Wearing jeans with my fat legs!

[HappyExteriorSadInterior]

Hi everyone,

I have always had fat legs! Picture two enormous turkey drumsticks and you will have an idea what I'm dealing with!
My thighs are the worst part, closely followed by chunky calves and flabby knees. I'm in my 40's.
I always cover my legs up and my clothes of choice have always been jeans. For years and years I wore bootcut, thinking the bootcut part maybe detracted a bit from the rest of my legs.

In the past year I have lost several stone. I was previously size 20/22 in jeans and I am now a size 16. I'm also trying to lose one more stone.
Since losing weight I have started wearing slim leg jeans. I think mainly because they fit me. (My waist goes in and its so hard to find jeans big enough for my legs but not gaping at the waist). But now I'm doubting jeans altogether.

The reason for asking advice is because I recently had a bad experience at work where a group of young guys (19/20) insulted me (I have recently posted about this too!). One of the things they said was about the size of my legs. The insults have upset me and further damaged my already low self esteem.
I know I have fat legs, I don't need anyone else to comment on them!

I'm now thinking I need to try and build up my self confidence and this includes rethinking my clothes.
Please note - I have been referred for counselling because I know I need help emotionally. I am generally at a low ebb with other things going on in my life.
The jeans thing is just one thing I can look at in the meantime.
I am also really interested to hear other people's views and what they wear.

Anyway, Sorry for rambling!

YABU - Don't wear jeans!

YANBU - Keep wearing jeans (but please advise me on what style!)

Thank You for reading.

*long top

@Stressedout10 - Thank you, yes exactly right, why do most jeans manufacturers forget that many women go in at the waist but need more room for hips and legs?
Yes, I now see that straight legs are totally wrong for my shape. I should have stayed with bootcut!

@SallyWD - Thank you for your post. Sadly I’ve never really felt confident in skirts and dresses. I always feel like I’m too bulky to get away with them somehow.
I agree on the jeans being uncomfortable sometimes. I’m okay with them out and about but as soon as I get home I’m straight into my comfort stretchy trousers!

@recklessruby - Thank you this is great advice.

@PolloDePrimavera - Thank you for your post and this is also great advice.
What is it with critical Mum’s?! Mine must be pushing around 8 stone more than me yet she feels the need to mention my weight now and again! I would never mention her weight!

@Lilkat - Thank you this is great advice. I have tried jeggings in the past though and although I found them super comfy they seemed to keep sliding down because they didn’t have belt loops. I’m not sure if it was just the pair I bought.

You could go to a 'Levi' shop and ask for their recommendations based on your shape. That's what I did. My jeans fit now where they are supposed to!!

‘Mom’ / boyfriend jeans are great IMO.

I am an hourglass so ‘curvy’ all over really, my legs have never been stick thin and probably never will be. Not massive though by any means but they’ll never be sticks and I’m ok with that. I wear skinny jeans sometimes and really don’t care, you just need to carry them with confidence.

@Ponoka7 - Thank you so much for your post. I would love to wear leggings but sadly my legs are not only fat but quite ripply with cellulite on my bum and thighs. When I've tried leggings they cling onto all my wobbly bits!
I'm so glad leggings work for you though, they are so comfy and perfect for a busy lifestyle. I just wish they worked for me.
You are spot on about some young men viewing women as just objects. These lads are nothing special to look at in my opinion, but their souls must be empty to think it's okay to treat anyone like this. I would rather be a plain but nice person than behave like they do.
I am definitely working on building my confidence this year and hoping to let these negative comments just go over my head in future. Thanks again.

@Baluga - Thank you for your kind post.

@BronteSisters - Thank you for the Matalan tip, I'm going to try there, Tesco and Tkmaxx thanks to everyone's guidance on here.
My sister is the only other person I know who has trouble with finding boots due to chunky calves, it's not just us, phew!
Thanks again.

@psychomath - Thank you for your post this is really good to know. Funnily enough I love patterned trousers but I've never been sure if they would work for me. I will feel more confident in trying some on now.
I generally like to wear a patterned top because I feel this part of me is the best it's going to get but I could try a plain top and tasteful patterned trousers instead!

@Halloweenbabyy - Thank you I agree, I don't know what I was thinking!

@potter5 - That's a great tip, thank you.

@Urkiddingright - Thank you, I've never tried this style but will now.

