Articles

People in the fashion industry are all too happy to tell you what is proper, and what you should be wearing. This extends to those who specialize in clothes for larger women. Many of these tips are useful, but others are what the computer industry refer to as fear, uncertainty, and doubt. We will attempt to separate fact from fiction.

The fashion tip that plus size women should not "show skin" is not at all acceptable. Why should plus size women cover as much of themselves as possible and hide in "fat clothes"? Zero in on your own favourite feature and go ahead and highlight it. For example if you have shapely legs, wear a short skirt or wear a V-neck to show off some sexy cleavage!

Big girls should never show bare arms. Plus sized girls have been told for years: "Never go sleeveless!" but it's untrue. Showing off a little bit of skin can make you feel desirable if you take a few simple ideas into consideration. Not secure in showing off your entire upper arm? Sling a pashmina or shawl around your shoulders, or use a shrug. Or try a pretty blouse with sheer lace or chiffon sleeves. Try these ideas to bare a little skin without feeling too exposed.

Plus size women should not wear horizontal stripes. This is just silly. Stripes, in any direction, vertical, diagonal and, yes, horizontal, can be flattering. There are a few rules, such as, placement of the stripes. If your hips are the widest point on your body then the horizontal bands or color should be placed on the upper part of your body, near your head, and around your legs instead of around your waist area.

Though bold prints can flatter a large frame, plus girls would do better to stay away from certain types of big and expressive prints. This is because it is not the prints themselves but the space between the prints that is the issue. More the space, less flattering the dress on a plus size girl. However, prints with overlapping edges are not that bad.

Larger girls should try to avoid tight fitting clothing, at least that is what everyone is told. This is untrue, unless you are hoping to hide your figure from everyone. No one, especially plus size girls, should be forced to wear nondescript piles of clothing that hang unflatteringly. By selecting clothing that fits your figure appropriately, you can make any outfit shine. A tighter, fitted tank top covered with a slightly looser jacket can be a staple of your wardrobe. Don't let everything cling your problem areas, but do let your positive features shine through.

Plus girls can't wear white. True, dark colors such as black, charcoal and navy are slimming, fit is more important than color. Color can be used to your advantage. If you are bigger on the bottom, wear a simple, darker color there and a lighter color on the top. You may even choose a bolder print on top. The point is that plus girls are not confined to the dark colors, by all means, lighten up! Wear red, blue, pastels, you name it, and, of course, wear white!