Please help me with holiday clothes, I have no sense of style whatsoever!

[Hopingforno2in2023]

So off on our first family holiday abroad in July to Lake Garda. I have zero, and I mean zero summer clothes as the ones I had had for years were full of holes by the end of last summer. I have never had a sense of style and lack confidence when it comes to clothes. However I really want to look nicer.

I am tall (177cm) and a size 12. Have very large breasts (G cup) and wide hips. Basically hourglass figure. I find my breasts an absolute nightmare to dress, everything looks frumpy. I don’t like tight fitting clothes.

if anyone is able to point me in the direction of clothes that will suit my figure and be suitable for Italy in the middle of summer I would be so grateful.

Linen shirts. Cool, wafty, can unbutton to suitable point. Quite in at the moment so have seen in lots of shops.

Linen shirt dresses with button fronts and belt. Neutral colours, no patterns.
Wide leg linen trousers and shirts.
Maxi skirts with vest tops and loose shirt.
Keep colours neural and wear with some simple gold accessories.
Big hat and sunglasses.

Hourglass is the shape to be right now. There is a lovely emphasis on the waist. Even Cos have a couple of waisted items.For holidays, Nothing beats a T-shirt dress, go long, sleeveless and quite fitted with a scoop neck. And a big hat. Everyone will envy you

Thanks all, you have all suggested things that I steer clear of but as I always look a mess I am going to take your advice and give them a go! I am terrified of shirts and shirt dresses due to the boobs but I will try some on. I think perhaps it is left over from school shirts straining horribly but I expect loose linen shirts will be different.

I have the big hat sorted at least, I love a big sun hat :)

Loose thin cotton or linen shirts open over a vest top?

Yes that could be a good place for me to start Remus as I won’t have to worry about buttoning up the shirts :)

Embrace the waist! My figure is similar to yours. I have this which is very flattering. https://www.apricotonline.co.uk/textured-dot-maxi-dress/J028771-Blue.html#&gid=1&pid=3

I have one of these - you can go braless (I have f cups). Super comfy to wear.

Comes in black & a few colours

www.mannersldn.com/products/asri-dress-in-black

This is gorgeous. I have it, and it looks great on,
It has a back zip but it only comes up to bra strap an the a button at the back of the neck so it's easy to get on and off

https://www.weirdfish.co.uk/p/women/i/roxi-lenzing-ecovero-culotte-jumpsuit-deep-sea-blue-19368

Do you wear shorts? I imagine you have good legs, being tall.

I'd wear shorts, with an oversize linen shirt tucked in and a belt.

Ooh some nice things being linked :)

My legs are ok mack so am happy to wear shorts :) They aren’t as good as my height suggests as the majority of my height is made up of my torso and neck. DH is very kind and describes my neck as swanlike, I say more alien like 😂

thank you so much for all your help, I am going to spend some time today browsing holiday clothes online and challenging myself to be more adventurous.

I'm size 14 , hourglass shaped, and have bought these dresses for holidays. They are so flattering on , I've bought 3 colours!www.next.ie/en/style/st286298/c83497?gclid=Cj0KCQjwgLOiBhC7ARIsAIeetVBt_yrv1sobmSRJ58Chs10MeSiYaGEwvQFHwosPg8wJGK7Si76l1AMaAia1EALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds#C83497?istCompanyId=d873714f-34f4-48ef-9a74-219bd03bc0c5&istFeedId=4b29b1a2-79a4-46e3-b924-1ad34869c8d7&istItemId=rlitqqwtt&istBid=t

I’m not tall but long body and similar bust size.

From what I recall of Lake Garda in summer it’s hot and can be humid and it can rain a lot (but dry up quickly!) lots of thunderstorms!

