Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Style and beauty

Looking for style advice? Chat all about it here. For the latest discounts on fashion and beauty, sign up for Mumsnet Moneysaver emails.

Plus size chat / what are you wearing today sort of thread 2!

621 replies

ParisJeTAime · 25/02/2021 19:19

Hello!

Following on from our previous thread, here is a shiny new one to see us through Spring / Summer and maybe beyond!

Feel free to join. We are very friendly and size inclusive.

OP posts:
Thread gallery
178
StCharlotte · 18/03/2021 14:41

One of the weddings is my niece's. I have about 16 "niblings" and several are married now. Imagine my surprise when it turned out that I'm that aunt ha ha! This one is on DH's side so it would be quite nice to at least start off looking classy before I end up leading everyone in the Cha Cha Slide...

Annoyingly I have a perfect dress for it but the Mother of the Bride saw it (and complimented it) at another event so it can obviously never see the light of day again in that branch of the family Grin

ParisJeTAime · 18/03/2021 15:18

Oh nice! I love weddings. We haven't got any coming up actually. A friend of DH is engaged, but we don't know when they'll actually get married and / or if we'll be invited anyway.

The day I found out a newborn baby I used to look after was now a graduate living in London, I realised I am that sort of age!

Yes, I remember one year managing to wear one dress to four weddings, because they were all over the place. Only got a bit awkward when photos appeared on FB and I was there, same outfit, same hair, same make up at every one Blush. I'm not on FB these days though, which is probably for the best tbh!

OP posts:
StCharlotte · 18/03/2021 15:37

Oh yes the curse of Facebook! One of many.

We normally have at least one wedding a year but it's been a quiet couple of years (even accounting for Covid). Now I have two weddings within a week of each other and they're both on a weekday. Luckily I have a lot of annual leave to use up after hardly taking any last year.

LivingDeadGirlUK · 18/03/2021 18:33

Now I remember why I dropped off this thread, as I find myself browsing the Monsoon website :p

I love the denim dress, and the Monsoon goodies! Also looking forward to seeing the Lucy and Yak trousers.

ParisJeTAime · 18/03/2021 22:46

Sorry @LivingDeadGirlUK, this thread can be a bit of a bad influence! But, at least it's only clothes. Thank god you didn't join the whisky for breakfast, cigs for lunch chat thread Grin.

I think you'll probably safe with my new L&Y trousers! They are a bit... loud. But I love them! Well, one of the pairs anyway. I tried them on this evening. One pair is going back, the other pair, I love and am keeping. It did take ordering three pairs of the same type of trousers, (different prints), to find the right size, which was a little irksome.

OP posts:
LivingDeadGirlUK · 19/03/2021 07:24

Well at least you know what size you are now!

I'm off to site this morning, so its my wide leg jeans and kahki mottled v neck, both of which you have seen before. I have a bit of a walk at the other end of the trainline so trying not to put too many layers on.

ParisJeTAime · 19/03/2021 08:46

Exactly @LivingDeadGirlUK. If I order from there again, I'll have a better idea of size now.

Here I am in boring winter uniform, as it's another miserable day and I couldn't be bothered to dress up!

Jeggings, M&S, 18
Merino v neck, Uniqlo, XL
Navy top underneath, Uniqlo, XL

Will wear with Seasalt Towpath knee boots.

Plus size chat / what are you wearing today sort of thread 2!
OP posts:
JimmyJabs · 19/03/2021 09:58

Today's working from home outfit - a skirt and tights from White Stuff and a Gap jumper. The skirt is made from stretchy jersey material so it's very comfortable for sitting about in. Accessorised with slippers, of course.

Plus size chat / what are you wearing today sort of thread 2!
ParisJeTAime · 19/03/2021 10:01

Another great outfit @JimmyJabs!

OP posts:
JimmyJabs · 19/03/2021 10:33

Thanks! My dream style is actually a very pared down French chic kind of thing, but it doesn't suit my current shape so I'm trying to keep things simple and avoid fussy lines/details. Is Uniqlo a good place for basics in plus sizes?

