Please help dress this former shopaholic who has lost her way and has lots of money to spend!

[NorkyButNice]

I used to be a well proportioned, happy with my body, style-conscious dresser, but had a baby 7 months ago, acquired PND, gained a ton of weight taking anti-Ds which WILL NOT SHIFT, and my already ample norks have become ridiculously OTT.

DH is taking me away for 5 glorious nights without the children (no judging please) in 6 weeks time, and I've got nothing to wear that will fit me. We're going to a luxury hotel/restaurant in the Lakes, where I get to play dress up for afternoon tea, and dinner every day.

The norks are now about a size 18-20 (sob), waist is a 16. I'm not going to put myself under any more ridiculous pressure to lose weight in the next six weeks so that's what I'm shopping for. Stretchy fabrics (knit dresses, jersey dresses) are fine as long as I can dress them up with accessories. We've been before a few times and I've worn fitted tea dresses, or LBDs etc.

Average age of clientele is about 60 so nothing TOO eye popping (not that I could get away with it in current body condition anyway!).

No real budget - want to spoil myself, but equally don't want to spend loads when I hope not to be this size for a long time.

Thanks in advance.

How exciting!

What are your favourite body bits?

Favorite colours?

Where do you usually shop?

OOOh Norky, a lovely break AND shopping, you lucky thing! Sounds like it's all well deserved though so I'm trying not be too .

Try these websites for well made, classic pieces you will wear lots, instead of cheaper stuff: Outnet, Mywardrobe, matches.com

Some nice jersey dresses on all those sites, and very tasteful.

I would go and buy yourself lots of lovely magazines to give you some ideas for looks you like.

There's some gorgeous clothes in the shops at the minute, long floaty tops are really 'in' right now and are very flattering :)

Nothing good about body at the moment to be honest - pregnancy has a lot to answer for.

Colours - I can wear most things.

That's me right there in the middle on the Will Young webchat video ->

In my lighter days sadly!

Last time we went there I wore dresses from Joules, French Connection, Whistles...can't remember where else.

This?

This?

Don't know how tall you are, but this looks quite elegant.

nice colour.

Too high necked maybe????

The Boden Chelsea Dress - £25 in the sale - just buy all 4 different colours

It fits me and I'm an 18-20 with 36J norks.

it will still be cold in the Lake District then so lots of chunky tights, smart boots and pretty cardigans.

ooh - a bit different and could be flattering!

Also, some nice tops with skinnies and boots would be good.

Thanks for the ideas!

I love love love the Jarlo maxi dress, but it only goes up to a 14 which there's no chance my chest is fitting into at the moment sadly.

I'm 5' 10" or thereabouts.

Like the idea of the French connection frilly one but I think something so high necked would look silly with these things...

Will check out Boden too!

Am toying with buying that Jarlo maxi myself - but i already have TOO MANY maxis and am wrestling with the dilemma....

Enjoy your 5 days away. We are doing similar for 4 nights in April. Did it last year and it was amazing.

I would head to Rigby and Pellar first! They do the best underwear for big boobs. well worth spending £140 for two bras,as everything will sit so much better,and give you a better shape. It will make you look a good few pounds lighter too!
You could try Bravissimo for cheaper underwear that will fit well too. They go up to a J cup.

So Norky!!
I would consider the following:

As not yummy says, invest in some decent undies as this will make you feel instantly better.

I have this and it is very flattering on. I am wearing with leggings or opaques (am 5ft so reasonable length on me) and knee boots

www.boden.co.uk/en-GB/Womens-Tunics-Kaftans/WK641/Womens-Linen-Mix-Tunic.html

Isabella Oliver wrap dress is the one for you. tis gorgeous and sexy but understated...

I have black in this, but colours look lovely

wrap

I also bought this which is perfect:

vivienne anglomania dress

Both can be dressed up or down and they both LOVE curves..

:)

also found these at the outnet:

here

here

here

Norky where'd you go................?

Hello!

I was unexpectedly summoned to retrieve DS1 from nursery ill shortly after my last post and have been playing nursemaid since then, so sorry for disappearing!

I've just had a look at replies and have ordered the Isabella Oliver wrap dress in the blue colour - it's lovely so hopefully will flatter my many curves!

I don't have the legs for mini dresses anymore sadly - I can get away with just above the knee but not mid-thigh with these size 16 tree trunks.

I'm a proper hour glass shape really, but have no idea where to shop for the kind of dress that flatter the small waist, big boobs look!

I've got more 4 more evenings to dress for yet so any other ideas will be gratefully received!

anything useful here?
www.bravissimo.com/products/clothing

Phase Eight:

www.phase-eight.co.uk/fcp/product/warehouse/All-Sale/Marian-Trim-Dress/200802079

www.phase-eight.co.uk/fcp/product/warehouse/All-Sale/Raquel-Jersey-Dress/200924050

Norky I just bought a Flexee's Onesie and it goes beautifully under my IO Wrap dress..

here

takes you down at least one size imo..
:)

Quite rightly I've been reminded to update this thread!

I've been on a bit of a shopping spree (ignoring the credit card statement for a few days) - have had some successes and some awful failures! But have made an interesting discovery - I should just never wear trousers! Dresses and tunic/leggings are much more flattering on me.

How did it take me till reaching 30 to realise this?

Anyway - first purchase (and failure) was the Isabella Oliver wrap dress in blue - it just looked awful on me which was very disappointing as everyone else seems to rave about it. Am wondering if I ordered it in the wrong size as it just clung in all the wrong places. Although I see that MadammeC recommends something to hold you in underneath it so could give that a go I guess!

I then bought, and LOVE, this Phase Eight dress. Beautiful and very flattering.

Also checked out the Boden sale and bought a wrap dress which isn't on the site anymore, but also something which I really didn't expect to suit me, but actually love - the high neckline isn't as mono-boob forming as I feared so I may be able to explore this option in future.

There's loads more I've bought actually - I'll just put links rather than supplying a full rundown!

House of Fraser dress

In black to dress up with accessories

Bravissimo dress for afternoon tea, or dinner, depending on how much I can glam it up with shoes and jewellery.

Brora dress - I'm not sure that this is going to fit at the moment but I love the print so will give it a go and probably hide it away in the closet for a while!

I think there's more but can't remember!

Sounds like a productive shop there Norky! I love the Phase 8 Lotus dress. And think it would look great on you (having seen you in Will Young webchat).
(But you also looked OK in trousers?)

Phase 8 Janice dress

Have you looked at LK Bennett? Can't link onthis thing but the Tina dress is fab and I've seen it on a size 16 hourglass - amazing!
I think if you're an hourglass decent shapewear is crucial as we seem to be prone to going soft around the edges