Help please! I only have 4 pairs of trousers that fit

[Wenchelda]

I've just gone through my wardrobe and swapped all my summer clothes for autumn/winter stuff. I seem to have a fair few tops but only 2 pairs of jeans (one dark, one lighter) and 2 pairs of trousers (one grey, one navy). Trouble is I hate shopping for trousers as I can never find anything that fits properly - I am 5ft 2, size 12-14 (prob more 14 on bottom half) with big bum / hips / thighs (jeez I sound attractive, don't i?!) I work part time and wear a uniform so it's "home" clothes I need - I have 2 young children so days are spent at playgroups / parks / soft play etc. Comfort and easy maintenance (no ironing!) are priorities. I would love to be able to wear leggings and long tops/dresses but always seem to look ridiculous or frumpy as I never get the combination right. Small budget so nothing too costly. Shops near me include next, M&S, new look, matalan, peacocks, Dorothy Perkins plus the big supermarkets. Any and all suggestions to improve/increase my wardrobe are welcome please!

Asda is great for quite fashionable things on a budget. Do you have one near you? You could also try florence and fred online [ tesco]

I have asda and tesco. Actually not looked at asda clothes for a while so maybe worth a mooch around.

I think my main problem is I'm unhappy about my weight/shape anyway (but lack motivation & will power to change it) so trying on endless stuff that doesn't fit makes me even more fed up about it all

Is four not plenty? I have about four pairs of trousers that look respectable and find that's ok.

I could never find trousers to fit either (small waist, large hips, massive thighs). I realised that they weren't doing me any favours so now only wear skirts and dresses. Denim skirts are a great alternative to jeans, I have recently bought the Boden Cambridge skirt in denim, it's slightly A line and nice dark blue, highlights the good bits and covers the bad.

I have one pair that fit! Am wearing them to work and at the weekend. Roll on winter when I can get my dresses and tights back on.

I also want to lose weight and dread buying trousers but am going to have to get a pair of jeans for weekends.

I'm a similar shape and height to you, with a defined waist and share your discomfort about tunics with leggings. Presumably you need a short length trouser. The majority of my trousers are M&S but recently I've picked up a few things from M&Co eg. their £20 jeans are currently £15.
www.mandco.com/boot-cut/classic-bootcut-jeans/invt/1166727midwash

To detract from my bottom half I wear plain dark coloured trousers and make sure that my tops have necklines that really suit me, in my case a wideish but not too lowcut round neck or Vneck. A cardigan looks good over these rather than a jumper.

I find wrap dresses work well. I'm sure there was a thread about them recently.

I think I need to embrace the idea of dresses with thick tights. I had a few summer dresses for the first time this year and they definitely hid my lumps and bumps better than trousers. I've never been a dress wearer really - I am a casual dresser and dresses always feel too formal or "dressed up" for running around after the children. I find it hard to think of them as every day wear (although I think people who wear them look fab and not overdressed at all, which is how I feel)