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Original poster

If you are a short, fat, skint apple, where do you buy clothes?

60 replies

freddiemisagreatshag · 25/02/2013 10:08

I have a payment due in two weeks for a piece of work Grin

I want to spend a bit on clothes but not a fortune. I will have about £150 to spend. I'm still losing weight but need some clothes to do for now

I am short (5ft1) a size 12 on top and a 14 on the bottom, and boy do I have a bottom, massive arse and huge thighs. I'd like a whole new wardrobe, but realistically a couple of decent pair of jeans and some tops will have to do.

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Original poster
freddiemisagreatshag · 25/02/2013 10:14

And I hate clothes shopping. It stresses me and makes me anxious and feel bad about myself.

I don't need bags or shoes or scarves. Those don't make me feel like a weeble so I have loads of those.

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Snootymum · 25/02/2013 10:52

For affordable jeans I'd recommend good old Topshop! I wear Baxter jeans, they are £40 a pair and are 'relaxed fit skinny', so basically more flattering than conventional skinnies. I have them in a few colours, and they do a shorter leg length. I usually wear them with H&M vest tops (£3.99 each!!), a cardi or a blazer, and then a nice necklace from Primark or H&m.

What sort of tops are you looking for? Casual? Blouses? Jumpers?

Original poster
freddiemisagreatshag · 25/02/2013 10:57

Thank you!

I haven't been in topshop in 20 years Blush

Looking for casual - have blouses and jumpers, I just want NICE tops

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Noren · 25/02/2013 10:58

If you're near a Levis outlet store (York and Cheshire oaks do) check in case they have a sale on - they will shorten the jeans for free and they have clever sizing to fit ones shape.

I've had some success with New Look - it sounds wrong, but tight-fitting and short is often very a very successful look on those of us who are short and fat - baggy just accentuates the issue.

Original poster
freddiemisagreatshag · 25/02/2013 11:00

That's my issue Noren, and what I need to sort - I have been so unhappy with my shape I've been living in baggy. And I'd like to change that

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VivaLeBeaver · 25/02/2013 11:04

Gap jeans are worth their weight in gold, see if you can find an outlet.

practicality · 25/02/2013 11:11

Okay. Firstly stop with the downer on yourself. You sound like you are a pear shape rather than an apple. First of all do you have a waist? Are you short legged or long? I know at 5"1 that sounds strange but have a look at your proportions. I am an apple, size 12-14, height 5"3 but I have 29" legs so they are long considering my height IYSWIM. Are you busty? Do you have great arms? Long neck? What are all the positives? They need identifying first and then you can think about what clothes will work for you.

Snootymum · 25/02/2013 11:29

For nice tops, check out George at Asda, and Matalan. I've got quite a few tops from both of those in the past few months and they've all been dirt cheap (Less than a tenner per top), and good quality. Primark often have lots of nice tops but the problem is the buttons fall off and loose threads appear pretty quickly.

Original poster
freddiemisagreatshag · 25/02/2013 11:34

There's a gap outlet half an hour away. I have never been in the door Blush

I am high waisted, with a muffin top (thanks kids), 34D in the boobs, arms aren't flabby (no bingo wings yet), my legs are a 29"

I have nice calves, but v chunky thighs

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practicality · 25/02/2013 12:38

Right high waist skinny jeans are the way to go. Haul in the muffin and emphasise your long legs. I like the ones from Next. I would try a 12 and a 14. Get the ones you can shoehorn yourself into because they do give. They have elastine in as well so are comfy. I have worn mine for a good few months and there is no muffin in evidence. Check out the clearance thing to see if they have it in there half price. Do that in the morning befor the stock goes. Buy dark ones.

Once the jeans are sorted you can wear a pretty fitted top to show off the rack. Layer up with a longer vest underneath to smooth out any ripples and break the lines up a bit. I'm taking over hip length. Prim ark were doing these and they wash and wear great. Go for wide scoop tops/jumpers. They emphasise the rack and minimise the thigh hip area. Team with long casual boots to avoid the parsnip. A long fitted (not empire line) tunic/jumper/sweat works well too. Keep it fitted but in a stretchy material for comfort.

