I agree about the tops. You can get lots of cute and stylish tops in our sizes at good prices, and the ability to pair them with jeans, capris or a skirt allows you to have a different look every day with just a few pieces.

I look for last season's fashions...they mostly still look current, and they are half the price or less.

....deedee....

I love clothes.... I moved to CA almost 4 months ago with 4 bags, which only 2 were clothes, now...... let's just say I found this store called Susie's Deal and everything in the store is $5.99 or less. They have really cute plus size clothes. I don't ever get pants there just tops, but they are super cute and made for big girls. I still will wear a bright shirt with a black 1/2 sweater to help make me look a little slimmer, but other than that I think my personality fits my style. I'm from the south and I love CA because the clothes out here are cheap and way more trendy than I was used to. I get comments all the time of how trendy and great I look. Wow, I'm sorry I'm seeing my words on the screen and it sounds like I'm super conceited. I'm really not, just excited about wearing clothes that fit me and my personality not the other way around. We are beautiful and fabulous let's live now instead of always living for tomorrow. Y'all know what I mean, do what do in getting healthier, but let's enjoy life now as well. I hope this makes sense.

I live in scrubs (I'm a nurse), my kid's hate going out anywhere with me because of that.
Paulas

I am glad you posted this. I dress NOTHING like what I would dress like if I was normal or skinny. I guess I just stopped putting effort into how I look because I know nobody will be checking me out anyway. I had a son two months ago and am stuck in maternity pants and sweatpants...it is so, so depressing. It is part of what made me realize I need to lose weight- I am no longer the person outside that I am inside. I probably look a decade older than I am...I sure feel that way.

yes. my clothes say I MUST be comfortable and I don't like to spend a lot of time putting myself together. when i lose weight there are things i will wear that i won't now...but they will still say the same thing.

Some of my clothes, I think, really express who I am. There are some pieces that absolutely do. Others, not so much. I would like to one day really go through everything I have and get rid of (donate to charity) clothes I don't think "jive with my flow" (so to speak) and keep only those that do and rebuild from there, selecting only clothes that speak to me and express who I am.

But it's hard bc clothes often appeal to me in the store and then lose their appeal once I get them home, even if they fit fine and I look okay in it.

And I sometimes, in the store, get too excited when something fits (esp. when it emphasizes my breasts) that I buy it without considering "Is this really me?"

Generally, I like monochromatic clothes -- solid colored tops and bottoms. Any patterns I DO like tend to be really particular and appeal to me for a specific reason. I like shirts that are kind of low-cut that I can wear a necklace/push-up bra with, I like shirts that some down and cover my abdomen, I LOVE stops with a square neckline and I like button-down tops with a little stretch to them to accomodate my boobs. For pants, I like dark dark dark blue jeans (or black), as simple as possible, no low-rise. I *HATE* clothing with writing/words on it, I *HATE* the color red for clothes (on me), I *HATE* pastels and I *HATE* appliques. I don't have anything pastel or red in my closet, but I do have quite a few shirts with patterns that appeal to me generally, but that really aren't *ME* so I wind up never wearing them. I also have shirts that really are too 'short' for me -- I liked them on the hanger, and maybe even for a moment when I tried them on, but they just don't work. Id like to get rid of that stuff and replace them.

KLK, I think I know exactly what you mean when you say you have clothes that you get home and don't wear because they are "not you".

I do the same thing - I try on a top or something in the store, and if I think it fits well I buy it. I have a collection of tops and dresses that I'm afraid to wear because of the low neckline. I try it on, I think "that fits me perfectly", and I buy it, especially if it's on sale. When I try it on at home, I think "I can't wear that in public, it shows too much cleavage" or something silmilar.

I like styles that are "feminine". Longer, flowy skirts, tops with lace, ruffles of any kind. I also like capri jeans and pants, with some embellishment like a pattern on the leg or back. I love the "baby doll" look in a top, with an empire waist.

I love crossover styles in a top or dress, but I feel some of them are so low-cut they are not appropriate for me with a 38E bust. My BF usually says something like "you look incredible in that", but I won't wear it because I would feel that guys were always staring at my boobs.

