DD and Clothes...

[LumelaMme]

DD is 14. Left to her own devices, she would entirely equip herself from Go Outdoors, and then feel self-conscious when going anywhere smart, or to a party, because she would have nothing to wear.

She does largely equip herself from Go Outdoors. She hates clothes shopping. And she is a very non-teenaged shape. She's not fat, she just has the ILs' physique (think Gimli in Lord of the Rings, with feet that are practically cubes - buying school shoes is a torment.) When it comes to non-school clothes, she has nothing to wear apart from jeans, Go Outdoors trousers, a few pairs of leggings, a couple of jumpers and fleeces, and a summer dress or two. Shoes? Sports sandals, boots, wellies, Sainsbury's knock-off converse-type things, and Clark's ladies extra-extra-extra-wide Mary Janes for school (her feet are wider than the Clark's width measurer will measure - H+).

I want to make the most of the sales, and I want to find things that will fit her and suit her. She's 5'4", and her vitals are 35" bust, 28.5" waist, and 40" hips. She is chunky of leg (muscle), and sturdy of shoulder.

She hates glitter and plunging necklines. She is not keen on her arse.

All suggestions gratefully received.

Bike, yes, she has just that issue.

We'll be taking her older sister (nearly 17) with us tomorrow. She's very stylish, but a very different shape.

Jeggings/ skinny jeans, checked shirt over a vest, converse or vans, seems a very safe teenage uniform for those who don't like the glammed up look. As long as teenagers are vaguely clean and presentable I don't think anyone cares if they are not dressed up.

Primark skinny jeans are the jeans of choice amongst dd and her friends and they are very stretchy, more like extremely thick leggings, so having chunky calves won't matter :)

Right... will point the girl at DMs, stretchy skinnies/jeggings, and a checked shirt - I think she might like that look.

No Primark nearby, though.

Marks and Spencer's 5 pocket jeggings have a proper button and fly and are very stretchy. If she will consider m&s.

Vans and converse are fine for very wide feet.
Sainsburys jeans are fab if you need some give.... They do brilliant stretch..

A friend of my dd has similar shape and wears jeans and cool top shop jumoers .chunky footwear would be good.when going out jeans can be fine with intresting tops , such as wide neck ones .perhaps with fab eyeliner !

I'm still in shock that this is how you describe your daughter.

Well, I said that described the ILs' physique. I'll remember to use next time.

I didn't say that was how DD looked. She's pretty ass-kicking, though. I'm sure she'd enjoy that weaponry.
Oh, yes. That was too.

Thanks to everyone for good suggestions regarding stretch jeans etc. Really grateful for you ideas and suggestions.

Back from the shops with skinny jeans, a skirt (to wear over leggings), a couple of checked shirts, a pretty white top, some leggings, and knock-off converse from Fat Face. She loves the shoes (they fit! she was thrilled), and the skirt, and the the skinny jeans, and the white top, and quite likes the shirts, which go with everything else and will let her ring the changes when she wants to. We managed it all in H&M, Fat Face and Gap.

Thanks again for suggestions.

Well done, I bet she looks great.

Well done. Sounds like a great haul.

I don't see how that picture is a bad thing... I would have loved a battleaxe at 13
Sounds like a good trip OP, if your DD is still looking for suggestions then you can tell her I have the same problem when it comes to "looking smart" I somehow manage to make everything look casual, but a nice long necklace over a shirt with jeans/jeggings makes the outfit look "smart casual" which I find much more comfortable and suits me more than dressing up for every occasion...

She'd LOVE a battle-axe, tuila. She'd love it so much that there is no way I'd ever get her one!

That's two people who've made the long necklace suggestion and I think it's a good one - ta!

Definitely try the slim straight gap jeans - they will be fabulous for her shape. Slouchy t shirts and v neck sweaters, check shirts etc are a good place to start. I usually place dd down in front of a few websites and let her order everything she likes - we then have a massive trying on session at home - where it's more comfortable and she can try new clothes on with old. New Look and H&M are great for this.

I teach girls about her age and DM boots are really popular - expensive but will last forever provided her feet are not still growing. The traditional lace-up ones can accommodate a wider calf, and they look cool with leggings or jeans, but also with opaque tights and a shortish skirt. It's also worth letting her loose on ASOS, ordering a load of stuff to try on at home (free delivery and returns) and getting an idea of what suits - you could set a limit that she could keep X number of items if she likes anything.

I think you've had some unfair comments directed on you on here, Lumela. My dd2 is a different size/shape to your daughter, but also has almost no interest in clothes. As long as she's got a pair of black skinnies, some ankle boots or Converse and either a checked shirt or plain jumper, she's happy.

I agree with PPs who said get her a couple of pairs of well fitting black skinnies. Converse and/or DMs. Cotton checked shirts (they are everywhere lately). Band t-shirts, maybe?

We didn't find any black skinnies but we're going into town again on Monday so I'll try then. She was a bit sniffy about DMs yesterday (I'm not, I think they're fab).

We were at a party today and she wore her new leggings and skirt and a grey top and looked great - and happy.

And thanks, Remus.

I kinda get what you mean, my dd lives in black skinnies and a battered leather jacket, think Jessica Jones if you've ever seen it. She looks fabulous but has confessed that on afew occasions she would like something smarter to wear.

Glad she enjoyed her new clothes.

All those suggestions sound fab

Can I suggest Joni jeans from topshop? They're really stretchy and high waisted so she can either wear them with a crop top or with something longer but they're super comfortable

H&M and new look id suggest too - a flippy skater skirt with leggings plus a checked shirt tied at the waist would look great. Also check jack wills - might be a bit preppy for her style but has some lovely basics. See also hollister and Abercrombie

Uniqulo jeggings are incredibly forgiving. I'm square of body and wear them.

How about Fat Face or White Stuff if she likes the casual/sporty look, or Mantaray in Debenhams?

She could try tunic style tops with leggings or skinny jeans, funky printed jersey skirts and accessories like scarves and bright jewellery. I'd also try TKMaxx for a good rummage for some staple jersey tops and knitwear. Hope she finds something she loves!

The Uniqlo stretchy jeans look v good. Ankle length (she has short legs, she was bitching at her dad earlier about them, blaming his genetic load...) and not extortionate.

Are any of you old enough to remember totally non-stretchy drainpipe jeans that you had to lie down in so you could zip them up after you'd washed them? The newfangled Lycra stuff is bloody marvellous.

it rather depends on her own style or whether she is confident to experiment a bit. My dd 16 is very into vintage style and though not quite as hourglass as Op , likes slim fit capri trousers / skinny jeans with cardigans that fit at waist, often sweater tops with collars , and converse . sort of doris day meets taylor swift. I am similar shape to op's dd and also suit more fitted less baggy clothes, wish i had known this as teenager when i hid in baggy utitlitarian clothing.
maybe some good quality make up as well just to help her feel a bit more feminine or girly at parties. My dd wears make up very subtly ...she learnt it all on youtube vlogs !