I’ve tried on so many clothes and I could cry.

[Ladyofwoods]

Has anyone else been like this? I’m trying to lose weight and am size 16/18. I’ve just tried on loads of clothes and at the weekend too and everything looks hideous on me. I actually got really upset and don’t have enough clothes to wear at the moment.

I'm apple shaped with no hips or bum and skinny legs with large chest. Lumps around the middle which overhang. I look so weird in everything and don’t know what to buy. I caught sight of myself in a window today and I looked like an old frump.

Dresses with a waist are hideous on me. Too loose tops make me look even bigger.

Does anyone have any good advice before I’m forced to walk the streets naked! Thank you.

How about plainish clothes, but with really nice accessories?

I have just looked at their website. Good stuff on there. I am very taken with the drawstring T shirts. Thank you!

I had a similar experience when looking for a dress for our daughter's winter wedding. Must have returned 20+ dresses and coats as being 5 ft 3 they all dragged on the floor and made me look like a sack of potatoes. Was a case of persevering but almost at the point where I was hoping for some accident where I broke a leg and could go in tracki bottoms! If it's any help some mirrors and windows can make you look very short/square or fatter than you are due to the angle so not a true reflection

Thanks so much for all your advice! To answer a few questions, I want smart casual stuff and tops are the trickiest. I like them to be fitted and quite plain as I don’t need any extra volume on top. I wear A line skirts and wide leg trousers work quite well. The square tops at the moment, just don’t work for my shape. My pet hate is the tops that hang straight off your boobs and make you look properly matron like! I’m looking at all your suggestions so thanks so much. Any more are very welcome!

@Baldermashthat red dress from Seasalt is just the kind of thing I need!

@JoWilkinsonsno1fan the Live Unlimited clothes are a really good shape. I find that wrap dresses aren’t great on me although they should be. I also need a decent bra.

@Whatifwewereallperfect bless you. It’s a horrible feeling.

@Butterme thank you and yes dresses with boots are good too. It’s just difficult to find dresses with the right shape. They must be somewhere!

Try elomi cate and elomi morgan @Ladyofwoods, for decent support for your bra

I’m the same shape as you and dresses suit me much better than jeans because I struggle with tops on my massive chest ☹️

I'm having the same problem OP. It sounds like you are exactly the same shape as me.

I work on Oxford Street, so you'd think I have plenty of options, but some of the monstrosities I've seen in the shops' latest collections are just hideous.
Baggy cropped 'carrot' trousers in pure cotton (ironing nightmare), with embroidery and ties around the calf - who the flip does that look good on? Wafer-thin t-shirts that show every lump, sleeveless buttoned waistcoats, dresses that only work if you're 5' 10", every shirt and jacket is boxy and cropped at the waist- brilliant for making me look even wider than I am.

The sizing is mental - I'm wearing a pair of size 14 M&S work trousers (admittedly a lot of me is spilling out of the top), so I try a size 16, with an elasticated back in a different style, and can't even get close to doing them up! But the next size up is massive, with a baggy arse and a pouch at the front.

I wore a linen shirt today - but linen only works on willowy people - I looked like I'd slept in a skip by the time I got to work, and I'd only had it on an hour.

It's depressing and I'm dreading warmer weather and holidays. I hate having to go out anywhere because I have nothing to wear, and can't find anything I like.

And don't get me started on bras...

@AbundantFlowers I LOVE that Boden Amber dress, but look at the very slim model. :(

I see that Next have it online and I have a Next credit account, hmmmm 😅

I think a lot of us are in the same camp of being sick and tired of buying ‘shit’ in the hope we look ok in it!

@Ladyofwoods When slimmer (and aiming for it again (sigh, thanks WFH and menopause) I relied on Nexts’ own bubble hem T-shirts with linen esq trousers, as the tops had nice patterns and a forgiving fit. Just recently I ordered a few to try and was lucky if the bubble hem was under my boobs, let alone my waist! I feel your pain!!!!!!

I’m 5ft 2 and was 12 stone 11 at one point. Narrow-ish hips, long legs and short torso, very big chest and felt like a sack of potatoes. I was wearing size 16-18 too.

I did struggle with finding clothes to flatter me but think v necks were better for me than high round necks and preferred high waisted trousers.

Still figuring out my style tbh but I’m a few stone down now so it’s much easier although I do feel my chest makes some tops look quite frumpy. I find dresses work better for me and always have done at any size.

I suggest finding fashion influencers on social media with a similar size and shape. And finding websites that showcase plus sized models or customers reviews with pictures so you can get a better idea of what various styles will look like on you.

You might like this at John Lewis:
https://www.johnlewis.com/john-lewis-high-waist-wide-leg-jeans/p114073672?s_share=jlappdroid

Let's see if this works.

I got them in a 14 even though I'm definitely a 16!

