Anyone else hate dressing for this heat?

[BertieBottsEveryFlavourBeans]

I definitely do NOT have a "Summer body".

I'm a 16-18, fair skin that burns but never tans, I have no ankles to speak of, my tree trunk legs just merge from leg to foot so I always look ridiculous in sandals.

The worst part is my arms though, I will absolutely never leave my house wearing anything that doesn't have at least a sleeve to the elbow. My upper arms are disproportionately big in comparison to the rest of me, the fat on my upper arm hangs over my elbow and I HATE how my arms look in anything without sleeves or short sleeves. Even in this heat I will wear sleeves and I'd rather be really hot and uncomfortable than show my arms in public.

I get so jealous seeing people who are able to wear casual summer clothes and dress to be comfortable in this heat, but I just never can. Sorry for the self indulgent post 🤣 just looking for anyone who might also be waiting for Winter so they can whip out their woolly coat and polish up their winter boots!

Agree - wafty cotton maxi dresses, shorts underneath for the chub rub and Birkenstocks.

for example…

https://www.roman.co.uk/aztec-print-tiered-midi-smock-dress-14554834

https://amzn.eu/d/87zs697

https://www.birkenstock.com/gb/gizeh-big-buckle-natural-leather-patent/gizehbigbuckle-patentcolor-naturalleatherpatent-0-eva-w_02134.html

This is it, realistically I know no one gives 2 shits about me, but I couldn't feel comfortable walking out the house in something that would show my arms. I would be thinking about how disgusting they look.

Just an example, I was at home wearing a strappy maxi dress, my MIL shows up for a visit and I run to put a shirt on to cover my arms. Does my MIL give a damn about my fat arms?! Absolutely not, she is definitely a free spirit who dresses as she pleases, looks great and doesn't care about a bit of arm wobble, but I still wouldn't have felt comfortable with my arms on show.

I do hope that one day I will get to the "fuck it" stage, but unless I get surgery on my arms I think they'll always be like this and I'll always hate them.

Oh and Gatineau fake tan is very helpful!

Yes it really is! I've a couple of midi-length dresses with sleeves that I love and have had for years but finding ones that I like that are in a suitable colour/nice pattern is a challenge.

I also have the disadvantage of having a particular skin colour/hair colour combo which means I know which colours do and don't suit me, I love all "my" colours but finding something with ALL the requirements is a pain in the bum 😁

I am the queen of negative self-talk. I would never speak to or think about other people in the way that I think about myself, but I think after a lifetime of being told that you're too this, too that, so ugly, so far etc makes it very difficult to see yourself in a positive way.

I love that first dress, in both colours!

I'll have a look at the fake tan, I never have much luck which fake tan because it just doesn't seem to take on my legs, I struggle to get a smooth transition from arm to hand (orange knuckles, not a good look!) and I also have white bed sheets 🤣 do the chub rub shorts ride up? That's the problem I have with the pair I own at the moment, they ride up and the chub still likes to rub.

That's another thing that I struggle with, shoes! I'm a size 9, EEE fit so have a limited number of places I can buy shoes from. I like those Birkenstocks but I couldn't get away with the width, even when shops have a wide fit range my feet don't fit. I usually have to take whatever I can find in Simply Be or Yours and they're not always great quality or comfortable.

Ignore all the (usually young) people wearing little shorts and vest tops. They don't know any better! You just need lighter, looser stuff and there is loads in the shops at the moment. I have a short sleeve cheesecloth shirt but the sleeve reaches down to my elbow. It's large and boxy and is designed to be loose. I also bought some linen viscose trousers from h&m that fit well, look smart enough for work but miraculously I can get away without ironing! It's all I'm wearing at the moment https://www2.hm.com/en_gb/productpage.1259104009.html

I’m size 16 now with an egg shaped menopausal belly. In winter I look great but I just can’t seem to dress well in summer.

I've always struggled with summer dressing. I'm slender so people expect it to be easy but it isn't. I'm naturally a winter person and feel more comfortable in layers. I've always preferred being covered up.
This week I've been in wide leg linen trousers and a linen smock dress with three quarter sleeves, but I still can't force my feet into anything other than boots 😆

I don't personally but I am sure you are by no means alone or unusual. Alongside the people whose lack of style is just awful I see people (not just women) who I am sure have the same feelings as you.

I wear long floaty dresses if the temp is over 27 ish. And canvas shoes. I have chub rub shorts from Snug which don’t ride up - although some people boycott that brand now.

