As summer is fast approaching and the days are heating up, you need to prepare your summer wardrobe. If youÂ’re plus sized, sometimes shopping for the perfect summer clothes can be a little more difficult. ItÂ’s best to approach your summer clothing hunt with the goals to find a few key pieces that can be worn in many ways from Memorial Day to Labor Day. Here are some tips on finding the perfect summer essentials if youÂ’re plus sized: 
1. A basic cotton plus size dress. These simple dresses are summer staples for women of all sizes because they are easy to wear, come in a variety of fun colors, and allow you to stay cool in the summer heat. If youÂ’re plus sized, look for a cotton dress that cinches right below your chest in order to accent the slimmest part of your body. Look for a dress with thick cut straps or a shirt dress. In most cases, avoid empire-waist dresses, as they can oftentimes make you appear bigger than you are. For a more classy look, check out this embellished dress from Avenue Plus for $29.96, marked down from $69.00 (right).
2. Lightweight shorts. Although many plus sized women tend to opt for knee-length Bermuda shorts, this style of shorts can actually make a shorter woman look too big on the bottom and greatly shorten the length of your legs. So if you are on the shorter side, pick of pair of shorts that hits between two and four inches above the knee. Make sure that you donÂ’t go much shorter than that; otherwise your shorts wonÂ’t cover the fullest part of the upper thigh. If you have problems with the pockets of shorts adding unwanted bulk to your frame, take your shorts to tailor and have the pockets sewn closed. This simple and cheap alteration will make shorts much more flattering for the plus-sized frame. Though many people think bigger girls should avoid white shorts, I think you can definitely still wear them. Just make sure the white shorts you choose are made of a thicker fabric and are not see through at all.
3. Basic t-shirts. Look for t-shirts that have a scoop neck or a v-neckline, as these are most flattering on women with bigger busts. Avoid crew neck t-shirts because they can make your chest look awkwardly gigantic. Also make sure to find t-shirts with loose, short sleeves that are relaxed fit on your arms. Avoid princess cut “cap” sleeves, which will squeeze any fat on your arm and make you appear bigger.
What do you think? What are your summer staples?
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