Help me for once look decent at a wedding

[madmouse]

I'm attending a friend's wedding in May and I'm fed up of always looking drab and underdressed. I'm very overweight but emerging from a difficult time and finally accepting myself as I am which I hope in the long run will help me shed some weight.

I'm a size 20 now, large-ish breasts, relatively small waist (if there is such thing at a size 20!) and a pear shape. 5'5 and not the prettiest of legs.

Help. What kind of thing would be good to wear?

I like this Kaliko maxi. This one is nice too, though it's a bit less forgiving.

Thank you! I'd need to be very brave to wear that but I do like it

episode
royal blue
navy/white wrap
purple
floral
blocking
black

Hi madmouse

Phase Eight do size 20 in a lot of their dresses and their styles are quite forgiving. They also regularly have sale dresses, have a look on their website or go to John Lewis where you can have a good look without being 'helped' by shop assistants

Thanks for the suggestions, especially Fauxfox

Have decided to ask a friend to come shopping with me. Both to stop me making mistakes and to stop me bottling it!

Have a look at the Clements Ribiero collection for Evans-

Something like this or this would be gorgeous and emphasise your hourglass shape.

Have you looked at Pepperberry? If you have a small waist you could probably wear their 18 as they allow for boob room. Ask your friend for an honest appraisal of your best bits and flaunt it! Emphasise you waist with something that skims over it, no gathers or drapes that will add bulk, and you skirt/dress should end at the narrowest part of your leg for the most flattering look (knee length for most hourglasses).

tethers thanks, I think that's too boxy shaped for me

dolly ooh I love those and I love the idea of leaving space for my boobs, I do have that gaping problem. Whether I can get my hips in an 18 is the question.

Madmouse, if you look at Pepperberry's Facebook page and go to photos, you can see lots of their customers in the clothes and get a much better idea of how they look and which styles may suit your shape.

Thanks Dolly that did help. I was about to order a dress when I noticed they have a store in the same shopping centre as the John Lewis I'm hoping to go to so I can try them on there with my friend.

Great,let us know how you get on.

I think a Pepperberry just-below-the-knee wrap dress with a lovely pair of wedges would look fab on you! Perhaps a pashmina if you like them so you have a bit of cover too. Make an effort with hair and make up and you'll practically outshine the bride

I've sent you a pm! Let me know what you think

I know this sounds silly, but I always get my hair blowdried before events like this.

It makes you look more groomed.

Beauty counters will do free make up's for you on the day too. My MIL had hers done the day we got married.

Effort with hair and make-up? Er eeek.

I have wavey blonde hair, shoulder length, and usually just brush it to a shine. I'm rubbish at any hair 'dos'. And don't get me started on more make-up than some foundation and mascara.

Just foundation and mascara can make you look a bit flat; try adding a little concealor under your eyes and round your nose and chin. Then a little lip stain (try soap and glory) on your lips and rub a tiny bit on the fattest part of your cheeks. Then set with powder. Add a little eyeliner and smudge it, then your mascara. Use a little tinted lip balm (Vaseline in the pink tin is fab) too. A blow dry is a good idea, or treat yourself to the babyliss big hair. Nothing too much but you'll look pulled together without being uncomfortable.

I like fauxfoxs royal blue dress. Really lovely.

As for make up, i would add a little bit of blusher on the chubby bits of your cheeks when you smile. I've found it makes all the difference

googie What does that babyliss big hair do? Does it dry your hair? Does it straighten as well?

poo ... If I may call you Poo ... The bbh is really just a way of finishing off roughly-dried hair so it's smooth and sleek and bouncy, like they do it at the hairdressers with a big round brush. It's v easy to use but looks really polished. Rough dry hair first (use a bit of frizz ease when it's wet and comb through) then comb again and separate into three or four sections, start at the bottom and use the bbh until each bit is totally dry before you move onto the next one - there are some great tutorials for the bbh on YouTube.

I have curly hair which is fine and quite easily straightened, would it do the trick do you think?

It would deffo work, although it might be easier to just use a bit of serum then gently dry with a diffuser to keep the curl.

No i was interested in it as an easier way to straighten. Preferably to give my hair a bit of body as well as it goes flat when straightened.

I really do not like my hair straightened. I know that's what you're supposed to do with it these days but I hate the look of it and that's when done by professional hairdressers. And that's why I don't get my hair blow dried by a hairdresser as they won't let it be.

I prefer my hair with some bounce and curl too madmouse, think it balances out the boobs!

poo then I think the bbh will give you the look you want - not curly, but sleek and bouncy with curled under ends. A bit Kate middletonish.