Summer Must Haves - On A Budget

[~ Zarava Flutterby ~]

I am after some tips for some MUST HAVE items this year for summer, i have very little $ in a budget in the way of purchasing clothes for myself and the clothes i've had for the last 3+ yrs either don't fit or are ruined yes it's been THAT long for me to buy new stuff aside from maybe 1/2 tops here and there.

Me:
I'm quite tall, have a large backside, chunky legs, no boobs and broad shoulders.

I generally don't wear shorts as i have horrid legs, actually even skirts below the knee aren't common.
I find dresses hard as generally for my size 16-18 they assume you have cleavage to your chin and me having nothing the top is too big or it sits strange.

Personally i would LIVE in a singlet top and long flowing skirts if DP didn't think they made me look even bigger, he is more of a critic than me, he HATES leggings with a passion so leggings under shorter dresses are generally a no go too.

AHHHHHH my list is so long.. HELP!

Emma09 - i know your hanging to take me shopping so maybe start some research of looks you think might work

[Emma09]

Hahaha- I think you could certainly live in maxi skirts and singlets.
I think maxi skirts look awesome on tall people.
Maybe the skirts you have, are not the right "cut".
I think some 3 quarter pants are in order, they can be dressed up or down.
How about leggings? Are you against them?
Leggings and a longish top can be very flattering.

[~ Zarava Flutterby ~]

I used to have some 3/4 pants that a friend chose - DP wasn't a fan but i was comfy in them.
I don't mind leggings like under what i am wearing today but DP HATES them and says he wishes women realised they are NOT flattering and show every lump & bump
I have leggins and a long cotton dress/top today and DP hates when i wear it.

I'm also getting my hair cut later this month and totally undecided on that too

[Beach Mama]

Check out Fox in Flats on FB hun, she recently did a post about how everyone can wear a maxi dress IF it is the right style and goes through what to look for and lists quite a few dresses for bigger sizes. Maybe some long skirts that don't have too much fabric in them could work?? I agree with the 3/4 pants as well they are pretty diverse, or some long dressy shorts?? I know you mentioned your legs but longer ones to the knee might be good.

[Emma09]

Sorry to be blunt- but is your DP the king of fashion or something?
What does he like you to wear? A brown paper bag?
Leah- you are gorgeous inside and out.
Confidence is the key- you need to wear what you feel comfortable in and looks nice on you :-)
*steps off soapbox*

Ps my DH often wears tracksuit pants and things and socks- he has no idea.

[SunnyRain]

For a classic pear shape, which you have described, a wrap dress to knee length is perfect.

Look for dresses of a plain colour or all over large print (like big flowers), or just a print on the bodice. Dresses with a waist are perfect. Don't buy any tailored dresses / skirts that come in at the hem or have too much fabric.

Choose box pleat over gathered, and avoid side splits at all costs. A split at the back is OK on work clothes.

Choose plain, dark colours for your pants. Avoid flares or skinny jeans. Choose classic boot cut.

Halter neck shirts which tie up behind your neck are very flattering on smaller busts. Choose a tie-up version because you have mentioned clothes for taller women assume massive breasts.

Pear shapes look best with a defined waist line, so look for shirts and dresses with small belts or ribbon ties.

Long skirts are great, but wrap skirts look excellent on tall and larger women.

If you can sew, sewing a wrap skirt is easy as anything.



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[PumpkinZulu]

How funny, I was reading and thinking "singlet and long skirt would look awesome"

[~ Zarava Flutterby ~]

Thanks everyone, keep them coming, i'm sure i'm not the only one who needs help.
My biggest issue is i HATE shopping for myself and never feel that anything looks right so in the end i just don't buy OR i grab something that looks like it will do and then DP and i don't like it
Oh Emma he is soooooo the king of fashion

Maybe we need to do a girls shopping trip for the fashion challenged like myself

[[M]umma[M]ia]

Sorry to be blunt- but is your DP the king of fashion or something?
What does he like you to wear? A brown paper bag?
Leah- you are gorgeous inside and out.
Confidence is the key- you need to wear what you feel comfortable in and looks nice on you :-)
*steps off soapbox*

Ps my DH often wears tracksuit pants and things and socks- he has no idea.

I was thinking the same thing!! He in himself is a major blow to your confidence. If you have the confidence, you can usually pull anything off

I tend to wear 3/4 pants/shorts in summer as I dont have the greatest legs either but i see they are out of the question. Try even a different cut in 3/4 pants. Crossroads have some lovely cuts Even Katies.

