Being a plus size woman means you have generous curves, which make you look feminine but in the meantime can also create style challenges. The key to making you look your best is to choose the right clothing styles that bring focus to your best assets while camouflaging your weaknesses. That also means it’s best to stay away from anything that makes you look heavier and bulkier than you are. Before we get into the full list of what you should not wear, let’s first take a deep dive to fully understand your unique body features.
Traits
- Heavier midsection that’s prone to a bulge. Plus-size women tend to carry more weight in their midsection area, which causes the appearance of a muffin top.
- Flabby arms. Your arms may look chubby as they also carry some weight.
- Fuller bust size that’s at least a Cup B. You have a big bust size, which is also one of the most prominent features of your body.
- Wide hips and thick thighs. You most likely have a fuller bottom half which may or may not be symmetrical to your upper body.
- Perky and voluptuous buttocks. You’ve got that most-coveted perky bum due to that extra volume you carry in your lower half!
- Chubby legs. Your legs carry more weight too and they may either or not be in complete proportion with your arms.
Bodycon Dresses
Being plus size can also mean that you’re very curvy due to the amount of volume you carry in different regions of your body. And I know what you’re probably thinking: curves = bodycon dresses; but this is not really the best way to flaunt your curves when you’re plus size.
Bodycon dresses just cling too close to your figure and this tight fit goes consistently all throughout the entire dress. This will show your curves, yes, but this will also show your problem areas where you carry extra weight such as your midsection, arms, or thighs.
Unfortunately, the eyes tend to see these areas of concern more so they will most likely overwhelm your plus size figure’s best assets. So instead of bodycon dresses, look for those that offer a tailored fit!
Shapeless Dresses
I know I just told you to avoid bodycon dresses so you might be thinking of hopping on the opposite side of the wagon, which are loose, shapeless dresses. I can’t really blame you, because I know how it can sometimes be tempting to go for loose-fitting dresses in hopes of hiding the areas we’re conscious about.
However, wearing shapeless dresses when you’re plus size can only make things worse in terms of balancing your proportions and toning down your visual weight. Because these types of dresses don’t have strategic seams to show off your curves, this will make you look even bigger and wider than you actually are.
Tops with Horizontal Details
May it be horizontal stripes, button placements, seams, or any type of clothing detail, as long as they are placed horizontally, they will visually extend your upper body from side to side. As a result, you will look bigger and wider than your actual figure.
Horizontal details may also create a chaotic visual pattern play as this won’t help counteract the broadness you’re trying to neutralize! So yes, this is your sign to ditch all those tops with obvious horizontal details and switch to vertical patterns instead.
Baggy Clothing
If you love the laid-back, street-style vibe of baggy clothing, well this is when you should actually reconsider wearing them if you’re plus size. Baggy clothing will conceal the natural contours of your body and this will obviously result in a lack of definition.
While comfort is essential when it comes to styling, you still need to consider finding a balance between comfort and style. Oversized or baggy clothing is comfy, that’s totally true, but since you’re a plus size beauty who’s supposed to work around your overall visual balance, wearing baggy clothing will definitely be counterintuitive.
So always go for the right fit and consider the areas you’d like to highlight and downplay. By determining these, you can easily find the silhouette that suits you best.
Cargo Pants
As a plus size beauty, your lower body most likely carries a significant amount of weight and this is something you would want to downplay in order to achieve better upper and lower body balance. Now, this is where cargo pants become very tricky because they feature utilitarian flap pockets that create extra bulk.
Apart from the fact that the bulky pockets add width to your lower body, the typical leg shape of cargo pants is of baggy nature as well! With this said, it’s better to steer away from this style if you don’t want to add an unnecessary amount of volume to your frame, making your visual weight even heavier.
If you’re a huge fan of pants with pockets, there are better options out there that can work with your plus size frame. Look for streamlined leg shapes such as straight-leg or wide-leg as most of the time, their pockets are placed seamlessly to prevent creating a bulge.
Skinny Jeans
I have always mentioned in my previous articles that skinny jeans are sort of outdated, and while there are several ways to still make them work, that’s not really the case for plus size women. Basically, the general rule when dressing up your gorgeous plus size frame is to stay away from anything too fitted, which is what skinny jeans are exactly.
Because skinny jeans are fitted from the waist down to the ankles, this will only emphasize the lower part of your body. For some plus-size women, this can create a disproportionate look as this will draw more attention to the hips and thighs.
This is especially unflattering if you’re already bottom-heavy to begin with! So when choosing jeans, go for those that come in a more relaxed fit.
Jeans with Pocket Details
I highly suggest that you steer clear of jeans with intricate pocket details if you’re a plus size girl. The rationale behind this suggestion? Well, that revolves around creating a more streamlined silhouette minus the extra bulk.
Jeans with elaborate pocket designs can instantly lead the eyes to the specific areas where they are placed, potentially affecting the overall balance of your outfit. So when it comes to choosing jeans, simplicity in design should contribute to a more polished and flattering look so you have to go for minimal or no pocket details, so the focus shifts to the overall ensemble rather than the broadness of your hips and thighs.
Dresses with Dramatic Ruffles
Ruffles are beautiful and I have to say that they make any type of dress more dainty and dimensional. Just to make it clear, ruffles are harmless visual-wise, but when we’re talking about dramatic ruffles for plus size women, this is where the problem arises.
Dramatic ruffles are deemed visually heavy as they visibly add volume to your body, and this extra volume is not flattering on a plus-size figure because how it can make you look larger than you actually are.
Like what I always say, the key to flattering clothing greatly lies in achieving a balanced and proportional look. Wearing dresses with oversized ruffles will counteract this style goal as this will not provide the most balanced silhouette for a plus-size body.
Voluminous Sleeves
Voluminous sleeves are super chic and they have been quite trendy in recent years, but sadly, they are not always the best fashion go-to for our plus-size beauties out there. The extra volume in the sleeves will take center stage, potentially overshadowing your other stunning figures.
Other than this, you may already be struggling with flabby arms to begin with as a plus size girl so wearing anything that has voluminous sleeves will only accentuate this concern further. To maintain a more pleasing balance, lean towards sleeves with a more tailored or streamlined design for a sleek and refined look that flatters your gorgeous curvy shape.
Turtleneck
The key to creating a slimmer and more balanced appearance for plus size women is to open up space in your upper half, which can be effectively done through the right choice of necklines. When you go for high necklines that cover your entire decolletage and neck, it can give you a confined appearance, making you look even heavier.
Plus, there’s another reason to avoid them: high necklines can draw attention away from your face and full bust line, which are often a focal point of beauty for plus size girls! Showcasing the collarbone or opting for certain necklines that create a more open and elongated look may feel more flattering and empowering.
Skinny Belts
Belts are just one of the best ways to cinch your waistline and having your waistline defined is quite essential when you’re plus size. While belts are great, skinny belts are a total no-no, most especially if they are too thin and they are in a highly contrasting color with your outfit!
This is because skinny belts won’t give much support and instead, dig into your thicker midsection and create a clear division that brings out unflattering bulges. When they come in highly contrasting colors, they can even attract too much attention to your heavy midsection and therefore create an unflattering look.
