What do you wear to work if you are fat, fifty and fookin boiling hot?

[SodOffbacktoaibu]

I'm eyeing up my wardrobe, wondering what the hell to wear to work in the next couple of days when I have visitors at work.

It's not a suit environment so casual is ok but I would like to look cool and not a sweaty and uncomfortable blob.

Maxi dresses all seem either too strappy or frilly and flouncy.

I do trainers and DMS, so I'm not particularly a dressy person. Bit alternative perhaps. I like a lot of black or monochrome. I don't mind some bright colours. I don't do patterns and fussy stuff.

Style and beauty is not my usual stomping ground!

Please don't buy from Shein.

There are many concerns around their use of forced labour and even child labour. They are also hugely polluting, and produce massive amounts of fast fashion that then very quickly ends up in landfill.

Bad news all round.

New look lots of size 18 stuff in non polyester fabrics

Linen trousers are actually trendy make the most of it

What about this from Mint Velvet? I don't like dresses much but i like the simplicity and structure of this combined with the fact it's jersey. The high neck might not be ideal for you in the heat but I've worn it to work today and it was so cool because it's jersey (not at all clingy).

I am fat and 51 and very hot, and just recently worked out something that works for me - I have abandoned t-shirts for very light collarless cotton shirts (almost muslin) and an elasticated a-line skirt to the knee. Same colour. Looks oddly classic and is cool and comfortable. All bits I hate hidden, and no sweaty touch points.

Swapping out skirt shorts when at home and occasionally linen trousers. All navy atm.

All i need now is a cooling natural fibre bra that also lifts and supports.

Shorts and a t-shirt cos I WFH 🙂

I wear brightly coloured silk skirts ( cheaply bought on vinted) with boat neck light weight cotton t shirts. Ballet flats.

You can get linen relatively cheap in uniqlo and H&M (linen blends). In tkmaxx there are nice flattering linen items in larger sizes. Such as linen shirts and trousers which are cropped and with a stretchy waist. They look good with a vest and a shorter length linen shirt top.

Where are you getting your shirts?

Where are people finding good linen trousers?

I’m tending towards cotton short sleeved dresses, or skirts with a cotton T-shirt. We’re not allowed sandals, which is a pain. I wouldn’t wear sleeveless to work, so if I wear a sleeveless dress or to, I stick an ancient short sleeved cotton cardigan over it.

Well, at a local shop or on the local market. They seem to come from Italy (collar lable just says "made in italy"), but I can't source them anywhere else. They are quite close to some of the Kit and Kaboodle ones I think. Pretty cheap and very light weight.

Sorry to be useless

like this: https://pompometoile.co.uk/products/betty-blouse-1

Thanks for trying! I’ll have a look when we go abroad in the summer. They sound very useful.

Linen white vest tops and black linen wide legged trousers trousers

Simply Be is your friend if you’re a curvaceous lady. I love Joe Browns and they have everything in all sizes. Can’t believe no one has recommended Simply Be, they’re the best!

If your taste veers towards the minimalist, then Cos is worth a look. They usually have oversized shirts and shirt dresses in natural fabrics. When I worked in London and needed to look stylish in the summer I'd combine an oversized shirt from there with a pair of cropped jeans from M&S, together with some clumpy sandals.

I don't like dresses/skirts and normally live in jeans (incl smart dark ones with shirts for work), but when it's too hot for them I have got a couple of pairs of lightweight/floaty loose cropped trousers for work in black or navy (with pockets!), that I wear with a short-sleeved light shirt or smart sleeveless top and sandals. Weird Fish or Hush usually have some options.

I tend to wear short sleeved tunic tops and 3/4 length cotton leggings underneath - I don't like getting my legs out and I'm a school first aider so need to be able to throw myself on the floor and deal with fainters and injuries if necessary without flashing anyone!

I'm fortunate that the medical room is really cool - I haven't needed a fan yet...and I loathe hot weather.

They're 95% polyester, so they're going to be hot and sweaty!

I’m wearing a black cotton Marks and Sparks dress today but I’m already crumpled and I haven’t even got to work yet.

I bought this from The White Company, I’m 53, 5 foot 4 and size 12/14 it’s super comfortable and flattering. I sized down and bought the small as they run larger, and had to call a store to get it sent as they have run out online for a good reason. And yes, pockets!

https://www.thewhitecompany.com/uk/Linen-Elasticated-Waist-Midi-Dress/p/A15345?swatch=Lemon

@thearchers big thanks for the Amazon dress recommendation! I can relate to all the challenges in this thread but really liked the fabric design on the one you linked to so for £23 thought it was worth a try. I’m swishing around in it now and my DH first words were that’s nice! I know it says handwash but curious if you’ve stuck it in the machine? Thanks ever so!

Popsy skater dresses in T-shirt fabric are my go-to for the small hot part of summer (I know they are famous for extremely bright patterns, but they also do plain coloured dresses and more discreet patterns). They are extremely easy to wear and light, but shaped enough to still look "dressed" and have pockets.

Another vote for the H&M shirt dresses. They do a wide range of sizes, good sleeve coverage and not flouncy. Cheap as chips too. https://www2.hm.com/en_gb/productpage.1217576014.html

I have already seen about 3 women wearing these in London so that puts me off a bit! Maybe not the prints; they are very distinctive.