How can I look nice as a size 16?

[UpsetOverWeight]

Please help, I’m going on my first holiday in 8 years and I didn’t manage to lose weight. I feel self-conscious and really upset. I feel like cancelling but this will be my 6 year olds first proper holiday. How can I look nicer as a size 16? My arms and legs are surprisingly skinner as the weight is my stomach, hips and bottom. So I need clothes to fit my stomach - I look pregnant on some days. I don’t have much money so I’m looking at high street shops only, any ideas what I can wear? I can’t wear what I have as I wear the same thing everyday - black leggings and a tunic over them in different colours. I’m so upset with myself for not even trying. I don’t want to ruin this for my kids I really don’t but I feel
so self conscious.

Maybe try shift dresses, long loose T shirts, flared skirts, high waist bikini if on beach.
Be very careful with shorts!

There are different body shapes at size 16. As you have thin armed and legs show them off with sleeveless loose fitting tops or dresses. Keep your dresses knee length , not too long. You can wear shorts too. I’m also size 16 and 5’8 but I’m a completely different shape, hourglass with a waist but heavy arms and legs. I would go for lightweight wide legged trousers and a fitted tops, perhaps with a lightweight blouse over the top. Dress to show off your positive features rather than hide and don’t wear anything too tent like.

being honest im always suprised at the mention of wide legged trousers unless you are also tall , as well as a bit chunkier than ideal . I’m a size 16 and 5ft 4 and wide legged trousers just make me look even bigger and hide one of my few decent bits ( legs) !

A line flowing dress or a bit longer. Don't wear black - too hot and boring for summer

Think Nigella Lawson & rock it!

This might help with sources, @UpsetOverWeight:

The wear-anywhere dresses to see you through the heatwave
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/gift/a453b4282138b0a7

Anyone can look nice at any size and 16 really isn’t that big. If you had been a size bigger and lost weight and gone down to a 16 you’d be all “ ooh go me!” And loving life. I think that’s the kind of energy to try and channel because “ I hate myself” puts you in a negative mindset for everything.

I love this attitude. Brilliant way to look at it.

I'm a 16 too and just got home from a hot holiday where I felt great! I only buy cotton or linen as it hangs so much better than polyester and isn't sweaty.

I have 2 of these, in black and leopard. Super flattering and really cool and comfy, great for summer evenings:

www2.hm.com/en_gb/productpage.1280532002.html

For daytime I like mid-thigh shorts (much more flattering than longer ones). I have denim ones and cotton ones in a few colours, from Next. I either wear with a vest or with a cotton shirt with the sleeves rolled up, knotted at the waist or just tucked in at the front.

The Next tummy control swimsuits someone linked earlier are fantastic. I put shorts over to go for lunch etc, and I have something like this when I need a bit of sun protection:

https://www.next.co.uk/style/su622707/f33352#f33352

Along with a wide brimmed straw hat, nice sunglasses, nails done and a spray of Garnier tanning mist, I felt really put together.

I agree with SheIn Curve because it’s one of the few brands at size 16 that actually fits and flatters me.

@Faineante like you I have issues with the ethics but currently feel such a way about my body send self image that being able to wear a suitable line really helps with my self worth. I doubt I’d have to feel so constricted if more brands cared about getting it right for women

I’m a size 18 - I bought a nice t shirt dress from next before my holiday and lived in it more than anything else..

Heres the link..
https://www.next.co.uk/style/su455336/aw0874#aw0874

I bought the fluorescent pink but there are other colours to choose from.. could wear them with white trainers or sandals and it was good for day or night time.

I came across this in Asda today and purchased it on a whim. It’s absolutely amazing! Really flattering around my tummy which is my problem area. It’s oos online but if you are near an Asda it’s worth popping in. They had a fantastic sale on at mine today.

Smile. And make eye contact.

I’m similar size and shape. I wear linen loose trousers with long t-shirts.

Also had some nice long dresses from Dorothy Perkins

Please don’t be unkind to yourself about this.

Hope you have a wonderful holiday xx

Just to say, the tunic and leggings look absolutely screams out "I've got no body confidence". It isn't a flattering look on anyone - it is just an easy way to dress. I' sure you deserve a lot better.

