Fat girl summer - let's slay 💅

[Lwrenn]

So, for those of us who are chunky yet funky, what's the plan ladies?

Shall we give no fucks and wear nice comfy summery clothes or do we worry about keeping every inch of us covered head to toe in black until we sweat so hard we melt? What's the plan?

Currently a size 20/22 myself, unlikely to get down to a magical size 14 by July so I'm looking at the nice comfy looking linen pants, few maxi dresses, shorts because I'm a wee chubby pale rebel and to really go wild a jumpsuit or two.

Simply be has some lovely things at the moment including shoes, asos curve is looking alright and vinted is my best pal.

I'm 35 for a few more months and don't want to have another summer in my 30s hating my body, so this year I'm going to embrace it. Anyone with me?

@HebburnPokemon I swear by Udderly Smooth chamois cream for preventing chafing. Just allows the skin to glide smoothly rather than rubbing.
You can get a tube of it on amazon for about £10 and just keep it in your bag for top ups as needed.

Thank you! How often do you need to reapply?

@HebburnPokemon it depends on how much walking you do as it absorbs faster the more you move around.
On average I probably top up every few hours for a moderate amount of movement, though I find I don't have to use too much on each application.
I actually still have a large tub of it that I got about 4 years ago, it's been used every summer since and still plenty left.

Thank you so much for starting this thread OP.

My main aim is to stay cool, so my summer uniform is loose (but not super-wide) viscose print trousers and short-sleeved cotton v-neck T-shirt, which flatters my boobs (my best bit!). Or print shirt and linen trousers to be slightly smarter. Occasionally a longish skirt with the T-shirt. I'm 5'3 and dumpy so find it hard to find a dress shape that works.

@ChishiyaBat - I'm the same height as you and size 16-18. I have a fat tummy and no boobs (mastectomy ten years ago). I'm wearing a lot of maxi skirts and dresses (they're midi on most) and t shirts. I also seem to have bought a lot of green stuff so I'm rolling with it and creating a capsule wardrobe. I live in Scotland so winter be wearing this stuff for a long time, and we're going to Spain for a week so I can make it last.

Oh and I wear chub rubs from snag.

I’m a month postpartum and just like with my first still look 9 months pregnant! I literally can’t stop eating when pregnant and breastfeeding and put loads of weight on. It makes finding clothes that don’t look like maternity wear really difficult- I have one flouncy smock dress that pretty much conceals my stomach, and everything else just makes me feel a bit sad. I wouldn’t mind if the extra weight was evenly distributed, but having it all on my stomach looks so odd :/ last time I was this shape it was lockdown so I didn’t have to worry about clothes at all, I have no idea what to wear this summer!

I find maxi skirts make me look taller, or maybe that is just my wishful thinking😂. I live in the Welsh valleys, so it's always wet here no matter the season. I just swap out thicker tops for thinner ones in the summer when it's actually warm. I hope you have a wonderful week in Spain.

Please can I join in this amazing thread? I'm struggling but wanting to feel amazing in all I wear.
Seen some fab tips. Thank you all I REALLY needed to see this x

What a lovely thread!

Having the mastectomy must be a pain in the arse to find clothes that you feel fit correctly? Do dresses with the stretchy material that seems quite fitted work for you better? I've seen tattoos are very fashionable to have now on mastectomys. I couldn't be arsed myself and think any scar is worth wearing with pride. Although my DP almost lost a whole finger opening a tin of corned beef so not any scar 😂 but the tattoos do always look really lush.
I always wanted in my youth to design clothes for the elderly/dementia patients I cared for or folks with incontinence or people with Sensory issues so autism etc so clothing was appropriate and accessible whilst being nice. I can't draw or sew or know the first thing about fashion but it's always been wild to me that more clothing designers dont incorporate designs for women who've lost breasts, or have stoma bags etc, it must be a shock on top of the magnitude of the surgery to then navigate finding clothes that you feel good in right away.

