Be body-confident: 9 style tips for plus-sized women

Are you a curvy woman? Here’s how to look sexy

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Curvy and lovin’ it? We do too. If you’re plus-sized and struggling to dress to look your most fabulous, we have some tips that can point you to the right direction.

Below’s how you can be on top of your style game. And you ain’t getting run of the mill tips such as “wear black because it’s slimming” because we would have all heard that by now.

 

ALSO READ: HW'S GUIDE TO KNOWING THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF NECKLINES LIKE A PRO

1. Invest in some good underwear

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Think of a good pair of underwear as a basic, just like a good foundation base. Similar to foundation, it smooths and creates a blank canvas for whatever you place on top to shine.

Like what Chanté B., the blogger behind Everything Curvy and Chic says: “Nothing is worse than having the perfect outfit but not having the right foundation to pull it off.” A sexy lingerie also boosts your confidence and empowers you to embrace your body.

Furthermore, a supportive brassiere will give you the support (especially since voluptuous ladies tend to have bigger chest) and comfort you need.

You can also invest in some shapewear, which ensures that your body is smooth so whatever outfit you wear over will not look lumpy.

 

ALSO READ: HW'S GUIDE TO KNOWING THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF NECKLINES LIKE A PRO

2. Opt for longer dresses or long tops

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The goal here is to elongate your stature and reduce width. And with dresses and long tops that start from the neck and go past the waist to graze the knees, they create an illusion of a lengthier torso, thus making you look longer and taller.

Plus-size model Tess Holliday suggests vintage kaftans, her favourite garment of choice. They are comfy and “regal as heck”, she says. Cinch in with a wide belt to let your figure shine.

 

ALSO READ: HW'S GUIDE TO KNOWING THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF NECKLINES LIKE A PRO

3. Prints are your friends…or not

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Prints are great because they add colour and visual interest to an outfit. But as Sophia Hung, founder of local fashion label The Amber Loft that caters to petite plus-size women, shared in an article on Cleo, there is a general guideline to help you pick prints.

She advises curvy women to pick prints that are no smaller than the size of your thumb and no bigger than your palm. Overly small prints might make your look bigger while oversized prints can overwhelm your frame.

And with the curious case of stripes, opt for vertical patterns as they create an elongating illusion. Horizontal stripes, while cute, can have an adverse effect of making you look wider.

 

ALSO READ: HW'S GUIDE TO KNOWING THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF NECKLINES LIKE A PRO

4. Crop tops FTW

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While crop tops might seem like an abs’ best friend, they can work surprisingly well to help you accentuate your curves and make you look sexy.

Pairing a crop top with high waisted bottoms creates an illusion of a shapely hourglass figure, which the last time we checked, is still deemed the sexiest and most feminine silhouette. The little whisper of bare skin peeking through can look hella hawt too.

 

ALSO READ: HW'S GUIDE TO KNOWING THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF NECKLINES LIKE A PRO

5. V-necks work too

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V-necks are great because they extend the neckline and can have a slimming and elongating effect to the face, neck and chest. Plus, women with bigger bust can show off their sexy assets as well.

You could go a step further and go with a statement necklace to bring attention to your chest or go delicate with a slim drop pendant that brings the eyes to your cleavage.

 

ALSO READ: HW'S GUIDE TO KNOWING THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF NECKLINES LIKE A PRO

6. Fit and flare

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Like American dramedy This Is Us actress Chrissy Metz’s outfit has illustrated, fit and flare silhouettes are flattering to all body types and are even more so for plus-sized women as the combination of a fitted waistline and loose, flowy hem helps create an hourglass figure.

An A-line dress is a staple you can always fall back on. Else, you could belt your dresses and tops to replicate.

 

ALSO READ: HW'S GUIDE TO KNOWING THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF NECKLINES LIKE A PRO

7. Stretchy outfits are not your friend

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Comfortable and light, stretchy outfits such as those made of jersey might seem like a plus-sized woman’s ride-or-die option.

However, The Amber Loft’s Sophie actually advises against them because these fabrics might be unflattering when stretched over the curvier parts of the body.

Her advice instead, is to go for pieces that fit just right and make you look polished and put-together, instead of garments that stretch over your flaws and accentuate them further.

 

ALSO READ: HW'S GUIDE TO KNOWING THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF NECKLINES LIKE A PRO

8. Get measured

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Which brings us to our next point: Tailoring. Unlike women who are able to go into any departmental stores or labels and buy off the shelf, voluptuous ladies often have a hard time finding clothing and silhouettes that either a) fit them or b) flatter them.

Which is why a tailor is a good place to go if you really want to invest in quality outfits that truly complement the body. Not only can they help you alter your favourite prêt-à-porter pieces to flatter in all the right places, you can trust them to create customised and one-of-a-kind garments for you.

 

ALSO READ: HW'S GUIDE TO KNOWING THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF NECKLINES LIKE A PRO

9. Break rules

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Finally, don’t be afraid to break the rules and conventions of dressing for your body type, even those that we have espoused earlier.

At the end of the day, you’re dressing for yourself and whatever you put on that helps you feel sexy and confident will shine through and make you look beautiful.

Want to get a gorgeous piece that shows your belly? Go for it. Like what rap queen Nicki Minaj said, f*** the skinny bitches.

 

ALSO READ: HW'S GUIDE TO KNOWING THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF NECKLINES LIKE A PRO