Of all places, Gap do a great range of jeans, and they go way past a 16. Most have stretch. If you can be arsed, try popping into one & grabbing a selection of styles & trying them. I've put on weight & cannot fit into my jeans - I'm struggling with buying bigger clothes, so living in shit things that look so scruffy. But I'm going to try some Gap ones - I think they gave 35% off full price at the moment & still have a great sale on.

You have actually inspired me to go to Gap & find a pair.

My therapist said I deserve to be wearing nice clothes, so I should buy some bits that fit me as I am now. Someone on here weirdly said the same on a thread I posted.

I think Gap do some called "curvy" which have a good bum to waist ratio.

And honestly - huge well done on your weight loss! I just weighed this morning & not shifted even a bloody ounce! 😞

Fuck them, horrible little pricks

My advice though, would be to start with your hair. Clothes are so objective and clothes that are exactly the right cut and fit are so hard to find. Take the plunge with your hair, get your nails done too and you’ll already feel more pulled together. Also I get a lot of ideas from Instagram, follow midsizestyle or whatever you think best suits you and get some tips.

Stamp on those horrible little boy's feet every time you walk past. I'm a pear, 18 on bottom with fat legs but I wear the straight leg jeans from river island because I want to. Might buy some bootleg at some point but sod what other people think.
Just think about some of the men you know, most walk around like scruffs and no one is nasty to them.

Well done on the weight loss 💪
I want to second the Levi recommendation, I rarely wear jeans as I also have a "womanly" shape, but when I do Levi's are the only ones with leg, waist and bum measurements that eliminate the gap!

I live in skirts and dresses and never felt comfortable in trousers but this thread is fantastically supportive. I feel like I could even go and buy a pair of jeans myself - and that's unheard of.

Well done on your weightloss, Happy, that's amazing.

Never mind them. Just never mind them and their tiny little brains. They never say these things when they're on their own and could be countered, do they, always at least two of the little fuckers.

I think pear shaped are quite flattering.

Just got some really flattering Lee ones in the sale. I think the better quality the more flattering - I know lee isn’t too of the range but better than a lot of “own brand” ones.

I mean boot cut!

Another one to suggest jeggings. Well done on the weight loss, very impressive! I hope you find something you like.

Relaxed skinny from Next, especially for warmer weather as they don't cling. Can't say they'll make your legs look longer or thinner but they're a comfy relaxed, modern style that look good with trainers or sandals in the summer.

Cunts. Don't give them another minute of your brain power, they're not worth it.

I'm in the 10% of women who have lipodema - fat on your legs that doesn't respond to diet or exercise. I've put on a bit of weight lately and am now a size 12 (not for long hopefully) but am usually a 10 and a healthy BMI, and do a lot of exercise including running, but still have to buy wide leg boots, have truly massive wobbly thighs, and often struggle to get my calves into slim fitting trousers. It's hateful BUT it's not my fault. The only real treatment is a special kind of liposuction which isn't generally available on the NHS and I can't afford to go private.

Anyway if your legs are disproportionate to the rest of you, you might also be in the lucky 10% - it might be something to look into. I mention this because I tortured myself about the size of my legs for years but knowing it's not my fault and I'm not just fat/lazy/greedy has made me feel a lot better about them.

Re jeans - I like Tesco contour jeans, someone mentioned them above. They have a lot of give but don't go baggy around my waist and belly. I always wear a belt with jeans or they slide down. I have some skinny jeans from Hobbs too that fit well and are very comfy. I think they're actually meant to be straight leg, but they're skinny on me

I also love skirts and dresses for work with black tights and boots.

Definitely keep wearing them!

Belts are your friend if you have a smaller waist compared to your hips/thighs. I have an elastic belt, so it's comfortable when I sit down but keeps the jeans in place when I'm walking.

My other advice is not to get super-stretchy jeans. In my experience they grow in size during the day, so that what fits well when you get dressed, looks baggy and ill-fitting by lunch time and can be positively indecent by dinner. A little stretch helps with comfort, but you don't want too much.

I like a straight fit, but I'll also wear bootcut. I'm not a fan of skinny jeans on my legs, but I don't think I'm quite the same shape as you. Either way, wear what you like and ignore the idiots who think they get to have a say in it.

Well done on the weight loss. That's a massive achievement, be proud of yourself.

