The era of flower-printed muumuus is long gone. The fashion caste system that separates people into “those who can” (skinny and rich) and “those who can’t” (everyone else), a system created by snobby designers and power-hungry fashion editors (who, by the way, are often plus-size themselves), is crumbling. A fashion utopia is emerging, one that offers several fashion options for curvy fashionistas, none of which involve polyester tent dresses.
This guide gives you the rules to follow and a list of the stores at which to shop to enhance your voluptuous, fashionable self. Take that, Kate Moss!
The Rules
In this diet-obsessed, waif-model culture, designers still gear their creations toward a size 4 and their version of “plus size” is just a bigger size 4. Fear not, though—commit these size rules to heart and watch your style quotient rise.
Dress monochromatically. Dressing in one color de-emphasizes your problem areas by creating one long silhouette. This works with any color, not just black.
Embrace vertical stripes. Vertical stripes make you look thinner by forcing the eye to look up and down. Avoid wearing horizontal stripes alone (see the tip below on how to wear horizontal stripes).
Put on a blazer with a belt. Throwing a blazer or cute jacket over a pair of belted pants and shirt makes your waist look smaller because the eye can’t see how far the waist extends around. This trick also works with horizontal stripes under a blazer.
Get measured for a bra. Wearing the right size bra can make you look thinner. Over eighty percent of women, say the experts, wear the wrong size bra and a large percentage of plus size women do it because they’re embarrassed by the larger sizes. Head to your nearest department store and get properly fitted for a bra.
Buy clothes that fit. If a garment bulges or shows your “rolls”, it doesn’t fit or you might be wearing the wrong bra size.
Break out the heels. Heels elongate your legs, making you look slimmer in the process. Stores like Zappos.com offer a huge selection of pumps and heels.
Low-rise is not an option. Very few people, regardless of size, can wear low-rise pants. Just because something is in style doesn’t mean it will work for you.
Avoid cropped jackets. Cropped jackets draw attention to your waist and butt. Purchase well-structured jackets that hit you right below the lower curve of your bottom. Check out Elizabeth.com for great jackets and tops from designers like Ellen Tracy and Sigrid Olsen Woman.
Purchase boot-cut pants. The skinny pants or pencil-leg pants emphasize big butts. Stick with pants that feature a slight flare at the bottom to create a more balanced look.
Find a great tailor. Don’t throw out those great-fitting pants because they’re too long. A sharp tailor will be able to hem them to your desired length for less than $20.
The Stores
Below are the best stores at which to purchase plus-size fashions that enhance your style while going easy on your pocketbook.
alight.com is a great place to find more contemporary fashions for younger curvy gals. If you are a plus-size fashionista in need of a prom dress, this is the place to go.
Avenue.com is the plus size version of the store New York & Company. The quality of the clothing varies, but it is a good place to find wardrobe stretchers like basic white tunics and leggings. It has a great selection of swimsuits.
Newport News offers cheap, trendy fashions in sizes up to 28. Almost all of the clothes you see on their size 2 models are available in larger sizes.
Lane Bryant is the best plus-size fashion store on the web. It offers a wide array of grandma-look-free plus-size fashions including a new jeans line called “Seven7”. Finally someone got the memo that plus-size stylistas want designer jeans as well. Believe it or not, the online version of Gap carries pants up to size 20. In addition, outerwear, sweaters and tops are available up to size XXL.
Kiyonna. This little website features sophisticated styles for fashionistas who wear a size 12 or higher. We are big fans of Kiyonna dresses.
Oldnavy.com has cheaper, lower-quality versions of the fashions seen at The Gap, up to size 20/XXL. It is a great place to stock up on tees, tanks, and other items you buy in bulk.
Overstock.com. This is the best online outlet, and a great place to pick up cheap designer items. The plus-size section tends to be a little boring, but it’s possible to find deals like a Dana Buchman top for up to 80% off retail.
Target.com. Stop by for toilet paper and leave with an outfit. Even the Isaac Mizrahi line goes up to size 18.
Nordstrom Rack. Come for the shoes. Stay for the clothes. The small but well-stocked plus-size section includes items from the main store.
Walmart.com‘s new George line is hot! So it the upscale Metro7 Line. More items are being added each day!
Torrid.com is the best place to shop if you are a young, hip, plus-size fashionista. From its 50s-inspired prom dresses to its low-rise jeans, this store definitely sheds the plus-size gotta-look-like-grandma myth. Plus the items are reasonably priced with most below $50.
Also try stopping by your local outlet mall: Off Fifth, the Saks Fifth Avenue Outlet, has an amazing selection of designer plus-size fashions from Donna Karan, Oscar De La Renta and Anne Klein. Eileen Fisher carries comfortable, free flowing clothing up to size 3X. And check out stores like Saks Fifth Avenue, Nordstrom, Bloomingdale’s, and Macy’s, they all have very hip plus-size departments. Those at Bloomingdale’s and Macy’s usually have the best sales, while Saks Fifth Avenue has more cutting-edge fashions and higher-end designers.
