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.

Vinted is worth looking at. I’m sure you will look great whatever you wear. Enjoy your holiday and make happy memories with your kids. 😊

Just don't give a shiny shit.

Its up to her what she buys. I don't buy Shein, I can afford not too but some of my friends do.
Shein are reasonably cheap and some people do not have the finances to buy something more expensive.
OP you are size 16 the same as me. I carry all my weight on my bum. I always find lovely clothes to fit me and I am proud of my curves and size. The only thing I avoid is shorts, as I don't feel comfortable in them.
Enjoy your holiday and wear your clothes with pride trust me there will be bigger than you.

Gosh, I'm ever so similar to you, OP. I was always slim but I gained weight due to wine drinking / stress with teenage dd / Covid. I've never shifted it.

I'm 5,8" I have broad shoulders, wide but not massive boobs and a HUGE belly. I really do look more pregnant than I did when I was pregnant. I have skinny arms and legs, no hips or bottom. It's all belly.

I've been walking around wearing tent dresses basically.

I would look and feel utterly awful in shorts and a t-shirt - when your belly really sticks out, anything at all that has any kind of waistline looks dreadful, almost comical. I've seen women who are 'bigger than me' but with the weight in the right places look amazing in shorts.

I feel like a boiled egg with four cocktail sticks sticking out.

I like the dresses from Toast, some of them because they hang from my shoulders but I can't really afford a lot of them. I bought two. And oversized shirt dresses I feel bearable in and they're comfy and cool to wear. Uniqlo do a few good ones.

I realise that I'm hiding my body but I absolutely hate it and it's not weight or size-related, it's where the weight is and also feeling uncomfortable, it's not nice having anything digging into you in this heat.

My off the cuff top tip is go to a really good lingerie shop with someone who knows how to do bra fittings. It will honestly take a stone off you (and probably £50-60) but you will never look back!

I’m currently a 16+ apple, carrying weight around my abdomen and I live in a hot country. When I visited the U.K. this summer to see family I stocked up on several of these pairs of wide legged pants: super flattering and cheap. Nice with a sleeveless blouse or camisole or V neck tee/flared yoga tank

amazon

Link for the pants! Amazon U.K.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Famulily-Waisted-Trousers-Workout-Fitness/dp/B0BFF74X34?pd_rd_w=L0Laj&content-id=amzn1.sym.1af7ccf4-3158-4e8c-8fc4-62cb5b6b11e9&pf_rd_p=1af7ccf4-3158-4e8c-8fc4-62cb5b6b11e9&pf_rd_r=SGT275BC9NY4BW457NZK&pd_rd_wg=fpkIf&pd_rd_r=d30e7cc9-b8b7-4832-b3fe-378a25335224&pd_rd_i=B0BNWKPMQP&ref_=pd_bap_d_grid_rp_0_5_nped_pr_t&th=1&psc=1

Im a size 16, down from an 18/20. I was once very skinny, now I'm not.

Its taken years to accept myself, and I'm still on a weight loss journey. However, I've learnt that just because I'm fatter than I was, I am still worthy of wearing things that make me happy. When I'm happy, I'm confident, when I'm confident I stand taller. And people notice my smile, not my fat.

I've just returned from holiday and took some photos of the clothes I wore to help.me accept where I am now.

Things I found i liked... tailored shorts. Are my legs perfect? No. Did anyone care? Also no. I wore it with vests - i got my bingo wings out and now they're lovely and tanned.

A cropped shirt, that skimmed the top of my loose trousers, shirts or.skirts.

Loose linen trousers with said shirt, vest top and heaven forbid, a bikini top. In the evening I wore t-shirts or a lace top, a cami top. Nice light weight jackets.

I took a couple of dresses. One easy one for the beach so I could easily slip swimming costume on and off, one that tied to cinch the waist.

I took flip flops, trainers and gold boots.

Basically, I wore what I wanted. Who gives a hoot as to what people say or think. Wear what makes you happy.

@Seaside3 yep - that’s me too -

'Be Careful with shorts' ??? Why., do they turn feral?

