To ask how to look classy when you’re overweight?

[OscarWildesCat]

I’ve posted about my weight before, I’m about 2 and a half stone overweight for my height, this is mainly boobs and hips/bum and I have a bit of a belly.
I think I dress well for my shape but I always feel frumpy and, well, fat. Any time I look at a woman and think she looks classy and expensive, she’s always thin. I tend to splurge on designer bags or shoes rather than clothing as I just think, what’s the point, it’ll look crap on me. What’s the secret?.
This is supposed to be light hearted musing btw.

Don't buy clothes which are too small.
You sound like you have a waist - so accentuate that, use belts. No smocky tops, no A-line dresses.
Good hair, skin, nails.
Heels.

I'm a bit overweight, similar shape and am guilty of of ignoring most of these, but I'm going to try to do better.

I have a much larger friend who always looks super classy and well dressed. I think the key for her is that she wears all black non-fussy clothes but then with a big statement necklace for example or a really nice handbag.
Her hair and make up is also always perfect which I think is important if you want to draw attention away from other parts of your body

Believe in yourself. X

Honestly, I think that if you are carrying extra weight, it's hard to do "casual" and your best bet is to dress relatively smartly. Not hide your shape or as if you're ashamed; quite the opposite. The joggers and messy bun or oversized, slouchy looks are harder to carry off, and you would do better to wear more well shaped and made clothes. And keep hair styled and makeup done, if you like wearing it.

Plus size women often have amazing skin, I've noticed.

I do make an effort with my make up (used to be a make up artist and beauty therapist) so always have gel nails and make up, hair is cut regularly and in a funky style which is often admired.
I’m definitely guilty of the smock style tops to hide my tummy. I think maybe I need a style analysis!

Dress for your shape. Not what's in fashion, you think you should wear, X celebrity wears.

Wear clothes that actually fit. Not too small or too big(I'm guilty of this one).

Try different shapes and styles with different choices of footwear.

Buy clothes that make you happy/smile. I have no style and I dress like a homeless slob most days, but a lot of my clothes bring me actually joy(normally cat themed... no style remember? ). I get excited at the thought of wearing them and make me smile/laugh even when I see my big overgrown potato shape in the mirror.

Remember that it's not an either /or situation. You're not classy or frumpy. There's many options in between... find yours. Which is similar to point one. Dress for you, your body, your personality, your taste not who you think you should be/look like.

Have a look online at some plus size models for some inspiration.

@ShebaShimmyShake I definitely can’t do casual, I wish I could, I just look scruffy. Thin women can go out in jeans and a plain top, I have to make the effort daily. It’s exhausting!

If you have a defined waist, smock tops are the worst thing you could wear. (Great if you're an apple with good legs and slim hips.) Retro and vintage places are often cut for curves, so try those. Cropped cardigans are good for showing off a waist. Try tucking your tops in.

I have a friend who’s 5’9” and about 2stone overweight but, like you, she’s an hourglass and looks very elegant and expensive.

I think it’s a combination of good grooming, well chosen accessories and well fitting clothes plus, a confident and happy attitude. She looks fantastic and still turns heads.

I'm like this op...i always manage to look slightly 'barmaid' if you see what I mean in certain outfits which would look classier on a slimmer woman.

Groom well, chose your accessories, always carry a large handbag.

Don't wear clothes that are too big, black is your best friend and invest in some decent underwear/shapewear. I am 17.5 stone and 5 ft 4 and I genuinely believe (despite knowing I need to lose weight) that I look great. I always make sure that because I am overweight, that I go out always looking and feeling great.

Get things that are well cut. Nobody ever regretted having a beautifully cut winter coat compared to a nylon parka.

Get things altered to fit you - a shirt that fits the largest part of you might be too loose around your neck or the sleeves too long. We still have tailors in various little shops round here and M&S outsource their Men's Suits to local independents - so I use the one that they do (which, conveniently enough, is the nearest to my house).

Get underwear that fits you and doesn't show through - flesh toned and seamfree are really useful and comfortable. Wearing a chemise underneath a not-quite-opaque shirt makes it look more expensive purely because you can't see the bra straps.

And be picky. Don't get things because they're in your size (which isn't going to be that big anyway), get them because the material feels good, the seams are well constructed, the cut suits you or can be easily adjusted by said tailor. And the colour must suit your skin and hair tone.

Oh, and the obvious, hair, teeth and nails.

I am a lot bigger and, although I'm never going to look classy, I'm determined to not look scraggy.

You've got the money if you can spend out on handbags and shoes - put that next £700 or so into the rest of you and you won't regret it.

[quote OscarWildesCat]@ShebaShimmyShake I definitely can’t do casual, I wish I could, I just look scruffy. Thin women can go out in jeans and a plain top, I have to make the effort daily. It’s exhausting![/quote]
I learned it from Trinny and Susannah They said that curvy women just can't do casual and have to accept that they always need to be glammed up a bit more. When your figure is a bit eye popping, the only way to make it work is to roll with it.

And...they were right. They always were. It's no bad thing, though. It's nice feeling a little bit film star.

(...she says, in lockdown uniform of slobby old leggings and holey T shirt....)

I definitely can’t do casual, I wish I could, I just look scruffy. Thin women can go out in jeans and a plain top, I have to make the effort daily. It’s exhausting!

I have a friend who is a size 24...she always looks amazing but she never has an off day. Outfit is well chosen..usually a dress, nice shoes, nothing old or tatty. Hair always clean and styled. Full face of make up. She looks good but you never see her in old ripped jeans, plain t shirt and hair in a messy bun, which could look so stylish on a thin, gorgeous twenty something.

@ShebaShimmyShake totally agree, I have never been able to pull off casual. I haven't owned a pair of jeans in my adult life!

@ShebaShimmyShake I bloody loved T and S, I had all the books 😬....

I swear the entire premise of that programme was built around 'And now the shot where Susannah grabs the woman's tits and shoves them up in her face...'

Definitely agree with dressing that bit smarter. I know people who are bigger who try to hide their figure in shapeless baggy clothes and it just makes them look a thousand times worse. Fitted clothes are actually much better, as long as they accentuate the good bits.

@MitziK

I swear the entire premise of that programme was built around 'And now the shot where Susannah grabs the woman's tits and shoves them up in her face...'

She was right, though. Up and at 'em. It's the only thing to do if you have huge boobs.

Good posture. Don't slump.

Carry yourself with confidence

I learned it from Trinny and Susannah

I stopped "believing" them when they put a woman with a large overhang (which I also have) in a clingy bias-cut skirt which accentuated it horribly. I felt so sorry for her (and vowed never to buy a clingy bias-cut skirt!).

Of course you can do casual if you're overweight. It's about finding the right cut of jeans, the right neckline on a T-shirt with a decent fitting bra underneath. Look for a long line linen or similar cardigan that swishes and choose your footwear carefully. No one needs to look glammed up/smart all the time if you understand the basics of what works for you.

op i'm sure you look classy if you act classy and believe in yourself! who do you look at for inspo, maybe kirsty from location location? she's quite classy imo.

I think nice jewellery, plus not being scared to show off a bit of cleavage and nice legs - not necessarily at the same time. I saw some pics recently of a very beautiful woman who would probably be classed as overweight but she was wearing a bustier type evening wear thing and looked just stunning. Also at the beach - a swimming costume plus those beach wrap things are gorgeous and good for body confidence.