Where to shop for nice professional clothes for short, fat, middle-aged woman?

[Anonymous]

The title is a little blunt but I need help! I am mid50s, 5'3" and unfortunately very apple shaped at the moment. Mostly wear size 12 petite. Pre kids & pre menopause I was a 4 or 6, so I'm deeply uncomfortable with my appearance. Working on the weight slowly but surely. In the meantime, I have a leadership role and do a lot of public speaking and I need clothing help ASAP. Brands, shops, anything. Not a lawyer or a finance person, so I don't need suits per se although not opposed to those either. What I'd really like though is higher-end knit wear. I just don't know where to look or what brands to hunt down. Thanks for any advice.

[Anonymous]

I am similar sized. I wear mostly Brass clothing and some from MM Lafleur! Higher quality, professional clothes that fit well and are easy to use as a capsule wardrobe.

[Anonymous]

If a 12 works for you, I really like the Fold, which someone on DCUM recommended. I also wear MM LaFleur, but the Fold is more structured, so I feel like ot hides more. It‘s pricey, so I’m adding pieces slowly. (Also I’m a government lawyer so lots of folks wear and recognize MML but seems to be less true of the Fold.)

[Anonymous]

Not knitwear. It clings in the wrong places. Sometimes Ann Taylor has dresses that work for this shape, basically that hang straight down without a waist. Can't rember if these are called shift dresses. And get good bras to lift up and define separately from your stomach.

[Anonymous]

I am having to redo my wardrobe for a more professional setting and found nice things at MM LaFleur. Also added in some simple pieces from Ann Taylor and Banana Republic that I like (I feel like they're each back after a long descent into cheap, ill-fitting clothes!). At Bloomingdales, you might like the Hobbs line which is British and pretty classic.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The title is a little blunt but I need help! I am mid50s, 5'3" and unfortunately very apple shaped at the moment. Mostly wear size 12 petite. Pre kids & pre menopause I was a 4 or 6, so I'm deeply uncomfortable with my appearance. Working on the weight slowly but surely. In the meantime, I have a leadership role and do a lot of public speaking and I need clothing help ASAP. Brands, shops, anything. Not a lawyer or a finance person, so I don't need suits per se although not opposed to those either. What I'd really like though is higher-end knit wear. I just don't know where to look or what brands to hunt down. Thanks for any advice.

St. John on resale sites like Poshmark. Check it out in a regular store first to get an idea of the sizing, but resale is the way to go.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If a 12 works for you, I really like the Fold, which someone on DCUM recommended. I also wear MM LaFleur, but the Fold is more structured, so I feel like ot hides more. It‘s pricey, so I’m adding pieces slowly. (Also I’m a government lawyer so lots of folks wear and recognize MML but seems to be less true of the Fold.)

I checked this out and it’s beautiful. Shame they aren’t size inclusive. I’m 30 lbs overweight, and I guess that’s just too fat for that brand.

[Anonymous]

Try Stitch fix

[Anonymous]

Talbots

[Anonymous]

Eileen Fisher

[Anonymous]

Talbots is made for this life stage.

[Anonymous]

Not OP, but do any of these places (other than Talbots) have petite sizes?

[Anonymous]

Talbots Luxe Knit and their Italian flannel/Italian knits so are forgiving more than classic suiting but also not schlumpy leisure knit wear. It's not for the super-duper-fashion-forward amongst us, that's for sure (not a group I'm in) but if you're looking for decent foundation pieces that you can style they're worth a look.

I'm not sure if these will work for you with the band around the middle:

https://www.talbots.com/luxe-knit-sheath-dress/P223079201.html?cgid=apparel-suiting&dwvar_P223079201_color=NAVY&dwvar_P223079201_sizeType=MS#start=1&sz=36

https://www.talbots.com/luxe-knit-dress/P231079200.html?cgid=apparel-suiting&dwvar_P231079200_color=NAVY&dwvar_P231079200_sizeType=MS#c646c720ea37db936e2856708a=&start=1&sz=36

I'm more pear-shaped but my preference is for sheath dresses with jackets or sweaters rather than skirts or pants to camouflage my tummy and emphasize my legs more. I also feel more comfortable when I'm doing any public speaking wearing a sheath dress so there's no shirt tucked into a waistband to be worried about whether it looks good from the audience if I'm not behind a podium.

[Anonymous]

Brands that have petites:
Talbots
Banana Republic
J Crew (and Factory)
Ann Taylor (and Loft?)
NYDJ (have a great pair of black pants from them)
Ralph Lauren (I have some great, timeless dresses from the Lauren line)
Boden
Lands End (great cashmere)
Brooks Brothers
Theory?

Some of these brands skew more casual, but you might be able to find somethings to fill in your wardrobe.

Yes, some knits show every lump and bump, no matter how svelte the wearer. Some do not. Sometimes you just have to try them on to know. Better fitting undergarments can help, too (not shapewear, but a well-fitting bra supposedly shouldn't have "back fat", seamless undies that fit well, etc.)

If I were you, I'd be tempted to try out the Nordstrom Trunk Club. It's like Stitch Fix, but from Nordstrom and using brands that you can buy at the store, rather than Stitch Fix's in-house brands. And I think if you have a Nordstrom card, hemming is included, and other alterations at something of a discount.

I don't know if any of the Rent the Runway type places carry much in the way of petite professional clothes, but that might be worth looking into.

[Anonymous]

Post kids for a few years I went from a 4-6 to an 8-10 at 5”3 too. Stay away from Talbots, too boxy and makes you look worse. Black and dark navy are your friends. Look for tailored, longer style blazers/jackets in lighter weight wool or blends. Wear the same color skirt or pants and a similar or same tone lightweight knit or silk shell underneath. A full button down shirt will add too much bulk. The jacket/blazer being open hides your lack of a waist. Heels can add length.