Show Off Your Shape

I am a classic hour glass shape but unfortunately in the last few years have put on some weight, alot of this has attached itself to my chest area. This has made buying tops difficult as if I get one that fits my bust, it's too big around my abdomen (looking like a sack) and if I get one that fits my abdomen area I go busting out all over! I have, however managed to find a few tops that sort of fit in both areas, but 2-3 tops is not enough to cover a whole week of work wear. Trousers too drive me potty as my waist is small in comparison to my hips, making all trousers loose at my waist. On a brighter note, I have found that lower rise trousers (made to fit the hips) do fit beter.

I must say i have the same problem in the trouser department. It drives's me insane looking for trousers to fit. I spend hours in the changing rooms, trying on every pair of trousers in the shop, normally in vain. I end up getting one or two pairs of trousers each season which i have to wear all the time.

I am top heavy!
Take a size 10/12 0n the bottom half, not a bad waist and midriff but am a 40inch bust! It is absolute hell trying to find dresses to fit and as I'm only 5"2'' I like to wear the same colour to hopefully look taller, more streamlined, 99% of dresse I have to buy a larger size and have them taken in from the midriff down.
My dream is having a breast reduction, if I mention this to anyone they say most women/men prefer larger breasts.
I also suffer with shoulder/back ache and have deep indentations from straps on my shoulders. which show when wearing strapples or thin strappy summer tops, so I tend to short sleeved tops, even in the heat we've been having of late. It is a nightmare and doesn't help my confidence at all.

I have what might seem to be an enviable 'problem' - I am relatively tall (5' 7") for a woman and very very thin! Finding small size trousers with adequate leg length is a nightmare (tried Long Tall Sally but these are for really very tall people). Similarly, when buying tops/blouses/shirts etc I frequently find that the sleeves are not nearly long enough for my size. Finally I bought by mail order from La Redoute as their size ranges are much more flexible - maybe they could help with larger and mixed sizes for other people - worth a try! The lady with a 40" bust really does have my sympathy though, I wouldn't be just dreaming of breast reduction - I'd be getting it done!

Hi, I have the opposite problem to barb22. I am only (5' 0") and size 10/12. Most of the problems with the petite sizes are that they usually cater for 5' 2" and under and only do a 27" leg in trousers which is a nightmare for trying to get anything trendy ie: NEXT petite sizes only do the 27" leg. Does anybody have any suggestions. Gwennygirl

I have the trouble of not being able to find tops long enough to cover my flabby tum and bum, I am quite a large size(22) and find the larger clothes get the shorter they become, I am not that tall (5' 6") so I wonder where taller women get thie clothes from, or dont they get larger!!!

I have the same problem as 'littlewitch'. I used to be very slim and over the years, meeting my hubby and having my first child, I put on a dress size but my chest has always been out of proportion.
I have a problem finding decent bra's - last time, I was 3 months pregnant and M&S said that I only fitted their very last size and would have to go elsewhere next time, needless to say, that one lasted in pregnancy and is now too tight.
Anyhow, I cannot find tops that are long enough. Any I do find then shrink.
But I've found Warehouse trousers are a nice length (I'm 5'7"), and with black trousers you can't go wrong at all - my favourites have lasted 3 years and still fit very very well.

** I know it isn't an expensive shop, but try Hennes (H&M) for longer tops. Next doesn't seem to be too bad either, had a top and t-shirt recently and they fit well, but stay away from the fabric that doesn't stretch!

I have the same problem as barb22, i am (5'8") and gone from size 12 to a size 14/16 after 3 children i have to have a 33L in trousers or they look to short.My top half is a very small bust but my arms and body are very long it is so hard to get clothes to fit (and look good).
My problem now is my 11yr old daughter she is in size 13/14 clothes i have a harder time trying to find nice clothes to fit her than i do myself as she has a very thin waste and the length for an 11yr old comes above her ankles.i am just hoping that as she gets older the clothes companys accomadate for the taller person as i am finding it a little bit easier(not much).I am also having to use mail order catalogues for longer length trousers but you have to pay a price.

my problem is at 5'4" i am in pretty good shape at the top half of my body but the bottom half yuk!!!!!!! I take size 14 top half but the bottoms normally are a 16 if a good quality make. Even then they gape at the middle but look tight around the top of my legs and hips and big butt.

Apple woman
size 10 arms size 12 legs size 14 top size 16 bottom. you think you've got problems.

i have a problem with bra's if i go by the measured size they don't fit around the body and the cup size varies from too big to too small but my husband say's stop moaning and do something about it and make my own or start my own business so girls market your area and think about setting up your own business i like managing pubs so i'll stick to that and continue to by my bra's from avon cosmetics at least most of the time they fit and wash well there's an answer out there somewhere!

