Category Archives: Fashion tips

Dressing Up Tips for Plus Size Women

It’s no mean feat raising a family that sometimes you tend to neglect yourself in the process. I’m guilty of this one. I haven’t given enough time for myself or take care of my health. The last thing I regretted was gaining those unwanted pounds over the years. 

Photo taken from my fitness journey post

With the excess pounds and age, too, dressing up becomes so difficult. It is frustrating to look for the right style and color of clothes to wear. Even if I don’t go out often, owning a few pairs of pants and presentable blouses can bring out the confidence in you. 

I’m glad I found this very helpful tip on the Internet. How to Dress Up Tips for Plus Size Women from wikihow.com.

Choose pieces that draw the eye to your best features.
Wear fitted clothing to flatter your figure.
Play around with trends that you like.

Here’s the basic tips summary. You can check the page for more wardrobe advice

If you’re overweight and you want to build a strong wardrobe, use light colors to draw people’s eyes to areas you like while camouflaging your least favorite attributes with dark colors. Stick to small prints, since large prints can make you look bigger, and choose diagonal and vertical stripes over unflattering horizontal stripes. You can also wear well-fitting, supportive undergarments under your outfit to prevent unflattering lines or bulges! Keep reading for tips on having a successful shopping trip. — wikihow.com 

Image credit: wikihow.com

Finding a bra that actually fits

Bras; most of us wear them and some of us may even take them for granted, but are you actually wearing the right size? It is estimated that some 80-90% of women wear the wrong sized bra on a daily basis, causing unsightly wrinkles and creases in clothing, overspill, awkward movement, discomfort and even health complications.

But it’s just a bra, right?

Wrong. Choosing a bra is one of those occasions when ‘okay’ isn’t good enough. The most common mistake women make when buying a bra is to overcompensate on the band size whilst selecting a smaller cup size. Whether this is down to poor measurements or utter guesswork, it leaves the breasts to be supported by the shoulder straps alone, putting pressure on the back, shoulders and neck. Far more than just being uncomfortable, an ill-fitting bra can cause migraines, neck and back pain, circulation and skin problems, stress on the bones and muscles and even breathing difficulties. A poorly fitted bra can also cause deep, irritating grooves in the shoulders and may lead to tissue migration, in which breast tissue actually becomes displaced into the armpits, sternum or back.

Did you know?

Wearing a better fitting bra can actually increase your cup size.

How do so many women get it wrong?

Being professionally fitted for a bra, particularly your first, can be a daunting and embarrassing experience. Some women may feel uncomfortable with the idea of going topless in front of a stranger, however briefly, while others may not know what they are looking for or even what a bra is supposed to feel like when fitted correctly.

There is a certain misconception surrounding bra sizing that associates a larger bust size with being fat; this is certainly not the case and no one should be afraid to get measured for this reason. Other women may mistakenly assume that their breasts are too small for a bra or that their breasts are too small/big for an attractive bra. They may even have been measured incorrectly at a previous fitting. Remember, it’s okay to seek a second opinion if the bras suggested do not feel right.

Measuring your bra size

It isn’t always necessary to head in the direction of a professional in order to get fitted for the right bra. In fact it’s perfectly easy to measure yourself, following simple guidelines that can be found online or in many store brochures. It is a good idea to take all measurements naked or wearing a non-padded bra, as this will allow for more accurate readings. Many sites also recommend stretching out first, allowing the breast tissue to settle properly; it is surprising how badly an ill-fitting bra can distort the body.

Once the measurements are complete, why not head to a lingerie specialist such as Lingeriediva.com? There are so many gorgeous styles out there these days that there is no excuse not to select a bra to suit any taste; just be wary that not all of them will suit each breast type.

Dream jeans

If there’s one bugbear that most ladies harbour it’s finding the perfect pair of jeans. Ironically, it’s usually the hardest wardrobe item to find as a good fit is difficult to achieve, but once the ideal pair has been found the confidence boost is immeasurable. And despite many ladies thinking that jeans just aren’t for them it’s not true. No matter their shape and size every woman can look great in jeans, you just need to know what style suits you best.

Curvy ladies should look for styles with a bit of stretch. Traditionally bootcut jeans balance out larger thighs, giving the illusion of balance. Coupled with this (as the name suggests) they look great with boots, meaning they are the ideal style for day to day wear all year round. However, bootcuts are easy to smarten up for the evening too, by adding a glamorous top and a smart blazer, meaning that for weekends away and holidays they save you from having to pack another pair of trousers for the evening.

For solely daytime wear boyfriend jeans suit most body shapes but look particularly good for petite wearers. Channelling a modern Audrey Hepburn in her capri pants and ballet pumps, boyfriend jeans, when rolled up at the ankle, look great with little canvas deck shoes for everyday comfort. Primarily a style that befits younger fashions, the slouchy jeans can also be contrasted brilliantly with a super sharp pair of stilettos when sipping on mixologist creations in Brick Lane.

If your thoughts are more towards babies than cocktails then sourcing the ideal maternity jeans should be a priority. Deciding between under the bump and roll top jeans is dependent on what style of tops you’ll be wearing and also the weather – if you’re going to be full term during the hot summer months roll top jeans could be too warm, as they add an extra layer over the bump. Luckily now most maternity clothes shops offer a range of styles so if you’re usually a fan of skinny jeans you don’t have to stop wearing them just because baby’s on the way. Visit a specialist maternity website such as Heavenly Bump for lots of ideas.

And let’s not forget those blessed with gorgeous slim, long legs. Although viewed as a blessing by everyone else, finding flattering jeans can seem tricky. This is where the joy of jeggings kicks in. Teamed with an oversized t-shirt and chunky ankle boots jeggings offer brilliant comfort and the illusion of legs that go on and on forever – which for those who are already leggy, is the perfect fit!