A new look needed.....

Sorry for the overlong post, got a bit carried away I had a medication driven weight gain experience myself and expanded so fast I ended up marooned at home wearing a pair of disreputable jogging bottoms with broken elastic and DH's T shirts. Not even my knickers fit.

I remember very clearly not knowing where to start...

You want to work on looking taller in a sort of Brunhilda way. Think statuesque and majestic.

You might want to big up your hair a bit with layers (don't scrape it back) and wear earrings - perhaps dangling ones - depends on your neck. Show a bit of decolette. A scooped neckline will help to balance your proportions so that your head doesn't look too small for your body. Not too much flesh as this will have the opposite effect.

Keep the focus on your face by wearing a big funky brooch. You can ring the changes with a small number of outfits by changing accessories. A long necklace that droops down to the breastbone helps you to elongate your figure so that you can carry off the weight better. Chunky irregular sized beads are most flattering. This will help with the jelly belly and muffin top issues. Look for or make a fabric tote bag with lots of interest. It'll break up your bottom half.

All over medium sized patterns break up large areas, so try patterned skirts.

Avoid cutting yourself in half with a top and a bottom half, instead leave tops untucked with long tailed shirts and add a short waistcoat, or put a longline cardy over a skirt and top, so think three garments on show instead of two and two partial horizontal lines instead of one full one.

A plain top with interest around a modestly scooped or V neck neckline will balance your proportions - try customising cheap and cheerful tops with hand sewn beading or trims. You can mix sparkly trims with plainer matt fabrics. Look in the Boden catalogue for ideas you can DIY.

Try and avoid the walking tent look with a bit of posh fabric - think brocade (furnishing fabric as a long waistcoat top) Experiment with a mix of fabric textures, a billowy sleeve in chiffony fabrics will look romantic and will look fab with velvets or knits or denim.

Try men's checked or flannel shirts over leggings (sleeves rolled up a bit) and mix bagginess with more fitted shapes (hence waistcoat over billowy sleeved blouse)

Mix darks and lights remembering the darks receed and lights bring forward, so light coloured sleeves and a dark waistcoat will work better than the other way round.

Avoid shiny fabrics but a bit of sparkle in small doses works wonders.

Invest in an unstructured long line or oversized jacket in a wear with everything weight and colour like dark blue. Chuck it on over anything else and it will pull your look together.

Don't wear big bright colours in men's sizes unless they make your heart sing. HUGS

Zara are good for quality leggings. And Nomads do lovely tunics. Both shops are online with fast delivery.

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I also find a scarf will bring an outfit together I tended to go for ones that had a bit of sparkle threaded through the pattern before I lost a bit of weight this last year,also a lover of charity shops well worth the trip to different areas to see what is on offer I've had some fab bargains,also this time of year try and get to Church Fetes and school Christmas Fayre's as some beautiful stuff is donated to those.

George at Asda have some good Moda jeggings £12 and comfortable - they have denim and also corduroy at the moment. Vey comfortable with elastic waist, may be good for your poor tummy. Would look grear tucked into boots.

George also have some Moda tops that are flattering to larger figure - quite fitted but flattering and about £10. They all wash well, and may give yu a new look for not too much money.

I always admire people who wear some unusual jewellery, scarf - pulls an outfit together and looks really individual. Hope you find something you like.

I like the idea of tunics. Which are the best shops to hunt in?

I agree tunics, long V neck sweaters, boot cut or straight leg jeans with boots and scarves and jewellery are great for ringing the changes. I find Sainsbury's boot cut jeans are the best fit for me as they button up on the waist. A single breasted mid thigh length coat is good with the jeans. Hope you have some good charity shop finds.

I think the thing is to feel good and then you will look good. We live at a time when anything goes fashion-wise and each person has to drses to suit their own style.

I go in for jeans and more jeans - and leggings and boots, and the wonderful variety of tunics that are around at the moment are a joy.

I always wear something white near my face as I have very sallow skin and otherwise I look ill - so this weather it's white polo jumpers under bright tunics with leggings or jeans. Someone said to me that middle-aged women should always wear something white - I always have and find it brightens up anything I wear.

It sounds a though you have had lots of health problems and I hope you find something to wear that makes you feel good.

Thank you, I think I can adapt some of my older stuff and I will get hubby to take me to some charity shops

I've always been frightened of leggins, but I will give them a go. My biggest problem area is my jelly belly and the muffin top. I have had that fat or thin, it just varies in size, but gripper knickers are out as my poor tummy is very bruised (heparin injections), any pressure and it feels tender!

Now all i need is for the weather to get cold....I'm still wearing a strappy top, it's so hot (I think that's a meds thing)!

Big hugs xxx

Definitely long line tops and cardigans or jackets, and try to go for ones that have quite a slim cut. Lots of billowing fabric will just make you look massive. I've got a mid thigh length edge to edge cardigan which is cut very narrow across the shoulders and makes me look suprisingly slim. Dark colours tend to be slimming but large areas of black will just make you look bigger. As ever highlight the good bits with bright scarves, jewellery etc.

Cloths shopping is not something I enjoy, but ,on occasion, I window shop in any store I want to have a look in, on line. A good source of ideas and inspiration. Also lets me see what sales are on.

Just a suggestion. Black trousers/leggings - long silky/cotton shirt - chunky beads or scarf. Scarves, great for a finishing touch.. I have collected so many scarves and chop and change them with different outfits all the time.

Hope this helps a bit.

Yes, scarves are great for breaking up bulk. If you buy leggings make sure they are of thick fabric. Jeggings are good. Long tops with leggings need to come below the crotch area, at least. Long floaty-shaped cardigans are excellent, over any long top, but they look very good over tops with belts. Tops that flare gently from under the bust are best unless you have a good waist. MIL is apple shaped and she will insist on wearing tops that are too short. They stick out at the front and it looks dreadful. I'm slowly getting her into longer tops.

What about having a look on Ebay, sallybee? Bootcut jeans, as janerowena suggests, or what about leggings and long tops/jumpers? A pair of boots with these, whether knee-high or ankle ones would look good. Scarves are great things to cheer up an outfit as well - Primark do lovely ones. I'm a very big fan of charity shops, and have found some wonderful bargains there - go with a pal and have a rootle around?

Boot cut jeans and tunic tops. Flared shapes not big baggy ones.