Plus Size Fashion
By Anna Lynn C. Sibal ?2006
It is a little ironic that while the models who strut their stuff on the runway are all so thin and waiflike, as if the wind can easily blow them away, the average size that the average American woman wears is size 12. This number is quite a far cry from the usual size that the mannequins wear while doing the catwalk, which is size 4.
Not all of us are born with nymph-like bodies like those of Kate Moss, Tyra Banks or Paris Hilton. And yet a lot of us go through different means just to be model-thin, sometimes to the point of endangering our bodies and our health.
But instead of frustrating ourselves with ridiculous diets imposed by society? obsession with being thin, we can save ourselves by just accepting the shape and size of our bodies and that perhaps it is simply not possible for us to radically alter our physique without literally killing ourselves. In that case, the next best thing would be to create the illusion of looking slimmer than what you really are.
So, how does a plus size girl be on the full side and yet be a smashingly gorgeous fashionista? It is simply a matter of choosing styles that would flatter the body, that would emphasize the wanted curves and at the same time de-emphasize the unwanted ones.
Here are the plus size fashion techniques:
Go in monochromes. Dressing in just one color creates the illusion of length. A monochromatic outfit also takes the eyes of the beholder away from what you deem as unsightly curves.
Work the jacket. Wear jackets that are fit (but not too fit) and with a hem that falls just below your bottom. Jackets like these hide and de-emphasize the middle rather well. Avoid short or cropped jackets because they make the eyes focus on the waist and the hips.
Avoid low-rise pants. Low-rise pants never work for the plus-size girl because they make the tummy bulge out and draw attention to the hips. Not a pleasant sight to look at.
Boot-cut pants are it. Unlike the pencil-cut pants, which emphasize the hips and butt, the boot-cut pants flare at the bottom. They create the balance that is so needed to create the illusion of slimness for the plus-size girl.
The magic of alteration. The problem with plus-size pants is that they are often made for taller people. You do not have to throw them out or give them away just because they are too long for you. All you need to do is to find a tailor who can alter and shorten your pants for you.
A custom-made wardrobe. There are just some times that no matter how diligently we comb through the plus size clothes for sale at the malls, nothing fits us. In that case, the best bet would be to just have your clothes custom made for you. In that way, you are sure of the fit and that the pieces will flatter your body.
Wear heels. Wearing heeled shoes make your legs look longer. The illusion of longer legs, in turn, creates the illusion of a thinner body.
The world of the fashionista is not limited to the waifs. With the right technique to wear plus size clothing and the proper attitude, a plus size girl can be one too!
