Plus size chat / what are you wearing today sort of thread?

[ParisJeTAime]

We used to have one of these and it was fab!

It was vaguely for size 18+, but I know a 5 foot size 16 is not the same as a 6 foot one, so don't think it needs to be strict.

Anyway, if anyone would like to join me they'd be v welcome.

FWIW, I'm a tall size 18, apple shape.

Still in my PJs . Then going out for a walk / run (stating C25K again).

Exciting quite a few of them are a size 16, yay, although they look more like a 14 to me tbh, they are taller so the equivalent of me as a 14 I guess which is now making me feel If I lost just a dress size. Urgh I just cant even think about that right now as it's not going to happen.

Ah sorry @FlyingByTheSeatof! I am a bit of an enabler when it comes to buying clothes! They are my weakness . Could be worse!

I've just ordered some boots, which I truly was in the market for. They are synthetic which I didn't want, but I'm giving them a go. They may go back too. I just loved how they looked and I think the leather version would have been £££££.

@UntilYourNextHairBrainedScheme ha! That happens to me so often. I put on something rather naice and next thing I know I've tucked it into jeans and wellies so I can tramp through the mud! God it's muddy. Roll on summer!

Yes, that size 16 model looks amazing and she definitely isn't mega tall!

I mentioned a blogger earlier in the thread called Fuller Figure Figure Bust (Georgina Horne) and she looks amazing. Tends to wear a 20 / 22 I think. Not sure how tall she is.

She looks amazing but says she wears a Rosie Red corset, made to measure, under her dresses which I have to say looks like a tempting buy.

I just looked at the Joynnie site and I want the cable knit cardigan...

Has anyone actually got anything from there though?

I just looked at their size guide - on ASOS a UK size 16 is an 85cm (33 inch) waist and a 14 an 80cm (31.5 inch) waist, but on the Joannie site size guide both 16 and 18 are 79cm waist (31 inch) - a 20 is an 87cm (34 inch) waist.

So going by the size guide the blond Joannie model is an ASOS 14, only a Joannie 16...

Which is a round about way of asking whether the size guide is accurate and Joannie sizes are small?

Yes, she does wear corsets. Maybe not in every shoot, but a lot of the time. I'm not sure I would wear one of those. My sister had one and it looked so uncomfortable! But maybe for a big event or something...one where I didn't have to eat...or breathe 😂.

There are loads of others. I also like Stephanie Yeboah and The Shira Rose. Not sure what sizes they wear though. Obviously, there Ashley Graeme too, who I want to say wears a UK 16.

And, re my love of clothes; if we can get deep for a minute . I think it's because I've been struggling with my weight a lot since having dcs and actually for most of my life. I was a big teenager, lost loads in my twenties and now I'm quite big again. I used to not enjoy buying clothes and I think when I gain weight it's easy for me to want to just disappear , so I buy things which 'will do'. But I also find that nice clothes make me feel so much better and that leads to better choices, so I do end up healthier as well. So, I do think a good wardrobe is important to wellbeing. I'm clawing my way back to a good wardrobe, or trying to.

I've seen Steph McGovern wear some of the Joanie pieces on her instagram from when she's on her Packed Lunch show I'm not sure what size she is but she is a slightly fuller figure with larger bust and they look look great on her.

I've heard Joanie sizing is on the small side! Nobody said ridiculously small though...

I'm a 16-18, and would usually take a 16 in dresses which aren't too clingy, but I've gone with an 18 for the ones I ordered. I will report back when they get here!

Well keep buying what takes your fancy @ParisJeTAime because you are great at choosing lovely flattering clothes and look a nice normal size.
I am definitely not a size 16 if that means the waist is only 33 inches

I think the reasons you give are the reasons why I'm so hesitant at buying clothes because every year I was going up a size so had to keep updating my wardrobe.

It's probably why I've been buying so many stretchy items, mainly bottoms, and been so excited by them because they fit and arent restrictive so in their own way make me feel happy and freer in my clothes.
And yes I agree 100% that a good wardrobe with flattering well chosen items makes a world of difference. I feel so much happier in myself wearing my Sweaty Betty leggings they just make me feel happy in myself somehow, the compression helps, and knowing I have my faux leather leggings and Jeggings for when I'm out an about and can look more put together. It brings me joy.

I think being comfortable and not having things dig in is definitely something that makes me happier too! I'm so glad leggings are en Vogue now 😂.

I think typically a 34 inch waist is a 16 and 36 an 18, no? Or am I deluding myself? I think there’s definitely a link between what I wear and my mood. I was a size 16 for the last 10 years and felt ok about it. I am bothered by being an 18 now but I’m not going to lie down and give up. I eat healthily and I work out. I still care about clothes and fashion, I don’t hate my body naked but I don’t look at myself in shop windows as I walk down the street. I know that if I had gone down to an 18 from a larger size I’d be feeling great so I try to channel that confidence. I would encourage everyone to dress for the size you are now even if it is annoying to shell out for bigger sizes.