Could you share any photos? Anonymised, just of the clothes on you?

Absolutely do not think of cancelling your holiday! It is great for morale to get away and experience a different place/different activities. I always come back with a feeling of renewal, even if also tired with travelling etc.

You’ve had some great sartorial suggestions above. Just to add, I have bought several Finery summer dresses this year which have high/Empire type waistlines and skim over the tummy and midriff area. Two or three also have V necks which focus attention high, on the bust - which is one of your best bits. Go and have a lovely time with your child!

@MerryForever sure, as long as they're not up for criticism!

Here are a few.

They look great on you! You really don't look like a size 16. You're just the right kind of curvy.

You're making me think about ditching the loose tent dresses ...

I've looked at some of those - how do their sizes come up and what's the quality like?

They are mostly spot on, size-wise, @MerryForever (on me, anyway!) but I have sometimes sized up for the jersey fabric ones as they seem to be made a bit smaller. There have been some lovely colours and patterns this year of the V- necked, high waistline ones, which I bought for our holiday in June. Some are now sold out in the sale but others are still available. If I see a style that particularly suits me, I tend to buy it up in quantity!

Quality-wise, I have always been happy with them - the fabrics are a nice weight and hang well and they don’t crease much.

Those are great photos, @Seaside3! I particularly like the full-length one on the left. You have a great, in-proportion figure and that outfit shows it off.

@MerryForever and @MagicMagpie font be fooled, I'm definitely quite rotund from the side! I just learnt how to flatter my shape with more fitted clothes. I ditched the baggy clothes and started dressing in my style again and it did wonders to how I feel.
@MagicMagpie I'm narrow shouldered, so the extra width on the black one balances them out with my.hips. off the shoulder wide neck, puffy sleeves, shoulder pads all work well for me.

Yes, it does work very well!

I'm an 18/20. My weight is all around my stomach and thighs.

I've gone a bit mad on Vinted recently. A line maxi dresses with fitted bust and then skim the belly. Sheered dresses are good for that. Wraps dresses are always flattering. Boot cut jeans and tunic tops. I've also got some wide leg trousers from tiktok shop, crazy colours, that I wear with a fitted tshirt.

But, do you know what? You're going on holiday, you're a tiny size 16, you are going to have a fabulous time and feel amazing. I promise you. Wear a bikini on the beach, crop tops, sleeveless vests and rock it! Because you absolutely will! You're going to have an absolute blast of a time.

I'm a size 16/18. I've been every size from a 30 to a 12. And I have no fucks to give.

Be comfortable. Stay cool. Nobody will die from your wobbly arse or belly fat unless you fall on them from a great height, but even then they won't care what you're wearing.

I'm off next week and I've so far packed a couple of bikinis and swimsuits, cut off shorts, floaty skirts, cropped t-shirts and some nice dresses for dinner.

I have also packed a giant floaty kaftan—not because it looks slimming but because it looks suitably dramatic billowing on a boat.

Yeah!

😂😂😂

I'm a size 16 top and 14 bottom. I recently had a holiday in Thailand, so very hot! I took wide leg patterned trousers, some maxi dresses,lots of pretty, loose but slightly fitted tops, a jumpsuit, all in natural fabrics. Most of them I found in charity shops, Main thing is, I took colours that I know suit me and that I felt good in. I feel sad that you are so distressed about what to wear and how you feel about yourself. I promise you, no-one else will be looking at you and judging you. I hope you find some lovely things and please just concentrate on having a fabulous holiday!😁

@UpsetOverWeight I just wanted to chip in regarding the beliefs & the shame you feel about your body.

Size 16-18 is actually the average size for UK women. You are perfect & normal sized, so please don't feel ashamed. No one will be looking at you askance. In fact you're not even hitting the domain of plus sized - that is size 18 upwards & frankly even that is normal these days.

https://www.einpresswire.com/article/740930058/new-data-suggests-almost-half-of-women-in-the-u-k-are-plus-size

I hope you have a fantastic holiday & lots of fun with your kids & that you don't let fears of what others might think of your build to ruin that. I guarantee no one is thinking what you think they are.