I always find jeans are one of the hardest clothing items to buy. They either gape at the waist or are too baggy in the legs. Recently, I have found Next lift, shape & slim jeans are an ideal fit and very comfortable to wear all day. They are so good that I bought 3 pairs in different colours.

It may be worth you booking a session with a personal stylist as they can offer advice on what styles suit you for your body shape and also what colours suit you. Knowing you're dressed well will help with your confidence.

Most of all, ignore the negative comments and focus on the good. Good luck.

I would love to wear leggings but sadly my legs are not only fat but quite ripply with cellulite on my bum and thighs. When I've tried leggings they cling onto all my wobbly bits!

While you are in TKMaxx take a look at the sports section, they sometimes have the thicker type of exercise leggings in there and they are good at holding the wobbly bits in. Some fabrics show cellulite but I have found some in there that don't. If you can't find any that fit you can still look at the material and order online in your size. I find they are better than normal ones as they are often higher waisted too and some of them are really substantial in terms of fabric. I no longer buy any other type but you have to keep going back to find them and catch a new delivery as they appear randomly like everything else in there.

I think that good, thick leggings look better than jeggings or tight jeans, more flattering unless you are really slim. I haven't worm jeans for years apart from some boyfriend ones as I haven't found any that look good and fit at the same time, it is either one or the other, and I hate jeggings.

Worm jeans oops!!

@QueenOfOversharing - Thank you for your advice Re: Gap, I will add them to my list of places to try! I hope you find a great pair of jeans too!

@Pumperthepumper - Thank you for your advice. I desperately want to change my hair. It's awful, same style for the past 25 years. I'm so scared though that I'll end up with something worse than it is now or something drastic happening like it falling out or something! It is very curly & frizzy. I'd love a fringe and a bob style but it would mean straightening and I need the courage first. I'm working on it though!
Plus I hate hairdressers, I can't stand looking at myself in the mirror for that length of time and having to chat to a stranger! I need to get over this and grow up! It's all down to my minimal confidence.

@LangLiveThePenis - Thank you for your post. I'd love to stamp on their feet, if I could get away with it!

@Ihaveamind - Thank you, I'll definitely try levi's too, DH always buys them but for some reason I have never tried them.

@LyingWitchInTheWardrobe - Thank you for your kind words. Yes, this thread has been amazing you lovely people are all awesome!
You are so right, these comments always happen when they are in a group, safety in numbers I suppose, sad cases!

@Blacksackunderthetreesfreeze - Thank you for the Lee suggestion.

@Igottastartthinkingbee - Thank you for your post, I think I need to give jeggings another try!

@aintnothinbutagstring - Thank you for the suggestion.

@evilharpy - Thank you for your post, I am sorry to hear about your condition. I've always thought my legs were just my build as my sister is just the same but thank you for giving me something to think about.
Thank you also for the suggestions.

@bridgetreilly - Thank you for your post. I agree stretchy belts are a must have!
Thanks also for the advice.

@Geminijes - Thank you for your kind words and helpful advice.

@DontCallMeShitley - Thanks so much for your advice. I think a good days shopping and trying on is definitely called for.

River Island have some really, really comfy jeggings that look like jeans and are stretchy without being baggy, may be worth a try?

They're called 'Molly mid-rise', lots of colours :)

And well done to you for getting healthier -- those colleagues are cunts. I got taunted once by two teenage boys back when I was obese and was outside doing couch25k; it was awful being called names and I felt so ashamed.

Thankfully I used it to fuel my motivation, I lost the weight, never gained it back and now training for a marathon

Wear what you're comfortable in but most importantly, with pride.

Also of the mighty-legged contingent here. I personally don't find jeans comfortable and I don't feel they flatter me. It's may be a bit of a middle-aged look, but I tend to go for nondescript black trousers and a more flamboyant top - I feel it draws the eye to a better place (why hello, shapely bosom).

Curly hair is lovely. I think the fashion for very straight hair is waning so maybe you should embrace your curls!
I understand about jeans not fitting at the waist. My theory is that because jeans were originally menswear the manufacturers have never truly embraced the fact that women’s waists GO IN!!! I have the same issue, baggy waists on jeans that fit me elsewhere. Problem solved in my case by taking them to a local tailor who is from Turkey and totally knows his stuff and will fix the waist for a very small charge.