Yes, I thought that 28 was a 10, so 30 is 12, 32 is 14, 34 is 16, 36 is 18...

There is no way an 18 is 31" waist

I'll report back. I did google before I ordered and people said mainly true to size but on the small size...so we will see!

I'm basically a size 20 getting away with fitting into a size 16.

Maybe it's vintage sizing..? No idea. I will reserve judgement till I'm actually wearing the clothes. And it doesn't change the actual size I am 🤷‍♀️. I am the same size in most shops, so even if they do all happen to be wrong, well everyone else is shopping there too! It isn't like everyone else has been using a different measure (The Joanie Measure, shall we say?) and I'm the only one using The Everywhere Else Measure. See? Logic 😌

Hurrah, I just found my 15 year old Uggs in the loft which I'm planning on wearing out tomorrow as it's going to be freezing, seems they're ok to be seen in again not that I care I just could never be bothered to hunt them out. There are a lot of vacuum packs of clothes up there which I'll deal with soon.

I've just opened another bag of 15 year old clothes I found in the loft. With a cotton top from Whistles, a silk top from Monsoon and a Superdry dress and bits from Topshop and New look. They are all large or 14 and look tiny compared to a large I would buy now. I'll keep them for now because clearly I'm a hoarder

ParisJeTAime it will be interesting to hear what size the Joannie clothes come up like in reality. It does sound almost like vintage sizing, but sometimes the size charts themselves are meaningless - the uniqlo one certainly is, as the measurements on it aren't really how the clothes come up!

I always look at size charts because I've been changing size and because if ordering from the UK returns aren't usually free, and I don't want to lose several pounds or Euro just for the dubious pleasure of trying on something which doesn't fit!

I was watching a video by Justine Leconte on You tube which shows you how to read those sizing charts. Sounds ridiculous but I don’t really do it in reality I just rely on my knowledge of the brand and how they usually fit. I need to measure myself and be a bit more thoughtful about these things.

@UntilYourNextHairBrainedScheme

Are your clothes shops open at the moment?

So the coated faux leather Jeggings are quite rustly when you walk and don't hold you in. They are high waisted and they don't roll down when you walk etc. I just tried to take a photo of my outfit via a downward full body selfie. It was not flattering and I'm becoming very thick around my waist.

StCharlotte no, A level years at school are back on an alternate week timetable but GCSE years aren't which is annoying as my eldest has GCSE equivalent this year... otherwise only supermarkets and other food retailets are open. We do have in person medical appointments including regular non urgent stuff like dental check ups and ongoing physio/ OT etc etc which I think is different to the UK maybe - or maybe that varies by area. No clothes shops open, music lessons online, no sports clubs etc.

Divebar2021 I didn't realise there was a special way to read sizing charts - it says on some "measure your natural waist" so that's what I do (I am slowly losing weight for heart health reasons so I check that for that reason) and my chest at the biggest point... sadly as an apple my waist- hip ratio isn't great so I don't bother measuring my hips as if something fits my waist it will fit my hips...

With some firms the size charts seem spot on, but uniqlo heattech trousers are miles more generous than the chart, obviously Hush is famous for being generous...

Obviously what exactly a size 16 is varies wildly from company/ brand to brand depending mainly on target audience, but I don't understand why they publish size charts if they (the odd few) don't follow their own charts!

Maybe I am reading them wrong ... I didn't realise that was even possible!

FlyingByTheSeatof a downwards body selfie isn't ever going to be flattering I don't think! Sorry to read that the jeggings are rustly, that's very annoying!

Straight down shots and worms eye view shots can make me look a totally strange body shape.

Inspired by your measuring, I've located the measuring tape. I am horrified at the size of my waist. Holy shit . 38 inches! Which makes me what a 20ish? God damn it lockdown weight gain!

But it wasn't all bad. I measured my hips and my hip to waist ratio is actually quite good. I think I may have been living a lie all these years. I thought I was an apple shape, but I put all my measurements into a calculator and apparently I'm an hourglass... but I don't have a bum, so I think that's wrong? My boobs, which I'd always considered enormous are now smaller than my hips. Is it having babies has changed my shape? I don't mind, I'm just a bit surprised!

Snow again here today, but it isn't lying nicely at all . So I'm in jeggings and wool jumper again

ParisJeTAime if you have a 38 inch waist you must have good proportions or a verygood eye for what's flattering to you as you look great! I think probably you're right that you're not an apple shape - I am and my hips are were only 7 inches bigger than my waist last time I checked, but my chest is 11 inches bigger than my waist... I think that and broad shoulders = apple...

You're lucky to have changed shape (or maybe you never were an apple) as apple is the most high risk shape for heart disease and diabetes...