I have a massive scar/s on my belly from surgery and my youngest kiddos are too little to understand what it's from yet so I tell them it's from the time mummy had a showdown with the rhino at Chester zoo and won 😁 but sometimes clothes dig in and make it itchy even years later but that might just be because they're in places Jeans dig in etc but I hope you dont have any uncomfortable feeling from your surgeries x

I’m 4 months postpartum and have been calorie counting for the past month, managed to get off 12.5lb of my pregnancy weight! Currently a size 18 and wanting to get to a 16. My aim is only to lose another stone but I’m starting to realise that even though that was my pre-pregnancy weight my body isn’t the same and I won’t look like I did 🥴 I had a section and I have an overhang now, and my belly is just more, prominent? than it was.

Current wardrobe is whatever catches my eye on Vinted 🤣 mostly dresses, living for the nicer weather because I was sick of wearing leggings and oversized T-shirts!

Also loving this thread.

This threads great, has given me a bit of a boost so thank you

I bloody love vinted ❤

I had a section last August also but I've had loads of babies so I've got an apron anyway even before my section 🙈

Well done for losing weight, I cook from scratch, avoid puddingy things or crisps, I don't drink booze but I'm a carby barbie and I just am not losing.
If I did a atkins type diet I'd probably lose weight but I'm really not ready to give up rice, pasta and potatoes!

I was thinking last night I want a nice confident perfume for my new found no fucks attitude so I can smell summery and delicious.
But I'm definitely only in the market for an affordable one, do any of you lovely ladies have any faves? I'm thinking something tropical/fresh smelling

It’s become an obsession at this point. Facebook scrolling is now Vinted scrolling 🤣

Thank you! I cook from scratch mostly, we used to do Gousto and I have about a million cards so tend to cook a Gousto meal 4-5 times a week but I must admit, sometimes I do hoy in some beige food when I cba! Could never give up carbs, sacrilege.

Biggest I’ve ever been here and not loving it at all.

I’ve bought several colourful jersey dresses from Whitestuff’s outlet on eBay. Good thing about being this size is there’s more available, and some of them are less than 15 quid brand new. They feel really nice on and cool for my bloody inner furnace. No digging in to my tummy either.

Have also ordered some bright funky eyeliners from KIKO and always wear a good lippy when we go out (I like Dior Addict, pricey but worth it).

Determined to “rock the chub” this summer!

Have a look at Laura Adlington (aka bake off) she's an inspiration with all her lovely clothes she wears.

You might like Sol de Janeiro - some of them are quite sweet but the pink one (number 68? Can’t remember off the top of my head and if I navigate away from the page I lose my post…) is quite fruity and tropical.

Really lovely thread by the way! I’m struggling a bit with how my body is changing due to pregnancy and it’s really nice to see everyone’s positive mindsets and ways of thinking.

Thankyou for this thread! As a "traditionally built" grandma (65, size 22, 5'5tall) I dread finding summer clothes.
Winter- leggings/joggers/jeans and a fleece are my uniform.
Summer is much harder- I live in France and our summer average temperatures are 28-35 for months. I've been going for capri length leggings and a floaty top. The shops here all cater for petite French women and there is a definite "uniform" for women my age!

Luckily I've reached the age of giving no fucks so I've left my (grey) hair long and am embracing my inner hippy. Off to look at snag tights for the chub pants!

I like those wide legged, patterned trousers - I have a pair in my wardrobe, and they never come out because I can't work out what to wear on top - can't put another pattern, a plain T-shirt? In same colour or..? I'm don't like how most T-shirts look on me though.(around an 18)

These are my favourite linen trousers. Super comfortable and flattering. I have them in navy from last year and I have just ordered them in black.

Also, if anyone has a Bluelighcard then Seasalt do a great reduction.

Sea Heart Summer Culottes - Linen Blend Wide Leg Crop Trousers - Seasalt Cornwall

Fab thread! I’m 48, size 20 and off to Florida next month, so in serious need of ideas. I tend to stick to linen (mix) trousers and tops, with the occasional maxi dress (another vote for chub rub shorts- so good!). I have cankles the second the sun comes out, so prefer to hide my legs, but I’ve bought some vest tops for the first time in years- I want an even tan at least.
Bought this dress and I love how comfy and flattering it is
https://www.yoursclothing.co.uk/gypsy-bardot-maxi-drss-red-trpcl-p