Which style for a big tummy?

[Getbehindme]

Hello!

I hold my weight in my tummy in particular, and not just the bottom part but also just under my boobs.

I find that most dresses and tops that should work for a size 16 make me look pregnant.

I'm under no illusion about my shape, but wondering what styles to aim for. I'm in loose dungarees at the moment as my comfort item, dresses an play/jumpsuits tend to cinche in the same place.

Any thoughts and good companies to try away from the high street brands? I'm not overly adventurous in patterns and colour but would like to be! (For context, 43yo mum of 2, recently separated - I'm ready to start feeling nice about myself).

Thanks!

Bumping for you as I sound like I’m a similar shape to you. I never wear dresses at my size 16-18 as I just look pregnant too but there must be something we suit! I’ve seen too many times that wrap dresses are an option yet these are always clingy fabrics so I don’t get the logic behind this as they are surely for those with no rolls!

I’m in the same predicament, having put on heaps of weight over the last year! I have a party To go to tomorrow and nothing to wear.

I’ve ordered lots Of dresses to try on from Joanie clothing and then spent the day shopping in town. Only to come away with 1 pair of mom jeans but have no idea what shoes or tops to wear with them!

The joanie dresses are ok, But I’m not very body confident atm, so I can’t actually decide if they look nice or not as I can only see all the things I hate about myself!

Might have to rush out tomorrow morning for another shopping trip!

Do you have thin legs? If so I’d recommend skinny jeans and tops that have an elastic waste then a bit baggy on the top. Here is a v plain one but you can get nicer ones. These kind of tops hide a multitude of sins!

www.ebay.co.uk/itm/123125235815

Watermelon- hope you don't mind me asking where are the mom jeans from please ? also you could dress them up for the party with a nice top, some jewellery and sandals

I'm exactly the same as you - I've been finding empire line dresses work well. I got some floral summer ones from next.

www.next.co.uk/style/st823430/m12600

And this

www.next.co.uk/style/ls193514/P26306#P26306

Wear them with a denim jacket

I'm the same! I tend to wear trousers with a floaty top - and you can't beat some shaping underwear! I haven't worn a dress for years. Skirts occasionally. I'm sure if there was a magic shop it would be very famous! I find empire line makes me look more pregnant.

But anyway, waiting with interest in case something fantastic comes up in suggestions!

My legs don't match my tummy, so I tried mom jeans from Simply Be, the size 16 fit my bum and made it look quite nice, but I couldn't close the bloody zip due to the tummy, and it was just too tight on that area. The size up look too baggy on my legs and bum but fit the tum!

Empire tends to add to the pregnant look.

I've always worn skinny, and I know the baggy types of tees so maybe I have to stick to that for now. I follow Helen Thorn (helenwearsasize18) from Scummy Mummies and I like her style but she's not got the double tummy!

I do have a shirt dress I like, but it's veering toward shapeless which maybe is the way it has to be but I'd like some shape!

Paperbag trousers with a shirt tucked in. Gives a bit of volume in the leg area to balance out the top, and creates a waist without being clingy.

Have you always had this tummy shape? did you have this before you had children or did your shape change when you had children? I'm asking this because you may wish to look into whether you have diastasis recti (separation of the abdominal wall muscles).
Have a Google see what you think. There are self checks you can do and if you have it there are exercises that can help etc.

Look up Emily sinned on Instagram for some inspiration- she’s a size 18 (I think) and apple shaped - she always looks fab

This is my shape too - I have loads of stretch marks between my boobs and belly button to add to the look.

I second paper bag trousers with a t-shirt tucked in. I never ever thought that tucking in would be something for me, until a few weeks ago I hadn’t tucked anything in for maybe 25 years. But it works. My paper bag trousers are navy linen (more forgiving on my bum) and I have the type of thinner t-shirts that hang well with some detail on them like ties on the arms to make it look more interesting.

Innes not sinned! Bloody autocorrect

@lovescats3

Watermelon- hope you don't mind me asking where are the mom jeans from please ? also you could dress them up for the party with a nice top, some jewellery and sandals

Just M&S, struggled to find any 16/18 in rest of high street shops, but at least I could try them on.

I have quite skinnylegs Compared to my middle, so Often the legs On trousers/jeans are too wide on me, and very unflattering.

I’m a similar shape. I have good legs and wear shorts a lot in the summer. Lots are very casual but I also have nice linen dressy ones in black or cream from places like H&M and Zara that I wear with lowish cut shirts or vest tops.

Something like this outfit works quite well for me and is very comfortable.

www2.hm.com/en_gb/productpage.0968211007.html

I find shirt smock dresses work best for me (16, alllllll in the tummy, top and bottom). Agree empire line screams pregnancy so shirt smocks (similar to the Hush esmarelda dresses) are best for me. Either with black tights and biker boots in winter or low heeled brown suede boots in summer. Next did a few nice ones too, but more autumn collection.

Sorry, Emmanuel, nor esmarelda!