casual size 14 big bust help!

[ARGHtoAHHH]

Hello

all my clothes are either work clothes or too dressy for everyday use.

Today I've gone out in black tracksuit bottoms and black jumper, I look a mess, does nothing for my figure etc. But it's the only casual outfit I own. Usually I wear the tracksuit bottoms to bed!

I'm curvy size 14. 32jj bust, smallish waist and big hips. I know what suits my figure with smart clothes, but am at a loss with casual.

Can anyone advise or help?

Thanks

I was told that big busts look better with v necks, or blouses with top few buttons undone etc, if that helps.

Thanks middle, yes I've plenty of v necks, although they are all sort of smart.

I'll need to get a couple of t shirt type ones I think. But what to wear with it? Jeans don't suit me, my belly hang is disastrous. They make me look bulkier than I already am.

I'm the same size and shape and also have trouble with casual dressing!
My usual casual outfits involve shift dresses or (cord, denim etc) pencil skirts with a fitted top and cardigan, or a v-neck sweater.
I dress things down with cardigans, denim jacket, scarves etc and tights and boots rather than dressy shoes.

I also own a few nice belts which make things look less bulky!

hi vit!

Yes, also a fan of dresses and pencil skirts - my usual 'casual' outfit consists of these items. I need more fitted clothes as anything else just does nothing for me.

But I just feel so bloody comfy in these trackies and jumper. I want to feel comfortable without having to wear a dress or pencil skirt. And without looking like a heifer either, which I do today.

I can't think of anything in between!

Slightly more grown up tracksuit bottoms? The cuffed trouser? They have some in Gap and in H&M at the moment. With a v neck top? Or a shirt open at the neck with a v-neck jumper over the top?

What about a thick jersey/stretchy skirt? More casual than formal pencil skirts but more comfortable too.

I'm a 12/14 even up to a 16 in standard sizes, due larger bust, but taken to buying clothes from pepperberry and loving the cut! it's so much more flattering.
Highly recommended

Budget?
Colours?

Trackie style trousers are v in fashion right now - but you need to buy some in a good quality fabric and that fit you rather than being shapeless.

these are nice

I would wear them with a fitted rather than baggy v neck jumper in fine merino wool maybe...

like this?

And some ankle boots with a bit of heel...

How are your calves? I've taken to wearing A line skirts to just above my knee, with thick tights and a jumper. I am bigger on the top than the bottom.

thanks for all the replies and the links too.

The cuffed trousers - hmmm I never thought of that, because I have it in my head that they will look awful on me. But they look lovely in that pic.

I think its because of my height (or lack of) - I'm about 5.1. Won't those cuffed trousers make me look massive? Maybe I should bite the bullet and actually try a pair on.

I have a couple of a line skirts, they really suit my figure, but again, seem too "dressy up" for everyday use, running around the park with ds.

Love that V neck from gap. If I bought that, but wasn't keen on the cuffed trousers, what could I wear with it instead? The only item of bottoms I own other than skirts and those trackie bottoms, are leggings.

What other options are there??

My calves and ankles are BIG. I have trouble zipping up knee high boots - thats how big they are. But I do have a beautiful pair of ankle heeled boots, which I wear to work with pencil / A Line skirts.

Pepperberry - I know it well, but too expensive for me. Couldn't justify spending more than 20 (30 at a stretch) quid on one item of clothing. Would be even better if I could find something in Primark!!

oh and I am open to all colours. I have brown hair / eyes and olive skin. I like to wear bright colours, but also happy in muted, or black clothes too.

OP those style trousers are EVERYWHERE at the moment. Go to Zara / Gap / Next and try some on!

Or what about jeans? Some well fitting, straight cut, dark wash jeans (Gap again) would be a lot better than trackie bottoms / leggings and be comfy / casual.

Hourglass shapes tend to struggle with casual so don't panic if you think you are more smartly dressed than other people you see. Looking like you've made an effort is good, right? I am hourglassy and probably over dress (in a good way, not ballgowns at the school gate) but I like looking a bit smarter, its just more me.
V neck jumper would look great with skirts and help to dress them down. Gap have great returns policy and are quick so try it? Uniqlo also does good value merino v necks.
A well cut slightly fitted denim shirt has turned into one of my favourites. Think overshirt rather than tucked in if you know what I mean. Denim so automatically casual but works well with skirts too and not messy. Or with the cuffed trousers. Oh and available from Gap and Uniqlo ...
Have you tried looking on pinterest for outfit ideas?

Good luck

Quick question. With the cuffed trousers and say a v neck sweater. What on my feet?

Sonotkylie will reply properly to your message after toddler has finished this tantrum

Hi again

thanks all for your advice and thoughts.

