Can you look nice when short and overweight?

[FancyNewBeesly]

I’m 5’2” and a 14-16. I feel absolutely vile in all clothes. I see other people who are objectively larger than me who look fantastic, I see friends of mine who are bigger and they look lovely whereas I look like 10lb of crap in a 5lb bag.

I hate having my photo taken. I hate bumping into people who haven’t seen me for a while. I have various health issues that are making it very difficult to lose any weight and I feel so crap about it.

How can I look better? I used to be hourglass shape but now have a huge stomach (thanks, twin pregnancy) and weight around my arse and hips. I need Gok Wan or something, except I can’t wear magic pants due to my health issues.

Lurking because I need the same advice! Also short and a size 14 and used to have a fabulous hourglass size 10 with good boobs figure that has also been trashed by a twin pregnancy and am now a blobby 14( I have a tiny frame, this is way too big!) with no discernable waist . You are not alone!

You sound exactly like me! I'm very petite and over the last few years I have put on tons of weight mainly through pregnancy related issues (forced bed rest due to placenta previa and bleeds, SPD...) and also due to being on Sertraline and drinking gallons of sugary coffee. Ooops.
Because my body is so short any bit of excess weight shows so much I feel like a bloody oompa loompa.
I'm trying to lose some weight but in the meantime I have found my 3 best friends : empire cut tops which show off my (quite decent 😁) bust whilst hiding my horrible belly, black leggings and knee high black boots with high heels. It seems to make me look longer = a bit less fat.
I have also started to wear nice pashminas on a bad "fat day" as they hide a lot at the front. Oversized handbags are our friend too 😉 xx

I’m sorry you guys feel the same. The other thing is that pumping for so long screwed up my back and now I’m basically hunched all the time and can’t straighten it. And my face is just so fat. It’s so depressing.

I do like empire line stuff but can’t find much

Joules always do empire tunics, very flattering imo

Watching with interest as I’m the same. I find empire lines make me look pregnant (thanks card shop woman who asked when I was due) .

I always find nice empire tops on eBay.

About the face fat, contouring helps a lot if you can be arsed have the time. I've always had a moon face, even when I was slim, so I'm resigned to it, on the plus side everyone thinks I'm a lot younger than my 43 years, as I don't have a single wrinkle. I'm sure if I lose weight they will all appear all of the sudden 😕
I hate not having a neck to speak of, or lovely sharp collarbones to show off in a strappy dress or top. I miss them more than I miss my waist!

@Orchidlower1 I wish people would not ask unless they know that you are pregnant. So awkward 😕 x

I am 5ft 2 16 top 14 bottom, I tend to wear jeans with either a shirt or tunic or I am currently loving Seasalts Sailor stripy tops with gap girlfriend jeans, and a waterfall biker style jacket in a heavy cotton/tencel fabric or a tweed blazer, I also like a scarf to cover boobs and belly, it's not the height of fashion but I like to think I look ok.

waterfall biker style jacket

Please tell me more. I've been thinking of something along these lines as more of statement than my too-too-practical anorak

It's an old Marks and Spencers jobby that I brought 3 years ago sorry, but it's Khaki and just goes with everything, I wore it today with a black and white striped top with a pair of black harem trousers.

It's not far off this one, www.whitestuff.com/womens/coats-and-jackets/urban-green-plain-tencel-waterfall-jacket/

I actually tried that jacket on last week but it looked more crazy librarian that edgy mum on me :)

Out in sympathy!

I was a curvy 10-12 & weighed 8-9st. Now after 2 EMCS & various life stresses, I'm mid-40's, peri menopausal & weigh 11st.

I exercise but my extra weight is all round my tummy. I'm now in the unenviable situation of my tummy being as big as my boobs

I'm not sure I've got any solutions, beyond M&S high-waisted jeans, in a slim or straight fit (I look ridiculous in skinny jeans as am top-heavy).

Oh yes, I hear you! I absolutely loathe trying to dress my 41 year old 14-16 shape. I just feel repugnant - jeans are a no, so I wear dresses and black opaque tights, but feel like such a fuddy duddy. Was hoping for inspiration, but I guess it is reassuring it is not just me

I'm 5'2 and now a size 14 after health issues and medication (and cake). I think a decent bra is vital. I also, oddly, think I'm more adventurous with clothes now I'm fatter, as I know I'm fat so not trying to look skinny, if that makes any sense!

I like a fitted biker jacket - it covers boobs at the front but is nicely fitted at the back. I like jeans too - skinny suit me because my legs are still half decent, but I've just bought some slim roll up ones for a change.

Empire lines are dreadful on me.

Another hourglass here who now has a widened middle post-EMCS. Personally I still dress the same, just sized up a bit my waist might not be as small as it was but it’s still smaller than my boobs and hips! I think empire lives only work well on apple shapes, really - if you’re remotely hourglass shaped (even if the hourglass now has more sand in!) you’ll look about five months pregnant. I think fitted at the waist is still the way forward, just a bit more skimming rather than clinging.

vital. I also, oddly, think I'm more adventurous with clothes now I'm fatter, as I know I'm fat so not trying to look skinny, if that makes any sense!

This!
I was far less adventurous as a size eight 21 year old - now I know I’m not going to convince anyone I resemble Kate Moss in the arse area regardless of what I wear, so fuck it, bring on the crazy patterned trousers

Fuck it - bring on the crazy patterned trousers
A mantra to live by, I reckon!

I'm looking for inspiration too.

Fabulous post! I'm 4ft 10 - borderline midget - size 14, really is a struggle to look nice and chic.
2 kids, an underactice thyroid and a ton of cake to boot has created this situation. Following for some inspiration!!!

5'3" and nearly 23 stone. Have been on holiday and been photographed lots - I had almost convinced myself that I looked ok, until the photos

So marking place for advice.

13 not 23 stone

Oh, me too. I’ve just started a thread to lose a stone after seeing my holiday pics and being horrified.

In the meantime, style advice would be great, definitely need a new jacket at the very least.

Skater dresses, cinch you in at the waist, v neck for the giant boobs (hate )

Can’t get a jacket that looks good, size 18-20 on top (thanks boobs)