I am a big fat mess :( apple shaped crumble

[zombiestomper]

Have 8 week old dc5 and back to work/study on monday. I am still in maternity jeans, due to no other clothes fitting me. I have no idea how to dress to suit me. I am 5 ft 7, weigh 12 stone. Good slim legs and arms , pilsbury dough girl around stomach and big fat back. Enormous norks as b/feeding. I have good long hair and whilst by no means pretty, but can look very well in a horse faced (think sjp) kind of way. I am 33 but look a good bit younger due to strange deposits of fat on my other wise bony face. Style wise I like to edge toward a slightly alternative, comfy fashion look. As a health professional I need comfy work wear for community work. Also I am of extremely limited means.
Can any body help style me?

I think cos might be good- some dresses here

Although at DC5, you should wear whatever you like and be very proud indeed

Right, first things first, quit with the nonsense talk about being a big fat mess. You have just had a baby and frankly 12 stone on a 5"7 frame is not enormous!

The thing to remember with apple shapes is to keep waist detail out of it. Dresses work well esp if they are straight cut, empire line without the material under the bust or skater style. A good heavy jersey works well as it isn't restrictive around the middle. I bought a really good shape skater dress from Dorothy Perkins last year and they have them in again.

I bought a knitted dress in Navy from Next and that is excellent for apples as it is loose around the mid section but not extremely so. Go down a size in this and it will be really flattering. Whack on some boots and a scarf if they are your thing.

A vest style maxi with a slouchy top/jumper works well with apple proportions. The slouchy knit is everywhere at the moment. I have bought this in black. It has washed well and proved to be a really good staple when layered up. They do a long length too which in on offer at their sister site- crazy clearance.

Jeans wise go for high rise and layer up with a cami and top over so the jeans support the stomach but nobody knows but you. Will show off the stuff you feel confident about. Next jeans are well cut for apples.

Other things that I find work are cropped denim jackets and cropped jumpers/cardigans. They put the focus elsewhere.

HTH

Your body sounds identical atm Op, so here's what works for me:

button-through tea dresses (oasis, occasionally peacocks, dorothy perkins, ebay)
'legging' jeans from Gap,
wrap tops (ebay)
leggings and tunics with boots
knitted jumper dresses

brightening make up

Thank you very much lots of food for thought there.
Re high rise jeans, I have avoided in the past as with normal rise I find that what fits on the leg won't button on the belly and those that do up sag horribly on the legs. I have always assumed that this would be exacerbated by high rise jeans.

it's interesting because I would not have considered these dress shapes, can't wait to try them out.