style help needed for a plus size fortysomething

[GnomeDePlume]

Hi, I'm looking for help here please.

.

I'm going to have to start looking for a new job soon. For the last couple of years I have worked from home so I guess my normal workwear isnt going to cut the mustard.

Are there any tips on how/where to get a good, professional wardrobe together please? I'm short and wide and a funny shape so I am looking for guidance on how to dress well.

All suggestions gratefully received.

Buy things that don't need ironing! You'll have less time than before if you're going back to work.

What do you feel more comfy and confident in, dress/skirt/trousers? Have you ever had your colours done? It's a huge confidence booster, and a good thing to go and do before you buy new stuff, it helps you put together a capsule wardrobe.

Despite the slating that Trinny and Susannah got in the end, I do think they had some good points. For example, make sure that whatever you buy, it gives you some shape - if you think you're 'waistless' (like me), then give yourself a waist by using the right tops or dresses that go in somewhere between hips and bust to create curves rather than bulk.

How about scanning Amazon for a style advice book? Or, if you have your colours done as a first step, ask the advisor to recommend one. They often offer far more services as well as colour analysis, and will usually offer you tips for nothing!

make appointments with the personal shoppers at your local departments stores

don't buy too much to start off with, just the basics.

what kind of job are you looking for ? i mean how smart will you need to be?

Hi Gnome
What sort of price range are you looking at? I am nearly 50 and a size 22 but tallish at 5ft 8 and size 8 feet etc and if I want something really nice and smart I usually look on the Spirito d'Artigiano site. Things there are pretty steep, but I often have good luck waiting till sale time and then I quickly order something I've had my eye on for weeks! Also M&S, might be good if you're shorter as they do variety of lengths. Quite good basic stuff like shirts and jersey tops and cardigans from Lands End and they will often hem the trousers for you at the right length for you. You can also be lucky in much more reasonable places like George at Asda.
It's not easy being larger!

Watching with interest - similar position here.

Personal shoppers in department stores no good as department stores don't go over a size 20.

ancient thread here. the links wont work any more i guess but there might be some useful ideas.......

i wonder what happened to twin set and pearls as she was great on fashion for curvy women...

i bet there are lots of fashion blogs for plus size women as they are so neglected by " mainstream" fashion. have you searched t'internet?

How plus size are you - if you're just plus size ie. a 20/22 then Boden jersey or wool dresses (in the sale not full price) are your friend.

Along with fitted knee high boots and long (not waterfall) cardigans.

If you hang them up straight out the washing machine you won't need to iron them. Monsoon and Dorothy Perkins also usually have jersey dresses.

what sort of environment will you be working in?

I think a well cut jacket that really fits is the cornerstone of it, especially for size 16+. Jersey dresses in neutral colours, concentrate on accessories?

Unless you are into that whole Lagenlook thing. I have a friend, early forties, size 20ish who always looks brilliant - and surprisingly funky and youthful in that kind of stuff, she's developed a real signature style. Again it's all about the accessories.

Thanks for all this. I have had my colours done so colour isnt so much of the problem. The difficulty is that I am broad across the shoulders and narrower around the hips. Basically I look like a former rugby player! At the moment I am in size 20 jeans and size 26 top (yup, a funny shape!). I am upside down compared to the normal female shape so I'm best with lighter coloured trousers and darker tops to kind of balance things out. Long tops make my legs look too short

There is no issue with budget. My preference is for simple shapes and plain colours. I do like formal and will need formal (suit or something similar) for work. I prefer to wear natural fabrics (wool, cotton, linnen) rather than man-made.

I guess that what I would like are a couple of suits plus a couple of pairs of trousers (never, ever skirts or dresses) plus some suitable shirts or blouses.

Am I looking at tailoring? Are their tailors for women around? God this is so complicated!

Ok, with such different top and bottom sizes you'll need seperates I suppose. Have you had a look at the 1647 website, they go up well past a 26.

And if money is no object (yay!) for very smart clothes, Marina rinaldi has some lovely things.

I'm on a phone so I can't do links but both of those are websites.

