Plus Size Fashion Guide
A lot of styling for a plus-size body depends on your body shape. Are you a circle? Inverted triangle? Not sure? Don’t worry, check out our handy What’s Your Body Shape Guide...
A lot of styling for a plus-size body depends on your body shape. Are you a circle? Inverted triangle? Not sure? Don’t worry, check out our handy What’s Your Body Shape Guide to find out your body shape. Remember, this is not a “what you should and shouldn’t wear” kind of blog. We firmly believe you should wear whatever makes you feel good. We just want to offer suggestions in case you are in a fashion rut or don’t know how to dress for your body type.
Accept Your Body
Loving your body can be a challenge for anyone. No matter what size or shape you are, accepting your body should be first and foremost. Embracing every inch of you will do wonders to your confidence and once you have that, you can rock any style. For so long, plus-size women have been told to hide their bodies but times are changing. Instead of hiding away behind baggy clothes (which only make you look bigger and less shapely), figure out what clothing flatters your shape.
Pants
When it comes to the color of pants, choosing black or a darker color will help to create the illusion of a slimmer silhouette. Now, we know there are a lot of options out there when it comes to cuts: skinny, boot cut, straight, high waisted, etc. Each of them has their own characteristic that make them perfect for plus-size bodies. All you need to do is find which one works for your body shape. Skinny pants are great for helping to elongate your legs and draw the eye away from areas that you might not be as comfortable with. Just because you are plus size doesn’t mean you should shy away from form fitting pants. You might think bigger and baggier is better but actually hiding under layers of extra fabric will give the illusion of additional weight and let’s be honest, who wants that? Bootcut pants are great for balancing out your curves. If you are top heavy, these are great for creating a balanced silhouette by adding volume to your lower half. Straight leg pants are a great pick if you have thicker thighs. They help give your legs a longer, learner look by balancing out your shape. High-waisted pants are a plus-size girls dream. Not only are they great at defining your waist but they often have tummy-control designed into them to help you feel confident in your curves.
Tops
Peplum tops are great for defining your natural waist and are a fantastic piece for any shape body. The key is picking the right one for your particular shape. If you are inverted triangle shaped, go for a darker top to help balance out your figure. Be sure to pair a peplum top with fitted bottoms so you avoid adding unnecessary bulk in multiple places. Asymmetrical tops are great for drawing the eye upward and away from your midsection. If you struggle with broad shoulders, this top is a must because it helps to create the illusion of narrower shoulders. V-neck tops are great for elongating your torso and making you look taller. If you are thicker in your waist this is a great top for you because it helps draw the attention away from your stomach and draw the eye toward your face and bust. You will need to pay attention to the cut of the shape. A higher v-neck is great if you have a smaller bust and narrower neck, a deeper v-neck is best for when you have a larger bust and thicker neck.
Dresses
Just like everything else, there area number of different silhouettes that work great for plus-size women. It is about finding what highlights or de-emphasizes the parts of your body that you choose. A-line dresses are great at creating an hourglass figure by emphasizing your waist and bust while concealing your stomach at the same time. Try sticking to a material that is a little stiffer to help it retain its shape on your body and not cling to you. If you feel you have too big of a chest for this style, don’t worry because this compliments your shape too. It helps to create the illusion of fuller hips and balances out your silhouette. Straight dresses are great options because they are effortless. The key when picking out a straight cut dress is to make sure you don’t look too boxy in them. They are great for women whose shoulders and waists are the same width. They help to elongate your body and make you appear taller. Off-the-shoulder dresses are great for adding volume to your upper half. These are perfect for women with a heavier bottom half because it balances out your silhouette.
Be Confident
The best advice we can give is – be confident because nothing is sexier than confidence. It doesn’t matter what you are wearing, as long as you wear it with a splash of confidence, you will nail it!