The sun is out and I look 'orrible.

Maybe that's it Sara, it's change and how to cope with it?

I have a friend who has always been on the large size, and she has always looked gorgeous, she always knows exactly what to wear, I on the other hand, who have aquired this extra layer over the years, struggle to find what suits.

mmmm seacliff, you can go to a big store and ask to see a personal shopper. They are good and no pressure to buy.

I can't imagine a knee length shirt apart from a super model.

What are your better features?

4allweknow ; so sorry for your loss. You are absolutely right.
For those missing East, search on eBay ?

I too look awful, I just cannot make myself lose weight, despairing. Would love a proper makeover for my shape. Big, huge legs and fat ankles and bottom and thighs.

All I can get that looks OK - Asda linen trousers, and a fairly fitted t shirt with loose shirt open over it. A chunky necklace improves it. It looks best with the shirt mid thigh, knee length looks wrong for me.

I have narrow shoulders. I know a soft material but tailored jacket with lapels and soft shoulder pads, long line skimming over hip, looks good on me, the shoulders suit me but so hard to find now.

You are right 4allweknow, compared to your very sad news, this all seems trivial.
So sorry for your loss

Crop trousers look absolutely awful on anyone who isn't tall and slim. Just reached the end of page one of responses to the OP and two contributors have recommended them.
Please OP don't even think about them. They will accentuate the negatives.

AllergyAngel2
Hi
I'm a bit
Soft fabrics that skim the figure yet nipped in at the waist with a 'soft' belt?
Surely belting a dress or top then exaggerates the figure. Have you any photos to show what you advise in cases of hourglass figures as Marilyn Monroe was decades younger and not even a mother let alone a 60/70+ granny?
Adele is an example of an ample figured woman but she wears clothes that cover her up from neck to foot and her chunky arms are not enhanced by the tight sleeves she has often worn. ?

I dress to feel comfortable and part of that is looking OK. I bought a couple of floaty summer dresses on our local market last year. One just below knee length and one calf length, and very slightly fitted A line type shape to cover lumps and bumps. Lovely for the summer and I don't often wear dresses. They were about £8 with an Italian label and very pretty fabric. Today I bought a loose top for £1.99 from a charity shop as I have grown a belly since an accident in January stopped me exercising.

Condolences 4allweknow. You are so right. There is so much more to really worry about. My thoughts are with you and your family.

Oh dear! I'm so sorry to read that. Yes, there is much more to life than getting anxious about how one looks and it's sad events such as yours which bring us up short and remind us that people are so mu h more than their outward appearance.
Please accept my condolences and know that I hope you have support in your sorrow and memories of past times with your daughter, to treasure.

Having lost my 47 year old daughter only a few days ago enjoy your life without worrying about what you look like. It really does not matter.

Sorry, didn't mean to repeat myself!

How about Yours?
www.yoursclothing.co.uk
Some of their tops are pretty and not too expensive.

How about Yours?
www.yoursclothing.co.uk
Some of their tops are pretty and not too expensive.

I buy lots of things from Boden. They are expensive, but such good quality and lovely unusual patterns. There are great reductions in their clearance department and they
have sales now and again with huge savings! One year I bought a dress ( which I wore for our daughter’s wedding, a pair of linen trousers and a linen top, all for £54!

lemon thanks I popped into M&S as I went past today and I saw the beige version of the dress. You are entirely right the fabric does look cheap and nothing like the picture on line. All I want is a nice longer length linen shift dress but not sleeveless and not knee length!!!

Cherish your derrière. Mine has gone skinny with age. Uncomfortable to sit on. Trousers hang terribly. But my fat post menopausal tum is coming on a treat! We all have flaws and wish this or that was different. But we are what we are.

Wow AllergyAngel, thanks so much. Why don't you " do " a few of us!!!

Yes I am hourglass and I agree about soft fabrics, nice tip.

I am mad about scarves.

Hello Lily65, it sounds to me as if you might be an hourglass figure (Marilyn Monroe). This would mean that soft fabrics that skim your figure would be best for you. Not dresses that fall from shoulder to hem (straight), but ones that are nipped in, maybe with a belt, that will show off your waist. Showing off your waist will mean you won’t look fat, just beautifully curvy. If buying in Primark, look for soft fabrics, then softly belt the item.
I hope this helps. (Yes, I am an Image Consultant )

Lily, I am with you. I too think i look horrible. If you don't have the money to shop in the usual outlets, try the charity shops. Some of my best buys have been from there, and your contributing to a charity. Win win!

I was wondering the same thing Sara65. I am sitting in an East crinkle style dress as I type and all of my favourite summer dresses are from East. I must admit I used to buy mostly in their sales so maybe that was the problem. I do find summer dresses in Monsoon but did prefer East.

If we all loved East so much, why did it disappear? We should all have bought more!

Good idea Alexa. I'll try that.
Scrappydo I like Sainsbury's as well - and their trousers are a good length for us tall ones

@Callistemon lol you made me laugh

think we are all a bit bigger than we'd like to be -

Wear whatever as long as it is fresh clean and ironed - along

with expensive perfume

I discovered this site recently, ordered this red dress
www.wolfairy.com/products/l439_red
and loved it, wear it with black leggings and black canvas lace ups with white laces out of Asda £6.
The big pockets are fabulous. Leggings to cover my legs because one of them has a lot of spider veins.

Then I ordered another in patterned black. It's also on Amazon.