How do I dress for the office with my body shape?

[Rocket123]

I’m fairly tall with slim arms and legs but a chunky middle due to 3 kids and stress eating cakes and biscuits after splitting with their dad last year. I’m hoping to lose weight but in reality I’m just not in the place to focus on that at the moment. So I need to dress for my shape.

i feel horrible in all my clothes, so hard to hide a big middle and I am
out of proportion. I’d rather have bigger arms and legs too! I feel embarrassed to be honest.

Any tips especially for office wear? I struggle with this most as I look like I’m pregnant in dresses and skirts. Skinny jeans and baggy tops probably hide my stomach best but can’t wear that in the office! I feel so frumpy and uncomfortable for the 4 days I’m at work every week and I’m sick of it!

I try to find inspo on instagram but I’ve not seen anyone with the same shape as me so the tips don’t really work or look good.

Grateful for any tips on office wear to hide a big middle, shops to try, or people I can follow on insta that have my problems! I’m in my late 30s if that makes a difference. Thank you.

Try 'midsize' as a key word on insta. Midsizefashion etc.

I'm a similar shape to you (an apple who could be an hourglass if I had less tummy after 3DC). I like Cos for their "shapeless work sacks". V stylish and minimalist, comfortable, wear with a silk scarf, nice necklace or nice earrings.

Alternatively slim leg trousers (pedal pushers, you might call them
.. or "cigarette trousers") with flats and oversize blouse.

Think long and lean. T shirt type dresses, but skimming rather than body conscious, I have a good one from Arket. Shirt or jacket over the top. Wide legged trousers with slimmer fitting tops. Wear the same colour on top and bottom. Buy clothes that fit your waist, nothing looks worse on people our shape than being squeezed in the middle, and it feels grim and makes me self conscious.I buy slim fitting trousers in a size up. Wide legs with an elasticated waist, in a size down. Make sure that your bra fits really well, we need the definition, otherwise we can look like blobs.
Think about taking up front crawl. My shape is so much better if I swim 4 or 5 times a week. I don’t like shapewear, but I do wear thicker waist high cotton pants, because they are more comfortable than anything else. I like Sloggi, but I’m going to buy wirarpa next, on Amazon, because they look great . And enjoy your arms and legs, you may think you would like better proportions, but they are your secret weapon, you can wear sleeveless dresses, cropped trousers , and look elegant rather than stumpy. And once you stop hating on your belly, and wear clothes that give it space, I promise it will take up much less space in your head, even if it actually stays exactly the same.

Oh and I’ve just bought this skirt. It works so well, I’m not even sad that I bought 2 by mistake., I’m wearing it with a slim t shirt and a boxy cardigan, or with a vest and over shirt, or an oversized neck jumper. Its just so good . And £9.00

You can wear the same shapes you find most flattering in your casual wardrobe but just make them work appropriate.

So slim fitting dark coloured trousers or skirts, if these work best for you, with blouson tops or long line tunic tops or untucked shirts are all fine.

For dresses possibly a wrap style or ruched waist dress would work? Or something with more of an empire line shape like this one?

https://www.meandem.com/open-collar-tiered-maxi-dress-navy?glCountry=GB&glCurrency=GBP&gclid=CjwKCAjw8ZKmBhArEiwAspcJ7m-9kc8ShPGWbva66dq-6kcqkXbMpgzec98w-C8uC1B3eBeDsTWrrhoC5j4QAvD_BwE#288=1804

Thank you for these! I am taking it all onboard and going to go out shopping as soon as I can to try out some of these suggestions.

@Zebracat thank you for such a positive and inspiring post!!