DH and I were watching Trinny and Susannah this evening and he said...

[Gillian76]

"... you are a lot like that woman. I think you look good but you never believe me"

He insists I go and but myself some 'decent clothes'. But I'm not sure where to start. I am size 18/20. I have an appalling midriff but quite good shoulders and boobs. Legs OK, thighs quite heavy, but I'm never sure how to wear skirts.

My usual 'uniform' is these in short and long sleeves, mostly black. And plain black trousers or jeans.

Oh god, what should I get???

And I have to shopping with a 3 year old...

wow - lucky you!!

I would get a personal shopper to make you look at new styles -- debenhams have a great range of clothes and do the stylists....

I would think loose flared trousers, boots and V necked or broad necked tops to show of boobs and shoulders... wrap dresses and boots, I am same size and live in M+S stretch boots which look great with skirts and dresses

You need to shop online (although it might cut into MNing time a bit). MrsBadger's fab at coming up with capsule wardrobes for people -not sure if she's around at the moment.

dress

Do most people wear dresses/skirts for every day?

go into john lewis or debenhams or frasers and make an appointment with their personal shopper. you don't have to buy anything, but my friend did the JL one (in Buchanan Galleries) quite recently and got some really nice pieces. nothing too terrifyingly out of her comfort zone but younger and fresher somehow. helped her to accessorise as well.
at least, that's where i would start. and isn't your DH nice?

I meant dress

Awww - DH sounds lovely.

Am off a googling for you for some places I know do decent stuff.

I can't wait to see the reply's to this question as I am the same but only a size 14 in the bottom and 16 on top with a appalling midriff .

Wrap tops good as well as v necks - something like this - you can wear it with your existing jeans, or with a skirt. Put a camisole underneath if it's too revealing.

I wear dresses most days with the boots as it is easier than wearing separates less to iron and more flattering I find tops never quite cover my gut!! Next do some nice ones as do Debenhams... dress boots and big necklace and I am ready!!

Don't wear rounded, high neck t-shirts if you have any norks to speak of. They'll make you look like you're wearing an apron. Go for v-neck.

That's it - the sum of my knowledge. I must go now before Malory's along to snigger at me

I wear dresses a lot. WHy not? More comfortable than trousers as they don't dig in.

wrap dress

I have a wrap top like that, I bought a cream one, everyone said how slimming it looked on me so I went out and bought it in cream and black too I got it in dotty P for £16

Aren't they very revealing?

maybe wear jeans underneath?

Stick a camisole underneath if they are too revealing. Contrasting colour, or toning.

this would suit you hunker

hmmmm vvvqv. i am a huge fan of wrap dresses but only ones with pattern and a tie waist band. if gillian is uncomfy with her waist(i, for example, don't have a waist) then a tie and a pattern help to break up the message in the middle.

what is your middle area and bum actually like, gillian? are youwearing those long shapeless tees because you have a bog bum? is it a horrible big bum or a delicious, firm but sizeable one?

bog bum?

big bum...

was just pasting this and read your post H

Think v-neck tops rather than crew necks - in fact, try to make a resolution never to buy another crew neck again and that alone will make you look much better (neckines like those on the T-shirts you've been wearing are the kiss of death if you are on the large size but blessed with decent boobs). Look for something like this - (that doesn't come in an 18-20 but in this style the sizes do come up quite big -- I'm a size 16 and have a lot of spare room in a L, which is theoretically a 14, so an XL might well fit you even though it's theoretically a 16.

rofl at bog bum

Another dress here ?

shirt

My word, I type slowly. There were only a couple of posts on here when I started my first post.