Frustrated. Fed up.

[Sparkle86]

I'm a lurker on here, but have posted once or twice. I promise I'm not a troll.

I'm late 20s, short and I used to describe myself as petite/slim. I was comfortable at a size 8. Too skinny as a size 6.

I've never struggled with my weight, or how to dress before. So I'm feeling quite emotional and upset about things.

I'm now a decent size 10 and I feel awful. I have no idea how to dress my new shape - my weight is mainly on my thighs and tummy area. I know I need to drop some lbs to feel better but in the meantime I'm struggling.

Everything in the shops seems too tight, too see through, too short or too 'old' in style. It's all come to a head when I've come to pack for a holiday and realised that I literally live in the same 4 outfits that are now tired and ruined from the never ending cycle of washing and tumble drying. I have nothing in my wardrobe that I feel I like, suits me or fits except a couple of pairs of jeans and a couple of dresses. Shopping trips throw nothing up either.

I want to feel like I'm fashionable again, not fat and frumpy. I love stores like oasis, warehouse, topshop etc but feel like a fraud. I can't be the only one driven to tears by this...

Oh dear, poor you. I feel your pain, having gained a bit of weight (which I'm in the process of losing) but finding nothing fits or it looks mumsy or just yucky. How tall are you?

I find clothes shopping utterly demoralising and upsetting so I buy 99% of my clothes online. My favourites are Toast, Mint Velvet, Whistles, Hoss Intropia and Anthropologie. Very are handy with the reviews which help on sizing and I order from John Lewis a lot because of their range and the fact they deliver next day to a Waitrose nearby. Reiss have lovely stuff and as a size 10 you should be OK with them.

M&S are very hit and miss - I find them frustrating. They have the odd pearl in a sea of over-embroidered, over-embellished and badly cut clothes in slightly odd colours.

I'd try a personal shopper in one of the big department stores. I hear good stories about people coming out with lots of lovely stuff, and quite often for less money than they expected.

Thanks for the PS tip - I've thought about this, but wonder if my lifestyle is lacking the glamour they'd be used to?

I'm 5ftish, so quite small which makes the weight look more if you see what I mean?

I feel a bit 'stuck' almost like I'm too old for the tight neon mini dresses etc in topshop etc but too young for other labels. I'm not really sure where I fit or what my style is beyond jeans and tee shirt style tops or dresses and ballet flats. Maybe the personal shopper would help.

I have tons of clothes - literally two wardrobes full - but none are 'right' if that makes sense except maybe one outfit made up of coloured jeans, wedges and a white top with a kimono, a maxi dress and sandals or a yellow dress with tights and ballet flats. I do have another 'work' outfit of black super skinny trousers from gap and a white lace teeshirt that I wear with ballet flats (yawn). I also like skinny jeans. I guess that's a start even if it feels a bit boring and drab?

Pinterest has taught me I love boho, but look crap in it and that I want to be a taller, skinnier, blonde instead of a short, chubby brunette.

Hi, I know how you feel, I think sometimes its how we see ourselves aswell. I am about 9.5 stone, my doctor tells me my weight is normal for my height and that its stayed stable for years but I feel gross because I used to get no further than 8 stone when I was younger (I am now 52). My main problem is my stomach, that's where it all goes. At one time I could wear anything and get it away with it and now I have to make sure it doesn't cling to my stomach nor do I want things that make me look too old, it is frustrating. But this morning I was running for the bus and when I got on it a woman said to me 'No wonder you are nice and slim running like that' and it gave me a lift and I thought that maybe I don't look so bad to other people.

I have been the same for ages with the same clothes and getting frustrated. I am still wearing my plain t-shirts and skirts/trousers for work but for outside work I am gradually treating myself to some different things. The other weekend I bought a nice top and a dress which both hang from the bust and don't cling to my stomach at all and for once I am quite pleased with what I've bought.