PLUS-SIZE WOMEN
Who is a plus size woman?
Plus-size women in society today realistically are those that wear from UK sizes 18 and above. However, in the fashion industry, plus-size is referred to UK sizes 12 and above. In the real world we know that is not the case; the average size of most women is a UK size 16 which is also equivalent to US size 12. Plus-size women are also referred to as full-figured too. Even though the fashion industry knows this, we continue to see fashion predominately on thin bodies in stores and on the runway because we’re told that’s what sells. Some designers are changing that norm by bringing more realistic women sizes and different body types on the runway to showcase their items. During the London fashion week in September of 2016, there were protests about bringing awareness to designers in showcasing the regular and plus size clothing on the runways.
My Plus is Beautiful
Women all come in different shapes and sizes so it’s very important to understand your body type and what looks flattering on you. The new generation of plus-size divas like Toolz are an inspiration because they have embraced their size instead of fitting into what society calls the norm. Many plus-size women are more confident about embracing their size, and imperfections which is very commendable and worth an applause. Many assume that all plus-size women are overweight and not healthy but that is a very big misconception because we all come in different shapes and sizes.
Styling tips for the Plus-size woman
These tips are helpful to most women irrespective of your size but the focus is on the full figured female. Many women will find out that simply knowing how to combine your looks and working with what you have is very important. Many plus size women tend to be very conscious of their abs, and their arms so wearing tops like the peplum is a great idea. This gives a flattering look and takes the action away from the mid-section. Other styles like the high-low, baby doll, smock, and tunic style tops are all great pieces that can be worn with fitted pants, regular fitted pants or skirts in some cases depending on the style of top you choose to wear. Dresses like shift, midi, fit and flare are also very suitable for a plus-size woman. Irrespective of your body type, as a plus size woman, avoid wearing anything that isn’t flattering to your body type and rather focus on smoothing out your lumps and bumps. You don’t have to hide your curves but if you want to look your best, you need to make sure your proportions are balanced and that you’ve got the curves on all the right places. For those that aren’t sure of what their body type is; an article on body types will be coming out soon.