Size 18/20 (maybe 22tops) - need new clothes - tight budget

[letsgetreadytorumble]

Hello - I am starting new work next week - have been working nights for a while as been studying - and had uniform for that. Daytimes I tend to live in black jeans/loosetops/cardigans. Most of my stufff looks tired and drab.

I am starting new work - only part-time so not great earnings and dont want to spend a lot - but want to look well put together.

Problem - weight gain - i am now size 18/20 and depending on shop sometimes need size 22 top. I am 5ft 9.

I like darker colours - so blacks with purples reds etc. I dont really want to live in jeans but the working environment is casual so that would be ok. Definitely not a job for wearing suits. Cant wear low tops or see through clothing - or short stuff - because of the working envirnment - risks/innappropriate*

My friend swears by leggings and tunics but I dont know if I can get away with it. Happy to buy secondhand (Ebay?) but just dont know what suits me anymore

Would be grateful to be pointed in the right direction. THanks [busmile]

shamelessly marking my place here in the hope of getting some tips. I have got some things from Yours clothing which have been good. Also have just got some really nice and comfy navy trousers from M&S for £20 but they are smart enough for work. I also use Inspire range from New Look.

Dorothy Perkins is my fall back for work stuff, but I'm in the suited and booted brigade.

M and co standard rage goes to 20/22.

Avoid like the plague any Plus size only ranges and shops. Those designers should be lined up and shot (not really, but they have no idea about larger ladies bodies), although on that I quite like Evans jeans.

How about some coloured jeans?

thanks for hints - I have got my eye on a few boden tops on ebay and going shopping tomorrow so will look at places suggested and see if I can gather a few bits together - I wish I had a personal shopper [busad]

New Look is worth a gander too, also ASOS.

I tend to buy mainly Boden - they have plenty of plain and dark things if you look, all up to Size 22 and in long length. You can always find a 15% discount code for them.

Don't really ever buy in supermarkets or cheaper high street brands so can't be much help there, sorry. Occasionally, though, M and S have a few OK things if you look REALLY hard.

Otherwise, would just like to agree with earlier poster - avoid 'special' plus size retailers like the plague - Evans, Simply Be, Ann Harvey, Yours, etc - cheap, nasty, and frumpy.

My advice too would be to make some clever colour choices -
so neutrals, so you can mix and match
a couple of colours which will pop for tops etc

For me, this is:
Neutral Trousers - grey, black, navy
Tops - breton, navy v-neck, white shirt, neutral mix tunic, neutral cardigan
Pop - bright pink top, bright red top, bright blue top
[I'm a winter season so your colours may be different]

I've found that a bit of thought about colour selection can make your outfits o a long way. I'm an Ebay addict and have found a lot of bargains on there too - search by size.

There's also the Boden outlet on Ebay which I've noticed tends to have a lot of larger sizes...