What should I be wearing?

[DownDownDownDoooown]

I need to find my style and am struggling.

After years as a size 26, I’ve lost weight and am now a much more manageable size 16 (more veering towards 16-18 rather than 14-16).

At my biggest size, I tended to buy stuff that would cover me, but now I’d like to focus on styles that suit me. I’ve considered a personal stylist but would like more of an idea of what I would like first, and then maybe invest in honing in on that? At the moment, I’m trying so many new styles that I don’t really know what I like.

I’m 5’ 10” with long legs, big boobs (E cup) and a narrow waist- those are the good bits. My problem areas are my upper arms (so I don’t wear sleeveless/capped sleeves), and definitely my stomach and hips. Weightloss has left me with a very saggy apron- I haven’t ruled out surgery. I prefer tops that cover my stomach and bum.

Maxi dresses with nipped-in waists and half or full sleeves work well- I’ve been wearing a lot this summer.
I don't really like my legs on show (years of carrying all that extra weight mean I have calves like a bodybuilder!) so don’t favour shorter dresses.

Very structured tops work well- my figure now is very hourglass, especially if I wear support underwear that pulls my stomach in. I’ve been experimenting with belted tops and, while these are nice on, maybe feel a little dated?
Anything boxy cuts me off across my widest part and doesn’t suit.

I’m struggling with jeans. Skinny jeans make me look like Humpty Dumpty because I’m wide across the stomach but legs are comparatively slim. Wide-legs just make me look wide on my bottom half and seem to shorten my legs. Barrel or carrot legs just look weird. Straight legs are ok but look a bit bland.

I’ve been wearing a lot of wide legged linen trousers for the summer and they’re nice but need an alternative as we move into autumn/winter.
Some nicely tailored black trousers would be great but I find that, again, a lot of tailored trousers are tighter on the stomach and give me a gut.
I was thinking of investing in a pair of Me + Em but there isn’t a store near me and they’re pretty expensive so not sure if they’d be worth ordering online?

Because of my stomach, I tend to not tuck tops in. This kind of rules out skirts.

I know I’m being very negative and defeatist! I’m just sick of buying items I like, but not really pulling looks together.

Brands I’ve discovered lately and like are Jolie Moi for dresses, The Set from Next for basics like t-shirts, and Sugarhill Brighton and Jessica Graaf for knitwear.

Would anyone who has a similar body type to me like to spam me with your wardrobe wins?

I think you might suit a wrap/kimono style dress with half sleeves, which would look great with boobs and waist and would skim over tum and arms. The brand Closet seems to do them in every colour (I have a few!) but other brands do similar, search for wrap/kimono style if you like the idea. Lots on Vinted too

https://www.rathersaucy.co.uk/shop/dresses/midi-dresses/closet-london-red-kimono-sleeves-wrap-midi-dress/

As a change from trousers, a dress like this would suit you well (particularly with some very light shapewear, not to make you smaller but just to streamline):

Cos dress

It would look fabulous with glossy knee high boots and a good, same length coat.

Can’t you find winter trousers similar in shape to the summer linen trousers you like?

The hollister Livy trousers are very flattering to an apron-y hourglass.

https://www.hollisterco.com/shop/uk/p/hollister-livvy-ultra-high-rise-wide-leg-pants-59022335-1005?categoryId=99210&faceout=model&seq=01

they seem to come in in different colours all the time. My word of caution is that they aren’t the best quality in my experience - I found they bobble quite quickly.

I also think you may need to get used to your new body a bit. That was a lot of negative points you listed. I bet you look great and are your own worst critic. It’s a mindset shift to go from looking for things to cover you up to going for things that make you smile and feel
good.

If you are hourglass, even if your stomach isn’t perfect, tucked in tops to skirts/trousers would probably look good. So the wide leg jeans but with a neater top and a nice belt on the jeans.

If you’ve liked wearing maxi /midi dresses with a nipped in waist in the summer, look for similar for winter, long sleeves heavier material with long boots (Boden always have a billion of these dresses, loads on vinted etc. but they often have a material tie belt, replacing with a proper belt usually looks better).

Thinking about it more, is it your lower stomach that’s a problem area for you? Then skater shapes might work. Tight across the top (ideally with long sleeves for warmth), a proper waist to show your hour glass shape then a full skirt to not cling to your lower stomach.

Have a look at Mollie Campsie on Instagram, she’s a UK size 18 and shows a lot of high street clothes (usually slightly more expensive high street) and how they fit on her but also how she styles them. She’s also a tall girl! I’ve picked up a few good styling tips for bigger bodies from her 😊

Sorry I haven’t come back quicker to say thanks- MN is being very glitchy for me.

Thank you all for the suggestions and advice. I’m checking the recommended brands out.

@bumbalooFinding trousers in a similar shape to the summery linen ones has been difficult. I think a lot of the shops are only switching to their autumn/winter stock now but I did find a lovely pair in M&S yesterday which fit the bill. Probably not heavy enough for a cold winter, but perfect for Autumn.

I went out in public this week with the front of a top tucked in loosely into my trousers and nobody pointed at me in the street and laughed, so hopefully I’m getting a little more confident with my wardrobe.

Is it the mobile site or the app?

Glad you’ve returned!

BTW - there really isn’t a ‘should’ in getting dressed. The fun of a whole lifetime is that we have the time to experiment and evolve and completely change how we look from time to time.