Lots of people seem to wear these kind of styles, even large-busted girls, so maybe I just need to "get over it" and wear the stuff anyway. I've tried wearing deep vee tops with a cami underneath, and this helps, but I always think it sort of defeats the purpose. Besides, I don't really like layering.

What do you think?

That's me too. I've spent the last umpteen years in men's XX and 3X T-shirts and men's jeans (because I didn't want to have to admit what size I wore in women's clothes ) and maybe, at the time, I was so unhappy that I was hiding my personality as much as I was hiding (or trying to hide) my body. I recently discovered skorts and am nuts over them - I'm actually appearing in public with bare legs for the first time in probably 20 years - they are sporty but still kind of feminine (and can hide *things* really well ). I still have a way to go before I'm really ready to let loose but I think the skorts and women's polos are getting closer to the real me than those men's clothes were.

Oh, Darkblue, don't be so sure! I've got some jeans that I couldn't get past my knees for years but have been hauling around for so long they now qualify as *vintage*. Although I can't quite wear them yet, I've actually been able to move them from a box in the garage to the "pretty soon" closet so don't sell yourself short. You might be surprised and find yourself back in those designer 8s after all

Seconding that!
When I was younger my girlfriends and I mostly wore dresses we'd find in second hand stores. It wasn't unusual to see one of us wearing an old wedding dress grocery shopping
I have a hanging wardrobe full of my favorite dresses that I haven't been able to fit into for 7 years. But d$Ģ%it! I will be wearing that blue evening gown this Christmas!
I also have some classier nice ones my mom bought me when I was really skinny. That goal is a bit loftier ...

What a great thread! Right now, my clothing fits my personality because it is neutral and comfortable. I am also 27 weeks pregnant!

All kidding aside, I can totally resonate with those ladies who are cheap and don't want to spend money on themselves. Here's how I see it. I shop consignment, good will and great second hand stores. I give a new store at least 2 or 3 attempts before I decide its trashy or doesn't have what I want.

Mostly, I look for basics and nice dresses. I am an RN so my work clothes are scrubs. Easy there. I like to dress up for Sundays to go to church. I like feeling feminine. I never really was comfortable in shorts for the summer and find I am just as cool and content in capris. So, I have a lot of capris (jeans, khakis and neutral colors) Every once in a while I will treat myself to something on sale brand new.

I had a light bulb moment when I do such a great job keeping my house clean, my professional attire clean and neat, my children looking sharp and crisp in play clothes, even DH looking fresh. Why do I let myself go? It seemed like I didn't fit the picture with the rest of them. These days I find myself feeling and acting more feminine... I just found out I'm having a baby girl...and I think that has helped me to get in touch with my more girlie side. A side that I really suppressed for far too long!

I have a hard time shopping for the style of clothes I want though, so if I see it, and its on sale, it is easier for me to justify its purchase because its usually last season or not hoochie enough for todays gals!

I have a few items that really reflect my personality. Those are the pieces of clothing that stick around in my wardrobe for years and make me feel great when I wear them. I wish I had the body type and the budget to experiment with styles, though. It also kinda sucks when you spend most of your waking hours at work, and there are limitations on what you can wear there (i.e. I can't really wear skirts or jeans.) Most of what I do find is from the Lane Bryant clearance rack. And we all know how limited that can be!

I'm actually 35 and don't put much stock in what's appropriate for my age or whether or not people think I look young. I see too many people in the mall who are dressing really inappropriately regardless of age, shape or style and so I try to be more realistic. I have facial piercings and really striking hair. My clothes totally reflect my personality and always have even when I was at my HW.

I have a lot of "soccer mom" clothes but I don't wear them in soccer mom style. I love Ann Taylor, Banana Republic and the Worthington line from JcP. I just mix my tailored pieces with edgier/vintage/eclectic accessories, bags and shoes. From being heavier, I realized that the structure, quality and the fit of the garment was the most important thing. It's really easy to make things look edgier or more conservative depending on how on uses accent pieces.