I have just recently been able to squeeze into a size 16, down from a size 36 just 40 months ago.
I still have a pot belly, and with most of the stuffing gone my thighs, back and upper arms give shar pei puppy vibes, so I've been avoiding strappy mini dresses, and anything that clings to or compresses my stomach.
I agree that v and notch necklines look better if you have big breasts. I used to love a sweetheart neckline, but since losing 13 stone my decolletage looks more like a scrotum than breasts, making the lower cut styles I used to wear look shockingly unflattering.
Most recently I bought the lilac version of this cotton dress (with pockets) for £20 https://www.mountainwarehouse.com/santorini-womens-uv-jersey-wrap-dress-p28831.aspx/ and this half cotton half viscose dress https://www.mountainwarehouse.com/orchid-patterned-womens-uv-dress-p13937.aspx/mixed/ also for £20.
(They both come with a disclaimer accompanying both dresses warning the UV protection was only for areas covered by the fabric, which caught me by surprise and made me laugh. )
I've washed them both a few times now, they dry quickly, don't need ironing, and are easy to pack. Both styles fit comfortably and don't cling. Though I did remove the belt and loops from the lilac dress because being tied around the middle felt fussy and uncomfortable.
I'm toying with the idea of ordering the yellow version of the cotton wrap dress for my upcoming holiday.
I don't want to spend too much on size 16 clothes, having already spent a fortune over the past 2 and a half years just replacing a few items in sizes 30, 28, 26, 24, 22, 20 and 18. (It took over a year and 30kg to go down the first dress size but it has really speeded up now, I bought size 18 dresses in the spring sale that are too big now. The local charity shops have been doing well out of me. Perhaps that's where you should be looking for your temporary wardrobe while you get to grips with your weight gain?
Hopefully I'll manage to shift the last 9 kg and reach the holy grail of BMI 24.9. In which case I shall invest in higher quality garments. Including the size 14 cobalt blue cashmere cardie with pockets that I've been promising myself for a couple of years.
If you aren't happy being the UK average dress size my advice is to follow the advice on the Zoe food science podcasts, and improve your gut microbiome. It worked beyond my wildest expectations. I'm just peeved the information wasn't available 40 years ago when I was first diagnosed with PCOS, prediabetes and diabetes. I've never eaten so well in my life before.