The Plus Size Fashion Frontier
- Date: 2009-10-07 - Word Count: 666
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The fashion industry is a huge force in modern culture, not only the haute couture high-end fashion shows but influencing the day to day look of the modern workforce. All forms of media scrutinize every twist and turn of the fashion industry, from the eccentric geniuses running the fashion houses, to coverage of this seasons 'in look'.
Traditionally one section of population has been restricted from this fashion culture - anyone of "plus size". Many of the high street retailers no-longer cater for this growing segment, in fact many normal-sized people find they no longer fit into the size of clothing they have become accustomed to buying. For the plus-size shopper this has made finding clothes even more difficult, they want well made fashionable clothes available to the rest of the population. Whether this has been due to retailers not stocking conventionally lower selling product lines to clothing maker's reluctance to design for a larger size is up for debate.
Either way, the tide seems to be changing. Specialist retailers are starting to spring up to cater for this increasingly large and undersupplied sector, plus size customers no longer have to settle for clothes where styling seems to be an afterthought.
Plus-size customers can still find it difficult to find clothes to suit them, so here are a few tips to keep mind:
Avoid clothes that are too tight
This may seem like an obvious point, but clothes from differing retailers may not always turn out to be the same size. I.e. it's possible to find you are a size 19 with one retailer yet have to order clothes of a larger or smaller size from another retailer. One way to avoid disappointment is to use any available sizing guides, however sometimes you can't substitute experience! Another tip is to keep a note of any sizing differences you encounter - it will help you next time you order.
Don't assume black clothes will be best
One long standing mantra for larger size clothes was "black is slimming". Although this can be true when used correctly it can draw attention to the overall size. Use of colour can help to balance and break-up the outline of larger sections of fabric. Furthermore, if you have a lighter complexion then large areas of black can make your skin look paler. Careful use of colour can be a better choice.
Avoid 'shapeless' clothes
Shapeless clothes were traditionally used to mask weight by avoiding the creation of a defined outline of the wearer. In some cases this can work, but in many situations this can actually work to the detriment of the wearer by giving a larger impression of size. More important is the quality and tailoring of the clothes, this will not only be more flattering but also make you feel more confident while wearing them - properly tailored clothes are always preferable to larger 'shapeless' garments that supposedly hide your size.
Stripes
Stripes can help to give the impression of being taller and carrying less weight. The eye is naturally lead along their length and helps to hide the size of their wearer. For this reason horizontal stripes are to be avoided, the slimming effect we are after doesn't occur if the eye is being drawn across the body. Vertical stripes are perfect for this, their visual effect can be a useful tool in avoiding drawing attention to the wearers size.
Avoid Stretchy fabrics
Although we have already mentioned that shapeless clothes can not be the most flattering, the opposite can also be true. Stretchy clothes by their very nature follow the wearers figure and drawing attention to the user's size. Heavier non-stretchy fabrics can really help here, they can hold their shape better and help sculpt the wearer.
So the times are changing, plus-size customers no longer have to settle for less. Retailers with vision are becoming aware of this previously untapped market, the amount of buying power the plus-size segment holds is impressive. Armed with modern tips and traditional approaches to dressing in larger sizes the plus-size customer has an excellent fashion future.
Traditionally one section of population has been restricted from this fashion culture - anyone of "plus size". Many of the high street retailers no-longer cater for this growing segment, in fact many normal-sized people find they no longer fit into the size of clothing they have become accustomed to buying. For the plus-size shopper this has made finding clothes even more difficult, they want well made fashionable clothes available to the rest of the population. Whether this has been due to retailers not stocking conventionally lower selling product lines to clothing maker's reluctance to design for a larger size is up for debate.
Either way, the tide seems to be changing. Specialist retailers are starting to spring up to cater for this increasingly large and undersupplied sector, plus size customers no longer have to settle for clothes where styling seems to be an afterthought.
Plus-size customers can still find it difficult to find clothes to suit them, so here are a few tips to keep mind:
Avoid clothes that are too tight
This may seem like an obvious point, but clothes from differing retailers may not always turn out to be the same size. I.e. it's possible to find you are a size 19 with one retailer yet have to order clothes of a larger or smaller size from another retailer. One way to avoid disappointment is to use any available sizing guides, however sometimes you can't substitute experience! Another tip is to keep a note of any sizing differences you encounter - it will help you next time you order.
Don't assume black clothes will be best
One long standing mantra for larger size clothes was "black is slimming". Although this can be true when used correctly it can draw attention to the overall size. Use of colour can help to balance and break-up the outline of larger sections of fabric. Furthermore, if you have a lighter complexion then large areas of black can make your skin look paler. Careful use of colour can be a better choice.
Avoid 'shapeless' clothes
Shapeless clothes were traditionally used to mask weight by avoiding the creation of a defined outline of the wearer. In some cases this can work, but in many situations this can actually work to the detriment of the wearer by giving a larger impression of size. More important is the quality and tailoring of the clothes, this will not only be more flattering but also make you feel more confident while wearing them - properly tailored clothes are always preferable to larger 'shapeless' garments that supposedly hide your size.
Stripes
Stripes can help to give the impression of being taller and carrying less weight. The eye is naturally lead along their length and helps to hide the size of their wearer. For this reason horizontal stripes are to be avoided, the slimming effect we are after doesn't occur if the eye is being drawn across the body. Vertical stripes are perfect for this, their visual effect can be a useful tool in avoiding drawing attention to the wearers size.
Avoid Stretchy fabrics
Although we have already mentioned that shapeless clothes can not be the most flattering, the opposite can also be true. Stretchy clothes by their very nature follow the wearers figure and drawing attention to the user's size. Heavier non-stretchy fabrics can really help here, they can hold their shape better and help sculpt the wearer.
So the times are changing, plus-size customers no longer have to settle for less. Retailers with vision are becoming aware of this previously untapped market, the amount of buying power the plus-size segment holds is impressive. Armed with modern tips and traditional approaches to dressing in larger sizes the plus-size customer has an excellent fashion future.
Related Tags: plus size clothes, plus size 20
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