Dressing to hide obesity

GOLDEN RULE:
DO NOT wear any clothes that are even slightly too small.
While it is mentally nice to be able to "fit" into a size smaller, it does not mean it looks good. An example could be pants, where you could technically fit in a size smaller but gives muffin top or what not, this actually makes people look larger than if they wore a larger pant size!

This is a good rule for everyone, whether you're obese or at your optimum weight.

Structured, tailored styles help. A heavy person will look more shapely in a well cut suit than in sweats.

For larger women, the area right under the breasts tend to be their skinniest area. Additionally, their breasts tend to be on the larger side.

So, maximize that by wearing dresses/shirts that flow from after the breast on down, instead of the traditional dress that flows from the waist on down.

Avoid neon colors like the plague. Go for designs that break areas up instead of fully solid colors.

If you can wear heels or shoes that raise you a little bit, it will add a slimming effect.

GOLDEN RULE:
DO NOT wear any clothes that are even slightly too small.
While it is mentally nice to be able to "fit" into a size smaller, it does not mean it looks good. An example could be pants, where you could technically fit in a size smaller but gives muffin top or what not, this actually makes people look larger than if they wore a larger pant size!

A lot of it really depends on the style of clothing you like to wear and the shape of your body.

TL;DR:
No neon. Ever.
Accent what you got, minimize what you don't.
NEVER wear a size too small.
Heels rock (not street side worker girl heels though...)
Solids should be avoided unless there's a design involved.

Shop with a friend. Ask honest opinions. Some of the prettiest girls I know are overweight/obese. They just wear stuff that fits properly in the right areas, work their make up well, and have confidence.

OMGosh YES. Everything she said. Maurices Jeans are awesome. Also, DO NOT UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCE buy a cheap bra. Go to Cacique or Victorias Secret and get fitted. Try on several styles. Pull those boobies up. Not cup overflowing up but just where they are supposed to be. Go get your hair done at a NICE salon. Then go to the store and get brand new makeup. On your way home stop and get a manicure and pedicure.

Enjoy where you are at on the way to where you are going ladies. Lifes to long to be miserable and too short to not have fun!

After I buy work clothes, I take them to get altered to look more professional on me. For example, depending on the shirt for example, I might change the sleeve from too long to ¾, take in the sides, . . .
I usually have some ideas before I get there, but I trust the ladies to do what will work. They do not change me much.

Two stories: first, there is a woman in the town nearest me who always looks good and always looks like she's losing weight. She is not heavy but there is something about her that makes you think she has just lost a few pounds (all the time). Finally I realized what it is. She wears clothing that is just a tiny, tiny bit too big. I do not mean a saggy butt in jeans or too large shoulders on her tops, but instead she wears nothing that is skin tight.

Second story. The last time I was at my doctor's office for a quick update she asked me if people had noticed that I've been losing weight. I acknowledged that a few had but not many. She said, "I think its probably because, unlike many overweight women, you never wear skin tight clothing, so you don't see every bulge." Hmmmm. Well, my jeans were getting pretty damn tight around Christmas! But I know what she means. I happen to just be comfortable in clothes with a bit of room, and never have been one to wear clingy tops.

You have youth on your side, plus if your ticker on your profile page indicates the amount of weight you need to lose, are not very overweight anyway. The outfits you showed in the picture ^^ a few posts up certainly look normal size and cute. If they fit you nicely wear them! If you are embarrassed to show certain parts of your body at your current weight, then don't. Who cares? Usually young women have toned arms and legs regardless of their weight. Take advantage of it!

I have a moderately dressy shirt that I absolutely love, since it can stand alone as a casual or look really nice under a jacket. It has downward pointing chevrons, with the open ends starting around my shoulders. I think it flatters my shape and gives me the illusion of a waist (even at my best weight I'm very short waisted). Now that I'm losing weight, it's nice and loose around the bottom, so it doesn't squish my fat into obvious places. LOL

i'm scared to go into stores and try on clothes because i feel like the salespeople are thinking rude thoughts about me so i usually just buy stuff by ordering on the phone so that they don't see me

girl, no. NOOOO. buying online/over the phone=returns, shipping, post office lines, so so so many problems. and dude, those salespeople, chances are, they are probably just thinking about when they can go on their break. everyone has their own issues; maybe they feel the same way when shopping too. get a girlfriend, go to those stores, try on everything, and find something that makes you feel beautiful.

OMGosh YES. Everything she said. Maurices Jeans are awesome. Also, DO NOT UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCE buy a cheap bra. Go to Cacique or Victorias Secret and get fitted. Try on several styles. Pull those boobies up. Not cup overflowing up but just where they are supposed to be. Go get your hair done at a NICE salon. Then go to the store and get brand new makeup. On your way home stop and get a manicure and pedicure.

Enjoy where you are at on the way to where you are going ladies. Lifes to long to be miserable and too short to not have fun!

yes, yes, yes about the bras. i remember hearing somewhere that many women are wearing the wrong size bra. cacique has AMAZING bras--and i'm pretty sure they sell through lane bryant (right, BurntCoffee?). i'm a full-fronted lady, so trust me when i say that the perfect bra can dramatically improve your overall look.

OP, How much weight do you need to lose? You don't look obese in that photo.

Wear what fits your body nicely. Even if you are size 20. I always see girls that actually wear 3 to 4 sizes bigger but wear their pants under their stomach fat. Big no no. Wear what flatters your body no matter what size. I am a 16 right now but my smallest two years ago was a 12.