Please help! Warm weather (city break) dressing with a voluminous perimenopausal middle.

[LabraDabraDoo]

I'm 44, and have in the past couple of years developed a perimenopausal middle, which now leaves me at the larger end of size 12, at least around the middle. The rest of me is in pretty good shape, but the clothes that worked for my last city break (2019, those were the days!) look terrible. In fitted Breton T-shirts or vest tops, I'm just all middle and feel so self conscious.

We are off to Sorrento for a few days soon, and will be doing lots of walking and active visits. Dresses with a waist work well, and I've packed a couple for sunny days. I have two pairs of cropped jeans which look nice, but what can I wear on top to flatter my middle? All the shops seems to have fitted or tucked in tops, which look lovely, but aren't an option. I guess I'll also need to be able to layer whatever I choose, as it can get chilly in the evenings.

Any ideas of styles/ shops I can try would be really helpful as I'm at a bit of a loss and really want to feel like I can look nice again!

The French tuck thing ... the woman in the video posted earlier does it so quickly and so effortlessly! I can faff about for hours and simply look like I've been interrupted getting dressed.

[quote Garimond]Sorry will try that link again [/quote]
Great video. I have been committing most of these style sins. Including trying to cover up my tummy in smock dresses. Have realised now they do nothing for me.

I love the look of the Hush dresses but as I’m only 5’3” they will be far too long on me. Does anyone know where I could get similar but maybe in petite for the length? So many dresses & skirts are just too long for me.

@Littlemiss74

I love the look of the Hush dresses but as I’m only 5’3” they will be far too long on me. Does anyone know where I could get similar but maybe in petite for the length? So many dresses & skirts are just too long for me.

I'm only 5 ft 3 as well - I buy the Hush midi dresses and wear them as maxis.

@Littlemiss74 have you bought any Hush midis recently you can recommend? I'm about 5 ft 1 and havent bought any of their dresses for a while now...

Also, try fitted high waist jeans with a bright / light cropped t- doesn't work for every curvy figure but is very flattering for some. A nice belt and a necklace too...

@Ionlydomassiveones

“How about thinking about clothes, as the OP asked, instead of preaching?”

My thoughts exactly - the joyless puritans always have to turn up to piss on everyone’s chips. Isn’t it lovely that these perfect people rock up to tell us what we are all doing wrong.

Mine too! Severe heart failure and a number of medications have buggered up my physique, I have to just get used to it. There are many reasons why doing more walking/ drinking water/ live on lettuce won’t work ffs!

Hush petite jeans are a perfect length for shorties.
I’m 5”2 and they fit well but do size down

@Garimond - great video, I've just ordered some shoulder pads.

Ahhhh loving this thread thank you OP and posters! I'm 50 this year and loving life but not my peri middle lol 🙃
We are going on holiday in July and I'm 17.5 pounds down, legs are goodish and bust not bad so the choices here are gorgeous thank you.
I just need sorted for a bikini/swimsuit, cover ups and a strapless bra I can never get a good one I like.

🥰

@ILoveYouMoreTheEnd I've just bought this https://www.marksandspencer.com/tummy-control-padded-plunge-swimsuit/p/clp60529788?color=BLUE&prevPage=srp#intid=prodflagsrpptsQPP93:P60529788%7Cpid_pg3pip48g4r29c3 . The M&S tummy control swimsuits are great, and there is a dress cover up to match that someone linked up thread.

Love the video - does it say where to get shoulder pads? How do I see the suppliers?

Oh my, thank you so much for this thread! I love it.

49, menopausal and I have changed shape over the last 10 years. Agree with everything mentioned above. I seem to have become less shapely, with a thicker waist. I do exercise but it’s my bum and legs that slim down, not my waist! I don’t want to look like a rectangle or a tent. I need clothes to give me more shape, and hide my stomach and upper arms. Loving loads of these clothes ideas, thank you.

@wantmorenow

Love the video - does it say where to get shoulder pads? How do I see the suppliers?

I couldn’t work out from that video how to see the suppliers either. She said it would show on the video but I must be doing something wrong!

I orderd a Seasalt jumpsuit to try but it's going back. Like most clothes for apple shapes, if it is big enough for my waist then it is too big for my still small hips. Pity because I also overheat a lot and this looked cool for summer. www.seasaltcornwall.com/time-stretch-bamboo-jersey-jumpsuit

I think you can find shoulder pads on-line on fabric and sewing websites under "haberdashery" or Amazon has them. Trinny talks about attaching them with velcro ?? but I just shove under bra strap but they are prone to movement that way. Probably better to be sewn in.

@rookiemere is that M&S swimsuit 'true to size' or do you need to go up a size? I'm a 14 in almost everything but my last swimsuit was a 16.

@RockingMyFiftiesNot sounds like we are identical sizes . I went for the size 14, it's a bit of a job to get it on but very flattering once it is.

Thank you @rookiemere

[quote rookiemere]@ILoveYouMoreTheEnd I've just bought this https://www.marksandspencer.com/tummy-control-padded-plunge-swimsuit/p/clp60529788?color=BLUE&prevPage=srp#intid=prodflagsrpptsQPP93:P60529788%7Cpid_pg3pip48g4r29c3 . The M&S tummy control swimsuits are great, and there is a dress cover up to match that someone linked up thread.[/quote]
@rookiemere thank you 😊 so much this is perfect xxx

I'm finding this thread so helpful.

I went a bit mad in Hush and bought this dress. Along with a jumper, loose top and Harem pants. I hope they all work!

Also got the lovely puff sleeve top in periwinkle blue. I don't know if it's my age, or caring less about looking 'chic' and wanting to enjoy clothes more, but I love wearing colour at the moment. My friends are the same, and some love dresses with amazing prints.

www.hush-uk.com/pip-midi-dress-zig-zag-blue-white/004774-3819.html

Lovely dress. I only wear colour, apart from black. Am Asian so 'chic" colours like caramel or taupe just make me look brown all over:) Khaki looks awful too. I wear pink, cobalt, bottle green, and purple very happily.

Me too Janis.
I’m half Indian so need bright jewel colours against my face.
If I stick to these colours my clothes look ok.

I always get compliments on the colour of my top if I follow this rule.

If I sway and buy a more muddy colour (mustard, khaki, brown)
I look drab.

Love the Hush Clarice dress but it's sold out, has anyone seen or got anything similar? V neck, button front, midi, not too voluminous?

Rina666
This just arrived in my Hush box and it is absolutely lovely. So light to wear and flattering, and will be perfect for work in the summer.

www.hush-uk.com/pip-midi-dress-zig-zag-blue-white/004774-3819.html

My other Hush bits and pieces were also a success. I'm feeling much more positive about looking nice this summer now.