Ten Plus Size Fashion Tips

When it comes to shopping for your plus size body we know that it can be quite challenging, and, depending on where you live, can be almost impossible. Check this ten great plus size fashion and shopping tips to help you up your style quotient.

1. Get a Tailor
Seriously, having a tailor can be life changing. It’s rare for plus size women to get a perfect fit with clothes off the rack. This is when a tailor comes in handy. Have you ever bought a blazer in your correct size but it won’t button and the next size up is entirely too big? A tailor would be able to take in some of the fabric from the bigger size and make that blazer look like it was specifically designed with your body in mind. The same goes for pants and jeans.

2. Don’t underestimate non-plus size stores
You would be surprised at how many stores that don’t carry plus sizes actually have styles that will work for a plus size body. Ann Taylor and Loft actually carry sizes up to an 18 and size 16 petite. Gap Ten Ride or Die Plus Size Fashion (and Shopping) Tips carries style up to XXL and 20 at their online store. The cuts are surprisingly generous too. Loft and Ann Taylor even have pants specifically for curvier body types. Even Banana Republic Ten Ride or Die Plus Size Fashion (and Shopping) Tips carries a size 16 and we swear by the Jackson Fit which is more for the curvy girl. Fast fashion stores like H&M offer over-sized cuts in tops and dresses and they carry a size 16 in some items in their US stores.

3. Try Things On
You never know how something will look unless you try it on. It’s easy to just look at something and say it’s not going to work for your body. How can you honestly know that if you haven’t tried it on?

4. Know Your Measurements
Online shopping can be a bit of a hassle because every brand cuts differently. Sometimes you don’t have enough to buy two sizes to see which one works the best. That’s when a sizing chart comes in handy. You should purchase a measuring tape and measure your waist, hips, thighs, and chest then match your measurements up against the company’s sizing chart. This will help you determine if you need to go a size up or down.

5. Know the difference between junior and women’s plus sizes
The trendier plus size brands typically size for junior plus sizes. So, don’t go thinking you’re crazy when you are on average a 1X-14/16 and find yourself squeezing into a 3X-22/24. Junior sizes are often sized with odd and even numbers. For example, some (not all) junior plus size brands size from 13/14, 15/16 and plus size women’s brands size at 14/16, 18/20. Junior sizes are cut for who else, teens. While plus size women who fall in the woman’s plus category can fit junior sizes it’s always best to check sizing charts to make sure you’re getting the right fit.

7. Keep a tube of Chub Rub Handy
To be honest, you don’t have to be plus size to experience chaffing from your inner thighs rubbing together aka chub rub. It’s mostly experienced during the spring and summer seasons when we wear our cute little skirts and dresses with bare legs. To combat chub rub we found that chaffing creams like Monistat’s chaffing relief powder gel help to eliminate chaffing. If you can, stock up on it. It should be in every plus size girl’s fashion survival kit.

8. Utilize Magazines for Inspiration
Don’t know what to do with those stack of Vogue’s sitting on top of your coffee table? Here’s an idea. Cut out the pictures with outfits that have peaked your interest and make a collage of them known in the fashion industry as an inspiration board. On those days when you feel like you have nothing to wear refer back to that collage. We find that Lucky magazine always has a number of outfits to draw inspiration from.

9. Forget the rules
When it comes to fashion and shopping for your plus size body, you have to forget the old outdated fashion rules. Yes, plus size women can wear horizontal stripes. Yes , plus size women can wear bright colors beyond a scarf. Yes, plus size women can wear shorts. It’s all about finding the right cut and style for your body.

10. Don’t wait to lose weight to look great
At the end of the day, whether your are happy with your body or trying to lose weight, you owe it to yourself to look and be your best no matter your size. Having great style has nothing to do with your size. It’s all about knowing your body and knowing what works for it. You don’t have to wait to lose those extra 10 pounds to wear a sexy dress.

The Best Fashion Tips All The Time 1

Embrace Your Shape
Once you know which silhouettes flatter you, filter trends ruthlessly. For instance, if you're petite and shapely, it's best to avoid tall columns and billowy maxis even if you love them. Go for a dress with a defined waist and just-above-the-knee hem.

Make a List Before You Shop
Not of what you want to buy, but of the 10 fave items in your closet. This will help you zero in on pieces that mesh with what you own (or remind you that you never actually wear big floral prints).

Hit the Dressing Room Prepared
If you're shopping for that ultra-important dress, get a true feel for the fit by bringing your hip or thigh slimmer with you. And while you're at it, bring heels, lipstick, and a hairbrush. These will help you get a better sense of the final result.

Round Down in Denim
When in doubt, go with the smaller size in jeans. They always stretch, and nothing's more unflattering than the unintentionally baggy derrière.

Show Skin Strategically
Looking truly sexy involves knowing what to bare—and what to keep under wraps. Otherwise, where's the mystery? The point is : Choose one—only one—body part and show it off. So if it's cleavage, don't show your legs. If it's your legs, stay covered on top.

