Style for larger frames

[SwearsBySomething]

Ok, I'm not larger framed, I'm actually 4/5 stone overweight though as I am tall 5ft 9 I probably look around 3 stone overweight. I have spent years in dark clothes to conceal myself and I just want to make a change..... where to start... any ideas/tips?

From experience, I would say most clothes can be styled on a larger body if the scale and fit is good, it’s just that the larger women doesn’t tend to have the same reference points in the media that a slimmer woman does. I’d start by considering what look you do like - do you like a pared back, casual look/ edgy/boho/classic etc and create an outfit you love that fits you and start building out from there. If you are out of ‘straight’ big sizes - ie over about a 22/24 then it becomes harder, but even at 5 stone overweight at 5’9 I would guess that isn’t the case for you, so high street is still a shopping ground.

Everyone will suggest a John Lewis personal shopper - unless you fit comfortably into a size 18 don’t even think about it. They don’t carry much above that in store and it’s a dispiriting experience to find the shopper stumped and bringing you things not because they are nice but because they might fit. I went at a size 24 and spent about an hour in the car park crying my eyes out after it was so humiliating. Not because she wasn’t nice, but because the store carried very little in that size. Back pre-lockdown at a 12 and realised why everyone recommends them.

Katy Sturino on insta takes a lot of very current looks and demonstrates them on a larger body.

She’s good, isn’t she. I like that she actively discourages comments saying things like ‘it looks better on you’ and rather focuses on showing how clothes can be upscaled.