Hi ladies.
I have just gotten a job in a fashion retail store after several years at home being a stay at home mum. I am very excited to be getting back into the work force.
Problem is I have no idea what to wear!
(My only dress code rules are no jeans and no sports type runners).
The store I'll be working at is aimed at younger women, unfortunately being a size 20 - 24 depending on the item/brand I don't fit in anything this store sells 😑
My current wardrobe ages me and I'm well aware of this. I'm only 30 but I feel so frumpy a lot of the time because I wear what I can find that fits, I hate 90% of my clothing because it really doesn't represent my sense of style.
I've bought a couple of things from Shein/Boohoo/online etc but the quality of the items was terrible, the cut of some of the items was really weird and one pair of pants arrived labelled a 24 but fit my tiny size 12 friend.
I don't hate City Chic but a lot of the stuff there is too dressy for my day to day life.
I really just want some on trend basics. Tees, pants, sweaters but not the gawdy type you get in every plus size section.
26 Replies
Blouses, pencil Skirts and slacks are safe for work - wear and suit everyone. .
I've never had a problem with Shien , so that's very strange .
I have recently found on TikTok there is a lot of women who go into a shop and try on lots of different clothes. It’s great to see what things actually look like and also how to style or pick outfits you like.
But I would say you would have to do it yourself to find what actually fits and looks good on you.
I think some white runners and some boots are staples. So is a few plain T-shirt’s, opaque tights, a denim jacket, and a wool jacket.
I like iconic because it delivers fast and free and really easy returns and always good quality clothes, no risk of shit material or weird cuts.
I shop everywhere! It’s hard work. But I’ve got to find the gems, I tend to buy the same thing in multiple colours.
I buy lots of basics pencil skirts, pants lots of basic tees. I can’t really do shirts because my boobs are too big, they look ridiculous. I dress things up or down with accessories and shoes.
Sorry but maybe if you lost some weight you wouldn’t have this issue.
Much better for your heath too, I lost 15kg on Keto, so I know how it feels to be bigger but I feel so much better now.
Stop whining and do something about it.
You have the power.
I’m glad someone said it.
Through sheer determination i lost 10kgs since the start of the year, doesn’t sound like much but i have some physical disabilities that limit exercise so it was purely diet and i fell off the track a few times but pulled myself back up to continue losing.
I feel so much better! I’m more confident and everything looks so much better!
Exactly! Just be a size 8 if you want to wear fashion!! Otherwise lose the weight so you can and stop whinging! I’m totally with you why should high street shops stock fashion clothes for any other sizes, pure entitlement and laziness, so glad you said it!
Where has she whined or said she wants to lose weight? I hate it when people assume that overweight people want to lose weight or it's a priority. I'm overweight and couldn't care less.
Thanks guys! This was really encouraging 🙄
I'll go and drop 30 kilos in the next week since my desire to look at least moderately fashionable and put together for my new job is such an entitlement. I forgot fat people aren't worthy of having nice clothes to wear.
At no point did I say that I expect to be able to walk into any high end fashion store and demand they start stocking a size 22. I'd be stoked if I could walk into Kmart and find a few basics that aren't too daggy to wear to work.
I was nearly going to ask that people didn't make unsolicited comments about my weight but I clearly naively figured that people could just answer my question about clothes.
As it turns out, I'm actually painfully aware that my weight is a problem and I have been working on it. I've already lost some weight if you're interested and it's been quite a feat given that I live with some chronic pain.
So again, thanks, really.
Ignore them, OP. I was always slim but chronic pain has seen me unable to exercise, add PCOS & I've gained a few kilos & lost tone. I'm also short & pear shaped so fashion already didn't cater to me. I suppose I should just grow a few centimeters.....
they may be skinny and look good on the outside, but they sure showed how ugly they are on the inside.
what was that roald dahl book we get kids to read, it is the twits?
no matter how crooked your teeth etc etc when you are beautiful on the inside it shines through and you can never be ugly and no matter how good you look, if you're horrible on the inside, you'll always be ugly.
Good, keep it up.
Fat is not healthy
You've dropped 15kg so you know how it feels?
Shut your trap.
I've lost 15kg since the start of the year and am STILL overweight. What the fuck do you know about being "bigger".
No one asked for your snide weightloss comments.
You must be really a big heffa then.
Keep going, you don’t know my story so how about you shut your trap instead of shovelling food into it.
You must be really a big heffa then.
Keep going, you don’t know my story so how about you shut your trap instead of shovelling food into it.
You must be really a big heffa then.
Keep going, you don’t know my story so how about you shut your trap instead of shovelling food into it.
I don't need to know your story. It's irrelevant.
You've told me all I need to know about you when you chose to attack a poster for her weight rather than help. A poster whom you didn't know anything about HER story before you decided to be bitch to her.
I don't know why you have such anger towards overweight people. Maybe look into that.
I agree with this poster. Stop eating sugars and carbs . So many fat people who won't even bother trying.
This lady isn't trying to lose weight. Just like you're not trying to be a good person.
She asked for retail recommendations.
She clearly knows she's struggling to buy retail tho. Why? Because of her size .
OP here.
I have already addressed this in my above comment. My weight and health is already something I'm tackling, believe it or not I'm actually not an idiot so I know why I'm struggling to find nice clothes. I really don't need a bunch of strangers pointing out the obvious.
And just FYI comments like this don't inspire bigger people to lose weight, it just makes them feel shitty about themselves. Unless someone specifically asks about weightloss, someone's weight or health is none of your business.
Absolutely none of that changes the fact that I need clothes NOW! I start my new job in a bit over a week, I can't lose enough weight between now and then to be able to pick something up in the "regular" sized section so your comments about my weight, size and presumed laziness are SUPER fucking unhelpful.
All I was after here was some advice from other plus sized girls, a simple "This store is great" or "I wear X, Y, Z".
A genuine thank you to the people here who have actually managed to answer my question.
No!!! Why does she struggle?? You are wrong, it is not because of her body, it is because most high street stores don’t stock anything that fits properly if you’re over size 12. The average size is 14/16. She is just simply asking where can she shop for the good stuff! Give her tips or F off, your opinion on anything else about her body was never asked for and shame on you for having one let alone thinking you should share it.
The comments about weight are stupid anyway. I used to be a dancer and was super fit growing up, when I stopped dancing at 21 due to injuries I increased to a size 8. When I had children and developed some health issues in my 30s, I became overweight. I have struggled to find clothes that fit well at all stages... just for different reasons.
Slimness doesn't mean anything if your waist is so defined that pants gape, or skinny leg fashions don't fit because you have calf muscles, or tops gape because you have a small bust and broad shoulders... I could go on all day.
Stop shaming people for no reason.
Totally!
It's only easy buying clothes off the rack if you're a woman with an average height, average weight and a proportionate hourglass figure.
My daughter is a size 6 and she actually has a harder time finding jeans that fit her properly than my chunky butt does...
That’s right, all the people enabling her make me sick too.
Enabling her to… wear clothes. The audacity.
You've got to be really picky with Shein, and be prepared to send back what doesn't look right.
Most Kmart stuff looks like mumu's in plus sizes but grab your basics like long sleeve tees, leggings etc for layering.
City Chic do have some lovely casual stuff sometimes and have great online sales.
Some of my favourite flattering items have been on clearance racks at local boutique stores for $20-30. Put some time into rack searching, it'll pay off eventually.
Invest in a few good pairs of shoes. Alternating between knee high boots, ballet flats, ankle boots and mary jane style shoes and mixing up accessories will give you a few different looks with just a few basic standard items.