Yes, to getting a dressmaker to do you nice things, I don't have a recommendation though.

thank you, no worries about links, I will go surfing

Elena miro and Anna scholz are recommended labels for plus size

Btw I am also top heavy and don't consider myself the opposite of the normal feminine shape!!! But I agree it's a hard shape to dress without looking middle aged

I'm also wider at the top than the bottom. Deep V necklines and 3/4 sleeves are great. I think it's great you've had your colours done, I have always found it sad that so many bigger women dress so much in black. Slate/darkish teal/ purple/chocolate can all be beautiful neutrals that are easily set off by nice accessories.

I second the Anna Scholz recommendation, there's a huge sale on the website at the moment, though I'm not sure how much of it is good for work. You need to discriminate a bit (lots of rubbish on there) but I think Simply Be can be pretty good in places too.

Get good underwear!! (Or 'foundation garments', as my granny used to call them.)

There's also a fab blog here that's great inspirational reading, whatever your shape and size.

Thanks for all of this, I will take a look at the recommendations. I am also thinking of getting a suit made for interviews.

My problem is that I am no good at working out what are good accessories. I will have to get DD1 to advise.

Will come back to this later, because it's very close to my heart, but don't forget Marina Rinaldi (plus size label from Max mara)if money not too much of an issue. I wore their stuff through my working in an office years. Not sure where you're based, but the Bond St shop is the best source here - must admit the big Italian stores in Milan and Rome have a better selection, though.

I also have some Elena Miro but prefer Marina R. If you're near London, or could be, there's a shop called Beige Plus in Chancery Lane, which stocks both labels and a range of others, and specialises in plus size work wear.

On accessories, I find life much easier because can get them from anywhere, with size being no problem. Boden do good belts (where size is an issue) up to 22 or more, btw - I have qute a collection.

On blogs, you may also like to have a look at Rubenisstas - quite quirky and personal, but some good ideas.

Just had a chance to read over previous comments. Some good advice there.

Agree there's probably little point in a personal shopper,as I've never yet found (and, believe me, I've looked) a department store that has a reasonable slection of plus size clothes which are not cheap and nasty. Harrods have a recently much reduced (in size) dept., but they have also made the stock (even more) dull and frumpy. Guess you might find a plain, dark Marina Rinaldi suit there if lucky. Some stores stock Chesca, which are hideous, and not work-friendly.

On bottoms, it would be worth having a look at Boden, who now do up to 22, and have some wool trousers. Could be worn with a jacket from elsewhere, eg Marina Rinaldi.

M and S Autograph trousers may also be worth exploring - I've got quite a few of their dresses, which go to 22.

On 1647, they are truly horrendous - one of the best arguments for weight-loss around, though Evans do quite well in that respect too.

On Spirito di Artigiano, interested to see it recommended and in what you think of them. I've bought some basics there in the past and there are still a few relatively innocuous T-shirts/ under-pieces on the site. But they have, IMHO, become ever more frumpy and now stock mainly the sort of things I try to avoid, eg trousers which are far too baggy, and vast shapeless 'over-size' jumpers. Like others, I think definition, not 'ship in full sail effect' is needed. They also have pull-on tousers ...

Poetry and Wrap have some nice things and go up to 24 and 22 respectively - have bought a couple of pretty summer tunics from them. But think they are mostly casual/ floaty rather than work-y.

Anna Scholz have great PR and a lot of press coverage but, on the few occasions I've ordered something from there (their hectic bright prints and would-be but aren't quite funky things not really to my taste) have returned them. The quality is not good,in my experience, despite the price. If you're spending that money, Marina Rinaldi a safer bet as quality is excellent. You could probably afford to fly to Italy (where Rinaldi cheaper) as well on AS prices !

Someone mentioned underpinning. Sure you already know the value of a great bra. Really recommend Prima Donna - my favourite is Deauville range. Pretty and effective.

Interested in your idea of having something made, though haven't tried it myself.

Good hunting!

polyhymnia thank you very much for all of the useful insights. Big bold tops do absolutely nothing for me - I look even more like a beach ball on top than normal.

I have looked at tailoring and think that this may be the direction I go in for my interview suit. I will also look at getting refitted for a bra.