Look dreadful from the side...tell me what to wear please!

[formerbabe]

So...I'm 5'3''. I'm a size 14. I'm currently trying to lose weight but am not massively unhappy with my body....I have decent legs, a waist, biggish bust...unfortunately I have weight on my stomach.

Now looking at myself straight on in the mirror, I look ok. I go in and out in all the right places...I'm not slim, but I don't look huge. Clothes look nice....until...I turn and look at my side view. Because I have weight on my stomach as soon as I look at myself sideways on, I look dreadful.

I have actually seen women far bigger than me who look far better in clothes than me, because of how their weight is distributed.

I look particularly awful sideways on in dresses...which is rubbish in this weather.

Does anyone else have this problem and what do you wear?!

I think most apples have thos problem. No real advice!

It sounds like we have a similar body shape. I'm 5ft, size 12/14, 34E.

I don't wear maxi dresses, as they make me look much bigger. At the moment I keep wearing slim fit harem pants from H+M with tops from Gap that skim, rather than stick out from my chest.

This heat is a bloody pain!

I'm the exact same! No advice, I look shit I love high waisted trousers with a vest tucked in, and I have quite a small waist so it looks good from the front, but horrific from the side. I've just bought some smock dresses. Following for other ideas.

This is exactly me since I had the kids my dd left me with separated stomach muscles which have got better but I still have a belly. Hoping some people have some ideas!

You sound like me... I do wear maxi dresses but ones with an empire line and v neck, this way my boobs look good and just about stick out further than my stomach, the dress just about skims over my tummy.

I also find that wrap tops are good for the same reason, anything overly fitted looks nice from the front but I look awful and wide from the side

Thanks for the responses...at least I'm not alone

don't look/picture yourself sideways? There are probably some styles that you feel will "flatter" your shape, but honestly, if you're ok with your body don''t worry about it!

I'm the same, 5ft 4 crept up to a size 16 over the last 6 months 😊 look ok from the front but side on I'm a potato!

I'm really hoping to shift at least 2 stone over the next few months, so looking at myself from that angle should spur me on!

@Thebluedog have you bought any nice empire line maxi dresses this year? I've only seen strapless and I couldn't even consider that

I am tall and also have massive tummy from the side and when sitting down it also really spreads.
On me empire line looks awful I just lol event more pregnant than I do normally. No solutions but I try to avoid looking at myself from the side or sitting down.

I also bought those slim harem pants from H&M that Curbside mentioned as I was surprised how flattering they were when I tried them on

One thing that can help is a really good bra. And also remembering that when you’re about and about, no one will be looking at you in the same way that you look at yourself when you’re standing still in front of a mirror.

That's a really good point AwkwardSquad
When I'm out in this hot weather I barely notice what anyone else is wearing.

ReluctantlyRedundant101 isn't it a shame that they only come in black, blue pattern, and black flowers? I need more pairs

I feel exactly the same OP. You are definitely not alone.

I agree that empire like / unfitted styles do me no favours at all. It just falls from by bust and I look like a wall of material and fools nobody that I'm skinny under there

I have the same problem too.
I wear a lot of linen t shirts as they don’t cling. The best ones I’ve found are oysho ones or H&M. The only other things that work is the 16/8 diet and no wine and a probiotic really helps to flatten the stomach.

These are the ones curbside come in navy & khaki too

I'm 5'1" and a similar shape and size. I cannot praise highly enough these dresses from next. I haven't worn a dress in years and ordered one of these online after reading a thread on here. I now have 4 in different colours - I went for the petite version because I'm not very tall. They skim all the right bits and magically hide my stomach.

I also bought a good minimiser bra which really helped.

www.next.co.uk/shop/gender-women-category-dresses/designfeature-linen

Thank you @ReluctantlyRedundant101 and @notangelinajolie I'm going to get those ordered!

Do you exercise?

TeeBee

Yep..I exercise a lot. Been to body combat class this morning...I do a lot of gym classes and walk everywhere. My experience has always been that whilst I get fitter, my weight doesn't change unless I diet too...currently working on that and trying to eat healthily.

Of course it doesn't. You can't out-train your mouth. If you address your diet, you'll be able to see those lovely abs you've probably been building. Are you doing core exercises?

Sorry, I know this wasn't what you were asking but I have a tendency to live with a large stomach for a while and when I get sick of choosing tops to cover it up, I address my diet and do some really hard-core core exercises and the problem goes away in a few weeks.

@formerbabe I love body combat
I downloaded the My Fitness Pal app last week and am finding it really useful.

I'm in apple (similar to you, a little bit slimmer but big tummy) and I've found that tops that are loose over the tummy with a band at the bottom (elastic or just a solid band but something to draw the hem in) are really flattering. They hide the tummy but as they sit on my reasonably slim waist they don't make me look top heavy. That said, I avoid the gypsy style while are also gathered around the neck and sleeves, as they are not flattering.

I've also found that if I cut down on sugar my tummy immediately becomes much flatter, no matter how many calories I eat.

I have been trying to order one of those NEXT dresses in Tall but they are out of stock so we can’t be the only ones