Lost my style mojo-please tell me how to dress until I lose this weight

[racingmind]

Ok about 2-3 stone ago I used to love wearing nice clothes. They are now mostly in boxes under my bed patiently waiting until I lose this weight (am doing weight watchers and walking a lot, lst 9lb since beginning December). I was always a bit pear shaped but am now just big all over, a larger size 14- I know that doesnt sound that big but am really out of shape and flabby with it.

I am in a total style crisis in the mean time as I only have 2 pairs of ill fitting jeans (baggy at waist tight on thighs- thighs are huge) and a few baggy grey or black tops (I only wear "winter" colours) and I am just a total frump.

I am quite tall but have a long back and short fat legs (did I mention the huge thighs). I have always worn jeans all the time but now have real problems with the waist/ thigh ratio thing as described above. I love what I suppose you would describe as slightly boho /vintagey style but don't know how you do it at my size.

Any of you ladies have any suggestions?? Oh and I don't have much spare cash but I desperately need some clothes that will do me until I'm a bit slimmer and can unpack those boxes. Thanks soooo much if you can help at all it would be much appriciated as this i getting me down

If you are always in jeans, how about a dress?
To go with jeans expensive but pretty or something like this?

If I were you I would visit your local charity shops to tide you over,some real bargains to be had in some of them,I know as I picked some up a week ago.

Then you can get your vintagey fix at minimal cost.

TBH if you are loosing weight and the fact it's winter I would just ride this period through if money is an issue.I currently am really struggling with the tightness of my clothes but I refuse to buy new stuff,so had a quick trawl of charity shops and just make sure I have a long coat on when doing school run.

Just the thought of getting back into a vast wardrobe of clothes is enough to make me think it's ok living in 2 pairs of jeans and a couple of tops until I can fit into everything else.

Thank you both.

Great suggestions hotburrito, of course its the £120 top I really like! I think quietohsoquiet you are right and I do look in the charity shops and the sales at the moment.

I think I will at least invest in some better fitting jeans from one or the other as the ones I am wearing are sliding down my bum like a teenage boy whilst barely fitting round my thighs.

If you are committed to losing weight and have lots of clothes waiting to be worn again, then I wouldn't spend too much but a few cleverly chosen pieces could see you through until you can get back into them.

Pair of black leggings or thick black tights (v forgiving on those of us not blessed in the thigh area)
Tunic dress or jumper dress (can probably pick up in the sale this time of year - Next had lots)
Dark rinse well fitting straight leg jeans (M&S, Dorothy Perkins, Next all do quite cheap ones)
2-3 scoop neck 3/4 sleeve or long sleeve tops in colours that you like (Primark, M&S sale will be a staring point)

You may well have cardigans and things that you can already get back into - wear them open if they don't quite fasten up yet.

Well done with weight loss to date.

Wow thanks scarlet! Great advice, thats really thoughtful of you.

I wonder if any of you know where I could buy good (ie not stretchy nylon) knee length boots for my chunky calves (they are still chunky even when I am slimmer)? To wear with the leggings/ tunic dress combo etc.

Wow racingmind you have described my current predicament in every detail (size, shape and colour).

I currently have 2 pairs of jeans which just about 'fit' and a very small selection of boring long sleeved Ts and cashmere cardies which are seeing me through this fat phase.

Do you think you could wear leggings?
I have always found them incredibly unflattering and tend to stick to wide legged / bootcut or flared trousers to try and lengthen my short legs and disguise the saddlebags.
I suspect they aren't particularly 'on trend' but that doesn't bother me in the slightest, would rather try and wear something to suit my bodyshape.

Am clinging onto your thread in the hope of some amazing advice and can only offer Duo boots in answer to one of your questions.

Apart from being tall, you are me!

Oh and I'm not really losing weight though, but I may well stop eating cakes sometime soon!

Reading advice with interest

Marking my place as I am in the same boat.

Watching with interest too!

Am short and round but need to lose the same as you - 8lb down so far this year but still not enough to wear anything I own!

Oh and good luck with WW, racingmind.

lakeflypie- have worn leggings in the past with dresses just above the knee and knee length boots to disguise my legs- this was when i was slimmer mind, and the boot has to have a slight heel. Also wear them with more summery dresses and sandals. I dont think i look fantastic in them but I could NEVER go bare legged. As for boot legged jeans I bought some yesterday but some people say they are really frumpy. I prefer more of a kick flare really but then i have to balance my leg out with a higher heel- my legs are super super short.

