The Question:
Dear Belinda,
I’m a size 16 with broad shoulders, so I sometimes struggle with finding great fashion that flatters my figure, especially come sunny season. What are some good ideas for me in spring? Are there any designs or colors in particular that may help, other than boring black? I love me some color, too!
Big Gal in SoCal
Belinda Says…
Hi Big Gal in SoCal,
I’ll be the first to admit that I have a closet full of black clothes. It’s my go-to color and love that it’s classic. However, I am definitely with you on the fact that it can be pretty boring. Even I want to brighten things up once in a while! The great news is that there are now more options for full-figured ladies to be fashionable, and that certainly includes more color. Here are some tips for flattering your curvy physique while being stylish and feeling great.
Play with Color. Warmer days call for warmer colors. Spring is definitely the time to give your mostly dark wardrobe a rest and replace it with garments that are brighter and cheerful in color. Just as wearing black from head-to-toe can have a slimming effect, wearing an outfit with a monochromatic scheme can give your frame a longer, leaner appearance. You can also mix it up with colors that compliment each other and blend nicely together. Keep your color scheme coordinated to maintain a slim and elongated appearance. Light neutrals, such as white and camel, go great with spring colors like pink, coral and yellow.
Embrace Your Shape & Accentuate Your Best. One of the worst things I’ve seen in full-figured fashion is that some of the styles offered are shapeless and tend to hide the curvy physique of full-figured women. What?! Why?! Don’t hide your curves — embrace them! Say goodbye to oversized and shapeless clothing and say hello to styles that compliment your physique. Wearing clothes that are too small or tight can also have an adverse effect. Buy clothes that fit just right and where the fabric skims over your body and smooths out its surface. When you have the perfect fit, you can play up your best features, whether it’s your hips, bust or shoulders.
Choose Patterns That Flatter. Florals and funky prints are great for warmer weather, but choosing the wrong pattern can have an unflattering effect on full-figured bodies. If you’re looking to draw attention away from certain parts of your body, avoid large patterns. Smaller patterns are best, as they draw in the eye and take away focus from your area of concern.
Flattering Looks for You
- Streamline your body’s frame by wearing pants that flare out at the bottom to balance out with the broadness of your shoulders.
- Shirts with wide-bottom sleeves also draw away attention from your shoulders. If it’s too warm for a long-sleeved shirt, then short-sleeved tops and sleeveless tops with wider straps are best for your frame, but avoid halter tops, as these tend to create the illusion of broader shoulders.
- Skirts have gotten longer this year, and this is a flattering trend for all, regardless of size. Long skirts give the illusion of a longer, leaner frame, so pairing one of these with a properly fitted top and cute denim jacket, or cardigan, will have you looking pretty and on-trend.
Unfortunately, not all brick and mortar retailers offer the latest trends in larger sizes, but you can now find a variety of great fashions for full-figured women online. Since there is no size standardization in the fashion industry, pay close attention to measuring charts when shopping for clothes online. But most of all, don’t be afraid to try new trends. Be comfortable in what you wear and feel good about the way you look. This will show in your attitude and will give you the confidence to be fashionably you. Happy Stylin’!
All the best,
Belinda
Have a question for Belinda? Send an email to belinda [at] smarter.com with all of your fashion inquiries. I may not be able to answer everyone’s questions, but I will try to get to as many as possible. Be sure to stay tuned for next week’s Ask Belinda Column, the next one may be yours!
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