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!

What's the sizing like? I'm a 12-14 and not sure if I'm medium or large, or something else?

These are lovely. I could honestly buy most of them!

How's the sizing in a 14 top and 16 bottom but usually go 14 in dresses in somewhere like m&s because otherwise they're too big on top.

I'd probably err on going bigger. I usually do with shirt dresses to avoid any button gaping. There is elastic around the waist and of course the belt tie as well so you can cinch it nicely even if it is slightly bigger. I have the xl which I bought last year before losing weight. Im around a 16 now and it is slightly too big but looks fine cinched in. If I was buying now I'd probably go for a L. But I am broad shouldered with a biggish chest so if you're smaller up top and don't worry about buttons gaping so much then maybe an M would do

I live in DMs or similar boots in Winter and then Adidas/Gola trainers and DM sandals in Summer. I'm 53, 14-16 but was an 18 last year (for context).
I live in black or khaki wide culottes (Primark are doing some lovely ones and similar full length trousers) for £10 currently. I then wear my statement trainers or DM sandals with a waist length white tie front linen shirt or I have some white broderie or cotton puff sleeve tops, a boat neck b/w stripe top. Dress it up with some chunky silver jewellery. I've been told by several strangers (including a lovely young goth couple, recently) that they love my outfits.
I have some midi dresses and a shirt dress from H&M (again black, white, or b/w gingham...lol) that aren't fussy.
You've got this!

Thank you immensely for your kind helpful enlightenments & guidance

Wow, I’m in my 50’s and overweight and this dress is about the last thing I’d consider wearing. Short fitted dresses- really???

Kit & Kaboodle do some nice plain wafty style linen or cotton dresses (there’s also some patterned monstrosities too, so filter your search!) You can always get 30% discount codes too.

Chester Boutique also, Dawn the model is a size 16 for reference

You'd have to have super shoulders and legs and a tan, plus not be sweaty to look nice in those Boden dresses!

I like the Seasalt Chapelle dresses for precisely the opposite reason. They have great coverage.

In case it's not obvious, even I don't want to see my legs and I'm approximately the colour of a pint of skimmed milk.

A flabby one 😂

OMG thank you for this! Have just bought two as going to a conference in a hot country v soon and was totally stuck; just got them and tried them on an v pleased with them. They are exactly what I needed.

That's the one I plumped for, the fenella.

I think they're quite cheaply made so pricey for what they are, plus it smelled very weird and I had to wash it straight away.

On the upside, happy with what I paid in the sale and it's the kind of thing I was after so thank you to whoever reminded me of the lagenlook/Italian stuff.

COS linen or cotton sleeveless dresses. Game changer.

I go on Vinted and look for the following brands- ( too expensive for me new)- Grizas, Sahara, Oska, Alembika, Thanny, Ralston, Mama B, Gershon Bram, Eileen Fisher. Lots of linen options and natural fabrics. Sometimes Nrby and Poetry.

Ha ha I think I posted when I was feeling super sweaty at work and got absorbed into the thread not thinking about the fat/fifty thing. They are lovely cotton cool dresses (and I do like to think I have great shoulders and a tan!)

Have picked up lots of good suggestions too.

Wide leg linen trousers and a T shirt/top. I work in a school office, these are smart but cool & comfortable.

What's the sizing like? Trying to work out what size I should go for as a 12-14.

I'm 18 and got 2xl.

Thank you @Thatsrhesummeroverthen

I’m 12-14 and I went medium. There’s room in it! My daughter suggested I should go smaller but she’s obsessed with tiny fitted clothes and I wanted something that barely touched me so feels the right size to me. I don’t look like I’m wearing a bag or someone else’s clothes, I look like I’m wearing a slightly loose dress.

“Made in Italy” clothes are usually produced in Chinese run sweatshops in Northern Italy, a lot of which exploit migrant workers.

There’s nothing wrong with a kaftan.

Have you ever looked at

Community Clothing

@SodOffbacktoaibu? I’d have said their linen trousers and dresses might be exactly what you’re looking for. And they do excellent cotton shirts and t shirts, too. Absolutely top quality, ethically made in the UK clothes at fair prices.

Yes, as I was searching I began to realise this. Will work harder to find an alternative. Naively thought if something was European made and 100% cotton it was likely okay, but the generic labelling and prices suggest differently. Argh.

Fat, fifty, hot and ethically unsound.

Thank you Immensely for your enlightenments

Oh perfect, I definitely want it a bit loose, but not baggy. Have definitely gone past my tiny fitted clothes era!