I’m in tears and don’t want to go to an event I’ve been looking forward to for months because I have nothing to wear

[CultureAlienationBoredomandDespair]

Please help!

I’ve put on weight and generally feel awful. I had an outfit planned that I wasn’t 100% happy with because everyone has seen my wear hundreds of times but it was ok. Problem is there’s now a heat wave and it’s a long sleeved maxi dress so no good.

I’m 5ft 3, blonde, massive boobs, big hips and huge belly but with a defined waist. If I don’t have definition I look like a weeble.

The event is like a hen do with a daytime party boat, DJ, afternoon tea and then an evening do in a pub. Daytime is mainly women 35-45 then spouses and wider group in the evening. Even if was happy with my body I think I’d struggle to know what the right kind of thing to wear was.

Please help me enjoy myself and not feel awful. Budget would be a max of £200 but that would have to include shoes/ accessories.

Lady v or M&S not got anything?

Something like this maybe?
https://www.phase-eight.com/product/abigail-printed-pleat-midaxi-dress-222089000.html

Scamp and Dude was going to be my suggestion, but I haven't RTFT (well, not all of it...), so based on that, the brands I would recommend for your size, shape, event, price and, crucially, postage time are:

One Hundred Stars - but the Rachel dress (various prints)
Never Fully Dressed - loads of colour and not all heavy prints
RIXO - literally loads of styles, and lots in the Sale section so fits the price you want

OP - get yourself into Liverpool One. M&S have LOADS of non-frumpy summery dresses in at the moment. And mostly under £50. No need to spend £200 unless you want to.

Go get your hair blown dry just before the event, nails done, whatever you want to add to feeling good in a new frock.

If it helps, I'm losing weight and am now in an 18 from a 24, and I'm loving the current fashions on my tall plus size body.

Hi OP. I would buy this dress off Vinted https://www.vinted.co.uk/items/6819045330-anna-scholz-multicoloured-silk-stretch-midi-slip-dress-size-20-summer-holiday-g018 because Anna Scholz used to design for plus size bodies and she really knew how to cut dresses for us. Very very sad day when she closed down, but now you get bargains on Vinted (I bet this was £200 new). Somehow the colours work although they look mental on the rack. Obviously this is quite a strong palette but it is in lovely, wafty, stretchy silk.

I recently bought an AS dress off this very seller and it was in great condition. I am not this seller by the way (or any seller on Vinted!)

Ha well if the OP doesn't like the stork dress I'm glad many others do! I don't have that one myself but I have a couple of others from there. They have a print I like that looks like the marbled end paper in old books.

www.next.co.uk/style/su592763/ar9528#ar9528

Oh having read the thread it might be too loud for you. I might buy it myself!

I was a very similar size (and build) to you until I discovered mounjaro last year - hot squash maxi dresses were my go to for occasions like this ( a special fabric that keeps you cool) the empire line ones are lovely, fit nice around big boobs and skim the problem tummy area. Easy to dress up or down

hotsquash.com/collections/maxi-dresses

I agree Scarlet & Joe are fantastic shape for us with weeble tendencies. I even got a work dress and had more people comment on it than anything i've worn in months

The other thing you can do, and I speak as someone with similar proportions ( Joan from Madmen from the front, Winnie the Pooh from the side), is reframe everything we were taught about waist emphasis, the importance of everything being flattering ie looking thin- and not prioritise it over everything else. It sounds like you've been enjoying dressing for your colouring. You can show your beautiful bracelets instead of your waist, or your stunning eye colour or shiny hair.

Like you I have worn mostly pencil skirts with a satin shirt, tea dresses, knitted dresses etc to work, anything to cinch that waist, but the compliments from young people came when I consciously broke the mold and wore an oversized linen shirt with a slip skirt and modern flat shoes. I love to see slightly larger young people happy to wear co-ords for instance. You would look like part of the young crowd if you were not in a tea dress or vintage tailoring( much as I love them, but I am older than you).

Alternatively as a dress suggestion the Adele from Fat Face is flowing and cotton but not sack like. Spend some money on shiny earrings and a cute bag and sunglasses.

https://www.newlook.com/uk/womens/clothing/dresses/yumi-red-geometric-print-shirt-dress/p/935432769

https://www.newlook.com/uk/womens/clothing/dresses/ax-paris-blue-brush-stroke-print-crop-sleeve-midi-shirt-dress/p/927606149

https://www.newlook.com/uk/womens/clothing/dresses/ax-paris-navy-abstract-print-belted-midi-shirt-dress/p/924344741

https://www.newlook.com/uk/womens/clothing/dresses/yumi-black-patterned-midi-shirt-dress/p/930077109

https://www.newlook.com/uk/womens/clothing/dresses/orange-linen-look-shirred-waist-midi-shirt-dress/p/917434182

I love Hot Squash too! I have this dress and have worn it to loads of things.