Accessorize in Brights
If you've got a closet full of neutrals—be they navy, black, camel, or gray—add energy with boldly hued shoes and bags. Not only is a hunter green satchel more lively than ho-hum black, but it's also surprisingly versatile. Feeling really brave? Wear a neutral base with shoes and a bag in two different complementary colors.

Know Your Stretch
The secret formula for a soft but formfitting T? 95% cotton, 5% Lycra spandex. For jeans to hold their shape, they need at least 2% Lycra.

Hem Your Pants for a Shoe Height
The biggest mistake women make is wearing pants that aren't the right length for their shoes. To fix this, hem to either heels or flats—no going back. Generally, hems should just graze the tops of your shoes and be from 1/2 inch to 3/4 inch off the floor.

Throw On a Scarf
It's the ultimate accessory according to a host of the best-dressed women we interviewed. Stash one in your purse or carry-on to transform simple Ts in the time it takes to make a knot.

Go Hands-Free for Evening
A dressy bag with a chain helps you hold crudités and a cocktail—plus, it lends a cool edge to evening wear. Wear the chain diagonally across your body for the best effect.

Perfect Makeup Look for Prom

You can easily do your own for prom night or if you aren’t comfortable with that, have a professional do it for you. Either way, we have some great looks for you to try so that you are prepared to look even more beautiful that you usually do on your special day. Check them out below.

1. Au Natural
Prom doesn’t have to be about false eyelashes and tons of foundation. Why not go with a gorgeous, natural look? This can be accomplished with a little cover-up, powder, and bronzer. It also means choosing a lipcolor that’s close to your own, or any shade of light pink. This entire look is fresh and youthful and would look beautiful on any teen headed to prom. Don’t forget to add a little sparkle with some metallic eyeshadow. It’s your night after all!

2. Smoky Eyes
If you want a dramatic look, try smoky eyes. You can use shades of blue and gray to accomplish this look. Layer them carefully over heavy eyeliner and eyeshadow. Add a little dark gray metallic sparkle and draw your eyeliner to the edges of your eye. Choose a lipcolor that’s slightly muted, since all the focus should be on your eyes. Oh, and don’t forget to choose a dark, moody shade of nail polish to complete the look.

3. Retro Charm
If your dress has a vintage vibe, embrace the past with some stunning lipcolor. Choose a bold red and some bright gloss to go over it, so that your lips look plump and gorgeous. Keep your eye makeup simple, and don’t forget to ask a friend from time to time if you have that bright red color on your teeth!

4. Feeling the Blues
If your dress is a spring shade or has green, blue, or violet undertones, consider choosing a combination of blue or light violet eye shadow. Because this is not a common, everyday color for most gals, it will feel like you are truly dressing up. The biggest plus is that it will look amazing with your dress and tie your entire look together.

How to Wear Skinny Jeans: If You Have Large Thighs

Be honest — if you’re anything like us, your thighs are the subject of far more full-length-mirror scrutiny than any of us would like to admit. If we added up the number of hours we’ve spent dreaming up ways to minimize, camouflage, and otherwise disguise our thighs — all because they’re larger than the toothpicks we’re told are perfect — we’ve probably lost at least three years of our lives. Throw skinny jeans in the mix, and we’re likely to have a complete try-on room meltdown.

Fortunately, there are some practical guidelines that will ensure you look fab in those skinny jeans and remain sane. Check out Tips for Wearing Skinny Jeans for those of us with larger thighs.

Dark wash is your friend
You already know that darker colors are more slimming, so dark wash or black is a no-brainer — but also consider sticking with a classic solid wash, and skip the thigh fading and whiskering details that brings all the attention right to where we don’t want it.

Chunky shoes

Go for wedges or platform-style heels, to create balance in the line of your leg; skinny jeans with delicate shoes will only emphasize the width on top. Espadrilles are perfect for summer, like these adorable Tommy Hilfiger wedges at DSW.

Layer up
Slip on a long fine-knit cardigan over a body-skimming tee and your skinny jeans, camouflaging bulkier thighs while maintaining a long body line overall.

Lighten up (on top) 
If you’ve got your dark wash skinnys on the bottom, further the slimming effect by going with a light-colored top (like this ruffled envelope top from Gap) that falls to your mid-hip (stopping short of the top of the thighs). A light hue will both draw the eye up and away from your problem area, while creating the illusion of more width on top (and, by default, make the dark bottom half seem even smaller!).

Dress tips based on body shape

Petite women should avoid chunky clothes and strong prints. Instead go for fitted shapes and soft fabrics, narrow belts subtle contrasts of colour and texture. Keep everything streamlined so as not to cut the body in half.

