I have £300 to get a weeks worth of holiday clothes but I don't know where to start!

[Obliviated]

I go on holiday to Spain next weekend and have no holiday clothes, I normally live in jeans and t shirts but I want to look nice for a change.

I've got 3 hours on Tuesday morning to shop, the first time in nearly 3 years I've been child free!

I'm still breast feeding but don't really buy breast feeding tops or dresses but have to be aware of ease of access when I dress.

I'm fat :-( size 14-16 and 5'5 which doesn't sound to bad but I carry it all on my big saggy stomach, I can pass for 6 months pregnant in some clothes if I want a seat on the bus

Big boobs, love handles and big bum.

I recently lost a stone but out it all back on in 2 weeks

Any suggestions? I've only bought a £10 pair of flip flops so far! I'm thinking new look, dp, etc

The supermarkets (Sainsbo, Tesco and Asda) all have their summer clothes in and are really well priced. For £300 you will fill 3 giant suitcases!

I was in Peacocks today and they have some lovely stuff in at the moment. Some lovely dresses. Lovely tops that you could wear with linen trousers etc. They have 20% off dresses on line at the moment.

Zara (although they come up rather small) or H&M.
Agree with posters suggesting supermarkets, but get to a really big one as some of them have tiny stock.
Peacocks have got some lovely dresses.
Primark are very good for linen trousers.

Im a similar shape to you, I have been shopping today and so far have decided on the following outfits for my holiday-

black maxi dress with chunky gold necklace (wallis had loads of jewellery reduced to £3.00 today), flat sandals

black loose fitting silky vest (H&M) with 3/4 length black leggings

3/4 length jeans and loose fitted turquoise tunic from monsoon uk.monsoon.co.uk/view/product/uk_catalog/mon_5.4/5232138051

strappy, flat, black embellished sandals
flip flops
black fine knitted shrug
kimono jacket - lots around in loads of colours to choose from

I need a few more outfits as we will be eating in restaurants each evening but I feel like I have made a start. Best shops I found today were new look and h&m.

New Look have got loads of really pretty summer clothes in at the minute, things like soft floaty kimono tops, soft strappy tops and different length and colour fittedish linen trousers. I saw some lovely coral cropped linen trousers in there but alas, coral is not my colour.

Also primark is really good at the moment for any accessories/ cover-ups, flip flops etc,

First decide what style you want for the week and what you need. Do you need beach clothes, evening outfits and walking, sightseeing type stuff? Maybe think of two day dresses, a couple of dresses for evening, white, stone coloured shorts and cropped trousers and some tops and nice cardies.
Do you want to be glam, casual or just comfortable? £300 should be enough for dresses, bottoms and tops. I'd go M&S for t-shirts, dresses and trousers and H&M for cardigans and nice tops.

For holidays I normally stock up at Primark and h&m as they do a lot of natural fabrics at good prices. In the day I wear a dress which is cheaper and easier than shorts and top. If it's versatile it can also be worn in the evening. Primark swimwear is surprisingly good.

Thanks everyone, we don't have a Primark but I did buy quite a few things in New Look and DP yesterday. I got a couple of maxi dresses and skirts, chino shorts and a summer dress. I look fat in everything though! I have a swim suit, I got a miracle suit from eBay a while ago which says you lose 10lb in 10 seconds - it lied!!

These shoes are £89 down to £21 in asos today and will go with just about everything. Last year I gave up on the 'control' cozzies, just too much layers and constricting fabric for the hot weather. I bought this style of bikini (honestly a big change for me) and no one even gave me a 2nd look at the pool or beach.

New Look online has a billion more things than the shops. You could go mad with next day delivery.

'Everyone' is wearing patterned loose cotton pants with elasticated ankles at the moment, even me and I'm 40 and size 20 :o

Oops, these bottoms with the fold turned up and
this style of top

I'm in love with Gap at the moment. Their t shirts and jesery dresses are just amazing and wonderful quality. Today I'm wearing their stripe jesery midi dress with a tie bit round the middle and i'm so comfy and I think it looks pretty stylish too. They have lots around the £35 mark. T shirts are about a tenner so you could get quite a few with some of your money.

Not exactly pretty but I'd invest in some birkenstocks. They will last for years and be so comfortable and are very in trend this year.

I think Debenhams and M & S are worth a look for holiday clothes. I'd buy one or two more expensive items and the rest budget.

m.gap.co.uk/product.html?dn=gp000942342004&dv=0&shopid=0&pdn=gc57372

I have the black and white stripe version of this. It's my favourite dress ever :)

I'd spend on a couple of nice dresses for evening (maybe one maxi and one light jersey dress) and a pair of comfy, go-with-everything sandals, then top up with cheapo stuff from Primark, Peacocks, George, F&F, maybe H&M - flipflops, floaty trousers or longer shorts, cami tops and tees, beach cover-ups or sarongs.

Bon Marche had some cheap crinkle cotton skirts in black, navy and white and I took them to Rome. They tie in a knot and washed very well. Not normally a shop I frequent, but impressed by some of their basics.

Fairy, love that Gap dress. How stretchy is the fabric? Would it pull down enough to be able to breastfeed in it do you think?

TIA x

It's quite stretchy but the fabric is very good quality jersey so it hangs well rather than clings if that makes sense ! :)

Not sure about breastfeeding... The neckline is scoop neck so I'm not sure if pulling it down would make it stretch out of shape? I'm not sure. I think you'd need to see it and try.

size 14-16 really is not fat!!!!!!

I am keeping notes of your suggestions thank you! I couldn't find the sandals on the Asos site though.

14-16 doesn't sound fat but I carry it all around my middle, I've had 4 children and my stomach is like a big saggy flabby thing and because the muscles have separated I have a tyre under my boons and above my belly button. So sexy added to having 36G boobs I end up looking massive.

I've never considered a jersey dress, are they clingy? I can't do clingy I did just order some Lanacaine Anti-Chafe gel that I saw mentioned on another thread though, hopefully I won't have to wear sweaty shorts under my dress this year!

£300 is a lot of money for one week's wear! Sorry to be the voice of reason, but please buy a few items you love from pricier shops that are great quality - maybe sandals, swimwear, a beautiful dress - then splurge in cheap shops with the rest. Otherwise you'll end up with absolutely tonnes of clothes you'll never wear again. Think capsule wardrobe.

asos

Thanks Fairy, will take a look.

OP, sorry for the brief hijack. Enjoy your hols!