Fashion How To: Style Tips For Plus Size Women

Knowing your body shape is key: if you’re top heavy you’ll need to dress to balance your proportions; if you have an hourglass silhouette (lucky you!) always focus on drawing attention to your waist while separates such as A-line skirts are best for pear shapes as they’ll help disguise generous hips, bums and thighs.

Don’t be a fashion victim. Of course we all want to look like we know what’s fashionable but not all trends will be your friend! A lot of the flash-in-the-pan fashions are best left to the teenagers who can a. pull them off due to their age and b. even then they’ll probably look back in years to come and cringe.

A better bet is opting for classic style staples that flatter your figure. Pinpoint your best assets – it could be your shapely legs, décolletage, glowing skin or defined waist – and then dress to show it off.

In an attempt to look slimmer it can be very tempting to dress head-to-heel in dark colours but this is a mistake. Instead use colour to break up an outfit and highlight your fave parts of your body. A colourful necklace will not only help brighten and lift your mood but it will also compliment your complexion; wearing a bright belt will emphasise your waist while statement shoes will draw attention to your legs.

Accessories are a versatile way of looking on-trend so use the latest bags, shoes and jewellery to add pizzazz to your outfits. Splurging on a well-made fitted LBD that makes you feel great is money well spent as you can pick up inexpensive extras to change the look for different occasions. Choose bold colours, patterns and glitter finishes to stand out from the fashion crowd.

Don’t be afraid of wearing fitted or figure-hugging outfits as these will flatter your figure more than loose, ill-fitting clothing. Baggy sacks will only swamp your silhouette and serve to make you look bigger than you are in reality.

Invest in clothing made from more structured, high-quality fabrics as cheaper fabrics like polyester will only cling to your body in all the wrong places. Instead silks or cottons that have less give and are more structured will be more forgiving on fuller figures.

Clothing sizes are fairly generic and can vary dramatically from shop to shop. If you find an item that you really love but the fit isn’t quite right consider buying it in the next size up and then have it altered so it fits you perfectly. It’ll cost that little bit extra at the time but in the long run it’ll pay off, as it will be the go-to piece you reach for that makes you feel fab. And remember ladies no one sees the label size just how great you look in it!

The right underwear makes all the difference in how your clothes look. It goes without saying that if you’re wearing the correct bra size and knickers your clothes will sit better and you’ll feel much more comfortable and confident.

Lastly avoid that old trap of buying clothes a size too small in the hope that one day you’ll fit into them, instead treat yourself to pieces that you love and that make you feel good right now!

Images: Evans