Size 18 and big norks what do you wear?

[eandh]

Am short (5"1) am size 18 (2 c sections so overhand on tummy ) and big norls (not keen on having them on display

Luckily I won £500 on MN competition so for once have some money to spend on myself (£200 tops though as want to save rest) I do school run 3 days a week (work 2 days a week) and like casual stuff but always end up with cheap tops that either shrink/dont fit properly and jeans that lose shape and I'm forever hoiking them up.

Anyone out there that manages to pull a look together without spending the entire budget on 2 things!

I have been shopping at M&Co for the past six months and have never had so many comments about what I wear. They have such a good selection of clothes to suit people of all sizes.

I'm a 16 on my bottom half and an 18/20 on top (bloody boobs!)
I tend to wear trousers and nice tops, long skirts with ballet pumps, knee length skirts with boots and tops.

I'd go and try lots of jeans on in gap and find a good pair that fit you.

Perhaps a long cardigan like this. Slimming and lengthening.

Do you have a good coat/boots?

Or a tunic top over jeans.

Some good jewellery - beads/bangles would also be good.

Have you tried dorothy perkins?

will google M&co in a mo (am sure I heard a school mum mention them)

Bloody typical that town I live in has almost every hight st shop except GAP so may have to take the 20min drive to bluewater (not sure that I'll venture there before Xmas though )

Thankyou for replies (sadly long boots out as have tried on every pair I can find even triple width and I cant get them done up all the way although do have lovely brown wedge boots from Next and my Mum and Dad bought me a gorgeous (and way out of my price range) coat for Xmas that we spent weeks searching for

I do have a few long necklaces (gorgeous black/silver one that my best friend got me for my birthday) and some amber/red bits, havent got bangles but saw some nice aqua ones and silver ones in monsoon

Love that cardigan will long cardi work on short person?

Tunic tops are nice but as I hate flashing boobs is it ok to wear vest top underneath?

I'm short and wear long cardigans - as long as they're above the knee I find them flattering.

You need to keep them not too chunky though as that adds bulk.

And definitely wear a vest top under a tunic - I do as currently bf and don't like to flash too muc cleavage.

may just go and order that boden one (first ever order from boden )

Def wear vest top under tunics. Or dresses. The look is very flattering. Moderately skinny or at least straight jeans. Or leggings. Long cardigan of thin material if neccesary. No chunky knits. And find long boots that work. Not sure what triple width fittings are but Evans do boots and being designed for the fuller-figured the boots accomodate this. Not sure what other larger shops there are, but those are the places to look for boots for the larger calf.

these t-shirts are very flattering for us norkish ones

accessorise with necklace or scarf and wear with flatterin jeans , new look ones are good

wide leg jeans and trousers have been a revelation, i buy them too long and wear something with a heel, lenghthens and slims you down

good accesories, always have an interesting accessory or scarf or something

layering works for me i find, if i keep the layers thin,

one of my fave looks that gets me lots of compliments is thick black tights/leggins with a chunky knit or a dress/tunic with black under the knee boots

have had some lovely fine knit cardis/wraps from matalan that are not £££ and primark are great for cheap thick tights and footless tights

I don't like long necklaces over large boobs because they hang over and therefore accentuate them. Still the V-neck style of necklace maybe with large/heavy thing to make it V-neck but short enough to stop before hanging over the "shelf".

one boden cardi ordered!

Used to love M&S jeans but not found them so good lately, I picked some up in new look today but they were quite low waisted so belly hang over when I walked (need a jean trying on session I think)

Prefer layers as always in and out of house. I did buy somenice pashmina type scarves in primark today (black, white and green) so could use those as accessories

My calves are quite big as did lots of trampolining in my youth (and inherited my Dads side of family for having chunky legs) we have an Evans so will pop in there (am working Monday so can try some boots on in peace in my lunch hour)

Thanks for the replies some great ideas

Size 18 and norktastic here! 2 CS also, so hear you on the belly overhang front! But taller than you (5 7)

I suppose it's a given, but you do have a good bra, yes? Properly fitted and everything - without wishing to turn into Gok, it makes SUCH a difference!

Wide legged jeans give a good balance, I am loving Dorothy Perkins jeans at the mo - got a pair of dark denim superflare in the sale (£15) and love them, but also on advice from v stylish friend, got some straight legged ones yesterday and wore them for dinner with DH - chose a safe top as was a bit scared of the jeans as I wasn't sure if they were too skinny, but it seemed to work!

I like a good layer - thin thin long sleeved tops under short sleeved ones H and M good for this.

Bought this yesterday and it is very nice, and less frumpy than it looks on the model - wore it with above mentioned jeans and a multi strand necklace - I hear what people are saying about long necklaces, and I am of that mind also - I always imagine Mrs Slocombe on Are You Being Served - but if they're long enough and detailed enough it doesn't seem to happen

Have fun spending - £500 wow!

For boots, definitely try Duo, I bought my first pair last week and absolutely love them. Peraps hang on for the sales now though?

hi

Sorry been at work today so just seen this - yes have decent bras (£35 each as can only get certain ones that fit well so have 3 that I rotate)

Popped into Evans for first time ever after work and found some lovely jeans in there (and 2 pairs for £30 on promotion) got some dark blue bootcut and jet black bootleg, they fit so well and they do a 29" leg which is perfect for me (just long enough to fit nicely over a boot) also picked up a thin grey jumper which again fits nicely (had £35 on ticket got to till and it was £12!!) tried on some brown cords which fitted but wasnt convinced so may retry them on Monday with a top. Was going to wait for sales but I know I'll end up buying crap because its cheap rather than it fits well.

Am going to do a bit more online browsing tonight and these ideas are all helping so thankyou

duo boots will be a revelation - but they're expensive so maybe hold fire on buying anything else until you've thought about the boots.

i could never get boots to fit but now i love love love my duo boots and they've changed my whole wardrobe because now i can wear skirts and dresses that i could never wear before.

i can't recommend them highly enough.

I still have plenty of money left thanks to winning £500 (have around £200 left to spend on myself)

Am off to investigate sizing on duo boots

i love these wonder if they will go in sale??