What do you wear if you have a fluctuating shape?

[MareofBeasttown]

I am peri-menopausal with tummy bloat and a shape that is different every day. Find anything with a buttoned waist very uncomfortable. Lived in leggings all winter. I bought chinos for summer, but suddenly finding them very uncomfortable. I have now bought a bunch of loose smock-y dresses. But do I really have to give up waisted stuff ?

I relate to this! I seek out things with comfortable waists, so at the moment I'm wearing some loose harem style black trousers with a soft waist, I think they were from Gap a few years ago.

Also I have dresses or skirts with a soft waist, like this one from hush - www.hush-uk.com/santana-midi-skirt-green/002348-2023.html - they usually do different colours every year, I have it in rust.

I rarely wear anything with a buttoned waist now, though sometimes do to leave the house and walk to the shop or go for a walk, as they seem ok while I'm standing up, but not at all comfortable for sitting.

ps as well as the skirt above, this is the type of waist I look for on a garment - www.hush-uk.com/harem-trousers-black/000741-2822.html

You have to be careful with elasticated waists - old school ones bunch up and make you look enormous - but more smoothly stretchy waists on trousers, dresses and skirts work well for me.

I like those trousers, thanks. Am only 49. Didnt think I would adopt elasticated waists quite so soon.🙁

I'm 49 too.

It's only been in the past year that I've sought out elasticated waists.

More than anything it's been triggered by WFH during the pandemic - wearing joggers and then realising how much more comfortable I am than I used to be in 'real clothes'.

Until this thread I hadn't thought about whether that means I've properly given up other types of clothes permanently.

I need this....nothing fits, I've totally changed shape, rapidly over the last year. This weekend properly sorted out the wardrobe to what actually fits - not much!
I dutifully clicked in your link @SunglassesSeventy to find I was actually wearing those trousers.
More ideas please, I'm no longer the thin hourglass I was.

Ha @KateOr that's funny that you were wearing those trousers!

Next time I see good soft waisted clothes I'll try and remember to come back and post them here.

I need to do that type of wardrobe sort out too, I suspect not much there is that comfortable for me any more. Summer weather has given me a boost as I can wear a nice dress I have and a skirt, instead of living in my scruffy joggers.

I found this thread useful. www.mumsnet.com/Talk/style_and_beauty/4267954-how-do-you-dress-the-middle-age-thickening-waistline

Also tried on a lot of dresses and realised that the smocky Little House on the Prairie dresses make me look even wider. I look better in something with a shape and an elasticated waist, though not body con. Something like this. www.next.co.uk/g861364s1/m18170