ParisJeTAime · 19/03/2021 10:45

Uniqlo is good for basics IME. They have a good range of basic items, lots of which are in natural fibres. But, they are very plain. I don't know how they would fit with Parisian chic tbh, as the cut of their clothes really hasn't impressed me. The odd occasion when I've tried something other than a cotton tshirt / top, a wool jumper or jeans, I've found the cut and quality a bit crap. But when I want a v neck merino sweater or a big cosy lambswool one, or a nice fitted long sleeved tshirt, and I don't want to spend ££££, they are the best.

There is a Parisiennes thread running at the moment. I bet they are not all size 10s on there. Maybe someone on there could advise. I had &other stories recommended to me before for that sort of french style, but they only go up to a 16 I think. So I'd also love to know where an overweight Parisienne would shop!

When I lived in Paris, I saw loads of overweight women btw, so the whole "French women never gain weight" thing is bollocks. It might be that it is less common, but I met a good few larger women there who were all native French speakers with what sounded like Parisian accents.

However, when I was shopping anywhere naice in Paris, I remember feeling like a dick as they never carried my size, which was only a 16 or so! I remember trying a size 14 dress on in a shop and asking the assistant for a bigger size. She smirked and said, "non. C'est le maximum" 🤣. What a dick she was. No need for the smirk. Harrumph! This was in 2006 - 2007, so I bet they carry bigger sizes now. But I digress!

OP posts:
JimmyJabs · 19/03/2021 11:10

I've never been to Paris, but certainly I saw plenty of overweight people in the south of France when I was there. The ultra-thin ones also seemed to be the ones who permanently had a ciggie hanging out of their mouth, so...

I've had experiences like that in shops in the UK, and not as long ago as that either. "I don't think we have your size in that", offered as a piece of unsolicited advice while I was just looking at something in Reiss was a particularly low point!

ParisJeTAime · 19/03/2021 11:35

Oh god yes, I imagine it's the same here as Paris! A very small number of shop assistants are assholes if you aren't the right size for their brand or whatever 🙄. That one just stuck with me as I can remember her exact wording, smirk and tone 😆🙄.

I think Parisians have a reputation for being unpleasant and aloof, even within France. But I actually didn't find that to be the case. I think there's a bit of what you get in all cities which is people keeping their heads down as they want to get where they are going, so they aren't grinning or even looking at everyone. Also as so many people are just passing through you don't get much chat in some parts of the city from people like waiters etc, as they're so used to getting through hundreds of tables of tourists every day. Also some people there have quite a wry and piss taking sense of humour which some people don't take well. But generally, I always found that once I actually got talking to anyone in Paris, they were really friendly and helpful. That shop assistant was clearly a twat but you get them everywhere and in every profession really Grin

I also remember reading a thread on here that people couldn't get service at Mac counters because they looked too old Shock

I'd like to think all of this happens a lot less these days.

OP posts:
StCharlotte · 19/03/2021 12:18

It's funny regarding Paris. I've not lived there (was all set to go in my late teens and then some Life happened, anyway....) but have spent a lot of time there. Without exception, every time I've been there someone will approach me to ask for directions. I'm sure the real Parisians would be wetting themselves but I love the fact that to non-Parisians, I look the part. And I'm obviously not thin!

As for shop assistants... DH was buying me some jewellery in Dubrovnik and I spied a bracelet I'd like. The shop assistant wouldn't let me try it on because "it won't fit". Like many an apple I have slim wrists and ankles. I knew it would fit. She went back and forth, offering me alternatives until I had to put my foot down and say if it doesn't fit, fine, but let me try it. She was amazed when of course it did fit (with plenty of room to spare). She did have the grace to apologise and offered a hefty discount without being asked. Lucky I'm not the sensitive type!

Another experience - well several - put me off wedding dress shopping when my time came. My two best friends and I are all "generously proportioned" and they both got married in the early 90s. Some of the treatment they received at the hands of bridal shop assistants was bordering on cruel and I had to mop up so many tears.