I am a similar size & shape, OP. First & foremost, get yourself fitted for a good bra - it will help massively. Buy some new knickers - high-waisted smoothing ones. Also (it's repeated a lot here) have a session with a personal stylist at John Lewis, to get some advice on the shapes & styles that will suit you.

You said that dresses with waists are awful on you - I assume you mean fitted waists with no give, so you can't get the dress to do up around your larger middle area? If so, you're just trying on the wrong style of dress. Avoid anything tight & without flexibility around your middle.

The Scamp & Dude dress posted above by @AbundantFlowers is a good shape for you, OP, because it has a fitted top to keep your top half neat, a shirred middle that will create the illusion of a waist without cutting into your waistline or creating lumps & bumps, & a full-ish skirt to balance out your narrow hips & overall proportions.

Shirtwaisters could also be a good dress shape, as could loose-ish dresses with some twist/knot/ruching detail around the waist. No idea what your budget is, or what your height is - or what colours you like/suit!!! But these might give you an idea of the shapes to try on.

https://www.johnlewis.com/hush-grace-air-flow-maxi-dress-navy-blue/p114963818

https://www.meandem.com/fit-and-flare-twist-cheesecloth-maxi-dress-poppy-red

https://www.reiss.com/style/su219329/548318

https://www.reiss.com/style/su943972/g54881

Also, you said you wear A-line skirts. What about fuller ones with elasticated/drawstring waists? Lots about, & I find with a good bra & a well-cut fitted T-shirt/fine jumper I can tuck that in & it makes me look more in-&-out.

I have a couple of Kemi Telford skirts, which work well in summer with Whistles Rosa T-shirts. Similar to these. I realise that the skirts aren't to everyone's taste - but there are lots of plain versions of this style & shape in the shops right now.

https://www.whistles.com/product/rosa-double-trim-t-shirt-41251.html

https://kemitelford.com/collections/skirts

https://kemitelford.com/collections/skirts

Some other potential tops. As well as having a good bra sorted out, I would recommend also wearing a fine cotton/elastane vest top below, to smooth any back or tummy bulges.

This JL one is worn with a plain black, but full skirt.

https://www.johnlewis.com/john-lewis-drape-neck-short-sleeve-cotton-top/black/p114792105

https://www.johnlewis.com/john-lewis-twist-side-sleeveless-cotton-top/dark-red/p114676078

Neat shirts/blouses can be worn over your wide trousers with a button or two open top & bottom.

https://www.reiss.com/style/su801777/y36024

Try grownuplauren on instagram for ideas for outfits.

The skamp and dude dress is lovely but puff sleeves. If you’ve got any kind of bust you look like an American football player.

@EleanorMc67 those suggestions are really helpful. It’s such a shame that the more streamlined shapes have just plain, often darker colours. I would kill for something in a cool purple or a subtle pastel print - natural fabric, no puffs or frills, v neck.

Have you tried empire line dresses? Having a seam which nips you in under the bust would give you shape. Seasalt do some nice ones.

ooh that John Lewis top in blue is good, might order that!

It’s depressing AF, isn’t it @Ladyofwoods? I’m perimen and feel like I’ve really lost my way, style-wise. I’m also a short apple which is excellent 🙄. I either look matronly or because I like colour, like I should be on CBeebies.

I would echo what previous posters have suggested and start following some similar shaped people on social media. This has REALLY helped me! I especially like the more confident, slightly alternative 50+ women who don’t appear to give two shits. I like the hair styles ones too. It’s really helped me to rethink what I’d like to be, style wise (caveat to add: I am NO fashionista and have very little natural style sense! I also wear a uniform to work which is a bloody godsend!).

BEST of luck to all of you struggling. It’s really hard when perimen annihilates our confidence too.

I am NOT THANKING the poster who linked the S&D jaguar zipped jaguar dress. I bloody LOVE it but I really can’t justify £125 😩😩.

Lighter coloured trousers with a vest and shirt not fully buttoned in a darker colour and a good supportive lifting bra. White barrel or wide cropped trousers, navy vest and shirt for example.

I'm the same shape OP, it's bloody depressing - fashion shapes at the moment are not good for apples. I'm desperate for v necks to come back as I'm really struggling to find tops to wear with jeans, and all my old faithfuls are getting scraggy. I just want something with a V neck and a bit of a waist, so it comes in at the sides. And in darker colours, not white/pale yellow/pink as seems to be all that's available at the moment.

If anyone knows of an apple-shaped influencer with big boobs and a B shaped belly (i.e. fat above the belly button so nothing sits nicely unless it's loose) please share!

OP, solidarity. I'm a slimmer size but I somehow feel the same, nothing at the moment fits me at all and I find that the current fashion with boxy cuts etc. is no good for us apple shaped ladies.