Hot weather clothes for a heffalump!

[pigmcpigface]

I am overweight - size 14, .5 foot 4. I'm trying to lose some, but I have to face the fact that when I go to Italy this summer (squeeee) I will probably still be fat. The weight is largely round my stomach and thighs.

I don't have ANY summer clothes that fit. I would like something that looks elegant and will keep me cool. It needs to be fairly robust, as I will be running around a lot (and walking a long way). I am not confident enough about my body to wear anything very revealing - short dresses are definitely out.

I would really appreciate some advice on how to dress to look as graceful and elegant as is possible for a heffalump like me!

I am only joking with the 'heffalump' stuff. I don't like how I look - some people look brilliant when they are larger but I am not the kind of person who can carry weight beautifully. I go flabby! I used to be very slim indeed, but ill health and a real struggle to get back into exercising regularly afterwards have taken their toll!

I’m currently a similar size and height. I’ve recently bought Crocus flowing trousers from Jigsaw that are really flattering. They’re culottes that I’m currently pulling up pretty high but they’re airy and loose and no thigh rub.
Also Vivid linen do double layer wide loose culotte type trousers that are also cool and a really good shape .I bought a pair last year and lived in them all summer. Paired with linen/silk t shirts from H&M and Jigsaw.

I've felt cool, comfortable and quite elegant in what I'm wearing today in the heat. Lightweight wide leg trousers, a vest top and a very light linen knit poncho over the top.

I would avoid hi tops they make me look dumpy and I am 5'8! also you will be sooo hot. I would go for natural fibres and kaftan type tops/ dresses over 3/4 trousers of leggings. Nice chunky necklace, gold or bronze birkenstocks, you will look super glam. Have a nice holiday!

Those Crocus trousers look lovely... I tend to look awful in longer skirts though. I'm going to try them on and see! Have never heard of Vivid Linen, but their website has some lovely stuff.

I bought the low trainers lotsof - advice on the hi tops heard!

Please be comfortable and enjoy yourself. I went to Italy a couple of summers ago and it was absolutely baking. Tourists were everywhere and nobody looked particularly stylish - vest tops, shorts and sandals! I’m bigger than you and would have felt really uncomfortable in anything with sleeves or material below my legs! I’d recommend some above knee denim shorts and some plain coloured, looser-style vest/cami tops like the swing ones they sell in Asda.

I could have written your posts - used to be realy slim, had medical problems and now a size 14 shortarse.

I like wearing sundresses or loose cotton skirts on warm days (dresses easier because then don't need to worry about a top). The idea of wearing leggings in the heat makes me sweat just to think about it.

Comfortable sandals and a pair of white or silver trainers sound good.

really - lost an l!

Try Poetry for stuff which drapes well:

www.poetryfashion.co.uk

get some fitflops - really comfy and add a bit of extra height to make you feel a bit leaner. I really like the Mill Pool dresses from Sea salt. They could easily be worn without leggings or trousers for us shorter ladies!

Have a look at halter neck maxi dresses - I don’t like my arms / shoulders but find maxi dresses quite flattering.

I like summer dresses with short sleeves that are quite fitted at the top, often with buttons, then flow out. A nice white one with some leather sandals would be lovely.

You’ll look fab - I recently realised that I look at women my size and think they look great so I’m much harder on myself than others.

Lots of Cath Kidston dresses are quite flattering too

It is so difficult when your body changes fast. I used to be slim but curvy rather than straight up and down. 2 years of steroids have added 3 stone and a steroid tummy. Nothing fits. I can't wear the styles that have suited me for the last 40 years. I can only wear wide, flat shoes.
I will have a look at all the suggestions on here.
I hope we can all find something nice to wear!

Lots of great tips here. I am around a stone overweight and feel it in the heat. Carry my weight on my tummy and thighs, dresses and skirts make my thighs chafe in the heat.
I bought some trousers in M&Co today, they're long and thin, but not wide legged, I find it more flatttering if the leg tapers in at the ankle. Liked the feel of them so much I bought two pairs, one in khaki and one in navy. Will try and post a link.

