Can’t find ANY clothes to suit my body!

[Verbena17]

Having a nightmare - worse than most springs when I’m worrying about the summer and what to wear.
My body is not great and I’m also currently feeling like I’ve gone off every single possible item of clothing there is out there!

So traditionally, I’m a pear shape but in recent years I’ve being just plain round!
I’m pinning a photo of what I think my body looks like but I have less fat on top of thighs, bum and back. Pretty sure though I have lipoedema so I have large arm tops and my knees have too much weight around them.

My thighs are large and my calves are too. And now, it’s not just a tummy pooch I’ve got, it’s the top of the tummy under my bust too! So from the side, to me it looks like my cross section from tummy to bum is huge! For that reason, I don’t like wearing dresses.
I used to be curvy but I now I just feel blob-like.

Any good ideas for hiding (everything)?
I live in jeans and basic plain tops with 3/4 length sleeves.
There are some pretty tops about but none look or feel right to me.
I order stuff online then send everything back.
I’m currently a size 18, sometimes 16 in looser tops.

I usually shop at Next, Fatface, Weirdfish (tops too short) Seasalt etc but I’m not really loving of their stuff this spring.
The other issue is I don’t work and so I’m at home mostly doing house work and walking the dog. That’s basically it so apart from the odd meal out now and again, I don’t need anything super lovely. I just want to look slightly better put together and not as boring. I don’t like patterns or colours that would make me stand out - I’m an introvert for sure! I just want to blend in but look nice, so nobody thinks blimey, what’s she wearing!?

I like wearing loose, comfy trousers that are well cut and hang nicely but I can’t find any. The wide leg trousers actually make me look bigger I think and the ankle grazers cut off my not particularly long legs. I’m about 5ft 5”.
Help! 😂😬 any ideas?

I thought it was cellulite? Your body is typical of many women. Have you actually got a diagnosis of lipedema which I would thought would have affected the whole leg, yet your lower legs are ok?

Hi @Allseeingallknowing well I’m not sure. No, I’ve not had a diagnosis. I’ve looked at lots of stage 1 lipoedema pics and I do loom similar but hard to tell.
But the photo is basically my shape anyway - for reference.

I forgot to add, I really hate showing my calves so midi dresses or cropped trousers/jeans are a defo no.

I think it’s the fashions/cuts at the moment tbh - if you’re shaped like a woman right now everything looks awful.

Your calves are fine, a midi dress would be flattering, so would wide trousers which skim the hips and gradually flare out.

The photo isn’t me btw. They’re not my calves 😉
Wouldn’t a midi dress cut me off mid calf though? I do have a couple of nice maxi skirts from seasalt - A line and flow nicely and skim everything but don’t have any nice tops to go with them that don’t make my top half look awful.
I don’t really like T-shirts unless the sleeves are loose so tend to get 3/4 sleeves if I can.

If I wore wide leg trousers, wouldn't they go best with a more fitted top, to enhance my smaller bits? And then that wouldnt hide my tummy? 😩

Heavens! What was the need to quote the OP in full in the first post??

@Verbena17 forgive me for asking but are you suffering from any physical or MH issue that makes working impossible? You don’t mention childcare - perhaps you’re caring for an older person? It just seems to me that some of the issues you have with your body might be partially resolved by having to get dressed to see people outside your home every day.

I don’t think you've mentioned your age - could it be the menopause that’s changed your shape? Either way it might be helpful to ask for blood tests to identify any particular thing that might be worth focussing on.

A size 16 to 18 isn’t particularly unusual. What’s your diet like and could it be improved?

Finally, do you have a budget limit for new clothes? I think varying your shopping sources might help you to find more joy in getting dressed.

When I’m feeling rubbish, I find improving the quick fixes first helps. Can I lose 3 stone and my wobbly tummy over night? No, but I can put on a layer of fake tan, wash and style my hair and put a bit of make up on. A tan instantly makes me feel more put together and slimmer.

Get good, supportive underwear.

I think shift or tunic dresses that go ‘up and down’ and skim over the rolls but not too voluminous. You can wear leggings underneath, either ankle or calf length. I like that look and it’s comfy. Seasalt are good for shift or tunic dresses and linen is comfortable in warm weather.

Shirt dresses are currently fashionable too and as maxi’s but usually have a belt unfortunately.

Sorry just seen you’ve tried Seasalt - what about Boden?

