Dressing for the menopausal midriff

[Cornflakecrack]

It’s always been my ‘problem area’ I have a rectangular brick like body with long limbs but have always had a bloated rounded lower belly with along with no waist at all isnt an easy shape to dress for. Brick shape means a big rib cage also although my boobs are relatively small.

I have rock hard abs underneath it from all the core work I do but it makes no difference I’m always bloated in shape.

Now add on the meno belly extra layer of fat on belly and love handle area and it’s really getting me down clothing wise. Nothing hangs right, I look like a teletubby and it’s just so ageing. It screams middle age (which I am but who needs to be shouting it!).

If I wear ‘floaty’ or shift shapes the fabric will skim across my belly and make me look pregnant

I cant wear fitted dresses as I have nothing to fit to as no waist.

Cropped anything is awful

Long is awful as see floaty above

Mum jeans just look ridiculous

Just about can do a half tuck with a t shirt or shirt but I have to have elasticated waist trousers else they don’t fit (which are thankfully all the rage right now)

Im a Zara/Free people on pay day kind of dresser.

All help grateful received.

Seasalt is getting a good kicking on another thread:)

Today I wore a Weirdfish Talahassee dress, which is quite flattering on the tummy, but also shrunk in the wash so it's too short. It's a good style though. Tallahassee Organic Jersey Dress Ensign Blue | Weird Fish

I am this shape, but also with big breasts. You absolutely can and should wear fitted clothes, wider clothes will just emphasise the blockiness. 1 colour all the way down is good. Have a look at Paisie on Wolf and badger. Their dresses and tunics really would work for me. Quite a lot on sale at the moment. I am tempted. Cos also works quite well.

I find wrap skirts and dresses forgiving. My waist itself is reasonable but it’s my lower tummy that bloats out - gets bigger as day goes on. I’m 5 foot 3, size 6/8 and weigh 7 stone 10 but my tummy is the bane of my life. I had 2 c sections and there is a layer of fat on it it which is clinging on for dear life. It’s not too bad first thing in the morning but I measured the lower part of my tummy one day and it went from 29 inches in the morning to 32 inches by night time. That is crazy.
I’m also incredibly short waisted and have very long legs for my height.
I like a cami top in a silky fabric loosely tucked into shorts or a midi wrap skirt in this weather. Seems to conceal the lower tummy a little. I do have a bit of a waist - not a lot - 27 inch waist and 33 inch hip (32C bust). My waist stays the same size - it’s just my lower belly that sticks out.

Found some useful tips here:

https://theconceptwardrobe.com/build-a-wardrobe/apple-body-shape

I am 5ft 5 and 8 stone but currently look 5 months pregnant!

I'm the same shape with big boobs. Those shapeless dresses linked above are the absolute worst, and least flattering shape on me. Mid rise jeans with a tucked in top, esp one with puffy sleeves, seems to balance everything out. Nothing too loose or baggy otherwise you'll resemble a ship in full sail!

I was a size 12 5ft 7 proper hour glass probably 160lbs
Crashed in the peri menopause now on hrt
195lbs
Bust 43
Under bust 36
Waist 41 expands up to 43 carried in front
Hips 45 carried sides and back

It's a nightmare looking at the size charts online to guess the size.
I've recently been quite upset about it. I'm now buying size 20 while my girls are wearing my five year old all saints clothes.

Have you ever heard of David Kibbie? Check out his advice for dressing for your bone structure and your 'vibe' (not necessarily your shape). I know it sounds abit sad but it really changed my life when I realised I'd been dressing for the body I wanted and not for the body I have and even though my body is still that same normal / imperfect body - I look so much better in clothes now and more importantly I feel so much more comfortable.

Is that you Aunt Lydia?

Hush Mimi tops. I have five.

Following. I’m struggling with this now. I’ve always been very hippy with a smallish waist, but since starting HRT have a bulgy lower tummy which was never a thing before. It’s really getting me down. I’m still the same size (10/12) but feel like my body is not my own - or my mind tbh, but that is a story for another day.

For the PP asking about measurements I’m 5ft 6, bust 32, waist 29, hips 38.5.

Second Hush Mimi. Perfect length. Not cropped but not over long. But so hard to find tops like that. Long tops make me look like I am pregnant and cropped tops well...

I am post meno and almost 50.

I dont get the elasticated or high waist obsession on here, it made me feel flumpy at 13 and does now. It might move with you and offer movement but the look is too weird for me.
I hated it when young and cant stand it now. Only 2 decades ago it was considered 'bon marche'.

However, I dont give a fuck about how other see us, and i champion us all to go our own way and dress how we are most comfy.

Just one data point, feel free to ignore me.

Might as well add my input: I am 5'5, 7 stone 10 and considered very slim, except i am and never have been hard bodied, neither was my mum, regardless activity.
I have a 26 waist and 36 hips, 30 chest.

I wear mostly slim jeans, shorts or sweaty betty gary's in summer, with linen vests and tees. Wide dresses look awful on me and wide trousers more so. I do seem to suit slimmer fit but not tight clothes.

We are not all the same at our age. Meno is not always a particular shape . I havent changed shape since my teens, although i am not as taught now. We are all different, not everyone gains weight eating carbs.

@terfinthewild
I love Kibbe - fantastic system.
It’s where I learned to drape fabrics around me and choose long lines to elongate. I’m a soft dramatic - it was strange as they were the shapes and styles I always gravitated towards anyway but Kibbe validated it for me.

I mean, sorry, but that is hideous.

I am the same, horrible meno-tummy with absolutely no waist. I wear Seasalt a lot and my Toast linen dresses. The Toast dresses are expensive but so comfy and always get asked where I brought them from and have I lost weight (I wish). Worth every penny in my opinion.

I feel your pain. I am a short-waisted, short heighted (?!) house brick. Honestly, I feel like a padded, walking brick. I always get a shock when I see myself in a shop window or such next to a 'normal' person as I'm shorter and brickier than I imagine myself to be.

I am watching MM vids and just trying to get my head around it. Bodies change (although I always had brick-like tendencies, it's the meno which has cemented it (geddit?!)) so I'm focussing on not getting hugely bigger, dressing it as well as I can, and muttering that youth is wasted on the young at every available opportunity.

How we look is not the most important thing about us (I wish I felt this more).

Toast works well IMO

it is quality fabric that just hangs well, not clinging

I (unfortunately) don't have a big chest

Unfortunately I do! LOL, we all want to be different. Ample boobs were fine in my youth but now I wish they were much smaller and therefore easier to dress. Horrifyingly spongy and broad as I age....sob! (Sorry, I have no suggestions other than try a personal shopper at e.g. John Lewis).

I’m loving this Nobody’s Child Felicia dress on me, it skims over the big belly without looking like a tent. I’m a shortie so have to order online to get petite fitting but M&S have Nobody’s Child dresses in standard fit instore.

https://www.nobodyschild.com/orange-heart-print-petite-felicia-midi-dress.html

My tummy is huge and unfortunately have small chest .where can we buy these wrap dresses and skirts please ? I end up living in jeans and shorts with long top but have a wedding in August to attend so need a dress thanks

A skirt would be nice for the hot weather too

I bought a similar dress from Nobody's Child last year but it developed holes after a few washes. I also think that thin viscose fabric clings to the menopaunch.

I am contemplating a dress from- don't laugh- Mountain Warehouse. Simple shift dresses with no frills suit me best.

Nobody's child all seem to have that horrid empire line styling.