These. They have a tie around the middle which I have thrown away, don't need any more bulk around my tummy! I got them in a 14, they have a lovely comfy elasticated waist! (Shows signs of old age)

Plain cotton or linen sleeveless dresses with sandals will keep you much cooler. Italy will be way too hot for waistbands or sleeves. No-one will care what you look like.

Uniqlo?

www.matalan.co.uk/product/detail/s2678475_c754/floral-tapered-trousers-black

This is the sort of thing that I live in through the summer. I'm size 16 and 5' 2 so really need to be careful with what i choose to wear. Don't want to look any more short and fat than I already am!

I pair these types of trousers with a plain coloured or black loose fitting top and ssandals. Get lots of comments from colleagues about how lovely my outfits are. I aways avoid the wide leg trousers though and stick to the ones that taper towards the ankle.

I’m the same height and size as you and I own several of these linen dresses from Next. They hang very well and wash beautifully every time and only £26! www.next.co.uk/g6390s4#151885

Caaarrll do you have these exact ones? What’s the sizing like? I’m 14 in some places and 16 in others due to my twin Mum tum

What I really need are good quality flattering t shirts that hold their shape well and wash well, never have managed to find any

I have just ordered some cropped trousers from Asda. I bought some 3 years ago and practically lived in them. They are almost worn out. They didn't have any last summer but have a couple of styles this year. direct.asda.com/george/women/trousers/linen-blend-cropped-trousers/GEM608423,default,pd.html

Thank you all so, so much for the suggestions I am delighted to have so many things to look at and consider.

Remus and endoftheline - thank you for making me feel less alone! It is a peculiar kind of grief to me, being the size I am, because it's connected with a load of very strong and negative feelings about the medical problem that caused it. I was basically left having to go back time after time to my GP for years to get a diagnosis, while my life ebbed away from me - and meanwhile, I lost everything from my job to my figure to my ability to have children. I struggle not to feel extremely angry with the primary care system that did this, and the weight is a symbol of feeling helpless and hopeless even after I've had the surgery. I am sick of feeling like this, so I am embarking on a diet/exercise plan to try to take back some control over things.

Oh, my lovely - I'm so sorry. You definitely deserve to treat yourself to some lovely new clothes. I bought this from Marks and Sparks yesterday. I'm thinking it might be nice on summer evenings in the beer garden, with a denim jacket over it! Should work with rolled up jeans/chinos, or with a cotton pencil skirt, I hope.

Tammy

I have those ones and others from Tesco from last year. I find that the 16 fits great but I am definitely a 16 if you know what I mean. There's no way I'd fit in a 14. Matalan sizes can sometimes be a little less than generous.

Remus - thanks And that top is lovely, and just the right kind of thing - casual glam. That's what I need to aim for!

A whole load of things have got on top of me lately and I am exhausted. So I've made a decision to stop doing stuff for other people and to focus on getting myself straight. So I've made four resolutions for the next 6 weeks. I'll do a bit on the house each day to get it straight (major building work has left us in a right mess). I'll give up drinking for the short term, so I have more energy. I'll get some exercise each day, even if it's just a walk. And I'll try to eat a bit better. I'm hoping that at end of 6 weeks I might be in better mental and physical shape to undertake a more serious exercise and diet!

I've done 2 days so far and was starting to feel better... until at 1am last night my bloody heat and smoke alarm went off! It's one of those ones that is mains powered AND battery powered and that just keeps shrilling and shrilling when it goes off. There was no fire, no dust, no steam in the house - I can only think a spider crawled in there and set it off! Bloody thing!

That top is lovely Remus, think I’ll be ordering one later. Which colour did you go for, I like them all.

Pigmcpigface, sorry to hear your troubles. I have been feeling awful for the last year or two and started a healthier regime similar to your ideas about 6 weeks ago and feel so much better mentally and physically so it’s definitely worthwhile. Good luck.