How do you make yourself look put together as a plus size woman?

[TwinTantrums]

I posted the other day about where to find clothes as a plus size woman, and have some good ideas. But now, how on earth do I make myself look put together?! I’ve always been obese. I used to be a size 28, a year on I’m an 18 and realise I have no idea how to actually dress myself. I don’t see myself as having a particularly nice body shape, so I tend to just do trousers and a t shirt. No real thought to actually looking nice. How do I achieve that effortless look?!

Well done on your weight loss.

What sort of look do you want? Do you need to be smart for work?

Might be worth booking a personal shopper appointment to get some new ideas.

What is your body shape? (I know you don’t like it, but do you have a waist? Are you tall? Broad or narrow shoulders/hips? A good neck? Do you like your legs?) Dress to suit that.

I’m just quite squat, is how I would describe myself. I’m very belly heavy.

id like to be smart casual outside of work, work is just office wear which I think I have okay!

You have done amazingly well to go from 28 to 18. I find at size 18 that dresses are your friend. Also shirts over trousers rather than T shirts.or slightly fitted or fit and flare tops. T shirts tend to show lumps and bumps in all the wrong places. Neck lines. I find high necks unflattering. Scoops, V necks ext make my top half look more flattering. Being well groomed helps as well ...hair, accessories, great shoes ect. Try loads o n until you get a feeling for what's right for you. Happy shopping 😀

As someone who has been all over the place weight wise and has to dress well for work (not particularly trendy- I can’t seem to pull that together in a bigger body) I focus on the things I can control. That’s nice, classic jewellery, hair kept trimmed and coloured. Natural fibres for my clothes if I can. A lot more dresses than you’d think, so many people stick to trousers but I think dresses can really look great and you don’t need to co ordinate as much. I keep an eye on Vinted and sales for nice (mid) brands like Boden, Hobbs, white company and the like. I also spend a bit more on a winter coat/gloves/boots/tights.

Is there anyone whose style you admire? Or colours that you really like wearing? I wouldn't say I look particularly "put together" but I've developed my own look that I think looks good (early 50's, 18-22 depending on cut and brand, fairly uneven and unbalanced shape). My clothes are fairly monochrome, I wear minimal gold jewellery, love a flat chunky shoe and add colour with big bold (unbranded) tote bags. I like shops like Cos, Uniqlo, some Seasalt and Gudrun Sojden. It has taken me years to learn to love dressing my body and to feel confident in how I look.

im sure it must be really confusing having gone through such a significant change in body size and shape. I'd suggest spending some time looking for inspo online about what appeals to you, and maybe book a session with a stylist to help you find what works and what makes you feel amazing.

This is probably true of most woman but I find that when a woman is plus sized but well groomed, she looks put together regardless of outfit. So hair well cut/styled, skin looking fresh, painted nails, some statement jewellery and bag. Clothes that fit properly are key. Just because they make something in your size doesn’t mean you should wear it (if you want to look put together I mean).

My main problem area is my stomach. My go to style is a blazer, wide leg jeans with a belt and vest tops or t shirts tucked in. Plus control undies. This gives me a more hourglass shape and the bulge of my stomach is detracted from with the blazer and a good fitting bra emphasising my chest.

I’ll look at accessories this weekend. I’m not a huge jewellery person as I find it irritating when I’m typing!

I also follow some women on TikTok of various sizes who love fashion. When things look good for them, it pushes me out of my comfort zone to try it too.

Yes I’m pushing myself out of my comfort zone as I’m seeing so many gorgeous plus size creators!

I work with someone like this and she always looks amazing. Bold make up and clothes, instead of hiding away she wears quite tight fitting but flattering clothes. She is very attractive, and she's not "curvy", she's actually big.

I completely agree about jewellery OP, I'd love to wear more as it does help with looking put together but I find it really irritating! I have got used to wearing earrings and can tolerate them most of the time - do you wear them? Rings and necklaces drive me nuts, I'm not sure how I coped with a wedding ring for 20 years 😳😂

I don’t have pierced ears! It’s never something that appealed to mw

IME a lot of plus-size clothing is basically tents. Tents designed to hide behind and that only draped well if you didn't move much. When I lost weight I had to relearn my body after years of being covered up in shapelessness.