You are actually average size in the UK now. I'm a size 20 - I've been taking medication that piles on the pounds for 30 years - and while I won't claim to like looking at my naked body in the mirror, full of stretch marks and God knows what, I'm perfectly happy and confident when dressed. My favourite shops are M&S (particularly Autograph), H&M, Mango, Monsoon (super generous on the sizing!), Joanie (some) and even Primark. Then I really like some dresses etc. from F&F and TU, but always go a size up. Never be afraid to go a size up if it looks right. There is nothing more guaranteed to feel uncomfortable than something you like, but that is pulling in the wrong places. My father's wife will only buy her size and I find that ludicrous. It isn't like you look at the size on the label every time you pull something on!

Don't torture yourself by going into shops that won't have much. I'd be incredibly hard pushed to find something in Next because their body shape just isn't mine. I may well be missing out, but it is too much of a mission. I also choose my trousers very carefully from M&S, as some fit perfectly and others cut my circulation off. But only the size 8s among us can wear anything - everyone from 10 up has a shape and has to choose.

For people who can lose weight, I've read something somewhere that actually just feeling better in your clothes can be the catalyst to losing weight. That sounds entirely counter-intuitive, but it is because the self-loathing lifts and you start to get in contact with your potential.

If you have even the slightest suspicion that your bras don't fit (back rides up, straps fall down, middle doesn't sit tight on your skin, you can feel them under your arms), then I'd suggest you start there. It is amazing how much more you can wear when your underwear is doing the right job. You don't have to spend a fortune. Yes, expensive bras are nice, but then you have to wear them until they die, just to get a return on the investment.

You can so easily look nice as a size 16. You have so many things to choose from. But ditch the leggings and the tunics because you don't need to signal to the world that you're not happy in your skin. Look like you are and you soon will be.

I'd like to say throw caution to the wind and just wear sundresses or shorts and t-shirts, but you sound as if that would be massively out of your comfort zone and it's no fun not feeling relaxed on holiday. If you like wearing leggings and tunics, then unless you're going somewhere hot I'd suggest getting some short dresses and capri length cotton leggings in lighter or brighter colours that you usually wear. So maybe something like a short A-line linen dress with colourful flowers on a white background, and light blue or sage green shorter leggings to wear underneath it. Peacocks usually have the sort of leggings I'm thinking of. Yours might have some too, in bright colours, but although they claim to go down to a size 16, in my experience the 16s come up a bit big so you'd definitely need to try them on.

I’m 5ft4 and a size 16 too and always tho if jt the same about wide leg trousers until I took the plunge and got some from vinted, now I love them! I feel so much more stylish and comfortable in them, that actually I don’t care whether people think they make me look better. Also I find it more flattering to then tuck a top into them which I wouldn’t do with straight leg trousers as it just doesn’t seem to suit me as well.

I follow Melissa Murrell, she dresses people of all shapes and sizes. She advocates for making your shoulders wider, v necks, hourglass silhouette.

I have started following her advice, and it is very flattering. I have LOST WEIGHT to get down to a 16, and am so happy, even with flabby arms and huge tummy. So stop downing yourself!

I bought a nice little sundress in Tesco. It’s now half price in the sale in navy or white. So £13? Really flattering, knee length. I feel really cute in it.

I cant find a link online, it’s navy with white broderie piping. Ruffles at the shoulder, nipped in at the waist.

@Chick981 well I do have some lurking in the cupboard - I’ve lost a stone and a half since I last wore them so will see what I think !! lol

If you have nice legs then show them off! Wear tunics without the leggings! Linen is always great. There are a lot of long linen style shirts in M&S and Primark and I just wore these in the day with no bottoms over swimwear.

Eh are you trying to say a size 16 doesn't look nice lol been14-16 my whole adult life and happy as I am and my hubby adores me and my family don't care. Be you and enjoy what you are :)

Thank you everyone! Sorry if I sounded rude about my size. This is the biggest I have ever been. Even at 9 months pregnant I was size 12. I put on weight during Covid and just haven’t been in mindset to change it. I used to be a size 8 so it’s been a shock for me. I think as I have always been skinny I’m finding it hard to adjust. I think I feel worse as I’ve stopped trying, I’ve seen very beautiful women who are much bigger than size 16 but I just feel ugly. I need to make more effort with what I wear and do my hair and makeup.