Well, thank you for the tip of hipster jeans - I will try these but i am 16 on top because of boobs and 20-22 because of bum - dresses are out of the question My waist is small and I find that in order to get items to fit my backside I have to bring in the waist. This is time consuming but fortunately not costly as I have a sewing machine and do it myself - I think we will have to continue suffering as no company is really prepared to deviate from the ´money making´garment sizes and shapes...

Just a thought for Jayne1003 - Have you tried Next for clothes for your daughter? I too have a very skinny 11 year old, she is an average height but very slender and generally wears shorts aged 7/8 but I found Next seem to do trousers to fit her pretty well. My friend also can only buy school trousers to fit her skinny son in Next

To reply to denise,no i havent tried Next thanks for the tip i will take a look.

I also get frustated when shopping for clothes as I am now 22/24 but only 5' tall and it would appear all designers feel larger ladies are tall ladies. I find it almost impossible to buy trousers where the gusset isn't round my knees and skirts that are not round my feet. I know I can shorten but as with the gusset problem this is not always the answer. Why can we not have a petite range but in larger sizes as some of us are petite in height but not in weight.

I'm a 16-18 top (depends on the style and what not, as I am 34FF) but trousers are a NIGHTMARE!! I think I should be a size 17. A 16 will fit nicely on the waist/bum but then the thighs are always too tight, even on loose baggy trousers and an 18 fits lovely on the legs but fall down! I also hate the way that 'bigger' translates as 'taller' in the clothing business. I'm 5'6" not 6'5"!!!

I'm 5'1" and a little "plump" shall we say? Anyway I'm about a size 14 teetering on a 16!! Can I find a pair of jeans......NO! Can I find a shirt/blouse that will button right to the bottom comfortably without risking taking somebody's eye out if it pings off......NO! Why is a size 12 ok in one shop but a 14 is skintight in another...are therre any standard measurements for making clothes....i don't think so....welcome to my world...same as yours by the sound of it!

Blimey girlies, my only advice would be to shop round - I mean in shops you have never been in before, you may be surprised. Other than that, did anyone have any advice for others? Has anyone found a store that has completely convinced them that no other store is good enough? Not all shops suit everyone's shape, after all we come in some wonderful shapes and sizes, but did anyone have any positive news to give others a bit of a lift?!

The only other bit of advice would be for anyone, like 'Moviemadrobin' and 'sue1961' - the Bravissimo range does underwear, swimwear, and shirts/tops for those who are a little larger than life and the designs are built around those of us with larger chests, PLUS you can return if they're no good!

To cheer you all up, after 6mths of giving birth, I'm pregnant again and have absolutely no chance of losing any pud for the next year - chins up hey!

I agree - Bravissimo is fab, especially their shirts and suits - you can actually do them up with big boobs!

I used to have an hour glass figure but not any more, still I like to look sexy, glam or soficated but I found it very hard to find shop that provide for larger ladies, until that is I found 'Simply Be' & J D Williams Catalogue Co. They offer a wide range of fashion clothing at a reasonable price plus shoes for the wider foot. Now I have gone from fat & frumpy to fat & fab. I recommend that you ladies give them ago.

Anyone help with trousers for the 5'2" size 10-12. Sounds great, but i cannot seem to find trousers that are the right length (too short or too long) and ones that fit around the waist/hips are baggy round the bum and thighs. (I am a bit thick in the middle). I have tried most of the petite ranges, and still find that the curve of the hips on skirts and trousers are below mine. Oh to win the lottery and have clothes made....

hi ya girls for the biger size girls have any of you tryed evans or etam they do all sizes small big for me i have troble finding cloths all the time size 38d bra,18-24 tops and 22-24 bottom half and for my kids i go primark its grate in there and they do cloths men and women you should try them both.

hi ya girls for the biger size girls have any of you tryed evans or etam they do all sizes small big for me i have troble finding cloths all the time size 38d bra,18-24 tops and 22-24 bottom half and for my kids i go primark its grate in there and they do cloths men and women you should try them both im 5"10 & a size 8 shoe any tips on where to get shoes would be grate.

Just an update for all you ladies out there - I am 5ft 5in tall, size 14 (roughly) with 32G bra. I have found that this year Next (a shop I love) has made their ranges very small, compared to previous years, where as Vestry & Monsoon fit quite well. As I refuse to buy a size larger I have not bought much at Next this season. This had made me look elsewhere and find not only clothes that fit but styles that I hadn't looked at before. Tip for ladies with problem chests - get fitted by Rigby & Peller. Their not as expensive as you would expect, but fit like a dream!

I have size 12 waist and size14 hips. very annoying trying to get trousers that fit, and fittedskirts are a problem too. Eddie Bauer in USA are heading in the right direction with a series of different fits, unfortunately the range for each fit is small yet, and shipping costs to UK are huge!!