Tunics and long line tops?

[TragoCardboardCopper]

I need to appeal to the S&B posters for help! I'm generally clueless about fashion, but manage to muddle along. But covid, wfh, and not really leaving the house much means I've completely lost touch with what's in.

I'm a 14 - 16 hourglass, with too much tummy for my liking, and a bit of a double chin. 5ft6. About 12 stone 7 ish. 37 years old.

But my biggest problem is it looks like crop / short tops are in and I've got a ileostomy and a bag, it's level with my belly button. Obviously I want that to be covered! Tunics are perfect but I think they're very 'out' now?

Dresses would be OK, but loose ones make me look like the back end of a bus as I have a large bust and hips. I still have a waist but anything fitted in that area shows the bag. It's on my right hand side, and anything with a tie or ruched that would hide it always seems to be on the left!
Trousers really need to have the waist below the bag as if they're above they need to be very high wastes and then loose, which makes my bum and thighs look massive. Not what I'm going for!

I went shopping yesterday, went in every shop (including a disorienting and bizarre 10 mins in urban outfitters where I felt like I'd slipped into a 90s does the 70s parody!) but only actually bought 2 t shirts from the exercise wear section of M&S ffs.... (the slippy fabric I hope won't show the bag, and the length is long enough, I hope)

I had surgery last month so shopping to hide the bag is new for me, and as I'm largely recovered i'll be heading back to the office soon, it's a relaxed office, I can look quirky, but need to be reasonably put together.

I wear a lot of these and I generally buy from fat face, weird fish, brakeburn and seasalt. They are quite pricey so I stock up during the sales - they all have sales on now, so worth a look.

How about long sweatshirts and maternity leggings? Might look a bit trendier and gentle on the tummy

Yes, I was wondering about maternity trousers. They're the thing I most miss about being pregnant but they might also give you the space for the bag while also being a bit fitted on the legs.

I wear a lot of baggy woollen style tops/jumpers. I also think big long baggy T-shirts are in. Praise the lord.

I believe the style is lagenlook, loose longline, usually linen clothing that might suit you. www.kitandkaboodal.com/blog/what-is-lagenlook/ this explains it better!

I can't really comment on what's on trend but I have noticed both my teen DDs and their friends seem to have ditched all their short tops and are wearing long baggy oversized sweaters and tops (often from the men's section) so that's an option if you think tunics aren't for you any more.

Have a look at Seasalt, they’ve got a sale at the moment and do some tunics www.seasaltcornwall.com/catalogsearch/result/?q=tunic

Fatface Simone dresses(get cheap ones in lots of.colours from eBay) might be good for this.

Not cheap but Joe Brown has really lovely tunics

For a trendier look I’d opt for oversized sweatshirts - I mean really oversized. I’m the same weight and height as you and go for a size 24 ish in a sweatshirt or an xxl depending on the brand. Asos have loads. Paired with jeans / chunky trainers it makes quite a fun look.

Mistral have tunic tops, with some good bargains in the sale atm.
Lily and Me also do tunics.
I just got a long-length brushed cotton plaid shirt from Joules in the John Lewis sale, but might be a bit casual for work....

I would recommend Kit & Kaboodal (as mentioned above) and also a site called laundry b. They both do relaxed, lagenlook styles and generally they're one size up to 24+. I wear a lot of things from both and like to think I still look semi put together.

I wear tunics whether they’re in or not !
Got a nice one from Next, but it’s actually a Roman one, with hidden pockets - I love it !

Thank you all, the lagenlook looks interesting! I think I'll have to experiment as I have a tendency to look frumpy, or like a middle aged art teacher, but it's definitely got promise!!

Also interested in oversized sweatshirts, are jumper dresses still in??

I do like seasalt, fat face, white stuff and mistral. But usually end up looking like my mother... Do you think it's OK for someone mid 30s? Or will it age me? I think I look older than I am, anyway, so I'm wary of looking even older.

Joe browns I like very much, but I find it can be a bit too small in the bust for me.

I've been considering maternity jeans, the sort that go under the bump, but I'm buggered if I can find any that are bootcut, which is definitely the most flattering style of jeans for me. Very glad they're back in style!

Roman Originals have long Tunic style shirts that would be fine for work. £30 ish so cheaper than Seasalt (but I do think Seasalt is lovely) as someone said, Fat Face Simone dresses would be ideal but don't buy full price you can get new ones on Ebay for £20-£25 and second hand for even less.

www.roman.co.uk/longline-button-detail-spot-print-top-20065308

The Roman ones

I am similar shape to you but shorter I like leggings and a long line top, sweatshirts are fine but if too oversized I look huge in them, I also like petite joggers which fit above the ankle and don't forget some on trend footwear, up to date trainers, or black work boots can help lift an outfit.

TU at Sainsburys sometimes have some tunic tops in.

For casual wear I love the length of these lipsy boatneck tops:

www.next.co.uk/style/ls127147/L76292#L76292

gosh i wear lagenlook! who knew?

Yours Clothing Start at Size 14 and there tops tend to be longline without being tunics. Maybe that would be an option?

What about a shirt, worn slightly loose over the trousers which are mentioned

I have a stoma too. If you’re a month from surgery then I’d advise going for something comfortable for now as your body will still be healing and changing shape a bit. Mine is in a weird place and it took 7 years to find jeans that didn’t squash it.

Maternity trousers are your friend (over the bump ones) and H&M do a good variety of styles. Just sucks that it’s incredibly hard to find maternity clothes actually in store.

If it helps: I’m 16-18, hourglass, 5’9. I wear a lot of dresses and tights (popsy and snags), jeans and long T-shirts/jumpers. I have one pair of high waisted office trousers and FML they’re the comfiest thing I own (including PJs). PM me if I can help more.

Who cares what's "in" or "out" of fashion. It's just another corp created thing to make more money by people buying more to fit in with the latest trend when actually all their old clothes are perfectly fine and wearable.

Just wear whatever you yourself like and what makes you feel comfortable. Find your own style and you will look great :)

An easier way to be “in fashion” might be to look at the “colours of the season” so an accessory updates you. Wear what you feel happiest in. Think I like the idea of maternity trousers hadn’t thought of that before, too old to buy them in store!!