Smart casual - plus size?

[FfaCoffi]

I need clothes for a work trip on a month or so - we're going away for training for a few days, and it's near some gorgeous countryside, so I guess we may walk to a country pub. (Relatively short walks, not hiking)

We usually WFH so I normally only need to look presentable from the top of my arms up! It's been so long since I spent time in real life with work colleagues, I'm not sure where to start - help!

What kind of thing would you wear?

I'm size 24, round and can't do waists - my tops need to be long line, or dress. I can't wear anything that needs tucking in, or has a waist.

Thank you

I like the black checked shirt dress! That looks really to wear.

On Debenhams site there are some nice yumi shirt dresses, I have been brave and ordered a spotty one.

I’ve just binned most of my Yumi viscose dresses as it looks terrible after a few wears - faded and bobbled.

Do not discount H and M , their over size shirts are great value and come up huge. They have some satin ones in lovely colours too which are great for dressing up jeans. Their shirt dresses are good as well.

Really wow that's not good.
I better check the material of the ones I have bought.

I got some exiting parcels delivered today! And... most of it is going back

These images are really misleading!

These cords and jeans from Fat Face come up massive in the leg. Much wider at the bottom than the image. They're practically as wide as the hug flares / baggy jeans I used to wear when I was into the Stone Roses / Happy Mondays as a teenager!

Plus, they're very long for the size. I'm usually a regular leg in jeans, but I'd need to wear heels (or platforms!) to get the bottoms not to drag on the floor.

Honestly, nothing like the images, especially the cords, Very disappointing.

I mean, if you're after massively wide leg they're just the thing, but why not show that in the images?

This was nice, very soft. But it doesn't quite suit me. I nearly kept it as it's a lovely cardi, but then asked myself if I would have bought it if I was in a changing room in a shop, and the answer's no. It's just not quite the right colour for me I think.

I got another pair of jeans from Next that were similarly wide legged, plus they had no seams at the bottom et all - the denim was just cut across and already fraying. Even more like the jeans I wore at 15! And not at all the point of this exercise.

Plus a bra that was too small <sigh>

But, I did get some things I am keeping.

Both these Fat Face cord shirt dresses fits me well. Just like others I've loved wearing before.

Need some new skinny jeans to go with the navy one as it's effectively an oversize shirt, not a dress. (Don't care if skinnies are out of fashion now, it took me about 2 years to accept skinny jeans and I love them now, I'm not ready to give them up just yet!)

I think I'll try to find a light or bright top to layer under it, like in the image.

And, I have plenty of snag tights already to go with the teal one that's actually a dress - Snag are great :)

So, I'm pleased with them.

And I'm keeping this as I really liked it on. (I ditched the belt).

I'm not sure if it's really the thing for the work do, but I'll enjoy wearing it at home.

Actually, that's not bad, is it? It felt like a lot is going back, but 3 things is a great start, isn't it :)

Check out midsizesteph on TT, she wears a lot of midi dresses (also affordable ones) with blazers, if that's your style. I'm more wide leg trousers & blazers but I like her style.

That sounds like great progress OP. The faff of sending stuff back is so annoying isn't it. The blue dress is lovely!

Landsend is good for cashmere jumpers in larger sizes.

Catching up on this thread - I have the fat face cord dress and although am 5'4" bought the long version - it's just below my knees which is perfect!

I agree M&S for jeans and basics, the odd pattern free thing from sea salt, and JL kin is basically my entire wardrobe! The odd Uniqlo and h&m jumper/under top.

My current horror is trying to find some decent ski wear to fit. My hips/arse are too big!!

@chalkyc2 its a code of international law that only slim women may ski - wait until you get the joy of ski boot fitting - for women without calves. Take comfort in the fact athletes struggle for fit!

Now, back on topic. Depends where you’re going and for how long. If you’re going to the US you’ll be able to get size 28 ski trousers in any Walmart! In Europe that’d be absurd! 😉 Mostly forget trying a ski-wear shop in the UK as they tend to only go to a very small 16. Ulla Popken (Dutch brand which sell here) do ski trousers and I think dare2be go larger. If all else fails, haul on a pair of xxl men’s and use a belt. They have better pockets anyway (of course!) and it doesn’t matter if they’re 6” too long as you need them to cover your boot anyway and given the boot shape they won’t touch the ground.

and if you get REALLY desperate, PM me and I’ll dig a pair out for you!

Oh good @DressingForRevenge I've spent about £500+ over the last month ordering and sending stuff back!! I've settled on a dare2be pair of trousers (in a size 24??! Am a comfortable 20 usually!) from some random website that has plus size and short leg specials!! The jackets are a nightmare - huge on arms and body but tight on hips. I'm a massive (literally) pear shape.

Anyhow!! Back to the OP! I like the denim dresses in fat face! You've got me looking now!

I'd recommend that you get yourself 3 long or 3/4 sleeve tshirts. Have a look at Next for this (check out their Multibuy section):
www2.next.co.uk/shop/gender-women-productaffiliation-tops/benefit-multibuy?p=1#726.75

You'll be wearing this under a blazer (or similar), again check out Next for this too:
www2.next.co.uk/shop/gender-women-productaffiliation-coatsandjackets/category-jackets-length-midthigh-sizetype-curve-style-blazer-isort-score?p=1#0

And you're going to need a pair of blue jeans and black jeans, something like this:
www2.next.co.uk/style/st041524/u16893#u16893
or
www2.next.co.uk/style/st210211/a44414#a44414
or
www.marksandspencer.com/magic-shaping-straight-leg-jeans/p/clp60458227?color=LIGHTINDIGO#intid=plpnav_pid_pg1pip48g4r4c1

Then you can dress the jeans up or down. I quite liked the pair of boots that you had posted in your first post (the pair on the right with the padding around the back of the boot with the cleated sole (if you were going for brand new boots) but if you're going to be walking a fair bit, I'd go for something comfortable and hang the fashion! You don't want to be the one who ends up complaining about blisters after 5 minutes walking.

I don't think you need quite so many dresses but a floaty tunic would work well with the jeans for evening drinks at the bar and food for example.
www2.next.co.uk/style/st064897/c04145#c04145
www2.next.co.uk/style/st458024/d82793#d82793
www2.next.co.uk/style/ls246806/r55710#r55710

The only reason I've posted so many links to the Next site is that they now sell so many different brands.

Are any of these suggestions along the lines of what you would wear?

There is a top in the suggestions that I posted that only goes to a size 20, but here is another one that does go up to your size:
www.roman.co.uk/curve-colourblock-asymmetric-snood-top-19129881

All my yumi dresses arrived today and so Annoyed I didn't chekc as they are all polyester, so disappointed

Do you mean something like this?

I like the idea of a blazer, jeans and t-shirt in principle, but I just can't get away with anything that's a normal length top as I have a spare tyre.

Not only can I not get away with a tucked in t-shirt these days, but I can't even wear a normal length t-shirt over jeans, with the tshirt untucked these days, which is a shame as that was what I wore all the time before I put on so much weight!

So, none of those long sleeved t-shirts on that link would work as outer-wear, sadly, only as a layer underneath

A blazer's a good call, though, thanks :) Can you wear a tunic / longline top with a blazer? I don't see why not?

OK, so blazers with tunics - that could work, couldn't it?...

Yes, it's not nearly that long on me, why didn't I think about getting the long version, that's a great idea!