I have not bought clothes for a year.

I have become extremely terrified of shopping. I have gained 20 pounds since last spring and I cannot get myself to buy anything because I am so ashamed of myself.

Nothing I own fits well anymore and I have begun avoiding going out because I have nothing to wear and I have nothing to wear to go shopping. I basically have an anxiety attack just thinking about going and when I finally go I find NOTHING.

It is getting warmer and I can no longer hide under my winter coat all day. All my weight is in my stomach and that is SOO hard to find clothes that do not fit close to the stomach and it is so hard to find pants because I have a tiny heinie and apparently they do not make pants for tiny heinies and if they do can someone tell me where they are hiding them? I have long legs and skinny jeans just look weird on me.

I just feel disgusting when I go shopping and I used to love it. Now I dread it. I put on my pjs as soon as works over and stay home all night. I just kind of feel hopeless. I used to love pin-up fashion and now.....now I just feel to chubby to fit into anything I like.

:(

You could always start wearing these....

Hurray!!! Problem solved!!

Theres a style shirt that fitted to under the bust and then is a bit loser when it drops from there.  Not a lot like Loriks link but loose enough to be forgiving.  Ive seen them in soft, T-shirt like cotten and dressier materials, solids and prints.  Right now, the Ross stores around me have lots of versions of them. 

I had a teary event trying to find a pair of pants to fit on my calves.  Ive a vein condition in my lower legs that causes them to swell to comical size so I cant even fit in bootleg or wide legged pants.  I squeeezed into men bootlegs which are wider at the bottoms but I couldnt wear them in public.  At first shopping, I figured just hit more. By end of the stores, I lost it.  Back in my car, I wondered how many gals had fitting room breakdowns. 

It sounds like you got used to a certain look of a size that your not at right now. Are you not having any luck in your old styles going to a lartger size? If you feel motivated, theres still time until summer and it may not take that much to get to a point where you find items that fit better.

^Empire waist.

They work most of the time.  Sometimes they'll make a person look pregnant.  I've seen a lot of people wearing boho-ish baggy tops.  Those seem to hide bellies too.

Wrap shirts are great camouflage.

Don't know where you like to shop, but here's what I found at Gap (shudder).

Empire waist top
Boho-ish top

No help on the jeans.  I buy whatever is cheap and seems to fit good enough.  I think I'm going to teach myself to sew so I can make my own. 

I hate shopping.

Hi Schnooder, with warmer weather on it's way and you wanting to look hip, trendy & pulled together may I suggest you head to your local area that has an East Indian or African population to go shopping for all kinds of tunics/tops. You will find them in  different lengths, styles, material weight, colors & some are really fancy. Perfect for the beach, parties or just hanging out with friends. And the best part is you will find that most of these stores will not be expensive. All these places have a seamstress & can custom make other stuff for you.

Empire waist tops are good, but high-waisted jeans will take care of your problem.  They hide the belly bulge and are totally fantastic! 

But if all else fails...you could always wear a snuggie!

chin up, we've all been there.