I'm suddenly a size 14 with an overhang and have no idea what to wear. Please help

[crystalgall]

I know this is going to sound ridiculous and precious but I can't even bear to look at my naked body anymore.

Had a baby 3 and a half months ago. C Section.

I was a size 10-12 before mainly due to big boobs. My staple at work was pencil skirts and tucked in tops and fitted dresses. Skinny jeans and tips for casual. I was v happy with my style and had a decent enough tummy.

Now I look hideous. My stomach is huge and has fold upon fold. It hangs over and is saggy and mishappen. Truly awful. My
Boobs have completely sagged. Huge bum/thighs.

I don't look good in anything and
No longer know what to wear.
I'm on maternity so don't need to worry about work clothes but even day wear has me stumped.

I live in skinny jeans (high waisted to suck in as much tummy as possible) and baggy tops. But I look fat and frumpy.

I went shopping with my sister (21 and a size 6. Clearly I wanted to torture myself). I tried on dozens of tops but either they made my stomach bulge or were too baggy and so made me look big and frumpy. I was in tears by the end of the day.
I can't wear jumpers . They make me look fat because my
Tummy just sticks out.

Please help. I know a size 14 isn't huge but it's the giant wobbly belly that is killing me. My self esteem is shot. I used to love style blogs and fashion and style. I loved dressing for work and used to feel sexy. I am
So far from that person it's like she never existed. I will add I have horrible PND at the moment and it may be increasing my anxiety over it all

Is it at all
Possible for me to look good anymore?

I wear casual dresses now. Anthropologie and White company.

You, are not too old for next look. Because if you are then I am too.

Congrats on the baby

Have you looked at these tops;
www.matalan.co.uk/womens/shop-by-category/blouses-and-shirts/s2616549/v-neck-blouse
www.matalan.co.uk/womens/shop-by-category/blouses-and-shirts/s2615505/heart-print-voile-shirt
www.matalan.co.uk/womens/shop-by-category/blouses-and-shirts/s2615506/floral-voile-shirt
This denim box shirt is half the price of new looks www.matalan.co.uk/womens/shop-by-category/blouses-and-shirts/s2622151/tencel-denim-box-top
Their jeans have elastaine in www.matalan.co.uk/womens/shop-by-category/jeans/s2607123/skinny-jeans
Might be cheaper to replace your clothes from somewhere cheaper like matalan than the high street as your size goes down.

I was a 12-14 for years and was back at that pretty quickly after a section 2.5 years ago. However my shape had definitely changed, so the 12-14 things that fitted me before didn't all work post-partum! Also I bf for 19 months so couldn't wear comfy flattering dresses for bloody ages.

My best tips are:

• reassess your shape and find your favourite bit, then emphasise it;

• make sure you're happy woth your hair cut and colour (I put off having my highlights done for ages after my last baby and felt SO much better once they'd been done. That said, I now have slightly darker blonde highlights and it's much lower maintenance, so it's about finding a balance);

• look again at shops you think you hate, but only choose non-identifiable things! The aim of shopping at new places is to get you out of a rut, so try and choose things that you wouldn't normally wear, but are flattering, don't look cheap and don't look like (for ex) Fat Face! I have a gorgeous plaid shirt from there that's been great for late pregnancy, but I removed the ostentatious daft "Live Life" label from the outside before I wore it...;

• Gap and H&M are hit and miss but discount codes are often available and returns are easy, so take a chance and order things to try on at home and return;

• as others have said, please be very kind to yourself. This isn't forever and you are a very new mother. I had PND after my first baby and am terrified of having it again post my next section on Monday. I will try to follow all my own advice but I do know it's not always that easy!!

I also could have written your original post. My ds is 7 months old now.

I Reckon that over time, your stomach will go down more. Mine has, just with muscles going back to where they should be.

However, I understand the feeling when you look in your wardrobe and there is nothing for you. It's so frustrating.

Things that have helped me:

Clothes sort. Literally, everything. Only leave in the wardrobe the things that you can/will wear at the moment. It's less depressing seeing an empty wardrobe than one full of clothes you don't want to wear!

Get a couple of 'looks' that suit and buy colour variations of that. Sounds like you already have a couple. Don't worry about having a big wardrobe for now, as long as you are happy (ish) in the bits you have.

I'm not buying anything new until I'm back to a size I'm happy in. I've lost 2 stone but still got one to go. I'm starting the 'insanity' work out programme on Monday as hopefully that will give me the boost I need.

I'd agree with pp that you are still very very early days. Go easy on yourself

Have you tried cos? I'd be lost without it, esp for workwear. Ok ow s lot of it looks shapeless but it's not, it's just not fitted tightly to the body.

I recently tried on these, both perfect for work.

www.cosstores.com/gb/Women/Dresses/Volumnious_contrast_dress/46881-38135310.1#c-22755

And www.cosstores.com/gb/Women/Dresses/Gathered_collar_dress/46881-37656992.1#c-22755

God the pics are awful!! The dresses are much nicer on normal women, trust me! Does depend a bit where you carry your weight, mine is all tummy. I am a happy 12 though.