Do not be afraid to show off your curves. Look for tailored or fitted clothes, cut with a curve at the waist or with seams that draw the fabric inward on the back or waist. Avoid boxy tops; choose tops with darts to hang well over your bust.

I like dresses that fit closely (not tightly) on top half, and swish out from waist or hips. I'm not keen on 'fit and flare', partly because it gives a harsh line across the midsection, but also because I don't like the feeling of the seam on my stomach.

Conversely, I like close-fitting trousers, generally straight leg or boot cut, with looser tops. Loose in the sense that the top has some movement to it.

One of the biggest aspects to looking good is not your clothes at all. It is how you carry yourself. Walk tall. Believe in your own beauty.

I’ve been 20-18 for some years, now dropping below.

I really prioritise good fabric. I bought a really beautiful t-shirt type top in John Lewis Live Unlimited range. Just a white T-shirt with ties at the bottom to pull it in at the hips but it’s such a thick cool jersey it hangs beautifully. Probably cost me £40 but I’ve worn it for 4 years a couple of times a week. At our size anything see through or that rucks up or is slightly the wrong length is disproportionately ugly.

On me, blazers and structured jackets are really awful because I have a bulky stomach and big shoulders. I have rain jackets that work better.

I think a lot about colour. I don’t do pattern much, I like single colours or max two. I’ve never had my colours done but if something doesn’t light up my face I don’t buy it. This usually happens with quite neutral colours but not always. Likewise I only buy decent quality comfortable shoes because walking uncomfortably is so ugly. I do core exercises and think about my posture.

At 56 I don’t think makeup is often flattering though I would consider dyeing my eyelashes if they weren’t already dark. And I think eyebrow shaping is again disproportionately effective. I spend a LOT of money on my hair - salon highlights and a really good cut.

I don’t wear a lot of jewellery but I have two silver pendants, a gold chain and a silver bangle I wear. I’m branching out into some silver rings now.

i don’t know if i look pulled together but i get a ton more compliments now than i ever did as a young thing.

Yes I’m thinking that my “capsule” wardrobe will need to mainly focus on neutrals with some pops of colour. I’m changing career at the moment and I’m transitioning to the NHS, and every worker I’ve come across so far has been wearing trainers. I don’t have any!

Yep I’m in the NHS and wear trainers A proper running pair, Saucony men’s Trinity I think. I’ve never found a women’s pair that really had a big enough toe box for my appalling feet. I can stand and walk all day in them without a twinge. Otherwise I wear Hotter and if I pick carefully I do think I don’t look like the 80 year old they’re clearly designed for.

it might take a little while for you to get used to your new body, 28 to 18 is a fantastic achievement. You will have so much more choice of clothes in an 18. There are some great plus size TikTok folks that show their outfits & where they bought them, how to style in different ways ect. I’ve lost a lot of weight over the past couple of years and it took me a while to get out of the stupid self imposed rules about clothes I had set myself.

Are you admin? I’m moving across to admin. I don’t have any work appropriate trainers!

@TwinTantrums

look at a capsule wardrobe to give ideas

Also check out Helen Mary Jo on youtube

Very difficult . I’m an apple and very little hides it . I’m working really hard to slim down

Well done on your weight loss!

Are you tall?

If you are tall, I think Laura Adlington (sp?) is worth a follow on IG, she links to loads of reasonably priced dresses that look fab on her plus size figure (bigger than you). She also pairs them well with shoes / bags etc that achieve the 'put together' thing.

As a size 18 shortie with a very thick short middle the dresses she wears don't work for me at all. I am definitely best in lightly fitted clothes. I do colours too so at least I know the colour I am wearing is flattering me plus anything I buy definitely goes with everything in my wardrobe.

I think bracelets are key to looking current at the moment too, a bunch of them.

I don't have pierced ears (can't stand the thought of it) so I wear ear cuffs. There are some really nice ones out there and they are a little bit different. I'm often complimented on mine.

I’m not. 5 foot 5, so it tends to cling to my middle!

Do you know your body shape? It really helps with knowing what clothes suit your figure.

https://theconceptwardrobe.com

I’m a similar size (16-18) to you and am a pear (small boobs, big hips). I know that v-neck tops and patterned trousers don’t suit me, for example. Also, by doing a style analysis, learnt I suit the autumn palette of colours and this has helped as well.