AND yep, skirts do make you look bigger than you already are. I learnt that lesson the hard way. You might have already seen my weightloss album on facebook.... I too thought they "hid" everything. I was so so wrong and it took for me to look back on photos after I had lost almost 50 kgs to realise that.

[nothing2lose]

Sorry to be blunt- but is your DP the king of fashion or something?
What does he like you to wear? A brown paper bag?

Ps my DH often wears tracksuit pants and things and socks- he has no idea.

But zb's DP can't be the king of fashion because MINE thinks he is

He proves it by tucking his polo tops into his jeans. Lucky I love him

[loulabelle]

go the maxi dress! anyone can wear them.maybe dh would like that more than skirt and top. target and kmart have a decent range up to size 28 I think.

I'm living in them because they hide my ever increasing butt and cost much less than maternity clothes. I'm like you, I hate showing leg!

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[loulabelle]

But zb's DP can't be the king of fashion because MINE thinks he is

He proves it by tucking his polo tops into his jeans. Lucky I love him

oh dear, that made me laugh so hard! my dh is the king if polo shirts and will tuck in everything! he says he feels more secure and comfortable. its a running joke in my house.

that, and he's always trying to do a jerry signfield and wear his white sneakers with his jeans.

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[nothing2lose]

loula!!!! I think your DH and my DP are the same person!!!

[Mak]

ZF - I got some $10 jeans and a few more tops/leggings for great prices at Kmart recently. They also had some cute cargos and some flowy dresses which looked reasonable. I try to put aside $10 a week to top up my wardrobe as I am still wearing stuff I bought just after DD1 was born - ridiculous as she is 5. I had to remember that I feel better when I look ok too - so whilst we have a budget I am trying to make an effort. Obviously the cheap stuff is not really good to last forever but I have done well out of it so far. I have also gotten some great cargos and tops from Ezibuy which has delivery and are quite reasonably priced. Try to make a list too so you have some idea of what to look out for. Fox in Flats has great tips and Frocks and Frou Frou has some great ideas for where to get pieces in larger sizes too. I also like looking at Birdsnest as they do outfits in terms of shapes - it gives you an idea of what to look out for too.
Don't underestimate how important it is to feel good!

[Mak]

Ok so my list has

3/4 light cargos - stone/charcoal/khaki?
tshirts - for around the house/park
short sleeved shirts
summer print dresses? shorter length/cotton - outside my comfort zone!!!
short sleeved cardi/bolero
Shorts

[LuluHB]

Oh my. I think I'm very glad my DH works at home and so is almost constantly under foot, or else I would truly start to worry that he has three wives - me, N2L and Loulabelle. What is it with men, polo shirts and being all tucked in? And don't get me started on white sneakers with, well, everything! I guess I shouldn't complain about that though - my DH's idea of dressing up is a clean pair of tracky dacks, with or without holes, and a polo shirt - tucked in of course.

I'm living in maxi skirts at the moment too. Sooooo comfortable and with a relatively fitted top (with or without a growing bump) I think they look really nice and can be either dressed up or down. 3/4 cargos that have the option of being folded up or not are great too - on those really hot days when you just don't care you can get a bit cooler, but still have a decent leg length. I've also just got a couple of long tunic sort of things that have a single underneath them. With slim fit legs they look really nice, and the length of the tunic hides my thighs

Maybe a chunky bracelet/bangle/necklace/earrings to dress up otherwise plainer clothes?

[~ Zarava Flutterby ~]

Lol thanks everyone, might have to check out k-mart for some cheap but ok summer items
Emma09 - how was your shopping trip yesterday, find anything for me oh and your ideas on haircut for a week or two would be GREAT!

[Miss.September]

Hmmmm.....I live in my cargos in summer. They can roll up and have fasteners to keep them up, or leave them down. Singlets or t-shirts. Or layered tops.

I love maxi dresses but I don't like how they sit on me, they tend to emphasise my hips and make me unhappy which would defeat the purpose! The skirts are awesome though.

I wear shorts around the house, but not out in public. My white legs will reflect something.

Linen pants for going out?

You've got more patience than me with DP. If it was DH, I'd be telling him where he could stick his opinion. His "style" is to change out of his blue work clothes (sometimes) and put on more blue stuff :P