Hey Ladies -- Spring is here! Are you ready to break out the fun, new fashions and put away the bulky coats, heavy boots and layers and layers of clothes? Well before you get all excited and run outside in the latest and season's greatest, let's make sure you are ready to wear it and wear it well!
Please wear your correct size. Tight clothing on a plus sized body will exaggerate your weight. Better, get clothing that will fit you and forget about the size tag. No one cares or even has to know if you are a size 12 or a size 21. The fit is what matters and what flatters. That may mean you need to start wearing a larger size than you “think” you wear.
Don’t go too baggy either. Stop with the flowy, flutter sleeved moo moos! The style is comfy but don’t make it an everyday staple. Most curvier women choose oversize clothing to hide their body. But the truth is they are only drawing more attention to their body. Your clothes must skim your body, no matter what your size or shape.
Don’t wear the entire animal. I love animal prints but you can’t wear them from head to toe. Pick a top or a bottom then make sure everything else is solid. You leopard print dress will be darling with a red clutch and red shoes – you don’t have to wear matching shoes, headband, purse, coat etc.
Feel free to wear color but wear them correctly. Color is an amazing tool to camouflage weight. Dark colors recede and light colors advance if you wear dark, solid colors on your heavy parts those parts will look smaller.
Which brings me to avoiding too much detail…. If you have an extra helping of booty that you are trying to downplay, you should not buy jeans with studs, embroidery or anything else jazzing up the rear pockets. At the same time, if your upper arms are beefy, a short sleeved top with sleeves that end at the thickest part of your arm is going to make them look heavier. Busy prints should be avoided. Also frills and busy fabrics aren’t flattering. Instead they give you a childish look. It’s better to wear clean cuts and classic design that can make you have a chic and elegant appearance.
One Size does not fit all. I keep seeing these loud, printed leggings that lie and say ONE SIZE FITS ALL – Lies! All lies! I don’t care how much spandex is in that fabric, it is not for everyone. A little goes a long way. Don't just tag along with the current trend. Make sure it is right for your shape and lifestyle.
Accessories can make or break an outfit. Layering accessories is great but don’t over accessorize. Make sure your pieces are cohesive. Mixing metals is ok but they should have something in common to tie them together such as style or finish.
Overdoing the make-up is another no-no. I love seeing a great make up job on a woman. But I am equally annoyed when I see women over do it by wearing 3 or more shades of eye shadow as if they are a walking rainbow. Subtlety goes a long way. Too much make up can age you and can also make you look a bit clownish. Blending is always key. Picking colors that work for you is also important.
When you come across clothing that looks good on you, buy and stick with it! If you bought a gorgeous dress that is perfect for your figure then buy more than one, but in other colors. The same goes for skirts, pants and blouses. A woman should always have staple pieces. This does not mean buy 10 of the same dress. It means buy a classic black one and maybe another in a different shade.
Crop tops have made a fierce comeback! Not everyone is wearing it properly. The right way is to show just a little sliver of skin. Even if you have a belly issue, a high waist pant or skirt with your crop top is still flattering and fashionable. When your top is too cropped and you show too much skin, no matter your size, it takes away from the class appeal.
For my plus size and top heavy divas, wear tops that are longer. If you have a belly that you don’t want to show off, cover it up. If your boobs are on the large side, you will need more fabric to appropriately cover your torso. A longer top also elongates your body and makes you look slimmer.
Make sure you are wearing the right bra size. Every day I see women adjusting their bras, or walking around with 4 boobs because the cup is too small, or creating extra rolls in their back because the width is too tight, or their boobs are spilling out altogether. Worst is when they are wearing a bra and it offers no supports. If you have on a bra, your breasts should not still peek out from the bottom of your shirt. I exaggerate to make this point: INVEST IN A GOOD BRA! Getting professionally measured and investing in a great bra can go a really long way in making your body look much slimmer. Also, choosing the right shape wear is really important as it will smooth out your body, add definition to your curves. In short, it will reduce and enhance all the right parts.
Take proper advantage of high and low waist apparel. With wearing a high-waist dress with a slimmer waistline, you will accentuate your curves better. You can even use a belt to help cinch your waist. On the other side, if you’re wearing pants, a lower waist could be a better choice. Wearing pants which will sit lower on your hips would help to hide your belly.
However this isn’t always the case with jeans. Wear jeans that fit -- correctly. If you have a muffin top and it is visible in regular cut jeans, chances are low rise jeans aren’t right for you. You may also like a close fit but that close fit will also come with discomfort, pinches and an unflattering look overall. And when your jeans slide down, don’t pull down your shirt. Pull up your jeans, and then pull down your shirt. Wearing the right size and style eliminates this issue altogether
Let’s talk about belts and how to wear them correctly. The middle waist is the most common area where women wear their belt. The middle waist is also known as the smallest part of your waist. The belt will cinch and accentuate your natural waistline. If you have a bulky middle section and an undefined waist, this doesn't mean that belts are off-limits for you but you have to be extra careful on the placement of the belt. Immediately under your breasts means the belt is sitting atop your stomach, which only makes your tummy look bigger or make you look pregnant.. A wide belt on your middle waist is usually the best look. Be sure to stick to dark or neutral colors and simple designs. Loud colors and complex designs will only call attention to your stomach. Over tightening the belt is also an issue especially for curvier women. The mistake is in trying to look slimmer by overly tightening the belt. If you are particularly curvy with a lot of bulge around your waist, tightening your belt too much will just make you look worse. It will cause layers of fat to bunch up below and above the belt, resulting in a very unflattering look. One exception to this rule is when you are wearing a top that is loose enough to hide the imperfections in your middle section. Still, don't tighten your belt too much, as you might cut off your circulation. Fashion doesn’t always have to hurt or be uncomfortable.
I constantly talk about being able to walk in your shoes. I won’t go completely in on this but it is important to your look. Wear shoes you can walk in. Not everyone can rock 7 inch stilettos or heel-less platforms. Know your limitations and embrace the insurmountable shoe options out today. Wear what works for YOU.
That’s it for my fashion tips today – Hope you enjoyed reading! It is better to be remembered than it is to simply be seen. You want to be remembered for the right reasons. So enjoy fashion - Just make sure you wear it and wear it well!
