Please help a scruffy size 22 look lovely.

[chocolatespiders]

I wear uniform for NHS community job which consists of black trousers, polo and fleece.
Weekends I have one pair of jeans and a blouse I seem to wear all weekend.
Don't go out socially (does anyone??) so don't need dressy.
I love seeing people in leggings and boots but don't know if I am brave enough.
Would be worried the leggings would show bulges at top of thigh.
I really just don't know what to wear for my size and would love some help.
I don't have a bedroom so storage is an issue so only looking to buy a few bits for weekends.
Thankyou

It's tricky isn't it? I'm a similar size.

What shape are you, Apple? Pear? And what height?

I'm discovering I look best in straight jeans, but skinnies look better with boots. It's a quandary!

I'd get a good pair of jeans and boots that work together for you. And a couple of different tops or a jacket that works with the blouse you wear.

Tunics look good with leggings and boots. Simply be and yours have some nice stuff.

Yes, what shape and vague height are you op, please?

I'm also on the plus side (16/18) and tall, with a big frame. So, sort of big all over! I struggle with looking neat and elegant too. Even when I was clinically underweight, I was just...big! It's the way I'm built.

I've started massively whittling down my wardrobe, getting rid of anything cheap, where the colour doesn't suit me, (anything black or in cool tones). I've made a list of things which suit me and my lifestyle, and I am only buying these things this year. Very strict about that! For the first time in ages, I looked at lovely dresses yesterday and managed not to buy anything as they aren't on The List.

I would say I am pear shape, heavy bottom half. I am 5 foot 6. I will have a look for a tunic that might help me feel a bit less yuck.
I have ordered some black boots from M and S

What about a very long, straight cardigan in a plain colour? That can cover a multitude of sins & looks elegant/cool with jeans - only the slimmer part of your legs will show & it sort of gives the impression there's a slimmer you underneath the cardigan. There were loads around the last 2 years.

Im a size 22 and mainly wear thick leggings with long baggy jumpers around the house if going out i add boots and a scarf, i have some dresses too that fit my top half but have a tiered skirt that come to knee length i wear with opaque tights and ankle boots or if staying in over the knee socks to stay warm. In warmer weather just with trainers and invisible socks. I also have comfy jeans some nice loose teeshirts and a few long cardigans, i do add accessories if i feel the need to dress up a bit and have tons of necklaces, earrings and scarves. I love clothes and spend wayyyy too much on them but often from cheaper places like shein or zanzea. I also have a lot of ‘ lagenlook’ clothing like long loose dresses and asymetrical tops, mainly from zanzea. The shapes disguise my fat bits but flatter and i manage to feel sexy in a baggy jumper that slides off the shoulder seductively 😂

My tip: skinny corduroys are great - more forgiving than leggings and very comfortable. the ones in the pic are from Violeta (Mango)

Oh I like those cords a lot!

Size 20 here, and I tend to wear yoga pants, so like leggings, but more skimming. M & S do some that are not stupidly expensive. It saves me getting the fat knee look that I would get in leggings. I also go for longer tops, generally not patterned, and not too thick.

There is a thread called 'Plus size what are you wearing today' - it is brilliant!

Look at Joe Browns at Simply Be. I love their tunics and cardies, they look good with leggings and boots. They do a good range of sizes too.

As a pear shape too l wear more fitted things on the top half that have a waist and then flare out a bit. Try to find tunics that shape rather than straight up and down to give you more shape.

I’m not trying to sound like a cow honest!
I say this as an obese size 18 woman...
I don’t think anyone looks lovely that size, sorry.
I wear leggings sometimes and frankly, they look awful.
I have absolutely enormous hip dips/love handles that just weren’t there at a smaller size and they make even vaguely form fitting skirts and trousers look terrible.
Tunics/loose tops just make you even fatter!
I tend to wear loose skirts and vest tops.
To be brutally honest, imo, the answer is to lose weight and I’m not trying to be a bitch when I say that.
I am very overweight myself and trying to lose.

