A huge makeover.

[alessthandomesticgoddess]

I am bloody sick of looking fat, frumpy, tired and generally unattractive. I am 5ft10in, a size 18 with deflated 38D boobs, a big tummy, big hips and big thighs. I'm dieting and exercising four times a week to combat this but I need help.

I'm a whiz with make-up but not style. What counts ad a good, polished and classy look for every day (school run, shopping, bill paying, park etc)? Can someone put me together a few outfits in words and I can see if I have similar things?

Also I'm blonde with a collarbone length bob. I want to go chocolate brown, get hair extensions and have them cut in by a professional. I've alaays home bleached/dyed my hair but haven't tried these foam dyes. Are they worth it or should I stick to my Garnier colours?

Skinny or straight leg jeans, blazer, scarf, nice bag.

Sorry to disagree but skinny jeans will make you look like a bo-bo-doll...you need a wide straight leg or boot cut to balance out your hips and thighs. yy to blazers, get them so they fall a couple of inches longer than your waistband but with a tailoring detail from the back (ie not straight boyfriend style), that way it will re-create a waist from the bach and the sides while the lapels streamline from the front. Plain v neck tops and fine knit cowl neck jumpers are your friend. And you also need a few dresses - go for knee length, empire line dresses and they can be worn with leggings/tights and boots now and sandals/pumps in the summer.

Foam dyes are exactly the same as the regular ones - just a foam instead of a gel/cream so if you aren't one of those people who spills and splaters all over the bathroom floor I wouln't bother switching from the dye you trust. If you get extensions either a. pay top dollar and get prper professional ones done or b. get clip ins. The clip ins can still be cut into the hair, heat styled etc but they won't damage your hair like sewn/glued in ones can. get good ones and they aren't detectable at all.

I loathe extensions but if you do get them do as Mrs M says and pay top top dollar for them.

I'll be getting clip ins cut in to my own hair and labelled so I can still wear my hair in a bob (when I get it trimmed).

Empire lines dresses don't look good on anyone IMHO.

dresses and opaque tights are the way to go especially now that spring is on is here. It's still chilly so long line cardi (blazer for dressier days) over the top, uniqlo heat vest underneath.

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btw ... are you sure you're a 38D? I thoroughly recommend Bravissimo for ladies with an ample chest ... they really know how to fit bras and wearing the right size makes a world of difference

vonnyh for an apple (which is what domestic goddess seemed to describe) empire lines (ie snug under the bust) tend to be the most flattering - a natural waist can make an apple like a pork joint (lots of bulges) and a drop waist can make an apple look like santa!

totally second woowoo - boobs hoisted in the right place makes a massive difference.

I am watching this thread avidly for tips as am also a size 18 but more pear shaped with massive thunder thighs and cankles so any advice for me would be gratefully received!

Agree empire line looks rubbish on everyone, except the very skinny and then TBH if you are very slim you can do a LOT better than empire.

Accept that you are a size 18 and dress in clothes you like is far better advice than wearing unfashionable stuff just because it is vaguely more flattering.

Mostly agree with Mrs M.

Wide leg trousers balance out the hips.(Wallis have a wide leg dark denim jean at the moment that looks quite nice with heals or flats) I tend to go with a more fitted top (my boobs are bigger then Jordan's if that helps with any anxiety over that one!). I am a devote of cross over or V neck styles in tops or dresses as showing a little skin in this area tends to balance things out.

I have a smallish waist and so like to wear a belt to show that off, but only if its not a completely fitted outfit.

The tops of my arms are huge (I come from farming stock), and so like to cover these, but tend to over heat a lot. Although I do wear long sleeved stuff, I do like a cap or float sleeve.

Definitely agree with the poster regarding Bramissimo. With boobs like mine, its easy to look like they are sitting on my knee caps. The correct scaffolding will help in your overall shape.

I do wear empire line dresses and have a few nice tea dresses as well. But all my winter/autumn dresses tend to be on the knee or just above, and so I stop looking like my grandmother (as can happen).

