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 got a lovely linen top by Toast on Vinted, it’s quite a boxy, oversized shape and I felt as if it disguised my apple belly. It’s heavy linen, too, so hangs really nicely- worth a look on Vinted for that sort of thing.

You asked earlier if people wear their nice stuff to walk the dog? Well, I always used to save mine but I decided that life’s too short and I should just wear the nice clothes. I still have rough outfits that I wear for gardening and stuff, but unless it’s particularly muddy I wear most things on the dog walk. Why the hell not. I might get run over tomorrow and then my ghost would be cross not to have worn my lovely clothes!

Why do people like you have to put other women down to make yourself feel better?? I'm a size 8, I take care of my body and have an athletic build. Sick of hearing this 'shaped like a woman' nonsense. Women come in all shapes and sizes. If we're going to be positive about people who are overweight how about not putting down people who are perfectly healthy?

So 6 items I ordered came yesterday and I liked none of them except for 1 Boden T-shirt.
That will go with my current maxi skirts or jeans.

I had ordered wide leg crinkle elasticated waist trousers but actually, they make me look bigger, with not enough definition. For waists, I need something a bit more flat and structured to ‘hold me in’.

Oh well, 1 out 6 is better than 0/6.
Ive also ordered a maxi skirt from Passenger that looks pretty if it sits right.

Have you seen theweirdonexx on socials?
She may give you some inspiration x

Honestly I have been the same shape as you for Donkeys years.
I buy Kim & Co dresses, midi and maxi. Her trousers are fabulous. Only ones that ever fit.
Smaller up top but lower half a disaster.
Shop from ebay if you can't afford new. QVC UK for new.
I am an 18/20 and order large/ XL.
Best of luck.

Thanks I’ll take a look

I definitely agree with this. Anyone with curves can forget it this season.
However if you're skinny with little or no curves, you can wear pretty much anything.🙄

https://www.seasaltcornwall.com/larissa-printed-cotton-shirt
I've got a couple of these shirts from previous years and find them really useful.
They're fine cotton, so quite cool, wash well, are quite long and have a slightly waisted shape which is quite flattering. There are a lot of different prints and colours, some a bit garish but some are reasonably subtle.

My thoughts are - if you have pear like tendencies then v neck tshirts and horizontal stripes will help with balance and shaping. If you are worried about lumps and bumps then dresses with big buttons down the centre.

I'm not saying these would be things you like but I was in the garden centre today and they had some Barbour items. I am a pear and slightly overweight atm. I picked up this stripe tshirt. I also tried on the dress - I needed a size up but generally I thought it worked. Just ideas.

https://www.barbour.com/uk/millie-striped-relaxed-t-shirt

https://www.barbour.com/uk/catalog/product/view/id/172438/s/birdie-maxi-dress/category/57/

https://www.barbour.com/uk/millie-striped-relaxed-t-shirt

This also looked very forgiving - I think in summer Linen is great and looks smart but doesn't have to cling.

https://www.barbour.com/uk/catalog/product/view/id/172422/s/heidi-blouse/category/84/

I think an oversized shirt is also great on a pear:

https://www.barbour.com/uk/catalog/product/view/id/172265/s/millie-striped-relaxed-shirt/category/84/

I live in Fatface Keswick jeans that another person mentioned - have various colours (corduroy, denim, grey, dark denim etc). OP - give them a try, they're not very cropped - just a little - I do have lympodema and fat calves, knees and thighs as well as the tummy flap etc. They are a perfect fit to hide all that - get some from Next directory and return if not good for you but I think you might be surprised.

https://www.fatface.com/search?w=keswicj&p=1#618

I tend to wear a fairly straight linen or other tunic - not most adventurous but I feel OK.

https://www.fatface.com/style/su567810/e50401#e50401

(I stopped wearing florals and patterns after I saw Baby Reindeer and didn't want to look like Martha)

I won't wear anything too short but something like this is ok

https://www.fatface.com/style/su389369/e70663#e70663
https://www.fatface.com/style/su641323/e50313#e50313

I got carried away in fat face because you mentioned it - but also shop Next, whiteface, sea salt, etc

Had a look and they’re really pretty, although quite bold for me! But I’ll maybe order one. Reviews saying they come up small
Are they a cotton with any stretch?

Thanks @GreenFressia - yes, those are nice items. I’ll have a look.

They're crinkled cotton so quite stretchy and you can iron out the crinkles to make them bigger. I've found them pretty true to size. You could always order 2 sizes, Seasalt are very prompt to refund returned items.

Thanks @IamSallyBowles. I just don’t think that style of Keswick jeans would suit me. That model has a long bum and looks tall.
and I defo couldn’t tuck in anything with that style of waist/pocket detail I don’t think. But thanks for linking them.

Sympathy. That photo could be me. Similar body type and clothes just aren't cut for heavy pear shapes.

I find wide leg trousers and long A-line skirts look good with a fairly close fitting tee shirt and then a long line cardigan or blouse or shirt that fits properly over the shoulders.

Nobody's Child often has dresses cut in shapes that work for our body type. M&S is best for trousers, or Uniqlo, weirdly, as their wide legs are generous but the waist is defined. Zara and H&M often have some pieces that work. Avoid Cos and Massimo Dutti.

Cool thanks. There are a few I liked 😊

I’ve all the similar issues as you OP
I have these Robell bran stretchy trousers in numerous colours and can live in these - Marie is cut-off but ok on my similar short legs, and they do other longer styles /same colour options too.

Then I choose brighter things that tone on the top half - boat neck, square neck, v neck - always more flattering than round neck I find.

Literally throw on a modern colourful necklace if I want to look more put together.

Similar shape. Nice light loose linen trousers, loosish top and a kimono in light material- Jayley do some lovely ones. Roll the trouser bottoms up or get crops for a more casual look and pretty sandals.

Lovely you mention you struggle to lose weight due to having a bad ankle and cannot exercise… exercise only impacts wight loss by about 20%. Look at your food intake…particularly portion size and ditch all ultraprocessed foods, take aways and cut down carbohydrate intake. Major on green veg and salad . Small amount of fruit…berries are better as they are lower in sugar. Berries are in season….English strawberries are the best in the world. Try to buy seasonally fruit and veg… you will do much better and glow. Factor in good quality protein,small amounts of meat fish, cheeese, eggs. Try to cook from scratch whoever possible.
Eat small amounts of nuts and seeds are good. You need a treat occasionally …I have dark chocolate

Gosh @Gillyruty how assuming your post is 😬.
I came for style tips and got a full, free psych evaluation.

Your post almost looks as if you think anyone who’s a size 16/18 cannot think for themself, doesn’t buy good British food and eats total crap.

Whilst your 20%/80% statement is correct in theory, that doesn't anything else into account and you certainly can’t quote it in isolation to everything else; you cannot simply tell someone you don’t know or know nothing about, that all they need to do is a, b & c, based on zero knowledge of them or their life!

Hello OP

I’m probably a similar shape to you and have many of the same issues: very house-based lifestyle and little call for dressing up.

I’ve found these tops are a flattering shape on me and slightly nicer than an a basic T-shirt https://www.kettlewellcolours.co.uk/product/mara-v-neck-top

A few colours, thankfully some of which are nice… Kettlewell can be a bit heavy on acid green and watermelon pink for me.