Business dressing - size 20 - help please!!!!!!

[JinglePies]

Help! Blind panic. Am normally a size 10-12. Lockdown plus being unwell has made me BLOOM and I’m a size 20. I’m not tall. It’s a nightmare.

I have to go to an actual work conference and it’s really important I look smart. I’m a lawyer but been on maternity leave.

NO IDEA WHAT TO WEAR and it’s not helped by it being summer and probably quite warm on the days I have to be with other people.

Please tell me what to wear? Links welcome.

Did I mention that I’m in a blind panic?!?!?

I am a size 18-20 and have this H&M dress in 2 colours. It's very flattering on a larger tummy and was cool & comfortable for work in the hot weather last year. Size XL fits me well.
Would be fine with a jacket in a formal environment.

Asos or Next for dresses.

Personally I would avoid trousers, I wore them when slimmer (size 14) and am now horrified how I look in them (size 20) dresses are still flattering.

In your profession I would probably do a midi wrap dress and a blazer

@Henslowesdiary can you please post a link to the HandM dress, if possible.

Kaleidoscope has lots of different brands and you can sort for smart dresses. Some wedding type smart but also business type smart.

Don’t panic. I used to be a size 22 and am a lawyer. I bought a lot from m&s and boden.

What I would say though is that conferences can often get hot - crappy air con, loads of people - and when I was bigger I really felt the heat. So try to go for some breathable or natural fabrics and something that isn’t tight or too fitted. Also don’t go for a very high heel if you’re going to be standing up for a long time.

Don’t be afraid of being comfortable at the same time as being smart.

@HenslowesDiary tracked down that dress! Have ordered lots of people’s suggestions today. So kind, thank you!

simplybe

Link to H&M dress here
www2.hm.com/en_gb/productpage.0965618011.html

I may have just ordered the pale blue as well as this one, which has a flattering sleeve www2.hm.com/en_gb/productpage.0983397003.html

Get a light but flowly long / 3/4 sleeved black or dark dress. Midi length with heels. Suit jackets don’t look good for large busts or tummies.

A dress and jacket. Navy blue. White trainer pumps (super clean). White or navy bag. Gold accessories. Hair blow-dried. Nails tidy. Job done, go and enjoy the conference!

I cannot imagine turning up, as a practising lawyer, at a lawyerly conference, in white trainers. (When all my male colleagues would be in Savile Row suits and extremely correct shoes.)

Have times changed so much?

Studio eight/phase eight. Nice quality dress and skirts etc that have larger sizes plus some thin cotton/cashmere cardigans or thin blazer to take it to business level. Good shoes/handbag/hair and you’ll knock them out of the park. Being a 20 doesn’t change your intelligence OP- own it.