PLUS SIZE STYLING

16 Feb

What to wear, if you're plus size...

Plus size women, like all other body types, come in different sizes and shapes. Plus size clothing is clothing proportioned specifically for people whose bodies are larger than the average. You can dress well at any size by choosing clothes that flatter your figure and accentuate your best features.
The key to dressing your plus size figure is feeling comfortable and using our styling tips to help use the right styling proportions to distribute your weight throughout your body to achieve a longer, leaner silhouette.. Understand your body shape and choose garments that flatter and show off your assets.

FOUNDATION GARMENTS:

Start with your foundation garments. Wearing a good bra will create space between your waist and your bust line.
Every woman needs a little bit of smoothing out, cinching, and support. Great shape wear will help control and smooth out your lumps and bumps.
Shapewear most commonly comes in the form of control camis, control tights, corsets and control pants. Shapewear should be extremely comfortable or not worn at all.

THE RIGHT FIT:

You want to wear an outfit that hugs you in all the right places emphasising your assets. Achieving the right balance between fitted and too tight for our plus size ladies is critical. Clothing should always fit so you can’t see any lines of your undergarments.
Common garment issues for our lovely plus size ladies are:
Your blouse or dress pulls too tightly across your bust.
You have a crease in your crotch because your pants are too tight across your bottom.
Your skirt or dress is pulling and has stress marks across your thighs.
The jacket does not button with ease and is gaping open at the bottom.
And your sleeves are too tight.

DRESSES:

Avoid shapeless dresses that hide your figure. A cinched waist is very flattering and showing a bit of your décolletage creates a great silhouette.
The wrap dress is universally flattering. The V neck provides great shape to your upper body and elongates your neck. The wrap dress gives the illusion of an hourglass figure and accentuates your waist.
A-line dresses or dresses that flare over your hips and thighs are extremely flattering.
Body con and tight fitted dresses are great. Plus size ladies tend to stay away from them but with the right fabric and cut, they can look amazing. The body con is a fabulous base to introduce some layering pieces.
Emphasis your assets by wearing plunging necklines, off the shoulders, shoulder cut outs, sweetheart neckline and scoop necklines.
If you have great legs be sure to show your great assets by using the length of your dress and adding a heel to elongate your line.

TOPS:

The best necklines are V necks or embellishment at the neckline. They will draw the eye line up and put the focus on your lovely face.
Empire waist tops highlight your slimmest point which is just under your bust.
Tops with flared sleeves or with details on the sleeves will draw attention away from areas you don't want to emphasise.

BLAZERS:

A blazer is a great staple in anyone’s wardrobe. We advise single breasted blazers as double breasted can make you look extremely busty.
The top button should sit just below the bust.
Your blazer must fit perfectly in the shoulders to give you the best overall silhouette and opt for more delicate fabric.
Your blazer should end at your hips drawing your eyeline down elongating your line.

SKIRTS:

A line skirts and skirts that flare will give you the best silhouette.

PANTS:

Pants should not be too baggy or too loose, this will add unwanted bulk.
Skinny pants are a great way to show off your skinny legs. You can add a long line cardigan or jacket to create the illusion of a longer, leaner silhouette.
High-waisted pants are flattering as they create definition and also hide your muffin top when paired with tops ruched at the waist.

ADDITIONAL TIPS:

The hourglass shape is the most aspirational body shape. Females who have an hourglass shape are well balanced. Their bust and hips measure roughly the same and they have a small defined waist.
Cinching the smallest part of your waist will create the illusion of an hourglass. This will draw the eye to the smallest part of your body and will enhance your curves.
Bright colours attract the eye, so we advise you wear bright pieces on the parts of your body you want to accentuate.
Wearing dark colours minimises the areas you want to slim out. Use dark colours like black and navy blue to create a slimmer look.
Inject some small prints into your wardrobe for a bit of fun. Small prints generally look more flattering than larger prints.
Wear narrow horizontal stripes to make you look taller and leaner.
Layering your clothes can make you look super stylish. The aim is to elongate your line tricking the eye into the illusion of a slimmer figure.
Monochrome dressing works wonders by creating one long, lean, continual line.
Accentuate your waist with a belt. Both thick and thin belts can look great on a curvy figure. Wear your belts at the smallest part of your waist to show off your body.
There are many brands that cater specifically to Plus Size body shapes. Plus size clothing is manufactured to different specifications. We have compiled this list of Australian brands that stock Plus Size clothing.