Not saucy, but a bit fat...

[Gagagardener]

I'm posting this because I've been so impressed by all the advice you've the OP on the 'Not saucy but a bit fat' thread. I hardly ever go 'out' out now, which is fine. I am happy in the clothes I generally wear. There is a lot of me I don't bare in public, including skin with seborrheic keratoses and my swollen legs in their support stockings. Almost all my shoes are sensible flat laceups/trainers; I have big feet (size 8) and can't wear heels. BUT I am going away at the end of September fir a warm week, and I'd like to dress up a bit in the evenings. I'm 5ft 8in, size 16. I just want to look nice while I'm on holiday.

How about a midi dresses with short sleeves? Warehouse and Apricot are good for that kind of thing and have the right sizes.

Thanks. I'll have a look. But however nice a dress is, my legs and feet will be sticking out the bottom.

@Gagagardener you're not a Lego person, do you can't swap your legs out! I'm sure you will get some good advice, your title made me smile x

@Thistooshallpass24 I know. But I really wish I could. Flat laceups and compression stockings are just so unglamorous! (Btw: did you study Anglo-Saxon? Your username made me wonder...)

I think that only Anglo Saxon I know are the four letter words! Not much studying here x

What about a maxi dress instead of a midi dress? Still flowy so it's not too hot but covers the parts you're insecure about?

Thank you @febbabies2023. The idea of maxi dresses is logical, so I'm trying to work out why it doesn't really appeal. I think it's partly an association of full-length with very grand occasions; and partly that because I am tallish and ... 'well-built' I will be a clothes-horse for a great deal of fabric. (I think I'd feel conspicuous.) It's going to have to be trousers, isn't it?

Love the thread title 😅

@Gagagardener i think you should be kinder to yourself x

The important questions are:

How much do you want to spend

and

Do you want things that can be incorporated into your autumn wardrobe on your return?

Will you be wearing the compression stockings on holiday?

How about a Manners LDN Asri dress? It's really comfortable and swishy and holds you together nicely.

www.mannersldn.com/search?q=asri

Or some decent weight wide leg linen trousers? You are lovely and tall so should be able to carry them off well.
Maybe with some Birkenstocks? How are your arms?

www.marksandspencer.com/pure-linen-wide-leg-trousers/p/clp60636146?intid=mobile_app_pdp_share

@Chewbecca The dresses are lovely, but not for me. Too much skin showing (the keratoses are very unsightly). But the M&S trousers look great; I may be able to get to a store tmw and try some on. My arms are ok: I like 3/4 lenth sleeves. Not Birkenstocks, alas: I have to wear orthotics in my flat laceups, but I have nice white trainers that cd work. @IAmNotYourZiggaZigAhhh I cd probably run to about £250 and yes I'd want to incorporate any new clothes I buy into my existing wardrobe. Thank you both.

I’m 5ft 7 and a 16/18. Love casual maxi dresses on holiday. I totally get what you mean about the whole “all of me draped in fabric ship in full sail” thing, but I think it really depends on pattern and fit.

This is one of my favourites: https://www.debenhams.com/product/hot-squash-the-maxi-dress_p-9e77ab8d-ca76-4426-894c-8fd86003d91e?colour=Teal&size=12&sv1=affiliate&sv_campaign_id=626889&awc=22735_1726177144_fa78a8df65f984181fc9db876d0ba88b&utm_medium=affiliates&utm_source=awin&utm_campaign=UK_626889&utm_content=Comparison+Shopping+Service+%28CSS%29

sorry for massive link. I don’t know why it’s got some poor reviews - the fabric is quite thick jersey which has a more relaxed feel than chiffony fabrics, and I think the plain colour keeps it from looking too fancy, but it feels nice enough to feel I’m a bit smart. It also goes right down to the floor on 5ft 7 me, so good for covering up legs.

@Talipesmum That is lovely, and my colour - but the v neck is too deep for me. (I don't like putting my blebs on display. Keratoses are harmless, but people do stare.) A modesty vest wd look silly, though! Do you know of any others that might show less skin?