I got married in the late 90s by which time I think they'd realised that "fat birds can pull" and were a bit more accommodating and there was a lot more available. I still only tried on one dress to see if that particular shape would suit me (sadly it didn't) and was roundly ignored by the assistants (are they worried they'll catch calories off my money or something?!). All three of us ended up having our dresses handmade.

Anyway, early visit to the office again today and now back wfh. Leggings, boots and a tunic top.

ParisJeTAime · 19/03/2021 12:46

Ah classic @StCharlotte! As if when women are bigger they also become stupid and unable to guess if a bracelet will fit them or not 🙄.

I was a teen in the late nineties and it was pretty brutal! Thinness was the only thing that mattered. I truly think things are a bit better now. But I'm not a teen tbf, despite my youthful looks Wink

OP posts:
JimmyJabs · 19/03/2021 12:55

I don't know anything about what it's like to be a teenager these days (thank God) but it does seem that the focus has shifted from ultra thinness onto having a huge (yay) but toned (damn) arse and a tiny waist. It's just as unrealistic to achieve if you're not naturally shaped that way, I think. I'm just grateful that, as a middle-aged invisible woman, nobody really cares what I look like now 😆

UntilYourNextHairBrainedScheme · 19/03/2021 15:15

www.sezane.com/en Sezane goes up to an 18 - I've been eying a few things up on there, but its expensive.

There was a thread elsewhere on S&B for people in the EU who didn't want to shop from UK retailers any more due to the delays and charges, and there was a French plus size retailer with some nice stuff, but I've forgotten the brand name - might look...

Due to my job I frequently shop for other people, and nobody's ever actually said anything when I browse and buy a pile of size 6 items Grin (nor equally when I buy XXL men's clothes...) then again that's probably because I look "like a mum" and they assume I'm shopping for my kids or someone I look after.

UntilYourNextHairBrainedScheme · 19/03/2021 15:25

This was the French plus size brand www.almeparis.com/english/

UntilYourNextHairBrainedScheme · 19/03/2021 15:28

I've never been intoba bridal shop in my life - sounds like the seventh circle of hell to me regardless of size! I bought my wedding dress online - it cost £60 - it fit as it came and and I liked it much better than the bridal shop ££££ ones my sisters had GrinBlush

LivingDeadGirlUK · 19/03/2021 15:51

I love that sweater @ParisJeTAime, I agree Uniqlo is great for basics, I love the heatech thermals.

I went to Paris in the late 90's/early 2000's during my 'cyber goth' phase. There were not a lot of other people in neon pink and black outfits, I got a lot of Oh la la's XD.

UntilYourNextHairBrainedScheme · 19/03/2021 15:58

I have a teen DD who has never mentioned the big butt tiny waist trend, but that might be because of where we live. A lot of her friends are verythin but she has one very pretty plus size friend. She's a healthy weight but an athletic build (tbh she has my build but is very sporty indeed,so she'd be apple if she put weight on but as it is she has a lean but not skinny swimmer's build). Luckily she seems happy in her skin, its actually one of my boys who worries about his weight and insists on wearing clothes two sizes too big, but I'm pretty sure he's in the process of growing into his weight - he's growing upwards so fast he seems to grow overnight!

JimmyJabs · 20/03/2021 08:59

Dressed entirely from H&M today - except for the Paul Smith socks that I treated myself to in between lockdowns 🙂

Plus size chat / what are you wearing today sort of thread 2!
ParisJeTAime · 20/03/2021 09:02

Lovely @JimmyJabs! I love your tonal colours today and yesterday, but also liked your bright jumper before. You have a great eye for putting colours together!

I'm about to start an online yoga class, so won't post another pic of myself in gym kit! Will post when I'm dressed properly.

OP posts:
alphaechokiwi · 20/03/2021 09:02

That looks great @JimmyJabs . Live those trousers. The socks are fab tooGrin

JimmyJabs · 20/03/2021 09:28

I do like a bright sock. Hoping to get out for a proper walk today, looking forward to seeing your weekend outfits later.