Weight gain and don't know how to dress pics.

[BrassicaBabe]

So, I've put on weight. Likely menopause stuff. But that's by the by. I don't know how to dress for my current shape!

The weight is heavy around my middle. The skinny jumpers I used to love are OUT!! Plus I have broad shoulders. I actually like my shoulders when exposed (I do some weight lifting). They are quite defined. But with clothes on, plus the lack of waist I look like a block!!

I bought these tops below in an emergency for May HM. The yellow t-shirt is a DISASTER. The long sleeved top slightly less so.

I am clueless. What do I wear these days?!

Thanks!

I think you look slim and athletic in the second top, maybe try some more fitted clothes?

You're not very big at all by the way

When I was bigger I would get loose things like you've done and try to have them floating off me

NO. You need a belt and trousers that flatter your stomach and waist. No elasticated waists, they have awful ruching and bunch up a load of fabric around the tummy. You need to stay away from stretch materials if they are too thin. Flat stomach trousers, no pleats unless they start from lower down, not right at the waistband

A belt will show some shape and add interest and definition. I live in belts now

I used to look like a frumpy ship in sail.

Oh you said it a lot more concise than me!

Whenever I've gained weight I just bite the bullet and buy new clothes similar to what I usually wear but a size up. You're not fat by any means, I'm guessing you just don't fit in your usual clothes, but you'll look better just sizing up rather than wearing your baggiest stuff

Neckline on the 2nd top is very flattering. I agree with PP, don’t try to hide in baggy clothes, you’ve a good shape and you need to dress to show it off.

Thanks! The words "fitted" and "belt" send shudders through me now. Even before weight gain (1,5 stone) I didn't have much of a waist. The narrowest part of me then was closer to "empire line" position than ACTUAL waist. But now I've got this paunch I don't know what to wear 🤷‍♀️

(I'll moan about hormones and evil weight gain elsewhere 🤣)

It's hard to tell without seeing your hair and face but by the looks of your skin tone you might suit more muted, pastel colours than yellow/mustards.

Agree with pp, the tops are too shapeless for your figure and if you cinched it in a bit and perhaps wore slim leg jeans trousers it would help balance it out. Again, I can't really see your feet do you may be wearing these already!

It would be more helpful to see your whole body, but I agree with others. It does look like you have an hourglass shape and going for something more fitted on your top half would work much better.

I'm bigger than you are but similar shape and look much better in a fitted top with wide trousers than the kind of outfits you've pictured.

I dont have a waist and elasticated waist trousers work really well for me. I buy a 14 or a 16, they don’t bunch at all. If I buy trousers with a button, I have to buy a size 20 and they swamp my hips and legs. I like the second top a lot, where is it from? First one might be ok with leggings or a straight skirt. I think you would look great in a tube dress. Halternecks are good for athletic body shapes. You do look lovely.

You look like you have a great figure hidden under the tshirt. I'm going through the same problem and have watched YouTube styling videos and I really look like I know what I'm doing when I'm getting dressed and only need a few staple pieces to make it work

Loll. I've never been actually sure WHAT body shape I was. I think rectangle or inverted triangle. Def not pear or hourglass.

Maybe inverted triangle. Broad shoulders, narrow hips. But weight goes on bust and tummy...so rectangle?!

This is food for thought.

Have you looked at Melissa Murrell videos on YouTube? Lots of information & links on how to dress for different body shapes. Also guidance on how to measure yourself & to balance out your figure. There are ways of emphasizing your waist without showing your tummy as this will give you some shape. Also generally lower necklines suit broad shoulders & bigger busts. So that may be why the second t shirt works better.

Agree with pps you have a lovely figure, even empire line would be better if you're not comfortable showing your waist.
@rosequartzz could you tell me what youtube videos you watch please?

Wrap dresses and tops, get ones with ruching over the tummy if you're self conscious about that area, but you're definitely too slim to hide under baggy clothes, that will just make you look bigger.

With boobs you need something to bring you in under the bust, otherwise clothes just hang from the boobs and make you look that size from your bra down.

I havent got a waist at all, my waist is about 34 inches, it just wont go any smaller. I am straight up an down with tummy flab and loose skin from weight loss, so theres plenty to hide

However I too couldnt ever have envisaged me wearing a belt and I cant tell you how much better it looks, also to have more fitted and sleek looking clothes rather than baggy things and stretch this and stretch that. Its not the weight loss because Im still very very flabby and out of proportion, its the clothes.

If you havent got a waist the best thing to do to make it look like you have is to wear a belt or something that defines you at the waist. The other thing I do is have quite high waisted things or tops that arent too long now, so only going to the waist, I realised I was making myself look like an orangutan by wearing long tops (to hide everything), they were making my short legs look even shorter

I’m a big fan of shirts. Or blouses. Slightly fitted. They add definition without cling.

You do have nice figure. I'd say those colours are but washing out on you. You might need to go try an armful on. I'd suggest boat neck with fitted 3/4 sleeves and wide legged jeans, because your hips look narrow it's a cool look.
With the skinnier jeans you obviously have maybe wrap style t shirts, fitted on top and bust but with ruching on belly if you are self conscious
Also shirts and blouses would look really good on you, can roll sleeves up, tuck in or half tuck
I'm jealous because my bulk is on my lower belly so need longer shape

French tuck. Try it.

I think we have very similar body shapes OP (fellow rectangle here 🤣)

All the belt advice is probably right, but for me it just conjures up visions of early 2000s Gok Wan shows of him cinching women in with those massive buckled waist belts we all loved at the time!

I’m a big fan of high-waisted jeans and wide leg trousers with lightly fitted shirts in natural fabrics (cotton, silk) comfy but still gives some shape/structure

Start with a V neck .

I have a similar issue, menopause has given me a more rectangular shape, a thick waist and slimmer hips but still a D cup.
I go to the gym to tone up, but I’ve had to get rid of a lot of the tops I used to wear because they just seem to accentuate my stomach area.