I'm feeling porky but need to buy a dress - can someone help me disguise my fatness?

[sweetheart]

I've stacked on rather a lot of weight this year, was hoping to loose it before xmas but it's become a loosing battle which I will address next year.

In the meantime I have a work xmas do next week which I need to get something for (as nothing in my wardrobe fits any more!!!)

It's a lunctime into evening thing, starting at a quite posh London restuarant probably going to several bars in nice hotels along the way and ending up who knows where.

I think a size 12 would be ok (I bloomin well hope so anyway!!!!)

Area's to disguise are belly, arse, thighs (i'm naturally a pear shape). Nothing strapless please as I'll freeze!!!!!! Oh and nothing black either. Budget, up to £100.

Maybe I should just wear a sack and be done with it!

Oasis have 40% off their partywear...here A few very nice non-black items...

Fake tan, no carbs for 48 hours and a pair of spanx are my fail safe, so spend £40 on those and that leaves you £60 for a dress

this?

Ahhh I can't stand those hold you in under garment things - they are so uncomfortable and generally just push the fat into other areas. I'd rather look fat and be comfy then sit uncomfortably and spend half the time pulling at the bloomin thing!

Thanks gilly - will check it out.
RH I'm affraid that dress looks a bit frumpy to me - sorry!

What height are you? Are you tall enough to go with a tux (poss with a strappy top underneath or nothing) and long trousers (either floaty or cigarette) and then a fuck off bit of bling in your decolletage??

I just bought a navy, silk effect shift from ( ahem) Tesco for a tenner. It's got burgundy/ red and mustard/ beige splodges on it. Not normally my style as I am large of nork and have lots of baby weight to lose, but thought it could be styled so many ways - navy opaques/ grey woolies, complimenting/ totally clashing skinny belt, long-sleeve top underneath- various colours and or Cardigan in sleek or textured fabric depending on tights choice, fat bead necklace. And topped ( or bottomed) off with a very fabulous pair of platforms.
Can't link to the dress but have seen lots of variations around.

Otherwise how about a high-waisted, wide-leg pant with a lurex/ sequin top and fab shoes and bag?

Great Plains dresses drape really well so are flattering on curves.

I'm 5ft 5.5 Inches, I've worn a wiastcoat a couple of times and always look back on photos and think I look like a lesbian - I've just had my hair cut quite short too so I think I need to go with something a bit more feminie.

I'm off to check out the tesco website

Size 12 is not fat at 5'5. Go for something that looks great- channel holly willoughby.

Thanks MrsH - the style of that looks ok but I'm not keen on the pattern. I don't really do patterns very well

Agree with talkingnonsense you are not fat!

This very pretty.

this in cobalt or purple?
navy biba
purple sheer sleeves

Spanx are really comfy, don't ride up or down and don't create any lumps of displaced flesh...I don't know how but they don't. I wear them under anything slinky and when I was trying to lose baby weight they were brilliant under any clothes. You need the boobs to knees ones. Give them a try, you have nothing to lose (no pun intended)

F&F Oriental Print shift. No faux silk knots on it I promise!

don't go for no carbs for 48 hours, and then a boozy do! You'll get very drunk very quickly and snog the intern...!

Thanks for the comments - I've gone from being a tonned 8-10 to a flabby 12 so I feel very porky at the moment.

Mrs H I can't open your link.
F&F - not sure if the mary portas one will be a bit shapeless and I'm not keen on the style of the biba one but nice colours on both. The 3rd dress you linked to is very similar to one that my colleague is wearing already.

I saw this which I quite like, typical it's pretty muc sold out!

This is the one I linked to on J lewis, not there anymore, from Oasis.

This was linked on another thread, the one you linked reminded me.

The Boden maxi dress in purple pattern fitted the bill for me - if there are any left they are reduced in the sale. Nice low neck, very comfy and covered a multitude of soon to be tackled sins.

www.zara.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/category/uk/en/zara-I2011/122017/Dresses some nice ones on here.

Yes!!! I bought the ultimate fat-hiding, flattering dress from Coast.

here

I had a sudden epiphany while out shopping that I am now too old and too fat for TopShop/Miss Selfridges/Hennes

Oh - I'm a pear shaped 5' 5" size 12 too.

The dress I linked to is black but it comes in a few lovely colours

ohhh I quite like the Oasis one - not 100% about the tie round the waist and I think it might be a tiny bit short - unless the model is super tall!

I will check out Zara thanks - although their sizes always seem really small which I find very depressing when I have to squeeze into an extra large

not sure about the coast one - colours are fab and it looks nice but I'm not sure about the neckline.

I'm being fussy aren't I!!!
I think I'm going to need to try on as I think I'll have to go for something different to my normal style.

I've just bought 3 dresses in East. They had some really nice things. I kind of wanted day dresses that can be glammed up rather than just evening dressy type of things.