Flattering Plus Size Curves

By Annette Welsford

In many western countries the percentage of plus size women is steadily growing. In the USA over 50% of women (that's over 35 million) are a plus size. This has seen the explosion in plus size fashion, but unfortunately many of the designs are downright frumpy. It's like the designers are cashing in on a new market segment, without any genuine care about producing designs which plus size women would want to wear out. They're not flattering or fashionable and gives the impression that plus size women need to be punished!

There are many examples of stunning, confident plus size women to look to for inspiration and motivation, including; Queen Latifah, Sherri Sheperd, Nikki Blonsky, Christina Schmidt and Ashley Graham.

The first step to take if you are a plus sized woman is to analyse your figure (or have it analysed) so you know how you're proportioned horizontally and vertically. Identify your great parts (and every woman has them) and seek professional styling advice on how to subtly mold your curves through the clever use of design lines.

You need to learn to appreciate (not curse) your curves. After all many men prefer a few curves to a bony body as they're more feminine, sensual and voluptuous. Look at all the famous artworks of the past few hundred years. It's the curvaceous ladies who've been immortalised on canvas, not skinny greyhounds!

The next step is to seek professional advice on which design elements will be the most flattering for your shape.

Here's a few tips...

1. Wearing the right correctly fitted undergarments is essential for full-figured women and can make the difference between a lumpy silhouette and a smooth, firm, sleek one.

2. Design Lines:

• Horizontal design lines can make you look wider and are best used to balance an area that is disproportionately narrow e.g, the shoulders of a pear/triangular shaped woman.
• Vertical design lines are a full figured woman's best friend. They have the power to instantly elongate and slim anywhere they are applied to, and can work minor miracles.
• Circular/curved design lines are best applied to the part of your body that is the smallest.

3. Patterns can add interest, flair and fashion to your look. The more substantial your body size, try to avoid dresses with lots of circular/curved shapes in the pattern as they have a tendency to enlarge the overall body. Dresses with geometric, complex or subtle (little contrast between colours) patterns will be the most flattering.

Hi, I am Annette. I became a confident plus size woman with http://become-stylish.com/ They are the pioneers in the plus size fashion industry, become fashionable with them.


Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Annette_Welsford

Wholesale Fashion Do's and Do Not's For Women Who Wear Plus Sizes Clothing

By Bruce Giant

Just because you're big doesn't mean you can't look like a million bucks. In the past, looking for clothing in plus size was like searching for a needle in a haystack but nowadays most department stores feature a reasonable amount of clothing for women who wear big sizes. Thankfully, many designers are continually jumping on the bandwagon to offer more fashionable wear geared towards bigger women. Just because there is so much available doesn't mean that you should wear whatever comes your way in the pluses department, however. There are several do's and don't XL women should adhere to in order to ensure that they look chic and elegant, not chunky and frumpy.

Go-To Items for Women Who Wear Plus Size
Women of all shapes have go-to items in their closets and women who wear big-sizes are no different. V-neck sweaters and tops are perfect because they elongate the neck and make plus size women look taller. Wide-leg trousers that fit the widest part of your leg and have a straight cut are great in plus sizes as well. Espadrilles are ideal as summer footwear for women who wear XXL because they are light and airy yet solid. Wholesale Clothing that fits well such as stylish jackets with good structure are also a cornerstone in the plus size woman's closet. A-line skirts that flare at the bottom are great in plus sizes because they give the illusion of an hourglass figure.

Clothing Items That Plus-Sized Women Should Avoid
Plus size clothing in clingy fabrics should be avoided because they tend to cling in all the wrong places. Heavy-weight fabrics are great in plus sizes because they tend to shape the body instead of the body being shaped by them. Women in plus sizes should avoid small accessories such as tiny hand bags and little jewelry because they can make you look bigger. Instead, find accessories that are proportionate to your figure such as cuff bangles and large shoulder bags.

Some plus size women mistakenly believe that they should stick with wearing black since it has a slimming effect. The truth is that women who wear plus sizes can easily pull off the look of white clothing as long as they wear the right styles. For example, a extra-large woman would look great in a structured jacket and wide-leg trousers, both in white.

Wholesale Clothing with horizontal stripes is generally a no-no for extra-large women because it can give your body a larger appearance. However, horizontal stripes that are very fine are okay for women who wear big sizes as long as they appear as a solid color from a distance. You can also use clothing with horizontal stripes to your advantage if you have a pear-shaped figure. For example, a shirt with horizontal stripes will accentuate the upper half of your body, taking attention away from the larger bottom half of your body. However, there is no need to obsess too much over patterns and colors for clothing in these numbers. The shape and fit of the clothing are generally the most important factors to consider.

Don't believe for a second that just because you're women over a size 14 that you have to give up on following trends. There is plenty of sexy, fashionable, and stylish clothing for big women to choose from and to wear. Find Wholesale Clothing that fits the largest part of your body and then search for a great tailor or seamstress to help you achieve the ideal fit. With the services of a great tailor or seamstress, you will be able to make anything look and feel perfect on your body, no matter what your size is.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Bruce_Giant

Plus Size Clothing - How to Make the Most of Your Unique Shape!

By Carla Plummer

Dressing right for your body type is the key to maximizing your beautiful curves, and drawing attention to your best assets. You can accomplish this by creating a balanced body line based on your shape. The easiest way to determine your body shape is to take your measurements and then compare them to the body types below.