Ok Swaddle, me too, but I do need to actually wear clothes whilst this weight shifting goes on, and I don't feel there is anything to be gained by wearing clothes that actually make me feel worse

Ok Swaddle, me too, but I do need to actually wear clothes whilst this weight shifting goes on, and I don't feel there is anything to be gained by wearing clothes that actually make me feel worse
I’m not sure what to say really.
I honestly don’t think it’s possible to be very overweight and look nice, nothing properly flatters!
🤷‍♀️
I find that somewhat fitted tops look slightly less awful than loose ones.
And find that fitted skirts and trousers look slightly more awful than loose ones.

But quite honestly, I feel like an utter crock of shit whatever I put on.

Anyway, I’ll leave it there because I think my own negative feelings are going to end up inadvertently offending.

It’s important to feel nice in your clothes regardless of your size.

Good underwear!
Sainsbury’s tu high waisted skinny jeans... hold in a tummy and give a smother shape.

A white blouse or T-shirt.
Waterfall blazer that nips in at the back (Wallis).
Ankle boots and nice leather bag.
Chunky necklace/earrings.

Thanks all some great ideas to explore .

I do realise I need to lose weight, I am a big emotional eater and this last year has been the worst ever in my 20 years career and I have fed my drained self all the wrong things.

I do need to feel better while I address this though and I have seen lots of plus size beautifully dressed woman. I am just planning to buy a few bits for now and see how it goes.

You have my sympathy- I went from a 16 to an 18 during lockdown and although I don’t love it (and know I need to lose weight ) I don’t hate myself either. I’m also pretty attractive and I look good in a number of things. Today I wore some soft wide leg trousers and a men’s cashmere sweater I picked up in a charity shop. Skin tight is not ultra flattering on most people. The thread mentioned is a great starting point - lots of people ( myself included) posted pictures of their outfits.

Thst outfit sounds lovely divebar. I will definitely check that thread out it sounds great.

I would buy some neutral basics - really thick leggings with a high waist band that hold you in, longer tshirts that skim over your waistline and then long coatigan/ cardigan type thing. One that falls straight down x

@chocolatespiders

You’ve got to practice a bit of self care and for me wearing nicer clothes helps with that. These are the trousers - soft and comfortable. I have them in blue and this blush colour. ( they were cheap though £25 I think ) I mainly wear them around the house but if I have worn them out it would be with a knee length wool coat, looser sweater, trainers. a beanie and a slouchy handbag. Obviously not to everyone’s taste... I think whatever you go for find pieces that fit you, that have nice fabrics that feel good. If its just joggers find a nice pair ( they’re trendy anyway). Put on some nice moisturiser or a bit of perfume, nice lip balm or whatever makes you feel good. Don’t think you don’t deserve nice clothes because you’re a plus size.

When you say leggings and boots do you mean ankle boots?

I have a friend a similar size. She always looks gorgeous but she is never casual. She wears dresses with little cardigans mainly. Think tea dresses. Hair always done. Make up always perfect. You can look lovely definitely but to be really honest, it's a lot more effort! Disclaimer...I've been every size from an 8-18.

I've seen women the OP's size in casual wear, not looking scruffy at all. I saw a woman, who I assume was muslim as she wore the same sort of hijab as Nadiya Hussain. She had soft yoga sort of trousers and crop top over soft layers on top. She looked great. I think she was wearing trainers, not boots. Trying to picture what op means by leggings and boots?

@Swaddlemeinplants

I’m not trying to sound like a cow honest! I say this as an obese size 18 woman... I don’t think anyone looks lovely that size, sorry. I wear leggings sometimes and frankly, they look awful. I have absolutely enormous hip dips/love handles that just weren’t there at a smaller size and they make even vaguely form fitting skirts and trousers look terrible. Tunics/loose tops just make you even fatter! I tend to wear loose skirts and vest tops. To be brutally honest, imo, the answer is to lose weight and I’m not trying to be a bitch when I say that. I am very overweight myself and trying to lose.

I don't want to hurt you, but I really don't agree with this. Size 18 and above people can and do look lovely. What they don't look is slim. Sometimes I think people get the two confused. I do understand how you feel though. I really do.