Are you size 18/20 and dress nicely?

[Ceolas]

If so what do you wear? Where do you shop?

I am sick of wearing shapeless uninspiring clothes. My wardrobe is in dire straits, again. Inspire me please!

I buy from Monsoon for smartish stuff, Lands end for basic tops, Next for casual stuff

Where do you shop atm?

Sometimes it's not about where things come from but what you buy.

I am a 20/22 and pear shaped with ridiculous norks. I wear low cut tops that are fitted at the waist and wide legged trousers. I do have more shapeless stuff that I wear to be comfortable, but if I want to look smart then that's what I do

Tunic tops (either fitted or with a tie back bit) or dresses over trousers work well.

Off link hunting for you (

echo Monsoon. Also smart dark jeans and nice, low cut, fitted tops from M&S (or v-neck jumpers)

Also I make my own jewellery (but you can buy lots of lovely stuff on etsy). If you're fat like me you have to make more of an effort with accessories, jewellery, nice scarf, bag, and shoes/boots (Duoboots.co.uk for calf-fitting boots for fatties. And make-up. For some reason if you're skinny you can wear a sack and no make-up and look fab.

Also the Dreamkeeper collection on QVC is lovely if you're into floaty chiffony shit like me.

Where do I shop just now? Mostly M&S and Evans. Wardrobe consists of badly fitting jeans and jersey v-neck tops which I usually wear with a vest underneath.

Most of my weight is around the middle and I struggle to get nice tops. Either the shoulders are too wide and it fits over the hips/tummy or vice versa.

Gap XL size will usually fit 18-20 although I'm tall and hourglass figured - still worth a try though especially if you have an outlet store near you.

jeans are pretty hard to sort out but the New Look dark 'HULA' ones should be good for you.

I loathe Evans, nasty, scratchy, overpriced stuff - ditto a lot of the Inspire range at the moment - the summer stuff had lovely cottons, now they just have dark poly, shiny clothes - yuk

Nice wool-mix black trousers from Monsoon are good too.

I am a short arse too, at 5ft 4. Sounding lovely, eh?

I'm 5ft - so ha-ha, beat you in the short-arsed fatty stakes

Oh god yes, forgot about Wallis - I got two fab jersey dresses from there last month in the sale online - £25 quid each - a teal one and a black one and they are lovely and very flattering with a cardigan and long boots (my staple everyday look)

George at Asda do some really nice stuff for us Rubenesque type ladies - Sainsbury's too

I'm not but one of my best friends is a size 20 and always looks stunning. She has quite a few swing type coats and jackets in really vibrant colours, she also wears a lot of long sleeved dresses with boots.

I'm not but echo what others have said re Monsoon, Next Debenhams. Think M&S can be bit dull.
Swing coats are good (I also carry my weight round my tummy) as well as low neck tops which swing out or drape. Dark jeans with plenty of stretch are often flattering or dark stretchy cords in eg choc or nav
y.
Also agree re good accessories, decent sized bag, nice suede boots, scarves, necklaces etc.
Whar are you after in particular?

Agree that nice shoes/boots and chunky jewellery a must - brightens up the dullest outfit.

This sort of thing works well for me

I always browse round Evans and have got one or two nice things from there, you have to sift through a lot of dross though. I have a couple of pairs of trousers for work from there.

Asda is great, most of their styles go up to a size 24

I tend to buy things as I see them, rather than shopping for something specific iyswim, because the chances of finding a decent pair of jeans when I need them are slim so if I do see a pair then I buy them.

Also, if you are thickest round your waist, try empire line tops which end at the thigh, they are good for skimming the tummy and are flattering to the bust, eg
www.monsoon.co.uk/invt/32334074&bklist=icat,5,shop,women,womentops,kaftanwomens
(though the colour of this one is a bit dull and is overprived IMO)

This was the sort of style I was thinking of, also think the detail at the neckline is flattering
www.simplybe.co.uk/productcache/DAL/BO7440/CB086LY.html.gz

Thanks all

I'll look out for that shape panna, although I need long sleeves! Most of what I have is more straight up and down.

This one looks nice
www.simplybe.co.uk/productcache/DAL/BO7440/MK331LY.html.gz
plus any of these, think the Rick Rack Tape top is pretty
www.simplybe.co.uk/product/window/show.action?N=23408&LpgUid=11148587

I always find Principles very good

Do you recommend SimplyBe, Pannacotta?

Sorry I don't know Ceolas just thought the styles on there looked flattering.
Agree with MaryBS that Principles is good and I like Monsoon too, I just couldn't see much on their sites to link to, I think they are better shops to go and look at and try things on.

Ceolas - can I link you to my best friend's pictures of her clothes...might be inspirational ?

buttercuprocks fashion pages She is v stylish !

i'm a 18/20 and i wear more casual clothes, i buy most of mine from the USA and have them posted over here. American eagle do up to a UK 22.

And in America GAP do plus size clothes and go up to a USA 20 / UK22. I buy alot from Ebay.com ie the american site. Levis in the USA also do larger sizes and once again are available on Ebay.com or JC Penny.

I envy your friend her obviously slim feet. Those green office shoes and she has some lovely cltohes (partic the way she wears tunics/short dresses).

that mine are wide. It makes it v difficult to find shoes that fit unless they are flat and round

I agree that Inspire's a dead duck at the mo. I have a lovely cotton skirt - bright pink and black - I bought at the end of summer but there's nothing fun in there at the moment.

I get the bootcut jeans from Next but their tops always come up too short for me. John Rocha at Debenhams is good for having a big variety. Monsoon for a special top or dress. I wear suits or suit trousers and smart tops for work, then for casual or going out it's very dark jeans with smart fitted tops. Red Herring at Debenhams has been doing nice wraparound long tops in nice colours. I never wear round or roll necks, nearly always its v necks or wraparounds (usually fake wraps) or lowish scoop necks. And I like to wear heels as much as possible, feel it really makes a difference.