Clothes to keep cool for fatty going to hot holiday

[tanyamcquoid]

Help! I am a size 20 and need to source some clothes that I won’t melt in for two trips: one to Croatia in a few weeks and the second to Singapore in October where it will be relentlessly humid. The second trip will also involve another trip to an island including a jungle trek…So I need a mix of the right clothes for this plus resort and city wear!
If anyone can find loose, comfortable, cool clothes for big sizes and links to them, I would be most grateful. Bonus points for swimsuits (huge chest so always a challenge).

What kinds of styles do you like? And what’s your budget?

In very hot or humid weather linen is very comfortable. Wide leg linen trousers in white or off-white are really cooling. Wear them with a loose linen shirt. Linen is everywhere at the moment: M&S, Next, H&M etc.

I think cotton wide leg trousers with an elasticated waist would be a good start, and some loose tunic tops.

https://www.marksandspencer.com/search?intid=normal&langId=-24&storeId=10151&catalogId=10051&searchType=normal&searchTerm=cotton+wide+leg+trousers&filter=Size%3D20&originalPrice=10%2C145

https://www.marksandspencer.com/linen-blend-embroidered-puff-sleeve-blouse/p/clp60594759?color=COPPER#intid=pid_pg1pip48g4r11c1

Thank you both. I’ve never been a linen person as I’m so bumpy and huge of nork that things just crumple on me the moment I put them on. I usually survive in Jersey fake wrap dress type things - Boden etc or skater dresses or maxis. But as this holiday may be more active, I fear I have to get some sort of trouser thing going. Many years ago I bought the best ever cropped loose bike panty things from Adidas. The fabric was perfect (not Lycra - sort of a textured but cool keeping synethetic). Never found them or similar style again! So either long or cropped trousers or very long shorts and a long line top and floaty dresses. I wear a lot of navy or black with metallic or fabric necklace but willing to change it up. Even before they were cool and then uncool I quite liked floral dressers or block colour or dresses with one bold stripe. Budget would prefer cheap as I won’t wear these clothes back home - probably - but will pay plenty for a durable classic garment!

Get linen or cotton, not a linen blend and not cotton jersey- it'll be cooler!

Yours - tons of stuff there. I am a size 20 and got most of my holiday stuff from there recently. Their jogger shorts are particularly comfortable- they’re not thick jogger material like you’d think but just really good quality cotton with a little stretch and cut really well. Some of the stuff on the website is a bit meh but if you are prepared to have a good look you can find tons of stuff.

M&S have some nice, loose cotton/linen beach coverup shirts and trousers that are substantial enough for every day.

I also git a few good tops and cotton/linen mix wide trousers in Next.

I love this from Whistles....55% linen 45% cotton, it's a gorgeous colour, I think would work for day or night, but keeps on selling out

Also, this is a great little New Look jacket for holiday nights...it's got rounded shaped sides, so it's not too boxy, comes in 4 colours.

I'm a size 20 and have chunky thighs. Not worn shorts since I was a size 10 but these ones from Evans are great. I'm not long back from a road trip which included hiking as well as daytime / city sightseeing and found these worked for both (obvs changed shoes / tops / accessories)

Evans shorts

For hiking in heat, I would go with proper performance sports wear. What about something like this?
https://www.mountainwarehouse.com/recycled-womens-leggings-p32907.aspx/mixed/

This dress is expensive but awesome. I have it in black and it's comfortable in the heat and very flattering. I am also size 20 and blessed in the nork department. Although it's linen, it's surprisingly crease-free, to the point where I don't need to iron it. Good for day to night.

I roll the sleeves up a little, which makes it more comfortable and also (I think) looks better.

https://www.johnlewis.com/ro-zo-shirred-waist-midi-linen-dress/black/p110295343?intcmp=click_on_product_description_exp&_gl=113mw50t_gaMTQ3ODM2MDY2MS4xNjc4NzQ3MDA2_ga_S1ZHFBNH86*MTY4OTY5MTUwMy4zNi4xLjE2ODk2OTE1MDkuNTQuMC4w&_ga=2.235642305.1733667255.1689691504-1478360661.1678747006&_gac=1.93707631.1688338115.Cj0KCQjwwISlBhD6ARIsAESAmp5hTt6nqAT3ngAMMRTwBEaiT7IWri-85IZHbjMMQxQjxUcThB1F8u0aArOCEALw_wcB

Anti chafing shorts from Marks and Spencers - I wear these under loose dresses and they are brilliant.
https://www.marksandspencer.com/2pk-shaping-shorts/p/clp60533883?color=OPALINE&prevPage=srp#intid=pid_pg1pip9g4r1c1

With Singapore it is super hot and sticky, so what feels summery here will feel thick there. I’d also think about how easy it is to wash and wear something. It’s great wearing a dress that can be sink washed /rinsed left to dry and then worn a couple of days later. To be honest one time in Singapore we found a laundrette in a mall and they had our stuff ready the next day.

I second the wearing of little shorts under dresses. I bought a multipack from Amazon that do the job well. Also I swear by my miniature handheld fan and it comes in my bag everywhere I go. It can be recharged at night and runs for hours.

I have some clothes from Fairlie Curved that cater for us large of nork. I swing between 16 and 18 but they do have some great stuff that could work for you.

I also never go on holiday without a couple of wide brimmed hats, I buy cotton ones that roll up to pack and still look good when worn. I have also bought some great ones abroad.

I live in a hot country. Go for what will be cool. Linen Al day long.... loose dresses. (use a stick deodorant on thighs to prevent chub rub!)

Avoid sleeves in the daytime. Far too hot and sweaty

Maxi dresses are cool a d keep the mozzies off legs

Agree about sleeves. I swear by air to the underarms in a hot climate.

But disagree about maxi dresses. In a hot, humid climate instead of feeling cool and swishy they feel heavy and clingy.

This swimsuit is lovely even though it's stripes!

https://www.simplybe.co.uk/shop/p/ut985?optionSize=32&promo=6202&gbraid=0AAAAADUHHdvhDkTderthUZwlJsDJS5-1&gclid=Cj0KCQjw8NilBhDOARIsAHzpbLC8QNaMMXLJdnffYSFVuZie9bkVJhNQw4ieMuziHH42VGpQSkw78Z0aAh0JEALwwcB&gclsrc=aw.ds

For your jungle trek try Millets own brand walking trousers - peter Storm. I am the same size as you. They are so brilliant I bought 2 pairs!!. They are comfy and lightweight.

I love these trousers. So comfortable and cool.
https://onehundredstars.co.uk/collections/pants

https://www.next.co.uk/style/ST221905/C89393#C89393

with short workout leggings underneath for chub rub.

No links as I'm not in the U.K. but I find wide-legged (but not super wide) viscose trousers very cool in our hot-ish summers. Struggling to find any this year - they all seem to be super wide and made for giants! I usually wear a thin cotton v-necked T-shirt with them, though I agree with PP that once it's over about 33° you need air to the underarms! Or I go for a viscose cap-sleeved shirt with linen trousers, but I don't find linen especially cool - I think even the softest linen starts to feel scratchy in the heat.

I have these shorts and the shape means they are not clingy and were perfect on a hot holiday https://www.seasaltcornwall.com/clover-bloom-linen-shorts

For hiking:

https://www.sweatybetty.com/explorer-sleeveless-jumpsuit-SB9007_Black.html#start=24&sz=24