Ten Essential Plus Size Fashion Tips To Live By

It’s always rather annoying to be told what you can and cannot do when it comes to fashion – especially as the world’s leading fashion gurus are always telling us to break the rules. Nevertheless, it is genuinely important to understand how your own body type and shape should be factored into the decisions you make when purchasing garments and putting outfits together.  After all, you can’t realistically expect an ensemble to look identical on a size 6 and size 26 frame – it’s a case of working with what you have and flaunting your fabulousness.

So at the risk of ruffling a few feathers among those who prefer not to follow the rules, here’s a quick rundown of 10 essential plus size fashion tips to live by:

1. First up, never fall into the trap of assuming that hiding your frame under baggy clothing will do you any favours at all. It’s undoubtedly the single most common mistake made by millions of plus size women all over the world, for whom the idea of hiding is preferable to flaunting their curves. Sadly, to wear overly-baggy clothing is to hide every inch of your shape from head to toe, which can result in a wholly heavier and blockier overall appearance.
2. Of course the same is also true at the other end of the spectrum – tip number two being that of avoiding anything that’s too tight. In a similar vein to the above, overly-tight clothing has a habit of accentuating things in a rather negative way, resulting in a perceived size increase.
3. One of the oldest tricks in the book is still one of the best – strategically use darker colours to make problem areas appear smaller. A predominantly blue dress for example with black or darker-coloured sides can create the illusion of a fabulous hour-glass figure.
4. Diverting attention away from trouble spots is also one of the longest-standing rules of all for plus size women. It’s simply a case of making sure that the details present on any garments you choose and the accessories you wear don’t call attention to your trouble spots, but rather divert attention away from them. Whatever it is you’re most proud of, get it highlighted and flaunted!
5. That being said, it’s a good idea to steer clear of overuse of detail and accessories in general – the chaotic and overcrowded look does nothing for curvier figures. You’re far better off focusing on quality rather than quantity, so be selective and thoughtful with detail and accessories.
6. Shopping with dedicated plus size clothing brands is an absolute must these days. There’s really no sense in wasting your time with standard High Street stores that pay little more than a passing ‘nod’ to curvier frames with a token scattering of dresses here and there. It’s a much better idea to take your business to those who specialise in larger sizes where you’ll find a world of epic designs to choose from – Lagenlook clothing being a pretty prime example.
7. Speaking of brands, if and when you find a brand that does just the type of clothing that makes you look and feel awesome, stick with it like glue. There’s really nothing to gain by continually shopping around for something suitable only to find yourself having to ‘make do’ with things that are less-than perfect to say the least.
8. One of the most important things to be aware of as a woman in general is the way in which there are literally thousands of different body types. Labels like ‘petite’ and ‘plus size’ can be helpful, but within all such categories there are thousands of other categories of women of different shapes and sizes. As such, it’s a good idea to get to know your body from top to bottom and assess what your real body type/shape is. This way, you’ll have a much easier job knowing not only what to buy, but how to look simply stunning!
9. Longer tops can be an absolute Godsend when it comes to not only hiding a belly you might not be proud of, but also adding the illusion of additional body length/height. And as perceived height can be wonderfully slimming, longer tops have the potential to really put a look together.
10. Last but not least, one of the single most versatile and useful staples that should be in every plus size woman’s wardrobe is the humble V-neck top. V-necks are great for adding shape and a sense of slenderness – not to mention being just the ticket for showing off fantastic cleavage!