Oooh how do you feel about square necks? (Sorry if ive missed it and you hate them) do you have a balconette bra?
Abercrombie and Fitch do larger sizes and petite sizing, how about this? The neckline isnt as low as you might think in reality, its got great thick straps to cover a bra and fully adjustable, the material is a good thickness but stretchy, and they do it in other colours/prints. They do your size in petite. If you search for the Mila dress they have lots of different length/style options of the same neckline.
The A&F Mila Midi Dress
And in red floral and there's a few other colours, but search in the search bar for 'Mila' or 'dress' then filter by size/length as i find some stuff doesnt show in the categories on their site properly once it goes into the sale! They have denim options too which with a belt would look great.
This is also stunning and comes in your colours/size/petite but might be too much for daytime depending on the vibe?
A&F Giselle

I would go halter neck rockabilly circle skirt dress with a full petticoat underneath and a light bolero over the top - think hell bunny, British retro, dolly & dotty sort of sites

Oh bless your cottons!! I'm exactly the same and it spoils events that I was really looking forward to.

I'm enormous and clothes and outfits are such an issue.

I've gone a bit mad on Vinted this past weekend trying to get outfits for autumn. Dead cheap, no more than £4 or £5. Have you had a look on there? Also, sounds a bit mad, but buying larger clothes second hand makes me feel a bit less lonely. I'm not the only one who is size fat!

https://www.phase-eight.com/product/annette-frill-dress-10010070693.html

Phase 8 dress.

I know you've said you can't go out to try on, but does that include supermarkets? (This is supposing you're somewhere fairly urban!) Because I know you've got up to £200, but I've had some cracking supermarket outfits this summer- Sainsbury's, George at Asda, Tesco. They might not be forever pieces, but you might find something that fits the brief perfectly- there's a lot of loose elegant trousers and coord tops, or plain, if that's not your thing.

Ps. I'm your height and specifically I bought a George jumpsuit that has brought a lot of joy and compliments.

https://www.simplybe.co.uk/buy/ZT399-hpdp?optionColour=MULTI&optionSize=10&promo=6202&gclsrc=aw.ds&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=19549702301&gbraid=0AAAAAD_UHHdnjyHSONFNI5RvmMiLr3_wH&gclid=Cj0KCQjwzOvEBhDVARIsADHfJJR7AaAcOoz_604vsfwVdmn-pBjCVju5kvPcZ8-0yoBeDE5ubCELZmEaAjY5EALw_wcB

This one from Nobody's child is great for a high waist and hides all tum. I ordered it amongst a selection for a wedding and ended up sending it back as I found a more formal dress I liked.

Wish id kept it now as it worked well on a large boobed Weeble. You can get it from various retailers

FWIW I would go with the blue t-shirt dress that you posted. Splurge on a wow necklace and earrings ... Only one of those items can wow though! Pick items that draw attention up to your face and hair. Perhaps a classy belt and a pair of trendy trainers!

Boho? Buy Roman Pink Paisley Print Boho Maxi Dress from the Next UK online shop

Belted dress for the waist - Buy Friends Like These Burgundy Red Scuba Chiffon Flutter Sleeve Midi Dress from the Next UK online shop

Polka dot ruffle (if you don't mind cold-shoulder straps) Buy Yours Curve Green London Ruffle Maxi Dress from the Next UK online shop

All on Next so quick home delivery, plus cheap so shoes and accessories easy to afford too.

Would you wear a jumpsuit?

It's really gorgeous, I've been eyeing this for months!

https://britishretro.co.uk/product/dee-dee-petal-pink-silky-floral-50s-style-swing-dress/

what about something from British Retro. Whenever I wear their dresses I get lots of compliments. I'm a size 16. They also do next day delivery I think

Have you seen Cary’s Wittaker on Instagram?

Not my shape but it’s very interesting to see how good ordinary clothes look on her. She has a big belly and huge boobs.

She looked amazing in AYM dresses ( which look pretty dull on the hanger).

This? They have petite and it seems quite simple yet glamorous.

https://www.next.co.uk/style/su546985/f09192