Style a hopeless case.

[PetitePiggy]

I'm middle aged, milk bottle white with short dark hair, 5ft 2, size 12 woman whose chest has expanded considerably since getting into 40s. I know it is possible to look stylish this shape (though difficult) as I used to work years ago with someone this shape who looked fabulous. Sadly I did not take note of what Emily wore or where she bought it. I still have no idea what shapes tops would suit a 34FF chest. I can't even choose suitable jumpers, they're often too long and finish where I'm at my widest and make me look huge.
I now have more disposable income (Marks/Hobbs/John Lewis/Boden end not designer) and will no longer have to buy stuff because it is in the sale and cheap. I don't like dresses. I've sorted out the underwear side of it but I need smart casual clothes - though decent enough to appear at Court occasionally. Please, there must be some stylish Emily type people out there. Or any bloggers or Instagram accounts you could recommend?

Do you have a John Lewis near you @PetitePiggy? They offer a free personal styling session (actually I've just read that they can do it online too, but I'm sure in-store would be better as you can try the things on there and then). I did it a few years ago and it was brilliant. She really listened to what I wanted, and selected a huge range of clothes for me to try. No obligation to buy anything of course!

Been there, done that. All she brought was a sea of polyester sadly (makes me sweaty) and wasn't any different to the styles I already wear (which doesn't suit me). I thought if someone who actually was a similar size (but actually did look good) could advise me what shapes to aim for (and what to avoid) and where they shop and I could try and do it myself.

Maybe I'm just beyond redemption Carrie and there was nothing she could do...... How you become middle aged and still can't dress yourself properly .....

If you have Instagram, follow Style Me Happy. She has some good tips

That's such a shame OP, I got some really good things with mine (not polyester for me either - not a good combination with hot flushes!)

Hope someone comes along with good ideas for you.

There was an interesting thread on here a few weeks ago about referring to Kibbe body types when thinking about your style and what suits your body.

I’d not heard of it so read some stuff online, and it seems like a way of looking at your overall body shape, the length of limbs, even hair volume! etc. to get a ‘type’, and then seeing the kind of clothes and styles that suit that type.

It sounds a bit woo, but it’s been quite helpful for me to realise that the structural clothes from COS and female Monty Don clothes at Toast that I love don’t suit my ‘Classic’ shape at all.

Worth searching for the thread and following the links to see if it works for you