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?!

The colour thing is something I want to look into, I’m just not sure how!

Maybe booking an image consultant would be useful, they cover colours and styles that suit the person. I was given a present of a day with a consultant and still find the info useful many years later. Well done on your weight loss ,it isn't easy to achieve.

When you find something you like, if you can afford it, get it in different colours or even two of the same colour; the things that make me feel good i tend to wear on repeat so its helpful to have more than one ... it makes work dressing easy and weekend dressing effortless and more enjoyable.

I was just going to say there's lots of fab accounts on the likes of Instagram now for inspiration but really there's an element of preparation and also confidence that holds many people (also myself) back!

I also am not a huge jewellery fan as I can get a bit irritated by it when I'm typing a lot in work but I got a lovely little decorative ceramic tray which I put on my desk so then if it starts to annoy me (rings/bracelets) I take it off and set it on the tray and then put it back on when I'm done. Also keeps my desk looking pretty.

When I plan my outfits the night before I dress better. I also needed to learn that always trying to hide my tummy with baggier things was making me look overall bigger than just wearing things that fit and embracing my 'mum tum'. I also tried to think about summer/winter colours I like to wear and then created a few outfits with those colours and rotate them and vacuum pack what's not weather appropriate. That way what's in my wardrobe all works together colour wise.

I try to take the time to do my hair and my makeup and to look after my skin and smell nice and I get my nails done.

Even though I'm bigger, I actually have an active job so I spend a lot of my day in sports wear with my hair up and no makeup on so I try to enjoy it when I don't have to do that! I'd say maybe try to be a little kinder to yourself when you're looking at your body - there's no such thing as a nice or not nice shape so I think there's something about letting go of the toxic messages we've been fed by the media over the years and starting to focus on dressing for yourself for fun instead! A personal shopper trip is a good idea, bring a friend you trust to be honest but kind and add lunch and a couple of drinks and make it a really fun day out if that takes some pressure off! Also you don't need to buy loads at once, I'm now trying to focus on buying key bits every couple of months to build up a wardrobe I really like.

Good underwear I think is really key, particularly a good supportive and correctly sized bra.

Do you use Pinterest? They have a new feature that if you search a particular type of outfit e.g. summer dress outfits, you can choose to narrow the search by body types and pick one similar to you. I've found it really helpful.

It starts underneath the outer clothes. A good pair of pants that don't give you a wedgie or a vpl and a bra that hoicks your boobs off your belly for a start.

My boobs don’t sit on my belly, thank you

🤣

Not cheap but good neutral linen that is specifically cut for a plus size body rather than sizing up a size 8 pattern. https://rune-studio.co.uk/

Less expensive but worth looking at Fat Face - this sort of style which hits just above the natural waist and then flares out over the stomach is usually flattering. www.fatface.com/style/su657261/f22898#f22898

I did a style analysis. - ‘Style by Susie’ . Completely changed how I dress, for the better, and give be so much more confidence. Emily Innes is another recommendation and has a Facebook page, Style Me Happy, as well as does Style analysis.

An online colour quiz

quiz.color-analysis.pro/form/view/236020?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=ColorType_160525_US_Search_[ColorAnalysis]&utm_content=181080998353&utm_term=color%20season%20analysis&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=22563740300&gbraid=0AAAAA_EVv-D967J_zkKnjSVnNjPHs_3Mi&gclid=CjwKCAjw7MLDBhAuEiwAIeXGIRmjxUFrihM_ksnh0RKxejp33WlVGjpmVO3KtTOt0187VuVkMfI4ihoCTgEQAvD_BwE

And another one. I think the article
I posted earlier may discuss colour as well.

www.kettlewellcolours.co.uk/page/colour-quiz

Sorry, just did this myself and to get the colours, you have to pay.

@TwinTantrums mine do if they're not rounded up and pointed in the right direction!
(So many women wear ill fitting bras that are too loose in the band or too small in the cup giving them a quad boob look).

Don't try to hide anything. Rather, choose something to emphasise.

You've had some great advice from PPs, but just to chuck my two cents worth having been where you are...

I've lost 6 stone (going from size 22/24 to 16, 14 on a good day) and last year, halfway through this, I realised that I needed to replace almost all of my clothes and I hadn't a clue what to buy, save that I didn't want to buy more black tents, even if they were slightly smaller ones. So I went to get my colours 'done' with a House of Colour consultant who was amazing.

As well as learning what colours really do look better on me (I haven't worn black next to my face since) it got me thinking and paying more attention to what suits me and what I'd like to wear.

It sounds OTT but for me it was quite life-changing. My husband says that I came back really skippy and have been happier in myself ever since. It kept me working at the weight loss, motivated me to do 3 Pilates classes a week (I now have a waist!) and I'm dressing much better which makes me feel pulled together and confident.

HoC also do style days where they really nail down what lengths, necklines, cuts etc suit you and I might do this in another stone or so. I can heartily recommend having your colours analysed in person if your budget stretches as it was amazing seeing how the coloured drapes really made me look different/better/worse. It also saved me wasting money on clothes that don't suit me.

a couple of weeks back someone mentioned on another thread that they'd used ChatGPT for their colours using their hair and eye colour and their skin tone

For free 🙂

Best advice I was given is:

bloody good underwear which supports and lifts - I cannot believe the difference in makes.
tuck your top in. Tops untucked generally ruin a look and make it look cheap and not put together.
add a topper of some variety blazer or sleeveless gilets
dressing tonally is an easy option that works
use chat gpt to work out your skin tone, face shape and body shape