I think she just meant she will look better in sleeveless tops, no need to be so jumpy. And let's not delude ourselves into thinking that bingo wings look nice. People have them sure, nobody really wants to display them. See the difference?

I understand completely - and you don't need to get used to this permanently. You just need to rediscover some of your self worth in order to tackle it. In which case, rather than start with the clothes, perhaps get yourself off to the hairdresser. And don't skimp - go somewhere nice where the staff have genuine expertise. I am usually quite comfortable, but old Truss ripped the arse out of my target market (I am self-employed). Regardless, I always have a top hair do, and my husband knows better than to question it - he gets the shortest shrift. Make sure your face looks right because of the frame around it. We look at our faces a lot more than we look at the full length anyway. Don't worry about clothes until your hair is right. If you wear specs, then ditto. I might be a size 20, but my hair looks just right and my specs are constantly admired. It would be odd to not make the rest of it match in some way.

The impetus to regain a slimmer figure (or not get any bigger in other cases) doesn't have to be the gym or starvation as a start. Feeling better as you are could be your inspiration. Feeling shit about yourself is not inspiration to many but the ultra disciplined few. Us mere mortals must chip at it another way. A really excellent hair do could be an even easier and positive way in. And if you wear make up, then that will follow naturally in my view. If you customarily wore make up, you will simply want to put it on if your hair looks terrific. You are kind of creating your own process chart where you know that one thing will lead to another.

I’m a good size 16 (14st 3lbs) and actually gained 11 pounds on my recent 10 day holiday in June, most of it fluid in my legs and ankles due to heat, which I’ve lost again.
So I didn’t feel very confident.
It was minimum 35c all holiday.
So when going to the beach I wore short black cotton shorts with my swimsuit under a short kaftan / kimono / beach shirt, and sliders. (You need sliders on the hot sand imo).

My swimsuits are from Next, I got 3. Size 16 Tummy sucking in & boob supporting with lovely prints and colours. They are quite glam.

My favourite short flowery cotton kimono came from Lipsy at Next, also had a sparkly cream linen cotton mix beach shirt from River Island (watch their sizes I found Medium almost too big!).

I did wear sandals from Schuh but by the end of the holiday I was in sliders all the time as my feet swelled so much unfortunately.

For the evening and day trips I wore either trousers (a pair of pretty cream crochet wide leg River Island ones which have built in cotton shorts for decency) (and a pair of embroidered cotton / linen mix black wide leg River Island ones.) with black or white cotton vest tops from various places.
Also a sleeveless stripy navy midi dress from Next with a v neck and side splits (so a bit covered up but still showed some skin).

A pink patterned racer back silky maxi beach dress from the sale in Monsoon.
A short white linen shirt dress from New Look & a short white cotton lined beach dress from Accessorize.
Also got plenty of wear out of two M&S black short tiered cotton sun slip dresses.

I took a straw hat and a baseball cap - a hat is essential. Then one nice crossbody bag to suit day & night, & a beach bag.

I will say that I found my chub rub shorts under dresses to be essential. I bought them online from The Big Bloomers Company who are having a sale currently. They’re designed to be worn in hot weather. I get size 8-10 as they come up big.

I find my legs not nice due to veins and my arms aren’t great but most people didn’t seem bothered.
I have now got some tan on those areas even with high spf so it’s good.

My tip is don’t buy anything with tight fitting sleeves / armholes & stick to cotton / linen. You probably look better than you think.

Ps I hate my weight, I put on weight thanks to the specific medication I take and unfortunately because I take that medication I can’t take mounjaro etc. So I’m working on a healthy diet and exercise but it’s extremely hard and slow.

Hey, you can feel whatever way you want to feel. It’s valid. If you’ve been used to being smaller and now you’re not it’s a huge adjustment to make. Most of us know you’re not talking about 16 being a big size. You’re saying that you feel uncomfortable at that size or finding it difficult to adjust to being a different size. Do not apologise.