Busty women should wear eye-catching skirts (shorter if you are comfortable) and trousers, strong prints and colours or textures draw the eye away from the top half of the body. Wearing a single block of colour is thinning. Avoid eye-catching tops, instead wear long jackets that draw the eye down. Darker coloured tops which are loose fitting and waist hugging.

Pear shaped women should love vertical lines, V-necks and skirts with slits up the side. Straight of A-line skirts to just below the knee. Dark tights and shoes with colour or pattern in a blouse or top, tops should hang past the hips. Classic cuts on top in lighter colours draw the eye away from the hips. Accent the V-neck with a V or Y- shaped necklace.

Tall women should avoid tight clothes. Wear the right skirt length, too short or too long will be out of proportion. As with petite women keep everything streamlined, wear blouses over trousers so as not to shorten your top half.

Rectangular women should wear pattern. Feminine knit sweaters over skirts are great. Wear a round neckline and mirror it with a round necklace or scarf.

Tips To Buy A Vintage Wedding Dress

A vintage wedding dress make a beautiful, unique style statement but there are also some practical reasons why 'something old' is the choice for an increasing number of new brides. Read on to find out how to source a vintage dress and what you need to think about before you buy.

Choosing an Era
This will give you a better idea of shape and the look you want to create. For example, if you want a sleek and glamorous look, you may want to go for a 30s or 40s style, or for a more relaxed, intimate wedding, short 50s styles are increasingly popular

Advantages
The key advantage is no one else will have your wedding dress as they are unique one-off pieces. Another huge bonus is, as it has already been made, you can potentially wear your gown as soon as you've bought it. Another advantage is that vintage dresses are often made from exquisite, natural fabrics, such as raw silk, or retro materials, such as rayon. If you were to buy a new dress made from fabric of equivalent quality, you'll probably pay much more for the final product.

Extending the Theme
Accessories,hair and make-up will all help carry your theme through your outfit. Although Brear advises against 'over-crowding' the style too much. After all, you want all the attention on your much-loved gown. For the evening, try adding a subtle splash of colour or sparkle with a vintage brooch or diamanté cuff.

It's easy to match your flowers to your outfit, without overdoing the theme. For example, wild flowers often complement Edwardian styles, with garlands for your hair and silk sashes decorated with vintage silk blooms, are popular choices.

Problems to Watch Out For
If you are shopping for your own dress, be aware of what can and can't be altered. Embellished fabrics are more expensive to alter than plain fabrics, as the beads or crystals often have to be removed before the changes can be made. Vintage material often has flaws, such as small tears or stains, and it's hard to tell what can be corrected without seeing the problem.

Plus Sizes
Vintage dresses often come up smaller because our body shapes have changed over the last 50 years. Plus, women commonly wore corsets to make their waists smaller up until around the 1960s. If you are struggling to find a size to fit you, speak to a dressmaker about copying a style. They may be able to source vintage fabric so your dress feels more authentic.

Modern Sizing
Modern sizes do vary from vintage methods so, to be on the safe side, you need to know how you measure up. Specialised shops will offer a full measuring service, which will make your life a lot easier, but they generally cost extra. Or you can pop into your local tailor or alterations service and ask them to help you.

Post-Wedding Care
Invest in a damp-proof and moth-proof dress bag to store your beloved gown. Get it dry-cleaned as soon as possible after your wedding day (the longer the stain is on your dress, the harder it is to remove).

The Best Fashion Tips All The Time 2

Never Buy a Boring Coat
Outerwear should never be an afterthought. So many people only see you in your coat—if you're not wearing something great underneath your trench, they'll never even know!

Only Buy a Bargain if You Love It
Be dubious of that voice that tells you you've got to buy because it's "only" $39 or that if you don't scoop it up now, you'll never find it again.

Edit Your Closet
Clothes need breathing room! You should be able to see every item without rummaging. Consider donating anything you haven't worn in the past year.

Layer Your Necklaces
You can do multiples of the same material, or better yet, go for contrast: Try a femme piece with edgy chains, feathers with beads, or pearls with diamantés.

Open Your Mind
Always take one "it's cute but so not me" thing into the fitting room. You never know!

Show Some Loyalty
A great-fitting dress or pair of pants from a line one season may mean similar success the next. Designers, especially higher-end ones, tend to size their clothes based on a regular fit model.

When in Doubt, Wear Nude Pumps
Matched to your skin tone, they're a pretty safe bet. (And they make legs look longer.)

Wearing White? Seek Out Light
Keep in mind: White clothes always look more see-through in daylight. Check yourself out in a bright setting to be safe.

Stripe it Up
Striped pieces are a nice, classic way to pull yourself together for the weekend. A red- or navy-and-white bateau neck, for instance, has presence and versatility.

Mix Your Prints
Combining colors, scale, and patterns in a way that looks dynamic takes practice, but there are some basic tricks to getting it right. You can wear two prints that repeat the same colors or mix a large-scale pattern with a smaller one. What's even easier is to use the second motif as an accent.