Do you feel better in loose dresses if overweight?

[otterlybonkers]

Asking for a friend

Inspired by a current dress thread, noticed many people love these new, wide dresses if over a certain size. I could be wrong, but I've been there myself. If you are slim or petite a lot of them would be very overwhelming, I think.
I like a more fitted looking dress, with a soft but neater waist that flows downwards loosely. But I can't deal with the volumes of fabric going on right now, and the ginormous chest/sleeves.

I imagine many of us are thankful to have escaped the tyranny of the skinny fit, which was dominant in stores for so very long.

But are loose dresses the new leggings, in that they allow us to gain weight and hide from it? Are they bad for our health? (lighthearted!)

I will admit, I was quite a bit larger with lockdown weight in 2020 and wore them to death.

No. I'm fat and anything loose makes me look five times bigger than I already am. All of these floral midi dresses make me look like Hyacinth Bucket.

I prefer things a bit fitted, with some structure, but not skin tight. So for a dress, I'd go for an A line or skater fit and flare type thing rather than a tight body con dress.

Sorry but Hyacinth is my spirit animal, how dare you!
Agree with you about preferring more fitted stuff, however

I tend to think the opposite - the voluminous straight dresses are for tall skinny model types and the rest of us need more shape!

No I feel like I'm wearing a tent in a loose dress. They definitely make me look bigger than I am.

Agree with this

they are very forgiving though, especially in the belly area. And legs, if longer length. A lot of people don't like the feel of anything around the waist - i can relate to that at any weight.

I prefer a legging though, with a flat, comfy waistband. Not a puckered elastic one. Things like elastic joggers make me look shapeless in the middle.

The thing that puts me off current trends for dresses are the patterns. They never suit me, I look better in plain colours.

I am currently 3 stone over weight with a large tummy and prefer the comfort of loose dresses, agree that I probably look bigger in them than a nice shaped dress but I definitely go for comfort over looks atm!
plus the bonus of wearing leggings under them when the weather is colder!

I have a flabby tummy- though the rest of me is ok- and I think loose dresses make it look larger. I need some shaping. But not body con. Sadly precious little in between these two extremes.

I find it depend on 1. How voluminous they are 2. What fabric they are. If tiered it also depends on where the tiers start and The difference between each layer, the bigger the difference the less flattering they are.

I like waisted ones - wrap ones especially to give me a touch more shape.

However I do look like a sofa in them but they are comfy so I don't care.

It's just fashion, if you don't like it there are loads of alternatives.

I work in an industry where we have to look fashionable and I enjoy trying new trends - but lots of people don't buy into fashion at all, so dont worry about it.

I’m an overweight hour glass and look much better in fitted styles
as I’m not very tall I avoid anything with a seam at the waistline or gathers as they just make me look cut in half
elasticated anything makes me feel frumpy
im good with a shirt dress or fitted Audrey Hepburn style

I’ve tried a few loose floral dresses from M&S today and it was terrible - I was like a big sofa cushion. Semi fitted dresses is a way to go for me, not too long and preferably plain colours.

I am very short, slightly podgy and 50. There are some midi/maxi dresses that look fab on me. They key for me is that they are not patterned, certainly no flowers, and not voluminous. I have had some success with Hush and Boden (petite).

I look and feel much better in loose dresses.

It’s been my style for years (Margaret Howell, Toast etc) it suits me, looks good, nice to wear.

Who's worried ?

I cannot wear loose stuff, it just makes me look fatter. I have big boobs and a bit of a belly. I need to create a waist otherwise I look fat al over. I can't wear midi or maxi dresses either. I need to show of my legs and all skirts and dresses are above the knee for me.