Feeling fat/awful. Going to NYC to visit partner who has been away on business for 2 months. Help!

[PeopleAreAfraidToMerge]

Hi all,

I hope you have some useful tips for me, as I'm feeling a bit hopeless.

My partner has been working in NYC for a while now, and I'm going over to visit him next week for 10 days before he comes back to the UK for Christmas.

I'm going to have a Thanksgiving dinner at a fairly swish restaurant to go to, nights out and general sightseeing.

I feel enormous and horrible. I am 5"2 and a size 16-18, probably more of an 18 if I am honest with myself. I am large of nork (32HH) and have a large tummy to cover. I know lots of people are much larger but I do not carry this well. I feel like I look older and and everything looks terrible on me I am 24. I want to look my age, not 20 years older.

I put on a lot of weight at university, and am currently on Weightwatchers to try and lose it, as well as exercising daily.

Anyway, if you have any suggestions/links to what might make me look halfway ok, I would be SO grateful. I am on a fairly tight budget, so no £100 dresses for me I prefer to shop on the high street rather than online as I leave next Friday so need time to return stuff if it doesn't fit.

Everything seems to have come at once for me. My partner leaves the country, I have to give up my tenancy and move back in with my parents, and I'm off work with stress...

So as you can see, this is more than about clothes, but looking halfway decent to see my partner who I miss like mad might help me feel a little better. Sorry for the essay.

It will be OK.

Any chance you can go to see personal shoppers at department store like debenham, house of fraser/ john lewis?

Actually you are young maybe try Top Shop?

I suggest getting a great fitting black dress that you can change up with necklaces or scarves

Personal shopper is good idea. I'd also say a good haircut can make you feel and look fab. But if things are all a bit precarious right now, you might not want a radical change.

Your DP loves you for who you are, including the size that you are, and has probably missed you like mad! NYC at this time of year is so romantic. Just enjoy each other, enjoy the city, and gave a lovely time. Why not do some shopping there? There are some amazing bargains at the best of times, but after Thanksgiving, the sales really start.

ASOS Curve are fantastic. Order a few things to try on, they often deliver next day. You can then return anything you don't want with no hassle.

Bump!

Was going to say like earlier poster that it might be best to leave most of clothes shopping to New York, where they have a much better choice of larger size clothes, often also much cheaper than here.

Meanwhile perhaps a great haircut and well fitting but pretty new bra?

Have a great time.

Is there anything you like here? it's a new website and they seem reasonable priced, can't vouch for their customer service though. I'm thinking of ordering one of the lace dresses for a work do in a couple of weeks.

On buying in US, you can get good brands of jeans, which I'd thare most likely to be your sightseeing wear are much

Sorry! Wretched phone! You can get good brands of jeans ( most people's sightseeing uniform) in US for much less than here and in a vast choice of styles.

Thanks all. This has given me a little lift am going to try Asos Curve and Pink Clove, thanks tvstand. I'd like to go and see a Personal Shopper, but I always worry that people like that will take one look at me and think why is she even bothering to try?

I'm planning to doing quite a bit of shopping in NYC, just want a couple of nice dresses to start me off really... I want to make a good impression on DP's colleagues. He has lost quite a lot of weight from cycling every day, and looks absolutely amazing. In comparison I look like a blob! I was size 8 when we got together at at 18

Hope I'm not too late - just to add to the "good haircut" suggestions, grooming is your friend. Thinking eyebrows and makeup in particular [not heavy makeup, but enough to look "done" iyswim.] A lot of people who are carrying a bit of weight on the body have a face that is gorgeous, don't know if it's because it is filled-out or what, but that bit of plumpness just somehow looks nice to me!

Also YY to the accessories idea, also big earrings (they don't need to be heavy)/ chunky bangle.

If you are large of nork (I am!) then v-necks are the thing. I am a lot older than you so won't presume to give you advice as to what style of clothes etc would suit you. [I like a long v-neck jumper/ treggings/ boots/ bright scarf kind of outfit but I realise it's not for everyone!]

Have a great time in NY.