Have you considered maxi dresses? I have two (a royal blue one with red and white from New Look last year), that every one comments on and is so basic. Again cross over, with the corseting under the boob, giving the illusion of a slight waist and then skimming over the wobble bits.

HHC I have huge calf's so tend to wear shoes rather then boots (sigh). But mid calf boots might be an idea. If you like tunic tops, make sure they are longish. Even go for a dress with dark tights.

I'm not sure about long cardigans. They tend to just make me look one shape, and I think creating a shape to your body is important.

Hope this helps.

You can get an empire line and still be fashionable. Telling people they look good in whatever they like is what leads to women in bodycon dresses when they are a size 12 and muffin tops etc! These dresses are fashionable (though personally I think it is more important to be stylish than fashionable) and flattering on a larger figure:
blue polka dot
jade jersey
frills

I was measured at a 38D but my boobs aren't massive at all. Hu I have to wear a padded bra to make them resemble a 'full' D cup.

I dyed my platinum blonde hair back to it's natural mid-brown this evening. I don't know what to think. I look older (not a problem as I'm in my early twenties) and I can let my hair get to a decent quality now I don't need bleach.

I have a slim waist (well, slimmer than the rest of me) but have lumps at the love handles and then another lump at the hip. So I'm all bulgy bulgy but have a feminine silhouette iyswim.

Then you need decent (ie right up to the bra-line) knickers and dresses that nip in at the waist - wrap dresses will be perfect.

Dare I mention granny knickers? I have a couple of pairs to iron out the lumps and bumps when wearing dresses. Otherwise people just have to make do and mend!

I just bought a floaty shift dress (sleeveless, so will be wearing a cardi with it!), that has a narrow belt. The belt is clearly there for show, but it helps to show off the narrow part of me. In fact I have found shift dresses look ok on me. Something I didn't consider.

Have you also thought about colour? Certain colours work really well on me, and I tend to buy something I wouldn't always get because of the colour (I don't do changing rooms), and see if I'm surprised. A Royal Blue dress, that I think is a little to fussy for me always gets comments.

I should also add that I am not, by any means, a 'style queen'. I also could do with an injection of something.

Your height is a real asset - I'd give anything to be as tall as that

I would recommend:

• Control briefs
• well fitting bra (sounds like you have this sorted)
• Wrap dresses, v neck, flattering on curvy figure and if has draping/'knot' effect at waist to conceal tummy area so much the better. (NB if self conscious about wearing alone, a very short cropped 'shrug' on top can create illusion of smaller middle, dunno why but seems to work for me)
• Straight leg jeans and long straight tunic knits with skinny scarf to create vertical line
• Straight leg jeans / trousers with fitted jersey blazer and simple scoop neck tee underneath. Again, add nice colourful scarf and / or long beads (I like Joules for scaves & beads)
• As above but with long line cardi instead of blazer
• Bright opaque tights, boots, straight denim mini, thin layering tee and casual 'boyfriend' cardi (something with a vertical rib will draw the eye up and down and accentuate your height). Would also work with blazer and longline cardi, or with long tee with short shrug layered over.

I find, when I have podge going on around the middle, that I either need to make an in and out silhouette, or to bridge the gap between top and bottom halves - hence my love of all things longline. Don't just do 'generally baggy'.

HTH.

PS 18 is not huge and I bet you look 100% better than you think you do ;)

sorry x posts - someone else got in on the control briefs while I was typing :)

Mrsmartin - I assume size 12 is a typo? Surely anyone who is a size 12 can wear a bodycon dress if they want, it's by no means a large size.

What's your best bit, OP? Legs? Shoulders?

Big scarves a good and cheap way of making jeans/tee/blazer look like a well considered outfit. Zara have a great choice and not too £££.

I'd be wary of going brunette, you will feel even more frumpy once yr not a blonde bombshell.

I wish I had your height!

I put an outfit together earlier and felt it looked good. Bug granny knickers with a black jersey knee length wrap dress, a long grey crotched waistcoat , steel grey heeled boots and a knitted beret. I thought I looked acceptable.

And I bet you looked wonderful. The one thing you can't buy is confidence. Feel good, because I know you look it.