Wedding guest outfit for massive books.

[Monr0e]

I'm 46, recently perimenopausal, and in the last 12 months have gained around 2 stone in weight which I cannot seem to shift. Unfortunately, a large amount of this seems to have gone to my chest area and I've gone from around a 34DD to approx 36GG. Barely any of my old clothes fit, none of my dresses or shirts / blouses now go over my boobs. I am going to a wedding in October and went looking for an outfit yesterday and mainly spent most of the day trying not to cry in shop changing rooms. Everything looks ridiculous on me. If it has a waistband, my boob pulls the material so high the waistband sits under my armpit 😔. If it has a zip, I have to get at least one size up so that it fastens, meaning it doesn't fit elsewhere. I despise them, If I could afford a reduction I would but I can't so I'm stuck with them.

Please help, I have no clue how to dress anymore and I'm massively struggling in knowing what to wear to the wedding so I don't look like Les Dawson in drag.

Boobs! Boobs! Boobs! The title should say boobs! Stupid autocorrect.

Massive books

Like a bible? Or more of a Jamie Oliver cookbook?

What things do you like op?
Colours, patterns?
Does it have to be a dress, could smart trousers and a lovely top work?

Sorry but the title made me chuckle!

My suggestion would be to either go to a shop that caters specifically to bigger busts (bravissimo for example, but I don’t know if they do occasion wear), or buy a dress that fits you well on the boobs and then have it altered to fit perfectly elsewhere. That is easily doable for a seamstress and the dress will fit you like a glove which always looks fantastic.

🤦‍♀️ 😆
I'm open to ideas, doesn't have to be a dress but I haven't been anywhere worth dressing up for for a long time and I want to feel good about myself.

Colours wise, I'm a red head and tend to go for darker colours, navy, blues and greens. I wouldn't mind something floral. Or plain. I have no set style at ghe best of times, now I just want something that fits and looks nice.

I love darker colours too.
What sizing should I look for?

Best typo ever! Just imagining a bored wedding guest reading a stack of books in the corner

I'm usually a 14 but I'm guessing would need to be a 16.

Ohhh the right green would look gorgeous with your colouring!

www.bravissimo.com/products/jessica-dress-pd384/#navycantaloupe-pd384nca

www.bravissimo.com/products/willow-wrap-dress-pd867/

www.bravissimo.com/products/ruffle-front-maxi-dress-pd752/

www.bravissimo.com/products/twist-side-dress-pd617/

www.bravissimo.com/products/flo-stripe-dress-pd666/

Bravissimo have some lovely ones which should be comfortable with them catering for bigger busts.

What’s your budget? Bit random but I have massive boobs (size 10-12 with 30GG) and the Ralph Lauren ‘Lauren’ range dresses they do at John Lewis and House of Frazer fit me amazingly. They are around the £150 mark but incredibly flattering and fairly classic styles so will last.

I’ve always been much bigger boob wise than the rest of me and find that a shift style is the best shape for dresses. The idea that wrap dresses are flattering for big boobs never seems to work for me.
I would buy a size 16 straightish dress and get the side seams altered to skim the rest of your body. I wore a similar menopausal outfit to one sons wedding with a matching shrug over the top which helped disguise the top but accentuate the waist and hips if you see what I mean. With a strategically placed corsage!
I’m 64 though so you might not want to take fashion advice from me!

www.simplybe.co.uk/shop/little-mistress-floral-maxi-dress/ma110/product/details/show.action?pdBoUid=4014&optionColour=Multi&pdpClick=true

www.simplybe.co.uk/shop/little-mistress-v-neck-maxi-dress/et424/product/details/show.action?pdBoUid=5014&optionColour=Blue&pdpClick=true

Another one enjoying the thought of you planning an outfit that gives you room to smuggle your massive books into the service. I assume it’s maybe a Catholic or Hindu wedding if you’re planning on books plural.

Thank you so much everyone

Wilmaa, I really like the blue ruffle front one, I'll take a look and see if they have my size.
And I'll look at the Lauren ones, they might have a sale on 😆

All advice is welcome, honestly. My changing body shape has got me very low recently, it's nice to hear ideas.

@Monr0e I’d suggest looking at some Instagram fashion accounts of women who are around your current size - I find this really helpful for reminding me that although my body looks and feels very different to me when I’ve got an extra stone or two on me, and therefore I sometimes react badly because it doesn’t look ‘right’ compared to what I’m used to, when I see others of my size or bigger who dress well and have good fashion sense, I can see that they look absolutely fantastic. It gets you in a better mindset for seeing your body positively, as others would see it, and gets you over that ‘I might as well not bother’ feeling.

Bravissimo but sadly this their last season doing clothes.
I went to a wedding recently and got a beautiful dress from Hobbs that fitted my 34G bust.
www.johnlewis.com/hobbs-viola-satin-dress-cobalt/p4933258
It was this, no longer in stock but they may do similar this season.

Thanks again everyone, I think this has brought up a lot of negative feelings for me and it's a really good idea to try and embrace my new shape rather than despise it as I currently do. This last year I have been able to hide behind my work uniform (thank you NHS polo shirt and work pants) and spend most of my free time in joggers and oversized t shirts. Shopping for the wedding and clearing out my wardrobe has forced me to really look at my new shape and how much weight I have gained and it's made me very uncomfortable and quite sad. I have 2 bin bags full of clothes that don't fit and a nearly empty wardrobe now. And no idea how to dress. As well as the wedding, there is a weekend hen do which I will also need clothes for as it includes a couple of meals out. I need a lottery win, a personal shopper and a personal trainer.

And a giant tote bag for all my books.

collectif -lots options

Go to Bravissimo and get fitted for some new bras, try on any clothes they have left.
I find v necks flattering, also love blouson/ gathered waist style tops. They skin over boobs and tummy and I have slim legs and a flat bum (typical apple) so work for me. Mint velvet and phase eight have nice tops.
Good jeans- I like the next slim (they are straight leg not skinny) shape and sculpt ones.