Thanks @TheRavenKingsDaughter .
I’m good with knowing how I need to change body shape- my post is more about types of clothing to buy to balance out my figure more.

I don’t work because I care for my adult DS who needs a fair amount of support through the day and evening. Hence why I’m not currently working.
I do get dressed every morning and leave the house - not sure why you think I don’t.

What I mean is, the things I do daily mean I don’t really want to be wearing a Reiss trouser suit to walk the dog down by the river 😉😂.
Popping to grab groceries doesnt require me to dress up so I just wear jeans and tops most of the time - in summer I’ll wear maxi skirts if it’s boiling and just jeans if not.

Cargos, leggings or cotton trousers without any stretch look awful on me and aren't comfy.

I know I need to lose weight but currently have a bad foot so cant walk very far, meaning I’ve gained more weight and it’s a viscous cycle.

But this post was more about hopefully linking to clothes that might suit my shape.

Thanks @bleachedjumper - I do wear make up every day and I have ok hair.
And yes you’re right, I can’t lose 3 stone overnight, hence why I thought some ideas here might be good 😊

@Turmerictolly thanks - I have always assumed anything that a shift or tunic dress would make me look worse - didn’t think it might skim in an effective way - I’ll take a look though, ☺️

This, 100%

A few days of a bit more exercise, a bit more water, a better diet and fake tan / nails done leaves me feeling about 80% better.

Abercrombie and Fitch do nice bootcut jeans, which can give balance and enhance the in/out of curves.
Boden do nice boat neck t shirts which amongst my friends we agree are universally flattering, if you pinch the end of the sleeve up slightly and put a stitch in to hold it this gives the illusion of a longer thinner arm.
By the way if that picture is what your body is like then I think you’ll look great anyway without needing to dress for your shape.
In winter, black fishnet tights - they create shape (try them and trust me on this).

I'm a similar size/shape but have massive boobs too. I've sometimes found things at Morrisons from their Nutmeg clothing range. They don't have stock photos online, but I recently bought a green, cotton, 3/4 length arm top which I've been living in. I tend to live in loose, linen trousers or a more tapered at the ankle style.

Would either of these suit?

https://tuclothing.sainsburys.co.uk/product/tuc146646939
https://tuclothing.sainsburys.co.uk/product/tuc146446347

TheRavenKingsDaughter
Sorry to irritate you, but it’s not a crime!

https://www2.hm.com/en_gb/productpage.1282574002.html

What about a blouse like this which isn't meant to be tight and has a flattering sleeve length and is pretty?

https://www.dorothyperkins.com/product/dorothy-perkins-petite-palm-print-button-through-midi-dress-with-pockets_bqq16689?colour=black

what about this kind of shaped dress?

I could see from your reference to dog walking that you leave the house every day. I was making a distinction with having to dress for something more formal.

However - caring is work, in my opinion.

Have you looked at Uniqlo? Most things are modestly priced (particularly in the sales) but may feel a bit sparkier than the shops you’ve mentioned. I’m not as convinced as you that dressing for your shape must be a problem. Oversized clothes are highly fashionable at the moment and no one cares about the measurements of the body underneath. Things like this suit everyone:

https://www.uniqlo.com/uk/en/products/E475719-000/00?colorDisplayCode=61&sizeDisplayCode=003

As would a dress like this:

https://www.uniqlo.com/uk/en/products/E477618-000/00?colorDisplayCode=06&sizeDisplayCode=003

Something like this but maybe with longer sleeves and then white calf length leggings underneath. You can always size up. Principles often have shift dresses in stock. Linen or cotton are better than jersey as that tends to be thin and clingy.

https://www.debenhams.com/product/kite-chettle-muslin-dress-groovy-dot_p-fbc0fbc7-88d9-4985-a991-6eb38844a490?colour=Yellow

Forgive me - but there is absolutely no need for any woman ever to wear a thigh length tunic and white leggings. (Unless it’s a compulsory uniform. Or she’s bought the outfit from Phoebe Philo.)

That specific one is too short and would show my c-section pooch however, I do like the idea of a blouse that goes straight down and doesn’t cling so I’ll look for slightly longer ones.

OP- this dress would be lovely on you!

Yes that is a nice shaped dress but I’d feel like everyone was looking at me if I wore the very bold pattern.

@Turmerictolly dont think that yellow print dress would suit me and I don’t wear leggings at all - my DD says no mum should be wearing leggings under a dress 😬 so I’m now paranoid I can never do that 😂