankle/ knee highs, a black shift dress from Debenhams, oh and some shoes from hotter
I’m pretty happy so far, could do with another pair of shoes, and some accessories, I need a couple more scarfs and to dig out some handbags. I’d love a statement necklace or two.
Thanks so much for you help- I’m not done yet but want to see what others are wearing next week and reassess- i like the Gabor shoes but think they are a bit of an investment so would like to find somewhere I can try them on!

Congrats on the job and for starting to get stuff. I’ve just bought some lovely stuff from Mangos curve range (called Violeta) shop.mango.com/gb/plus-size it’s a shop I never think of for plus size but it’s great quality and stylish... i really like the wrap dress with a rope design. They go up to a 26. Good luck xxx

I am slightly smaller but the heaviest I have been in forever, all double chin, boobs, belly(s) and bum with thunder thighs to boot!

I need corporate workwear but like a mix of shops/styles to feel me instead of just trying to look the same as some pencil thin colleagues.

Last week I wore;

Boden 7/8 black trousers
H&M cream top (sleeveless with button at neck and slit) (current £12.99!)
Wallis cream short waterfall jacket
Black suede block heel courts
Bold earrings
Metallic bag

New boden amelie jersey dress in green print
Navy blazer
Sheer tights
Navy wedges
Tan bag
Chunky wooden necklace and earrings

Black Hobbs wrap dress (few yes old)
Sheer tights
Black suede block heel courts
Pink earrings
Tan bag

Bank holiday made for a three day week

The shoes from places like yours and Evans never last very long because the bottom parts are made of cheap rubbery plastic stuff. If you can afford to invest in a pair of boots from joules. The bottoms are wood and they've lasted me longer than any of the cheaper pairs have already. I have these (with the bees) and they're pretty good wear with most things boots.

www.philipmorrisdirect.co.uk/joules-westbourne-leather-chelsea-boots/product/?gpsr=Gold+Bees&gpsc=UK6&utm_source=GoogleShopping&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=search&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI2-uptuHv4QIV7r3tCh0RiAOJEAQYASABEgIq_fD_BwE

And they're so comfy.

There is a cropped bolero and black bubble crepe blazer in yours that both look very smart. Get yourself a plain black skater style skirt, some nice tops to tuck in, some black leggings and a smart suit style jacket or blazer. It's comfy but smart.

If you want to inject a bit of colour into your wardrobe but not quite sure how. I highly recommend you look up Danielle Vanier on Instagram. She's the same dress size as you. In my opinion she looks great. Congratulations on your new job by the way

Firstly, don't be so hard on yourself 22 isnt as big as you think!
Second dly congrats on the job.!!

My DMIL and DM are both "plus size" (fuxking hate that term! Its not plus size it's just a size! Imo) ladies at 20 and 22 they buy alot of their work clothes from simply b, and they look fab! I call them glam'mas if you dont feel great in something send it back. Half the battle with clothes I think is feeling that yeah I look good. They've also had some nice pieces from next and simple items from new look (blouses & tops )

@longwalkshortplank love those boots!!

I’m in a similar position but my main problem is my post baby belly which still lingers 7 months on! I also have a new job and need some decent stuff but I can’t seem to wear trousers at all as they usually cut into the flab halfway up or if high waisted they just cover the roll iyswim whereas dresses tend to skim it much better.

So basically I can only wear dresses which is rather limiting!

I used to wear a lot of Country Casuals wrap over dresses (wrap over recommended at that time by Gok Wan for my size and shape very similar to yours OP). I found this in their sale. Not wrap over but coupled with a loose form jacket would look lovely I reckon.
www.countrycasuals.co.uk/abstract-printed-dress-2096228.html?___store=countrycasuals

Bugger just noticed that none left in size 22. Oh well

I’m plus sized as well in a professional role. I invariably wear Scarlett and Jo dresses and Snag tights!