I’m feel defeated. Body shape and todays trends.

[WedTheBed]

I’m mid 20’s, I want to look trendy. I want to wear the cut outs, I want to go backless, sometimes a deep plunge.. but no no. I was not made for these trends.

I’m 5ft, and after two children I don’t even know what size I am anymore.

if I buy a 14, it’s too small on my boobs, too big on my waist.

a 16 fits the front of my bust but gapes at the side of my chest/under my arms and around my waist.

I’m a 34H, currently looking for a classy, stylish white dress to wear for my hen party but it’s proving more than difficult, almost impossible. Nothing fits me nicely.

I can’t afford tailoring or tailor made items.

I feel sick that this is my body, and somehow I have to just manage and try to find anything that fits. Im so bored of looking scruffy and shit.

also, why is everything.. EVERYTHING cropped and cut out still?

cutout just makes me look like an over stuffed sausage and I am not here for it.

god I am so depressed. where do I shop? I give up.

Honestly thrifting and clothes swapping has made me really good at judging what will fit me. I can just hold a dress up now and know. A lot of the time people have cut the labels off or they’re washed out so you can’t see. It’s a very inexpensive way to play with your style and figure out what will fit you :)
Paris is one of my favourite cities for thrifting, Guerrisol is (or was, haven’t been since before the pandy) dirt cheap and I had lots of luck finding fitted, nicely shaped clothes.

I can understand the desire to be fashionable but I honestly don’t think the current style is even doing thin teen girls any favours. It just looks nice on them because they’re pretty enough to rock bin liners and look on trend.

I have clothes in size 10 to size 16 in my wardrobe and they all fit me.

Women's clothing sizes are bonkers. Try on lots of sizes to see what fits best because even in the same shop, the sizes can be different.

If you’re a different size top and bottom and can’t afford to get clothes altered, maybe go for separates.

You are the shape and size you are so you need to work with what you’ve got. Have you the time and inclination to loose weight ?

Where do you currently shop ? Maybe the shops you are looking in are more teenage/party type shops and you just need change where you shop. Because not everything is cropped or cut-out or backless. This summer seems to be a relaxed, slouchy, slightly oversize look. Or wide leg trousers with a fitted top. Or long skirts with a fitted top.

I feel your pain a bit here - while my chest isn't as big as yours I definitely feel my chest can make all of me look bigger. For example a standard t shirt just seems to go straight down when it reaches the end of my boobs when my waist is inches behind it! I find that belted dresses help to accentuate my shape best.

Have you looked at ASOS - they do a petite range ?

I absolutely recommend you tubing 'how to take in the waist on a... [insert clothing item here]'
Yes it takes time but you will find you then have something you LOVE because it's fitted to your shape, and you spend less money on stuff that doesn't work! It's really easy once you get the hang of it. I have the same issue and it's been a game changer for me

Until you've had a chat with a tailor/seamstress, you might be pleasantly surprised at the cost of having a few choice pieces tailored to fit you. I buy almost all of my clothes via Vinted and vintage shops and have a lot of them re-tailored to fit me better. All told, I still spend less per item than it would cost to buy them new (bearing in mind that I usually go for higher-end high street brands like Boden, LK Bennett, Hobbs etc). I've also had a few 'cheap' pieces re-tailored and for around £10-£15 per item, it takes them from low-end high street to looks-like-it-was-made-just-for-me-at-great-expense!

There are always seamstresses and tailors working freelance out there. Your local area Facebook page is a good way to find one.

I'm a weird shape, too: slim hips and legs and a big tummy and bust with average-width shoulders and big upper arms and I find it hard to feel good in standard sizes.

If you're a bit handy with a sewing machine, you could always have a go at adapting some of your existing clothes yourself. I'm doing an introductory course at the local college starting in September with exactly this in mind. I might not end up as the next Alexander McQueen but being able to do simple re-tailoring on my own clothes, including zips, hems etc is still a good skill to have.

Our local dry cleaner is very skilled at sewing and alterations. Maybe you have one round you.

I think you just need to find one shop/brand where the stuff fits you and go from there. I don't know what kind of things you like, but a lot of my sixth form girls like Oliver Bonas and I found to my surprise that some of their sizes fit podgy teacher me too! I got a great skirt there recently. It has an elasticated waist but you can't see under the right top...

Or what about this? www.next.co.uk/style/ls331599/r76747#r76747

The waist seems forgiving!

also, why is everything.. EVERYTHING cropped and cut out still?

where are you looking? Because it isn't.

I hear you- being both curvy and petite is a minefield. Most curvy ranges swamp me and petite ranges often aren't made for people with G+ bra sizes.
It may be too old for you in style but I find midi length dresses (almost maxi on me) that have a waist good, often in the size above so that they fit my boobs, and then I take in the waist- do you have anyone who could do some alterations for you, either family or someone professional?