The FastDay Forum

Lots of lovely suggestions, thank you ladies.
I am 50 but feel 25, I don't want to dress Grandmotherly, but want clothes that will hide what needs hiding, emphasizes that from the front or back I have a waist (the side view is still dodgy) and doesn't gape and show off my muffin top. That much flab and loose skin on show can't be healthy for the viewer.

In other words I am looking forward to looking good in trousers/jeans with a t'shirt/top and an over garment of some kind. Not frumpy.

[carorees]

where are you shopping Julie? Is it Hereford? My late sis who lived in Hereford was always complaining that the shops there seemed to specialize in frumpy!

[Tracieknits]

I wear the same thing nearly every day: A long sleeve v-neck t-shirt from Target with either jeans or yoga pants - the shirt is usually black, burgundy, navy or if I'm feeling funky, hot pink. To dress it up, I'll wear nicer jeans, or embellished jeans and add a scarf. I might add a cardigan if it's cold. In the summer, the t-shirt has short sleeves.

I don't give a damn about fashion or what's trendy. And I don't want to spend much money on what I'm hoping is an interim size. I feel I look reasonably well put together and tidy. I do go to the hair salon once a month to get my color touched up and get a trim if I need it, and I use high-quality face creams to keep my skin looking as good as possible. To be honest, I think this does more for my "look" than my clothes I get a lot of compliments on my pinky/purpley/red hair.

@carorees its not Hereford, its mostly ebay at the moment. I sold a few things of my daughters and have money in my paypal account so I'm looking on there mostly. What I really need to do is actually go to the shops and try on clothes. But as you say, Hereford shops really are frumpy. Its worse now that Evans has closed down as there is only Bon Marche who have gone REALLY frumpy and Anne Harvey, which I can't afford in town that specialise in larger ladies clothes.
I can sometimes get stuff from New Look but they do the size but not the proportions. I bought a coat from them, in a hurry, and they hadn't adjusted the proportion so that the waist dropped. The belt was just under my boobs. M&S seem to have larger sizes online, but I have never seen any larger sizes in the Hereford store.
I am really like @Tracieknits in that jeans and t 'shirt are my daily routine, but for going out I want something more styish and can't find it. Well not at a price I can afford that is.

Hi Julie, Maybe you don't want suggestions from a 73-year-old grandmother, but here goes anyway. These "original fit" pants from LL Bean are sometimes seen on ebay. They come all the way up to the waist and have pockets you can actually get your hands into with becoming a contortionist. I never wear jeans because I can't stand the undue tightness in the crotch and the pockets.

http://www.llbean.com/llb/search/?freeT ... nts&init=1

For tops in winter weather I wear T-type shells or turtle necks under blazers that, depending on fabric can look dressy or tailored.
My current favorite thrift-shop jacket looks like this one http://www.bonanza.com/listings/Womens- ... 7AodASsAFg only better. Gives the impression of cut velvet. Same lovely purple color.

Hi Julie,
Don't forget that you can order from M&S online and have things delivered free to your local store.

[Tracieknits]

CC is lovely quality but too short in the body for me, I need a 30" top generally. Lands' End are pretty good and often have sale/outlet bargains and an option for tall too :0)
http://www.landsend.co.uk

My one dress is from Lands End - it looks just like that, but it's solid black. I really really love it. It's so flattering.

And in the US, Lands End sizing has "vanity sizing" - i.e. when I was a 2xl nearly everywhere, I could buy a dress and their yoga pants in XL

My dress is a lot like this one, but the waisband is more gathered and there's a self-tie belt
http://www.landsend.co.uk/Womens_Jersey ... 27093.html

On the US site, this is my dress, I love it and it's so flattering
http://www.landsend.com/products/womens ... id_257604# While I'm normally a US 20, I was able to wear their size 18. I just saw the next size down is on sale, so I'm buying it!

Hi Julie,
Don't forget that you can order from M&S online and have things delivered free to your local store.

And the same with CC

No no no don't you dare even think that - not even for one moment!!!
We can send for the Fish y' know Missy if you put yourself down!
You are a very attractive,clever,capable, amazing woman and dont you forget it!
Ok like lots of us you maybe sartorially challenged as you make yr way onwards and downwards
...but i for one am glad you put up this post coz i dont know what the hell to wear - just what goes with short chunky legs and a figure that is BOTH pear shaped and apple shaped? Not to mention Moomin shaped?
When i feel more up to snuff i will be glad to read the comments in the hopes i can glean some advice that will stop me from looking like ive been dragged thru a hedge backwards..and i fear my love of bright colours and anything sparkly often makes me look like an explosion in a fireworks factory! X

I like that you brought this topic up Julie. It's not like we don't have enough talented dressmakers who can design beautiful clothes for the larger figure. They are getting more and more clever over here with what they can do to make us feel beautiful no matter what size or age. I wish they'd catch on and respond to the public's need for diversity and low prices in large sized clothing.

I have recently started wearing sleeveless tops. It feels daring, and young to have my arms out in the sun or to feel the breeze. It saddens me that we are forced to judge our bodies on how they look and we are not educated to wear things that makes us feel good.
The large women's clothing shop I go to is way too expensive. But each year they are getting more and more clever at styles for the diversity of body shapes we have in the larger sizes. I can't help myself but buy them. I'm trying to not buy that many this year. I might do what I think Tracey said, and spend more money on creams and more frequent hair cuts.
cheers
Jo