Pale, flabby and a bit Drab, dreading holiday

[BarnabyRocks]

Hi,
I'm going on holiday with my husband and children soon, it will be hot. I'm quite pale and don't tan well. After two kids and minimal exercise for the last 10 years, it's all gone very flabby. I'm about a stone over weight, my thighs are full of cellulite, so are my upper arms and I have a wobbly tummy. I'm quite a low maintenance person, some would say plain/drab/mumsy. I hardly wear any makeup, ears not pierced, I don't even wear nail polish. Mostly because of my thighs, the paleness and the overall weirdness of my body shape, I am stumped about what to wear on hot days and I'm DREADING being seen out with a swimming costume on (although I have just bought a really good tummy control one that drags my tummy in and looks okay). My children love the beach/lakes, so we will definitely be doing lots of that. My husband told me one day on holiday last year that I looked dreadful (or words to that effect) in a vest and shorts so I have vowed never to wear shorts again, and I won't, and have bought better (more floaty) cami type vests, which suit me better and hide my tummy.

What can wear in very hot weather to cover my legs? I just had an idea, fleeting, that I should maybe spend a few days before I go getting a spray tan, nails done etc., but I don;t know where I'll get the time to do that, doesn't it look awful as it fades and I'm not sure it's me? My kids LAUGH when they see me with lipstick on, but I just want to try to feel semi okay about myself. Oh and what's making me more nervous about it is we're holidaying with a lovely couple and she has not got one ounce of fat on her body, is already a lovely golden/light brown colour and always looks fabulous.
Help please.

I think on reflection it was a bit of both. I wasn't feeling great about myself but I didn't need to hear what he said. But he did sit me down at the end of the day and say, with a very serious face/voice on. "Barnaby, do you know what you were wearing today? It didn't look good at all. The shorts and the vest", followed by a sad shake of the head. It was a vest from H and M and just above the knee shorts, so I was quite well covered. I just burst into tears.

Have a look at rita_serrano on Instagram - she does short videos where she looks bedraggled and sad, then again in the same clothes but with better posture/hair/attitude & clothes styled a bit and looks stunning. OK it's a bit cheesy, but I find it FASCINATING

Thanks so much everyone, I've done some weird replies as I didn't know how to reply to individual comments (figured it out now). Lots of really great suggestions so thank you all, I'll take a look at the various sites mentioned. Agree with keeping a limited colour palette, I will get all of my clothes out and plan what I need. I've booked a hair appointment for Friday, I'll look for somewhere to get my nails done too and I will try to squeeze in a makeup counter makeover next week. I'm not going to false tan, it's not really me.
Thanks!

That’s really horrible. I hope he apologised for being such an arse and making you feel so bad

That was so horrible of your DH, so nasty of him.

On short lengths, have you ever tried shorter than above knee length? Knee length shorts do nothing for me, they make me look dumpy for want of a better word, whereas a mid thigh length work really well and the length suits me much better.

That is really unkind. As a fellow non-tanner, I recommend the Dove gradual tan stuff. Takes the blue edge off your legs and not as full on as a spray tan (couldn't do that either). Agree with limited colour palette and midaxi length skirts and dresses if that's what you feel more comfortable wearing. Forget what your husband thinks and enjoy your holiday.

But he did sit me down at the end of the day and say, with a very serious face/voice on. "Barnaby, do you know what you were wearing today? It didn't look good at all. The shorts and the vest", followed by a sad shake of the head.

I'm really sorry @BarnabyRocks but this is so horrible . It's more about the way that he said it, wouldn't have been so bad if he had made an ill thought out comment which came out wrong, but this suggests that he's held back and made a considered decision to say this to you . And the shake of the head is so patronising . What was his response to your tears?

I'm also on holiday at the moment - honestly OP no one is looking or judging, there are all sorts of shapes and sizes on display. The only person drawing any attention here is one poor lady who is lobster red from lack of sun protection (she forgot to reapply it - even the waitress gasped when she saw her 😫)

What an absolute arsehole, him, not you obviously

My tip: if you don't have time to do your nails use a a good cuticle oil daily and this: www.amazon.co.uk/Nails-INC-Glowing-Glow-Enhancing-Perfector-Polish/dp/B0C825FTLD/ref=sr_1_5?adgrpid=134686746135&hvadid=593040138701&hvdev=c&hvlocphy=1007211&hvnetw=g&hvqmt=e&hvrand=10579309236620902624&hvtargid=kwd-1641931416168&hydadcr=22614_2214444&keywords=nails+inc+glow&qid=1689094731&sr=8-5

I was feeling the same as you- I’m not overweight, but I have bad circulation so my legs are blotchy, Goose pimply and purple(!) and I have awful feet and a pot belly and small boobs (just painting a picture;))
I painted my toe nails a colour I loved and lived in walking sandals which, because you can’t see most of your feet, make them look normal (!)
I wore a long skirt most of the time which made me feel quite floaty (plain colour not ott or really floaty so I fit in no matter where I wore it)
Got eyebrows done before I went and shaved legs and moisturised with sanctuary moisturiser

made sure to use favourite face wash (Cetaphil), moisturiser, spf and lip gloss daily so I felt pampered
in pool wore long sleeved uv top the whole time with a plain black swimsuit you feel so covered it makes you forget about your legs
None of this might help but it was my less paranoid holiday yet!
Try and enjoy it all, honestly you think people are looking but they’re either concentrating on relaxing or swimming or looking after kids!!!!