Dresses might work well. Look for the skater style-that is fitted on top but flaring into a short A-line. Wear a cropped cardi or cropped denim jacket so there isn't too much material around the hips/top of the legs. Go for something plain in a stretchy material. This can then be made casual by wearing with leggings and converse/ballet pumps or dressed up a bit with long boots. Dorothy Perkins was doing a good line of these. If you get a short sleeve one you can wear without a Cardigan in the summer or layer up a tight fitting long sleeve top underneath so it can work like a tunic or a dress. Go for a mid thigh jobbie.

eBay is worth a shot for a lot of this stuff. Prim ark can be great for basics.
Also try a casual a-line skirt. Wear fitted on top. Side zip one. Pick the right one and you can wear with a vest and fit flops in the summer and warm it up with tights and boots in the autumn/spring.

teta · 25/02/2013 13:04

I am a size 14,5ft 3 apple.I wear M&S pull on jeggings[the elastic waistband ensures that they do not fall down-which is my biggest bug bear] in indigo and black denim tucked into boots.Always a long vest top[bottom covering from Matalan] underneath either a silk shirt or t shirt [again from Matalan].Matalan have some pretty good summer t shirts in a washed finish in a multitude of different colours[shown in the susy so so blog] .Alternatively there are some plain crew necks or modal long sleeve tops online.As i'm vertically challenged i tend to wear low necked tops to make me look taller-Henleys work really well as do low scoop necks and vest tops/boyfriend cardigans.A denim mini with lace tights would really suit you with your slim legs.

Original poster
freddiemisagreatshag · 25/02/2013 13:10

You lot are fab

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Original poster
freddiemisagreatshag · 09/03/2013 09:49

OK Monday is TheDay.

Today is be depressed about my shape day. I did a silly thing. I went clothes shopping with DD and her friends. Which was not a very good idea. I did go to New Look and try on the high waisted skinnies but I looked all fat thighed and lumpy. I suit boot cut better because they balance the fat thighs. But I don't want to look like Granny from M&S.

I have hunted in my wardrobe. And tried on everything with wine and made DD and her friend be honest.

The conclusion is I suit wide legged trousers, or bootcuts, longer tops and I really really suit dresses.

So do I ditch the jeans hunt and just go for dresses then?

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Original poster
freddiemisagreatshag · 09/03/2013 09:54

And the budget is up to £300

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StepAwayFromTheEcclesCakes · 09/03/2013 10:51

I would ditch the jeans, buy a well fitting pair of black wide leg trousers as you can wear these with anything. then go with the skirt idea up thread and yes dresses if they suit you, get a plain one that fits well and dress it up with cardigans / jackets / scarves and jewellry in bold styles and colours, match it up with your shoes and you have several different looks. casual with a denim jacket or cropped cardi, posher with nice boots and a fitted jacket.

Bunbaker · 09/03/2013 10:55

What about straight leg trousers? I don't suit skinnies as my thighs are too chunky and I don't want to always wear a tunic top/long jumper. If bootcut are so unfashionable why are the shops full of them?

Original poster
freddiemisagreatshag · 09/03/2013 10:58

Straight legs might work and yes to black wide legs.

Does this mean I'm going to have to go back the shops and try more stuff on?

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Original poster
freddiemisagreatshag · 09/03/2013 11:12

Would I be better going to a posh shop and buying 3 or 4 really good quality things or sticking with cheapies?

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whiteandyellowiris · 09/03/2013 11:15

with that budjet, i'd aim to get two outfits, you really like.

Original poster
freddiemisagreatshag · 09/03/2013 11:18

I could push the budget a bit more but not much.

Am also planning a shoes cull. There are some that are desperately uncomfortable and/or do nothing for me birkies and I am getting rid.

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whiteandyellowiris · 09/03/2013 11:27

sounds like you need a good clear out, you could try and sell anything on ebay you don't likelike the birkies, even if you dont get much it could help

Original poster
freddiemisagreatshag · 09/03/2013 11:29

I have charity shopped some stuff but I need to be more ruthless I think.

And accept that I'm not a size 10 and live with the size I am. Which means getting over how fat I look when I see myself.

Need a haircut too. And probably a make up refresh.

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whiteandyellowiris · 09/03/2013 13:01

having a clearout helps, because it also helps you to see what you do have

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