I need help - swim dress for fat lumpy me

[CheeseCrumpet]

I haven't worn a swimsuit for 8 years. Since then I've had three kids in four years and gained 20lbs.
I'm a size 16 and my stomach does not look good. At all. I have like a pouch of fat that looks dreadful in everything I own. Having three young kids I also have very little money for new clothes.

In a few weeks I have to wear a swimsuit for something I could get out of but don't want to because socially it would be good for me.
I need a miracle swim dress that it good on the bust (supportive but flattering - v neck suits me) and not AT ALL clingy on the belly, hips etc. Longer the better because my thighs suck too.

And all of this Magic needs to be achieved around the £20 mark... can anyone work a miracle... please?

@millimat come along! Just don't judge my thunder thighs and flobble belly!!

I think using your black cossie as base and get a striking kaftan/beach cover up a great idea - depending on time you've got, I'd have a look on eBay, loads of people sell stuff like this after just a few uses after a holiday..I've picked up e.g. brand new Boden beach stuff for fraction of price. Agree on pp - paint your nails for a colour pop - I'd go coral or pillar box red. Have a big glass of something you love before stepping out - a little boozy buzz can help take those butterflies away and I hope you have a lovely time.

Swim dresses are awful. Truely dreadful. Wear a standard swimming costume and just go for it. You will draw attention to yourself in one of those as they are just so... weird and unflattering. What is flattering is someone who is comfortable and confident, not someone who it hiding what only they can see.

I've said here many times at size 18 (pushing 20 sometimes after too many Xmas Baileys) I've spent the NZ summer on the beach in one of M&S's lovely stripy swimming costumes and yes a bikini. No one is looking. I promise.

I work with a woman who lives near me who is well over size 20. Down the beach every evening in a standard cossie and her lippy. Strides back to car in her sarong. She looks amazing.

swimdress looks bad & draws attention imo. I'm at my biggest ever & have just spent a week in Majorca in size 22 control swimsuit that was half price from Sainsbury's & long leg. It was vg

I’ve seen a lot of women swimming with shorts over a swimsuit or with a bikini top.

And don’t be tempted to buy one of those sports swimsuits with the long legs (like cycling shorts). I bought one ages ago when I was a size 10 and it looked terrible on! I looked like a lumpy black pudding.

it is not a swim, a sit in a gross shared bath ....

but swimdr esses are still soggy frump central. use a standard swimsu it that you can wash hot afterwards and rememmber no one is looking. anyone who did make a comment should be held in the mucky water anyway.

Asda have a great range of shiffon style cover ups atm.

Beautiful colours and shape.

I also find using the tinted moisturiser helps my skin look healthier and cellulite less lumpy!

Tk max have lovely kaftans in sometimes.

Swim dresses tend to make most women look fatter / lumpier. The only exception seems to be those with wobbly thighs (and no other lumpy bits!)

@AsAProfessionalFekko that is what I do, I hate my legs and have bought long board shorts from Sports Direct to wear over a swimsuit. I don't care if they look daft, I feel more confident and comfortable in them and that's what matters! They were £5 and I have them in black and pink.

Oops rubbish blurry pic but you get the idea

this tesco shaping swimsuit is worth a look

Wow - just skimmed through a pop up website for swimwear (Rotita)... So much choice (and some look like last lingerie) but the tight shapes sun sizes to cover a multitude of sins (and one with zebras on it)!