Please can you help me with professional ish dress on a budget with a ridiculous amount of requirements?

[Nellienamechange]

Hello, thank you for looking at my first Style and Beauty thread!

I’ve just started my own business after a period of unemployment due to illness and...well thanks to medication and general sitting about I’m about 3 stone heavier

I’m wondering if anyone can help me with a really tight budget and a very unwelcome new body?

I need to find some clothes which I can wear and be comfortable in. My medication makes me sweat a lot so dark colours and patterns most welcome. I’ve got about £100 for two outfits - not shoes, just top and bottom. Definitely need two outfits even if it’s two tops and one pair of trousers or whatever.

Body shape: I am a big size 16 with 38E boobs, no bum and basically carrying all my weight on my lower belly. Please nothing which highlights my enormous gunt. Long tops, disguise methods etc all welcome.

I’ve currently got a pair of elasticated waist cropper trousers from H&M in a strange material that I cannot describe - these are both flattering and comfy. Sadly of course I can’t find any more!! They’re about the best thing I own and it’s just bloody dire

Can you help? I’m desperado, presenting at an event next week and I really don’t think I can wear anything I have. I need: comfy, flattering, won’t show sweat and is fairly cheap. And doesn’t make big boobs look like a shelf. I’m 32. I don’t want to look like a Matron circa 1949.

Any help so very gratefully received!!

Have you looked at Yours? The closest store to me doesn't have a huge selection but online will. I'm a 16/18 (pregnant atm so more 18/20) and a 38 F

As a suggestion, something like this one perhaps as a top?

www.yoursclothing.co.uk/black-white-floral-pintuck-blouse-p

The best thing is that they also tell you the height and size of the model. ASOS do the same.

How about this or option 2 which may not look that smart on the link but I think with some smart trousers and heels it would look fab.

Thanks! Will have a look at Yours. Does anyone have any suggestions for bottom half stuff please?

M&S have some fantastic business dresses at the moment. I have this in black and navy. It’s heavy jersey, machine washable and comparable quality to Hobbs. A surprising find!

www.marksandspencer.com/seam-detail-midi-tailored-fit-dress/p/p60265852?image=SD_01_T59_1505D_F0_X_EC_90&color=NAVY&prevPage=plp

Oh, and I should have said. I am a 16 and carry all my weight on my boobs and belly and these dresses fit beautifully and are very flattering.

I’m also a new larger shape compared to before (pre-baby 10) and I’m wearing Next Chinos as an option which are more flattering than I expected. I paired with some ASOS basic shirts which have been surprisingly flattering - the size guide on ASOS is good.

My favourite new blouse was a thin chiffon number high neck number which skimmed tummy and love handles. So consider tops which you might not usually think of, I’ll see if I can find some links.

I have a black shift dress from primark that was £15. It is very comfortable, more comfortable than it looks.

www.scarlettandjo.com/collections/plus-size-jersey-dresses/products/lauren-knot-front-dress-2?variant=9716726104111
This comes in different colours and is very flattering (and I'm bigger than you).

Thank you! Will check out M&S definitely, chinos sound a good option too

I bought a really nice, patterned, shirt style dress from Peacocks yesterday.
I've never bought anything from there before - I usually shop in Sea Salt, White Stuff and the like.
It was £22 😀.

I second M&S. Great work separates/dresses at pretty good. You could probably stretch to a dress, one pair of trousers or skirt and two tops, if you shop carefully.

As pp has said, a heavy jersey dress will skim nicely. I would maybe look at tunic tops. M&S do great leggings too - I wear grey leopard print ones with a longline shirt that comes to mid-thigh. Pair it with a pair of courts or chunky brogues and it looks plenty smart and professional.

Sigh, was supposed to say pretty good price point.

I have a stock of the Next linen dresses, there is shop that sells seconds for £12 near me. They a great for work, very easy to wear

I went through a similar phase and a problem I had was clothes could quite smelly from sweat. This might not be a specific problem for you but I found a Sleeveless dress with lowish cut armholes with a lightweight wool cardigan on top to be brilliant as wool doesn't hold odours.

haha - was going to post "Yours" - I HAVE that top in post 2 (and the navy one - though that one fades more in the wash)!

I am large of belly (A Miriam Margolyes lookalike) so wear a variety of those tops with M+S work trousers/skirts - the tops are a decent length so always feel my lower belly is covered and disguised. I am a 42D and my boobs look good in it too... though that may be the M+S bra underneath it.

@Ninkaninus could you link to the long shirt? I was at M&S yesterday but can't find any shirts long enough. I'm 5 foot 7.

Uniqlo is worth a look - partic the shirts and dresses from the ines de la fressange range:

www.uniqlo.com/ines19fw/uk/en/sp/women/

I’m sorry I don’t think it’s current stock, I bought mine a year or two ago in the vastly reduced sale so they were probably the last few items they had. I’m also a couple of inches shorter than you so tops will be quite a bit longer on me.

I guess maybe they don’t have any in their current lines if you couldn’t find any instore.

Maybe look for shirt dresses instead?

Was just going to say Unniglo, I’m 16 and wear the XXL

I've got a couple of these M&S dresses for work. They are really easy to wear, non=sweaty and wash well, as well as being really cheap.

Then I'd wait for Boden to have some money off, and get a pair of black Richmond trousers.

Avoid polyester tops. I find I can get away with it in trousers or skirts, but not tops.

With sweat being an issue I would avoid polyester and other synthetic fabrics at all costs. This may be tricky as cheap clothes are often made from polyester, but it is possible to find cotton, viscose etc within budget if you look carefully.

They've all been mentioned but I agree with H&M, M&S and Next. Also try Zalando as the essentials range is good (i have bought their chinos in several colours and sizes!)

@Ratonastick that just delurked to say thank you for this recommendation! I'm wearing this dress today and it's so flattering over my mum tum, and sort of makes my ample bosom more discreet. Going to buy it in another colour come pay day!

A peplum skirt or dress is good for hiding your tummy.

Quiz do some lovely tops that are long enough to tuck in and pull out a bit at the waist.

If it's for work a peplum dress with a nice jacket/blazer over the top.

eBay have some cheap peplum skirts.