If you wear cotton or linen a sleeve isn’t much hotter than sleeveless. I always wear dresses with sleeves that cover my upper arms. Plus you have coverage Tom the sun then. I’m not huge but I’d never look good in backless strappy tops. Most people don’t.

I’m a size 16-18 and I’ve struggled for years to get my head around to accepting that. I used to be a size 6-8.
But this summer I’ve come to realise that life is too short to be worrying about being perfect. The last few weeks I’ve changed my wardrobe from leggings and t shirts to more loose trousers and dresses. Despite hugely disliking my arms I’ve started getting them out. My husband reassured me that he loves me just as I am and finds me attractive. It’s given me the confidence to dress more comfortably for the weather. Who cares what others think.
Its not easy but I’m trying to push through my own negativity

Thank you. That’s exactly the kind of dress I love. I’ve just ordered the green one.

I hear you OP, it’s one more reason I hate this weather. Unless I’m a size 8 (not for some years now) I have dimply fat all over my thighs, backs of my calves, tops of my arms. I’m currently a 14, but tall so size-wise I’m ’ok’ just a walking pile of celluliteyness. Took me till only a few years ago to be ‘fuck it’ enough to leave the house in short sleeves.

Some people will always find a reason to look you up and down regardless of if they approve of your outfit or not. Stuff ‘em all, free the wobbly legs and the bingo wings. Like pp said, if they don’t like it they don’t have to look.

I don’t think anyone else really cares about how you look anyway. I’d only notice someone if they were walking about nude.

💚

It's a shame long flowing dresses in a shirt style with sleeve to the elbows are nowhere to be seen... oh wait they've been everywhere for years and bang on trend as well.

The chubrub shorts I linked to earlier are really cheap and are cotton mainly do much cooler that the snug ones imo

Im def a fan of the loose. flowy options.
Ive been wearing XL Primark t shirts alot lately. Usually I buy XS coz I like them abit fitted but the XL ones are lovely and loose, plus cover most of my chest and arms down to elbow (also only £3 so very thin, which is a big plus!).
One of those with cropped trousers or linen wide legged trousers and maybe Im not the most stylish but Im cool at least!

Do they look like t shirt fabric or like sheer tights when you wear them. I have the latter for running but would like the former for wearing under dresses etc. to hide my psoriasis

For those of us who do not like sleeveless anything, have a look at these - I swear by them. I wear sleeveless midi or maxi dresses or vest style tops and throw these on to make me feel better about my arms which no one else cares a damn about but I do!

They are light as a feather, and come in many colours to match. I think I have every colour available by now!

www.amazon.co.uk/Heersan-Chiffon-Cardigans-Evening-Wedding/dp/B0C7KS7QR3/ref=sr_1_50?sr=8-50&psc=1

I like to cover up in the heat to protect my skin (and one tattoo) and I'm on ADs so I have a stronger reaction to heat now. I dont look great in summer as I'm just hat, sunglasses and light cotton to cover me up!

You are not suffering alone ! I have a belly and feel I look pregnant still! I’m also super pale! I hate the heat and sun!
I layer as much as possible, wear natural fibres to stay cooler , and a strategic bag hides my belly 🤣😂

It’s really hard when your shape or weight changes to stay confident. I know I’ve struggled. Summer it’s double hard because of shedding the layers you feel so exposed

Hi OP, i’m hating the heat too.

I like how you write! Can completely relate to wishing for winter.

I know you didn’t ask for recommendations, but hope okay to just share this dress which I bought and really rate for this weather. In fact to have it on today.

I actually chopped the sleeves off, as I did want short, but can confirm the cotton is really cool, and the ‘contact point’ on the body, is just the top of the shoulders, it just hangs from there. Absolute bargain too.

https://www2.hm.com/en_gb/productpage.1212592005.html?pr_oyster=coH8DxwouA&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=mk_gb%7Cln_eng%7Cpl_google%7Cct_sh%7Cbu_ladies%7Ckt_bra%7Cbg_branded%7Ccs_shopv1%7Cadt_all%7Csp_low%7Cpi_gbg06anu3aa214&utm_term=&hier_id=go_cmp-12828082235_adg-121943360776_ad-517954073498_pla-308498772940_dev-m_ext-_prd-en-1212592005005_sig-EAIaIQobChMI_IO16su3jgMVm4NQBh2m4TvYEAQYAiABEgIsh_D_BwE&utm_source=Google&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=12828082235&gbraid=0AAAAADvrmzSXwMPj1W1bGTIOznosDTIOC&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI_IO16su3jgMVm4NQBh2m4TvYEAQYAiABEgIsh_D_BwE