If you are a body type 4 you have:

• Sloping or narrow shoulders
• Medium to small bust
• A fuller size waist
• Hips are wider than shoulders
• Full calves and thighs

Choose straight leg or slightly flared pants that have a minimal or no waistband and wear them at your natural waist. They should have adequate fullness through the seat and legs to be flattering. Do not wear high waist pants as they will not give you the illusion of a long torso. Avoid jeans that have very detailed back pockets as these make your back side appear larger.

Skirts should fit closely at the waist and drape easily over your hips. Choose colors that will enable you to achieve a monochromatic look as this creates a vertical body line, especially if you wear hose or boots that are same color as the skirt. The best length for your body shape will fall just below the knee.

Tops should fall at your low waist to high hip area. Select tops that have set-in sleeves to widen the appearance of your shoulder line. The most flattering necklines for your body type are boat, ballet, sweetheart, U-neck and/or V-neck. For evening you may want to choose a top that has a more solid body combined with shear sleeves to give you more width through the shoulders. Other choices in tops are those with a banded bottom that fall to your higher hip area. Wrap tops and button-front shirts are also a good choice and these should reach your low waist to high hip area.

The key to dressing for body type 4 is to create width across your shoulders, emphasize your bust area and make your hips appear narrower.

If you are a body type 5 you have:

• A round full neck
• Broad to average shoulders
• A wide rounded back
• A fuller bust
• A defined, and full waist
• Hips are close to the same width as shoulders
• Legs that are shapely

Choose straight leg or boot cut pants with a flat front that comes to your navel area to give you that long torso look. They should have either no waist band or a minimal one. Your pants should also be hemmed to wear with heels to give you an elongated look. Capri pants will also look good on you especially if worn at a length that falls just above the ankle to the low calf area.

Skirts should have a small waistband that are slightly gathered and worn at knee length to accentuate your legs. Vertical patterns that draw the eye to your hips and legs work well for you. Pencil style skirts with a slight tapering at the knee are flattering as well. Gored skirts are also a good choice for your body type. Look for skirts that are constructed of vertical panels sewn together that create a curvy drape and fall at knee length.

Tops should drape your upper body to emphasize your full curves but not have too much pattern that will cut you in half visually. You will want to choose tops that de-emphasize a full middle. Choose tops with an oval, deep V-neck or asymmetrical necklines with a length that ends from your high hip or just below your bottom. Choose tops with full armholes that do not have a set-in shoulder seam. You can also wear a tailored shirt with finished shirttails over your top or fitted camisole that hits at your high hip area. Wear the shirt unbuttoned, staying with a monochromatic color scheme to maintain an overall unbroken visual line. The deep V-neck shape will make your neck appear longer.

The key to dressing for body type 5 is to create length for your neck area, de-emphasize your waist, and show off those shapely legs.

If you are a body type 6, you have:

• A full neck
• Shoulders that are broad
• A full to average bust size
• A broad rib cage
• A full torso
• Waist that is short but full
• A flat behind
• Legs that are slim

Choose pants with a slimming narrow leg, and a flat front that sits at your natural to low waist. Pants with either no waistband or a thin waistband will work best for you and should be hemmed to the tops of your shoes. Your pants will look best when worn with a high-heeled boot with a pointed toe, or a simple sandal that reinforces a sleek line. For jeans, try to choose a style that will make your back side look curvier. Your shape will allow you to choose capri pants in any length from your mid-calf to ankle length to show off your slender legs.

Straight skirts are best are best for you and should have a minimal or no waistband and sit at your natural or low waist and can be slightly gathered. Wear your skirts at knee length or slightly above if you are petite. You can also wear skirts with side slits that will accentuate your legs. A slightly flared skirt with fabrics that drape will also flatter you, especially if worn just above the knee.

Tops that will work best for your body type are skimming and straight with a tunic feel. You may need to experiment with the length choosing from tops that hit just below the bottom or the high hip area. U-shape, V-neck and asymmetrical necklines will work great for you. Your tops should have full armholes with a shoulder seam that hits the edge of your shoulder to create a slimming fit across your upper arms and ease over your bust. Tops with set-in sleeves, gathered, or puffed sleeves should be avoided. Tailored shirts with a straight skimming cut, vertical seams, and a finished hem that comes to just below your bottom worn unbuttoned enough to show a little cleavage are also a good choice for you.

The key to dressing for body type 6 is to lengthen the neck area, elongate the waist, add volume and shape to your rear area, and show off those slim legs.

It's easy to determine your body type just by taking a few measurements and comparing them to the types outlined here. Following these guidelines will ensure that you will be able look your absolute best for your own unique and beautiful shape. You will look absolutely beautiful when you play up your best features and celebrate the special person you are with a wardrobe that flatters your gorgeous shape!

You can find plus size dresses here.

For more information about dressing right for you body type, check out The Pocket Stylist - Behind-the-Scenes Expertise from a Fashion Pro on Creating Your Own Unique Look, by Kendall Farr.

Carla Plummer is the webmaster of ImBeautifulNow.com which was created as a place to encourage women to celebrate the beautiful woman they already are! ImBeautifulNow.com provides a one-stop shopping place for Beauty, Fashion and Health sprinkled with beauty quotes, tips, and words of wisdom about feeling beautiful.

For more information visit my blog for secret beauty tips or feel free to stop by check out our best over 50 beauty tips!

Article Source: Plus Size Clothing - How to Make the Most of Your Unique Shape!