What to wear when fat --and attempting to deal with situation--

[NotdeadyetBOING]

Shallow thread klaxon….

When all is well I am an 8/10. Sadly all is not always well. Certainly not at the moment…. Have well and truly got into the Christmas spirit and am probably a 12 at best (refusing to weigh myself). Plan on donning lycra and sorting the situation, but what do you clever people recommend in terms of dressing a lardy figure? The temptation is to swathe oneself in layers and long arse-covering garments, but wonder if that might actually exacerbate the situation…. Waist not bad (and top of body). Problem is more arse and down…..

Think it depends on your body shape OP. I rely on my legs when I'm lardy and wear dark skinny jeans and trousers with long jumpers and tops. But if you're a pear I'd suggest A-line dresses that'll help accentuate your waist. Scarves are always useful at this time of year too

That should say tailored black trousers!

Fwiw I am most definitely lardy at a size 14.

Some great ideas there, many thanks. Am going to go on eBay now and see if I can find some cheap dresses that could fit the bill.

You hit the nail on the head, I just wanna dance when you warn of the perils of baggy tops. I am slightly pear-shaped (well-spotted OurBlanche) so actually more fitted on top is better. Key is disguising my lower half.

Midi skirts are a fine idea too. Had been meaning to try them, but never got round to it. Will have a dig about on a few cheap, sale websites.

Heels always help, but just can't be arsed to tough them out anymore.

I think the replies are unfair.
On some bodies a size 12 is perfect but if you are petite you can be a 12 and have a high bmi. You will feel lardy if you have gone up two clothes sizes. I am usually size 10. If I get to the upper end of a 12 I look and feel pretty unhealthy.
I think you have a great attitue Not. You are tackling the comfort eating after a bad year, rather than immersing yourself in it.
Spend your money on shoes and bags for the moment :-)

Thank you for encouraging comments. Had been feeling a bit bruised!

I am pear-shaped and I like to be a 12-14 which is in proportion for me (I'm tall), when I'm a 16 I just feel overweight and uncomfortable even though it isn't a huge difference and I'm not obese. So I understand OP.

I find most flattering and confidence-inspiring when I feel flabby, is to wear a knee-length skirt, or dress with a waist, that is A-line or gathered so hides the bum and thighs, with a fitted top half. Another look I like is jeans (slim/straight but not really tight skinnies) with a fitted top half (eg close-fitting t-shirt) and a long cardigan that I wear open. It covers the bum at the back, but the open front means waist is visible and I don't get that "baggy barrel" look. I also like wearing a necklace to add focus on the top half.

In winter, clumpy boots are good - even if they're not high, they may give you an inch or two of heel, and balance out the bum and thighs.

Well, I'm a size 12 and I'm about a stone and a half overweight. If you're short with a small frame it's perfectly possible. I haven't been an 8 for a long time and I reckon that's nearer 3 stone away so of OP is usually an 8 and gone up to a 12 ahe probably does feel fat, for her.
FWIW OP I'm going for slightly looser, boxier shaped tops than I usually would, hip skimming but not longer than that as I find I just become a sort of trapezium from boob to mid thigh in longer stuff. With a belly.

...... But it really does depend where you carry your weight. I do have a bit of a belly at the moment but I'm mainly bum and thighs and boobs so not good to join all of those bits up with a tunic if you see what I mean. A top which fits round my boobs then is slightly loose over the belly and has straight edges ending at my hips seems to work best.

I'm a size 12-14 and NHS weight website says I'm 2 stone over weight. I am fat. But I've a 7mo and I ate a lot of cake whilst pregnant. I need to shift it really...

I feel for you, OP. After being a size 12 (5'8") in June (and thinking I was still fat!), I am now bordering on 16. I am also top heavy with really chubby cheeks (which never went away even when I was a size 12) so I look bigger than my actual size.

I refuse to buy clothes. I know I am smaller now than I was two years ago (prob 20) but after being a 12 for several months I feel like a 20 now.

Accentuate your good bits. Cover the bad.

For me this means pencil skirts, heels and something that shows my collarbone but covers my fat arms.

I just had to put my bigger jeans on. My things look huge, it's the first place the weight goes. And I didn't even eat that much this Christmas!

Back to 1400 cals next week.

I'm similar to you, OP, feel big as a 12 nowadays.

Things = thighs

Things look big too.

All my things look big.

Don't worry about it.

Fitted or semi-fitted simple shift dresses are a good staple. You need them to have a bit of stretch to be comfortable and flattering. Phase Eight do a nice selection and the sale reductions are good.

Just ordered 2 pleated a-line midi skirts in the sale. Hopefully that is a good start. Agree on clumpy shoes/balancing out thing. Plus focus on top half via V-neck, scarf, necklace or whatever.

The fight back against chocolate starts now!

Oh I'm usually a size 10
But I'm up to a 12 - even 14 in some of te smaller sized brands. Am
Only 5ft 2in.

I know how you feel op. I'm just going to look fat over the next few months while I lose the weight. Not much I can do about it really

Total agreement here, I am 5ft and normally a size 10-12, feeling absolutely huge at the moment after the festive period pushing a size 14 which for my height is classed as very overweight. My tips are (other than starting slimming world on Wednesday which I am also doing!) are:
If your shirts are too tight, wear them semi open over a cami vest (M&S do sucky in type ones)

Blazers are super flattering- New look do coloured ones v cheaply and quality is ok especially if just for a short while.

Go for jeggings (Tu at sainsburys v Good) as can be pulled up to hoik in flab (just me?!) teamed with longline top and a scarf to camouflage flab

Thin layers- so if jumpers are riding up due to weight gain I would put a contrasting colour longline vest underneath and Wear over leggings or jeggings.

HTH

I am 5ft 1 and trust me that when you're a size 12 at this height you do feel bigger! I used to be a size 8/10 many moons ago but that changed after I got married and content! And then went onto have my DS. I did try SW and lost 1 1/2 stone! I believe that works very well!

I'm with you OP. I'm 5'8 and have been a size 10 for the past 6 years (used to be a size 18 & worked hard to lose the weight).

Gone up to a size 12 in last 6 months due to less control over food (lots of hotels / drinks due to work travel) and less exercise (see work travel again).

Tackling it but wearing Lycra and hitting gym TODAY! Wearing said skin tight clothing motivates me.

When not in gym clothes, I still tend to wear slim fitting clothing - makes me hold myself 'in' & reminds me to be mindful when it comes to eating.