Don’t wear horizontal stripes, stick to black, wear chunky heels…There are all sorts of outdated rules that don’t apply to the modern woman with curves. The only fashion rule you should follow is to wear clothes that are comfortable and make you feel beautiful.
Here are 10 different ways to help you find your sense of style at any size. Check out these plus size fashion tips for ladies with full figures and curves. If you have any more, let us know!
1. Highlight Your Assets
Flaunt your favorite part! You’ve seen how Christina Hendricks shows off her dramatic curves with form-fitting dresses, low necklines, and belts at just the right place.
Show off great legs in bright skinny jeans, bold leggings, or colorful skirts or shorts. Arms take center stage with bright sleeveless tops paired with a bracelet or three. If you want to focus attention on your gorgeous face or righteous mane, go for V-necks and statement necklaces that draw the eye above the neck. The only key here is to choose one thing and work it!
2. What’s Your Shape?
Not all curvy girls have the same curves! Identifying your body shape and learning to dress it takes the guess work out of shopping and makes experimenting with trends easy.
The apple and pear are the most common types. For the first, create a waist with a blazer or belt while highlighting legs. The pear shape should emphasize the hourglass shape with pencil skirts, peplums, and a defined waistline.
3. What’s Your Size?
“Fit is everything. I don’t care what your body type is like: If you’re not wearing clothes that fit you, you can’t have style.” – Stacy London
With all the different sizing measurements out there, your wardrobe will be filled with multiple sizes, depending on the brand. Sometimes it’s not the number that causes the problem but just buying the wrong size. It’s easy to want to hide underneath oversized clothes or buy smaller clothes with good intentions. Neither are flattering and only the former is comfortable.
4. Tailor Made
Those perfect fitting clothes you seen in magazines aren’t. Similar to what you see in wedding dress shopping, clips at the back create the perfect fit. Off the rack clothing will rarely fit and of different body shapes in the same size have different needs. When you love an item but something isn’t quite right, get it tailored! You get the look of custom-made clothes at a fraction of the cost.
The most common changes that can be made are:
- Shortening sleeves
- Hem adjustments for skirts, dresses, and pants
- Waist adjustments for dresses, shirt, blazers
- Taking in the waistband of jeans or pants
- Closing a gaping blouse with a hidden snap
- Narrowing skirts or pant legs
Making clothes smaller is the easiest fix. When there is extra fabric, seams and hems can be let out. Shoulders are the most challenging area to alter so must fit. If you love something that is too big, take it too a tailor to see what can be done! You’ll quickly learn what changes are possible and affordable, dramatically expanding the clothes you can be.
5. Add Color
Many people take the “black is slimming” advice to heart and start dressing like a ninja goth. That’s no fun and definitely not fashion! You get the same effect by wearing any color top to bottom, resulting in a clean, unbroken line with more personality. Get creative with a monochrome outfit by mixing and matching fabrics, textures, and proportions.
If you’re not ready to go that far, add accessories to your go-to uniform. A patterned scarf, statement necklace, or bold shoes break up the monotony and are a great way to work the latest trends.
6. Embrace Prints
Whether you’re dressed for work or for fun, incorporating prints is a fun and easy way to express yourself! Patterns are a huge trend for 2013, including bold animal, bright floral, and precise geometric prints so you have so many to choose from right now. Wherever you wear a print will attract the eye, so show off curves in a patterned pencil skirt or décolletage in a printed blouse.
7. Contrast and Balance
Putting together an outfit is all about balance. There can be too much of a good thing so instead strive for contrasts that work together. For example, pair a loose, flowing top with tight bottoms, bright print with solid color, or chunky knit with a tight weave. Playing with contrasts is so much fun and can lead to fabulous new outfits!
8. Inside Out
What’s underneath counts and we’re not just talking about personality! The most gorgeous or expensive outfit won’t live up to its full potential worn with a sports bra and laundry day underwear. A few pieces of fabulous lingerie are worth the investment, especially when you factor in price per wear.
All you need is a bra that fits just right to show off the girls and encourage great posture, with shoulders back and head up. And last but not least is comfortable panties that don’t ride up and don’t show through clothes.
9. Smooth it Out
This tip isn’t just for curvy girls. Shape wear is for everybody, though some won’t reveal this secret. When you see celebrities poured into red carpet dresses, they are all rocking shape wear, sometimes even multiple layers. It’s the only way to get that super smooth finish without any lines, lumps, or bumps.
There are different shapes that work for every outfit. Try panty and undershirt styles for every, full body versions for dresses, and bike short styles to eliminate chub rub in the summer.
10. Make Trends Work for You
Style is timeless, fashion is fleeting. True style doesn’t mean jumping on every new trend. Instead, you can decide to incorporate or ignore the fashions that come and go (and inevitably come back again). Or make them work for you! For example, if you’re not into wearing a flower print pant or even blouse, try a scarf instead. Check out Stacey London’s new book The Truth About Style