Remember that you can be a fashionista regardless of your size. Don’t let pop culture’s ridiculous fashion caste system dictate what you can and can’t wear. Armed with a heaping dose of self-confidence, a head full of common sense and the rules above, you can enter your favorite store and shop!
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Comments
Some women’s sizes work for me due to my bustline, and I do shop in those departments for myself, and for my plus size sister.
I would add these tips for plus size women: Never wear shoulder seams that don’t hit you at the shoulder’ this really makes for a sloppy look and generally the seam ends up on a line with the widest part of our torso, the bustline.
Don’t wear tops with huge over-size necklines. Manufacturers of less expensive clothing frequently just cut everything larger as they go up the chart, so by the time it gets to size 20-22 the necklines are huge and not flattering. This doesn’t apply to discreet cleavage - I mean those big ugly round necklines with no style. A “V” line neck is a better look, even a short one, but if you wear jewel-neck tops make sure they are “tight” around the base of the neck. Older women of size sometimes get a kind of fatty pad at the top of their spines (called “Dowager’s hump") that doesn’t need to be exposed to that extent!
Great site.
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hello i really appreciate ur help it really works
thanks ,cheyanne
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Okay Db.. before criticizing make sure you read page two and look at our archives wear I’ve written much more about plus size fashion than just this guide. In fact, I challenege you to find another site, similar to mine in size, that even remotely comes close to addressing plus size fashion as much as Ihave on my blog and the site in general.
That being said.. I do think that most plus size fashion is sub-par in terms in quality and often just a a bigger size 2- which means the proportions are almost always off. I do agree that plus size women are some of the most fashionable women around. Hello.. have you send Queen Latifah in the movie “Last Holiday”.. Absolutely fabulous. Mo’Nque? Styled from head to toe. Plus I’m black, so we don’t have as much of a hang up about skinny chicks as say my white sisters.
I once asked a very well respected Plus Size expert (who is plus size herself), why was the selecion so bad for plus size fashions. She told me that frnakly plus size women we’re not willing to pay for higher quality pieces (which I think is a cop out...)
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Steps 2, 4, and 5 are probably the most recommended for women in plus sizes.
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Love the site - just discovered it today after reading the interview in the San Francisco Chronicle - and enjoyed the article. I’m planning to read some of the others when I have more time.
I had to comment about YOUR comment that a plus sized “expert” said that many plus sized woman are not willing to pay for quality fashions. I SO disagree! As someone who regularly buys and wears Dana Buchman, and Ellen Tracy - along with Jones New York, Anne Klein, and Lauren (all bought on sale, thank you very much!) - I think it’s more a matter of finding those pieces and being made aware of what’s available. Everything I wander in LaneBryant to buy bras (the only thing I buy there) I see women spending hundreds of dollars. Yet, I talk to women regularly who don’t know that Macys, Nordstrom and Saks, along with Marshalls,Ross and TJ Maxx, carry larger sizes. The stores don’t give alot of attention to our market, and the advertisers are very lax about agressively marketing the large size lines. With no fashion magazines geared towards plus size fashion, it seems to be even harder to get the word out. And the stores seem to be regressing - When last I visited the Beverly Center in LA (I live on the West Coast) there was no store selling large sizes. I was shocked and amazed! AND, Macys is starting to reduce the stores with a Macy Woman department, although I haven’t seen that happen with the petites department. No one’s going to make it easy for us!
All my long winded way of saying that I appreciate you including large size fashion in your blog, and hope to see more!
Thanks.
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If you happen to need plus size shoes, there is a great store that specializes in women’s large sizes and widths. It’s called Dreamshoes and they have women’s shoes size 11 to 15, even extra wide! They are in the LA area and they also sell online at http://www.shoesofyourdreams.com.
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most help full thing i found on the net
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In response to your comment about plus-size women not being willing to pay ‘designer’ prices… I have to agree with you. My daughter and I are in the fashion business. Our company is called Jahqoi and we specialize in plus-size clothing. We often get complaints about our prices, and we’re not even in the price range of most designers. We try to keep prices low as we can. But some people don’t understand the difference between the cheaper garments and designer clothing. So, we point out to them that we make high-quality, well-constructed clothing that doesn’t fall apart after several washings.
I’d also like to say, in regards to Nicolettes’ comment...that you’re also right. There are some women who are willing to pay higher prices for well-made clothing. And people like that (and like you) are really our target market. We want customers who feel that they deserve to dress well. Our styles are also trendier than the usual plain looking stuff. And you’re right about the fact that the stores and advertisers don’t promote their plus-size sections. It’s just a sad situation all around. We’re the ‘bastards’ of the fashion industry. (sigh) But… my daughter and I are trying to change that.
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I am proud to bea pus sized woman but I have probems with picking out what to wear? I feel that a skinn or pencil-leg pant would help me empasize my butt cause it’s kinda flat. hat do you think Budget Fshionista?
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