Casual, creative look for small fat person?

[Fashionemergency]

Fashion emergency! Any help much appreciated.

I have to go to Rome for a work thing next week - five days of meetings, probably a couple of meals out. It's quite a big gig and I want to feel confident but I have NOTHING to wear. I work in a creative field so I don't need officewear - the look I'm aiming for is relaxed, a bit quirky but decently put together. So chunky boots and trainers are great (have got them), jeans are good if I can get a good jacket to go with, colourful wide-legged trousers could work. This is the sort of look I'm going for but without the hat. www.meandem.com/super-wide-leg-ponte-trouser-vibrant-green?glCountry=GB&gclid=CjwKCAjwrqqSBhBbEiwAlQeqGlSjGbzwYFCVw38LOZAd_ypAqaca2SutmocVdXglAyt8P8DDRM6klBoCnUwQAvD_BwE#288=1804&fo_c=3006&fo_k=992f720ad480a2928a0b7bee19665d7d&fo_s=gplauk

My problem is tops. Shape wise I am a short apple (size 14-16) and all the things I'm looking at only seem to work with a tucked-in top - which is not going to work with my tummy. Also just looking at the wide legged trouser/blazer combo the ideal top length is going to cut right across my worst bit isn't it?

Arg. Dunno what to do. I feel like a complete frump. Can anyone help?

I'm more of a pear than an apple so not sure how helpful this is, but M&S has a good range of wide legged trousers in varying colours and lengths. The quality of the fabric varies though, so it's worth going in and just trying on loads of pairs. I ordered some pink ones online that I was so excited about but the fabric was really thin and showed every lump but I've got some lovely bright green ones very similar to the picture and black ones that fit really well. Good luck!

Sorry- I've just re-read and see that you're asking about tops. That probably wasn't much help!

I wouldn’t really center my look around trousers if I didn’t want a tucked in top. You can get tops that skim but I don’t think a floaty top and floaty wide trousers is going to look particularly stylish. Palazzo and wide fit trews do need a more snug, tucked in top.

Have you ordered any skinny or slim fit trousers? That might balance out a loose fit shirt more, or a crew neck t shirt under a blazer.

Have you thought about a dress? A nice linen shift will look good under a blazer with nice trainers. Or even a pair of dungarees with a nice shirt underneath if your industry is creative and a bit more laid back.

Try Gudrun Sjoden not just for tops but see if the whole 'look' is up your street OP.
www.gudrunsjoden.com/en-gb

www.gudrunsjoden.com/en-gb/clothes/tops-sweaters?page=3

A slim fitting good quality t-shirt would be okay untucked, if not too long and especially if you're putting a blazer over it. I like Arket and Jigsaw for these, but Next usually have some too.

Or this is a good hack to give a slightly looser top a bit more shape.

A top like this could work too - slightly fitted but not clingy, and not too long.

High-waisted trousers with a fitted t-shirt, and then a looser blazer over it. Looks really nice on my friends with a similar shape

I've got a previous season's version of this blazer from M&S. It's nice and lightweight and not too formal.

They also do these trousers which I highly recommend. Size down.

I am a slightly taller but also rounder person in the creative industries who likes a wide leg trouser. I think Remus has fab advice about good-quality t-shirts worn over trousers, particularly with a blazer. The key is about buying them in a good weight (none of that floppy slubby stuff) and also I think not too long. Slightly shorter looks better. Mango is (surprisingly!) quite good for these.

But personally I do a lot of half-tucking, despite my tummy. I like the v-neck and front vest tops from Boden which have a nice drape for this. With a high-waisted trouser the proportions just look better if you tuck, and it’s not like I’ll fool anyone that I’m not shaped like a little haggis by leaving my top untucked! I’ve just got to a point where if I like a look, I’ll commit to it rather than wearing a watered down version of it. Life’s too short not to wear what you love.

Thank you all so much - I'm working my way through all your brilliant suggestions! Tangelo - a little haggis is EXACTLY what I look like 😂😂 and you are very right - commitment is the key. I need to stop kidding myself I'm ever going to be lithe again!

hallwaypaint - I had no idea that M&S had so many wide-legged trousers. Going to hit the shops tomorrow so will def check them out - thank you.

suprema - yes, the narrow leg with a forgiving longer top has been my uniform for years but I can't seem to find any longer tops that I like. I might be looking in the long place though. If I could just find five long-line tops, I could forget about the whole wide-legged thing and I'd be good to go. 😂

Jeggings, oversized shirted blazer? I did this this week and got comments. It was all MnS except the blazer was TU!

I’d say always high waisted.
Paper bag trousers, shorts or skirt with tucked in top in work well with your shape, or a line dresses & skirts.
Skinny bottoms with less fitted tops.

heldinadream (love the name btw!) the general just is a bit too cheerful for me, but I'm going to try out one of their tee-shirts so thank you!

RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie - that hack is insane! Thank you. Also just checked out Arket and they have some lovely stuff!

Another vote for the trousers Remuslupinsbiggestgroupie linked to. My sister has them and they look great.

@Fashionemergency

heldinadream (love the name btw!) the general just is a bit too cheerful for me, but I'm going to try out one of their tee-shirts so thank you!

RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie - that hack is insane! Thank you. Also just checked out Arket and they have some lovely stuff!

Fab. They are worth keeping an eye on, I agree they can be a bit ott with the colours and prints but Gudrun herself is a little haggis albeit a Scandinavian one so she understands designing for the short and rounder person. And if you ever do want cheerful prints there's no-one better. Good luck with the clothes hunt!

I love your thread title! Hope you have a great trip!

If you can get trousers that aren't mega snug on the stomach (or are just black, eternally flattering) I reckon a tucked in top would look fine!

I wear these trousers - a bit like the ones you shared but in black - with a tucked in loose tshirt and trainers and I'm a size 16, it doesn't look bad (if I say so myself, haha).

susiebluebell and catcrazy - see I love the idea of a properly high wasted trouser but I can never find a pair that will button around my Rubenesque tummy. But I'm going to check out the trousers that remus and hallwaypaint recommended from M&S along with the ones that housemaus linked to so fingers crossed something will fit!

catcrazy - off to google paper bag trousers - this has been a fashion education! 😂

travailtotravel - also now off to google shirted blazer. Have been living in my joggers for way too long. Thank you!

Here to recommend the M&S barrel crop jeans - as a fellow short fat person - if jeans and a blazer are ok for day wear. I wear them with grenson boots and a slim but not tucked in top.

Otherwise I'm here for all these suggestions!!

Looks like M&S is the place to go! Thanks chalky!

Do update us on what you find at the shops

Seasalt do a good range of tunics which might work with skinny jeans?

Similar recent trip to Milan. Lots of black! Obviously, in Italy. Lots of pale/cream/taupe mannish blazers on girls.
I highly recommend the Emma Willis black blazer at Next. Quite lightweight, so works over a t-shirt. Size down. Flattering, so brave tucking your top underneath in. I wore it most of the time with either relaxed flared jeans or wide legged black trousers. Love the suggested side strip m/s ones, they would work. Or look for pattered wide leg black and white trousers?Wore with either round necked t-shirts, plain or with graphic print, black and white patterned shirt, cross body bag and either clumpy boots or white trainers. And massive sunglasses.