time for my annual springtime meltdown. Please someone help me this year!

[lifeissweet]

Here's a challenge for you...

I love the summer, but have major sartorial issues. I am 5'5, 32 years old and a size 12. I am quite curvy with 34DD boobage and a big arse, with a relatively small waist. In winter this is fine. However, in the Summer I face the same problem every year, which is that my limbs are a hideous nightmare. I am stupidly pale, but in a pinky, blotchy way rather than a milky, alabaster way. I am also blessed with legs that look like those donner kebab spinning meat things. I have fat, lumpy knees and my calves are huge.

My shoulders are good, but the tops of arms are flabby vileness.

In short, I need everything covered up, but in a way that still allows me to not overheat and not look like a dumpy, frumpy tent.

Bottom halves stump me the most. How do I cover my legs without maxi skirts (I'm too short and large of rear).

Please somebody help. I can't go through another Summer of hell. A year's supply of pombears to anyone with a solution .

Ok. I may have the solution, but I don't want any pombears for it!

What about trying some chino's? They have been on trend for a couple of seasons now.

Make sure they are rolled up, and then wear with ballet flats, wedges, and sandels. New Look have some excellent ones too, but they do go quite baggy after one wear and so need re-washing each time.

Personally, I do invest in good t-shirts as I find that a good shape with the chino's stops any tent-ness that you might get. I find Whistles, Jigsaw and Kew all good quality.

Have you tried using some gradual every day fake tan for your legs, such as Johnsons holiday skin? It's very subtle and just gives a little bit of colour.

Not bad, not bad. I'll give it a go, thanks so much. Fake tan, however, just doesn't work on me and I've tried most kinds. To be honest it wouldn't matter too much if it did, as my legs will never see the light of day due to their supremely ugly shape.

Dont be so harsh on yourself lifeissweet! I do however empathise as I hate to show my fat knees. Last year I got some long shorts -on the knee one in linen from fatface and one pair in denim from white stuff. I felt presentable and will wear this summer.I share your pain!