Try something like this:-

https://www.next.ie/en/style/ls226057/p61422#p61422

My SIL is tall (5 ft 9) but slim so can get away with different clothes.

https://www.longtallsally.com/collections/tall-holiday-shop?f=t&sortby=ourfavourites&page=2

I really like those dresses An and Gonna thank you :)

What are thoughts on these dresses? Starting with dresses and then will probably get some shorts as well.

https://www.next.co.uk/g8877s2/d14187#d14187

https://www.seasaltcornwall.com/treen-cove-linen-v-neck-jumpsuit

https://www.seasaltcornwall.com/carved-wood-linen-midi-dress?glCountry=GB&glCurrency=GBP&color=27881&gad=1&gclid=Cj0KCQjwgLOiBhC7ARIsAIeetVCevPJ7Da-LQ38qVJmTMF1wP-AEgP409O_b38tzwMAHN6HlciKaACYaAh4mEALw_wcB

https://www.monsoon.co.uk/print-shirt-dress-in-linen-blend-blue-54009732.html#queryID=e43e89c2e1552642732543d705ba3b35&objectID=5400973216&indexName=production_eu01_monsoonaccessorizeltd_demandware_net__monsoon-uk__products__en_GB

https://www.whitestuff.com/womens/dresses/blue-mlt-pip-midi-dress/

Those dresses are all really nice and depending on how they look when tried on could be worn this spring and summer and fit more than one year.

I prefer the first three to the last two which is ironic as I normally love a print!

Would you consider culottes? Skirts might be useful as well as shorts.

I used to have horrendous trouble finding decent clothes (shorts and skirts) for summer and this was in the late 80s/90s when I was slim (but thought my legs looked awful in tiny denim shorts and they looked fine!).

following the advice above, M&S have some really nice oversized linen shirts at the moment. I have a white one and am thinking about getting the chambray blue as well both for layering over things as shackets.

What I can’t understand is why so many of the linen shirts have long sleeves.

I was in Garda last summer, a light jacket like a soft blazer or denim jacket is useful for the evenings as it can rain or get a bit chillier.
A deep v works best for large boobs for dresses or tops. Definitely get some shorts, theres lots of walking to be done and these are more practical. White looks good with most colour tops or a nice print.
Go for decent sandals rather than flimsy flip flops as most streets are uneven and cobbled. You'll have a lovely time

The key for those of us with large breasts and/or hourglass figures is to find a summery belt to wear with shirt dresses and linen style dresses.

It makes so much difference!

Try to find something that is either a tan coloured stretchy woven material or something like woven straw/raffia as they are so neutral they can be worn with every outfit.

Try to steer clear of high necklines with a GG bust...ideally you want something v-neck or I often buy linen dresses from M&S that tie at the top (so the front has a kind of hole and then a tie above it if you see what I mean?) but leave it undone so it forms more of an open v-neckline.

M&S have a lovely navy blue animal print linen skirt at the moment.

Looks great worn with a scoop neck vest tucked in.

I don't love my upper arms so I also throw on one of their very light linen shirts with sleeves rolled up and tied at the waist rather than buttoned as I feel like this has more of an 'effortless glam' look (in my head!)

Definitely willing to look at culottes Gonna as well as shorts :)

Thanks for the M&S advice, they seem to have some nice linen pieces at good prices.

Really helpful thank you Ninja, will make sure I have some slightly warmer layers too. Shoes wise I was going to go for sandals for pootling and hotel and some trainers for more intense walking, especially if we go into the mountains.

I always steer clear of high necklines mojo but will look for a belt to go with any dresses I get :) I think that I will definitely be getting light linen shirts as several people have mentioned them being fab and versatile.

Bit gutted, went into a shop and tried on two lovely linen shirt dresses. Felt so light and cool, great length, great sleeves etc. however they gaped over the bust even though I sized up so the rest of me was swamped. Think I will have to avoid shirt styles and go for separates. Stupid boobs.

I’ve just bought these. They’re viscose so will be too hot in the daytime for me on our August holiday, but I thought they might be nice for the plane/evening.