Sono - question about your denim shirt. Are you able to button it up? I would probably have to wear it unbuttoned to under my bust, and wear a vest top underneath. Which I find a bit of a pain in the arse TBH. although I love the look. Your look is very much how I dress, I always look like I've made an effort, because the only clothes that suit me are smart. But sometimes I don't want to look like I've made an effort iyswim? But that doesn't mean I want to look like a bag of shite either!

Haven't looked at pintrest - never really been on there before. Can anyone link a good page? Sorry, don't know where to start.

Queen - maybe I've just had bad luck with jeans. I just find them very uncomfortable and bulky, esp around the waist, where I need it to be smooth (hence wearing lots of dresses and pencil skirts.

Denim shirt - i button to mid boob roughly but always wear something under it as I feel the cold and like an extra layer! I quite like longer different colour vest look anyway. Another more casual look worth trying?
Pinterest and I have fallen out on the iPad but I will go and look on the computer. To be honest, I just browse on it. Try searching for something like casual outfits and see where you end up. Or even 'smart casual'. Or 'casual big bust'. Some will be rubbish but you might get ideas. Or look on Pepperberry (or other websites) for looks and then try to replicate them.

Was it a good tantrum? Marks out of 10? I kind of miss them, DS is nearly 8 now and I just get tough questions. Its like being interviewed day and night.

Thanks again Sonotkylie. Yeah, a nice colourful vest top under the denim shirt, with maybe a stretch pencil skirt? Hmm. Ideas ideas. I'll Google casual big bust and see what I get.

Tantrum was about a 6. Tears and snot but no kicking of floor or jumping up and down on the spot, mainly just a "sit on the floor and scream up at mummy for no apparent reason" type tantrum.

Careful googling 'big bust'! Dread to think what may have come up!
It sounds like you have lots of ideas now. Now for the fun of trying them.
And I just thought, how about a mid heel ankle boot to give a bit more oomph but also be practical for chasing children etc. I have some Topshop ones which are great but most places (M and S for one) do them for not too much money and you can keep your nice ones for work. They work well with trousers, cuffed or otherwise, skirts and dresses but are more casual than shoes, I think.
Sounds like a good standard tantrum. Excellent!

haha didn't actually get around to googling "big bust" - probably a good thing!

So ankle boots with the cuffed trouser? I have a high heeled pair and a flatter pair with studs on them (think biker style) - would they be OK?

I don't know what it is about those cuffed trousers - its like I have some sort of phobia about them. I really need to try on...

I'm a similar shape to you. I'm not sure how old you are? I'm 34.

H&M do great cotton, short, a-line skirts for £3.99 (in the basics bit) and a few more expensive ones elsewhere, which I wear with tights (sometimes coloured tights) and a tshirt or vest and cardie (also from H&M!) buttoned up a bit "mad men" style, all dead cheap. I love the basics in H&M!

Or jeans and a nice vest or top with a cardie or jumper. I like M&S jeggings. I also like the M&S cashmilion thin jumper, only £12.50 and goes with anything.

I also sometimes wear an H&M hoody (fairly thin and soft), but worn a bit tight, so it's "fitted", under a (faux) leather jacket with either a denim skirt or jeans, or the skirts mentioned above.

New look do nice chunky ankle boots which look good with either skinny jeans or tights/skirt.

"Bardot" type tops are also a bit of a fave of mine because they suit my big boob/smaller waist thing, and go with either jeans or little skirts.

My new fave is this one from River Island, but New Look do cheaper versions, I have one in black from there.

Hi Mary,

thanks for the suggestions and ideas. I am 33.

Those a line skirts sound like a must have. £3.99! Bargain! I LOVE the madmen style. Will have to buy myself a couple of cardis. All my old ones are bobbled and horrible.

What shoes do you wear with the a line? I have heeled ankle boots, which is good for work, but for casual wear not so much. My flat ankle boots defo do not look good with a line on me. I am not a fan of pumps as my ankles and calves are big and I feel pumps accentuate this.

Love the bardot style top - do you just have your bra straps on show? This is an alien concept to me!

I used to love wearing trainers (back when boot cut jeans were in fashion!) but now I do not have any item of clothing that they look acceptable with. Skinny jeans look horrendous on me, even more so with trainers on my feet. What can I wear on my bottom half that would look good with trainers?!

Straight leg jeans! See my pp!

Well I've been wearing these ALL the time recently as the weather has been warmer, and they're SO comfy and cheap and go with skirts really well.

But I'll wear ankle boots/biker boots as it gets colder. Maybe something like these (have yet to buy any for this year!)

I bet your legs aren't as bad as you think! But straight leg jeans/jeggings might be better than skinnies?

I push the bra straps to the edge of my shoulders so you can't see them when I wear tops like that, it's not as annoying as it sounds!

My sister always takes the piss about me not having expensive tastes (ie, most of my clothes are from H&M/New Look).. I told her, if I had MONEY, I would have expensive tastes..

(ie with the bardot top the edges on the shoulders come up a little higher than in the pic).