I’ll have a look. I have a little safety pin to hold the v cross over in place - there’s a fair bit of fabric so you might be able to put a stitch in to bring it up a bit?

@Talipesmum you are very kind. (Intrigued by your username. Recently watched young relative born with talipes perform in her dance school show. V large lump in my throat.)

Maybe something like this?
https://uk.saintandsofia.com/products/greenwich-tiered-midi-dress-long-sleeve-green-jersey?variant=39873648033895

I think most of mine are a bit more v neck - I clearly like a bit of cleavage :-). But it might be worth trying that hot squash one to see if you could fix the neckline in place a bit higher, perhaps?

My talipes baby is now a 6ft 16 year old who plays cricket and walks 45 mins to sixth form college every day. Everything has remained beautifully corrected. Foot fixing feel a very long time ago. ❤️❤️❤️ to your young relative.

That's good to hear! Thank you. And sleep well. Good night .

Another 5'8" size 16 peasant woman here!

I'm currently living in these two dresses (with jumpers in the evenings). I had to send the L back and get M, as Nobody's Child sizes optimistically - however, if you feel happier in a baggier shape, get the large.

Due to the very open knit, the dresses get longer as you wear them. Fresh on, the hems come to the tops of my ankle socks. After a few hours, they're ankle length.

Very light and soft, and not as see-through as one would assume. I bought and anti-static slip to wear with them, but it isn't really necessary as long as you've got underwear on! (A nipple escaping through my dress wouldn't be the look I was aiming for.)

Brown & cream https://www.nobodyschild.com/products/fearne-cotton-brown-mock-crochet-knitted-midi-dress

Wavy navy https://www.nobodyschild.com/products/blue-wavy-stripe-knitted-midi-dress

I haven't tried this on, but it looks perfect for your needs! The model's 5'9" and it reaches her ankles. Linen-viscose mix, will breathe.
https://www.nobodyschild.com/products/red-puff-sleeve-hannah-midi-dress-d241963red

Also look at the similar product suggestions.

Ah you sound like me! Dratted stockings here too also bigger than I would like to be, tall and always in trainers with orthotics. Dressing for health issues isn't that fun..

My standard uniform I have come up with and am happy with is this :
Wide leg jeans or loose wide trousers almost all from halara. Unfortunately they don't ship very quickly! But I find them very flattering, and don't get caught on the stockings.
Then a Uniqlo airism bra vest ( no bra required) . These are tightish but smooth so I think are flattering and give illusion of a waist when I wear an open shirt on top. When it's very hot then I have a couple of floaty short kimono things as the top layer.
If I want to go smarter then I'll wear a blazer/ jacket of some sort , usually with another t-shirt under, often higher necked

Plus a smattering of gold jewellery to dress things up a bit.

I've been following Taryn hicks mid size style and got some great ideas

I've tried on maxi dresses/ skirts several times this summer but I just can't stand having flashes of stockings on show. I'm working up to the idea of just 'owning it,' but not quite there yet 🙄

@Garlictest many thanks. I'll mull these over. I have never bought anything from Nobody's Child, but thinking of sending for the red one. @Escapetothecountryplease I've been wary of the fashion for wide legs, thinking I am wide enough - perhaps it doesn't work like that. (Good to hear from someone else who's getting on with life without making the problems too obvious.) I'm going to look into some of your suggestions.Where do you get your compression stockings? I wear Activa black prescription knee-lengths, and cheerful stripey SupCare ones from the Compression Sock Shop. Fine for daytime, but not elegant for evenings!

Honestly a size 16 at 5.8 is not that big. But then I’m an inch shorter and a size bigger so I would say that. Also with a wide size 8 foot. And orthotics. I wore maxi dresses all summer, but they were a trip hazard on stairs,so I had to take them up. I’m going to try midis in future. Honestly no one’s looking at your feet, and if they did, they would not be remarkable.
I saw this in the clearance section of Next, thought it would be perfect, although they also have maxis. Shirt over if you must cover your arms.

Thankbyou @Zebracat. If my feet and legs had less to carry, they might feel better. That looks like a nice dress!