Thanks for the tip about the boots, wish they sold them in shops to try on as well tho!

The weight loss ain't easy ladies but I get so frustrated thinking about all my clothes and how good i used to look- thought I was too big back then as well- my god, none of my jeans (some bought only 8/9 months or so ago) even get past my knees! Tops have often been ever so slightly too short as all my height is in my back and I know have an unfortunate roll of flab to factor into this- it sucks! I often think women who are bigger but at least in proportion look great and I do think apples are easier to dress than short legged pairs but i guess we all want what we don't have.

*pears sorry- am a short legged pear shape, there isn't 2 of me

Also watching with interest - need to lose weight and am currently wearing the same 5 things in rotation.

Evans is a useful bargain basement option for knee boots that fit chunky calves.

marking my place too, am a size 14 apple shape, i spend a fair bit of money on clothes think i look good and then realise after several wears that i look a mess, in my head i'm still skinny but forget that my shape & size has changed after 3 children, my youngest is 2yrs next month so i can't use that excuse that i've not long had a baby. I have a few outfits that i feel ok in so i'm just going to rotate them, am going to have a big clear out this afternoon of all the items i wear and feel rubbish in, i have some nice well fitting boot cut jeans that i feel good in and yet i feel like i'm committing a crime if i wear them as they are so hated on here. I give up with skinny jeans they all go baggy after a couple of hours. And i know leggings and tunics are popular but i don't feel good in them at all. It doesn't help i had my long hair cut into a short bob before xmas and i can't style it, think it actually looks mumsy, so last week i went to another expensive salon to see what they could do without taking too much off and now i hate it even more.

Dorothy Perkins has a mammoth sale on at the moment with loads of dresses for real bargain prices. DP generally quite generously cut I think - worth a look perhaps?

If you are not sure what will flatter your shape you could try Dressipi - you put in your measurements and it says what sort of things should go well with your shape and what to avoid.

It can be a bit wacky on the recommendations front (things that apparently suit my shape but are not at all to my taste) so you do have to train it a bit by hitting "like" and "dislike".

Maxi skirts. Layer vests underneath deep v- neck fitted jumpers that end around hip level. You then only have to get calf length boots which are much easier to find. You don't have to worry about arse cleavage or boots and can layer over a denim jacket if you still need a denim fix. Keep skirts slim A-line to detract from the thighs. Don't buy bias cut.

If you know where to find any deep v-neck fitted jumpers that end at hip level do please let me know QC! I have just noticed a hole in my favourite jumper and I'm looking for a replacement.

AAArgh the bootleg jeans I just bought are too long and i really really dont have time to change them- can i tell myself this is just going to elongate my stumpy little legs and doesn't matter if I only wear them with highish heeled boots (would never wear flats with anything other than straight or skinny jeans anyway) so they dont drag along the ground?

hi

i did thread on here somewhere and on that someone linked to another thread in the same vein! i got loads and loads of brilliant advice - and im about the same size as you OP, a size 14. I just got some dresses for the first time in my life, in the sales, got some jumper dresses from Dorothy perks, and a couple from the great plains sale. i also like skinny jeans, with longer length tops (im widest at my hips so i like tops that are a bit longer)

have a look and check out the other thread that was linked from it

good luck! i had loads of fun shopping - i did most of it on the internet!

btw - if you can bring yourself to try skinny jeans (dont laugh - they are actually very very flattering with the right length top) they tend to be stretchy, so would perhaps be better for you thigh/waist thing that you have going on a the min - i got several pairs of skinnys from dotty p and im a total convert. They make my legs look very long and very lean! especially with heels or knee high boots.

Wrt boots - I am wide of calf too :) ...Clarks do some knee highs in a wide leg size. They're surprisingly nice! I got some this winter and live in them. I got the brown here - they are a lot lighter in the flesh tho

Sorry not been able topost for a few days but thanks allor your help and great suggestions. Got weighed yesterday and have put weight back on so going to be fat for a while yet. xx

Well done on weight loss, especially over Christmas period. I would absolutely check out charity shops that get good donations.

Have just seen your last post. Don't be disheartened. Just start again from now.