5 Fit & Fashion Tips

5 Things to Remember When Shopping Plus Size Clothing Stores

As a retailer of plus size fashions online I realize that my customers do not have a fitting room to try items on before they buy. Since 2004 I have communicated with my customers one by one and have learned a few things that I wish I could pass on.

1. Know your Body Shape
2. Know your Measurements
3. Know your positive assets
4. Think Vertical
5. Know how to choose the right plus size clothing stores.

Body Shapes

There are several classifications of body shapes and each one has a different set of challenges. For example a woman with an apple shape body would choose a different design than a woman with a pear shape body because the two a virtually opposite. The different body shapes can be either expressed by apple, pear, or geometrically like triangle, inverted triangle, hourglass, diamond, rectangle, Oval etc. Taking a few minutes to figure out which one you are is recommendation number one.

Measurements

I’m really surprised at the number of women who don’t know their body measurements and simply use size designations like 1x, 2x etc. when buying online. The problem with using such size designations is that a size 1x for one company maybe different than a 1x for another company. None the less it happens all the time. If you don’t know your measurement then please go to our measurements page to find out. If you’ve got a cloth measuring tape it only takes a couple of  minutes.

Positive Assets

Identifying your positive body assets will help you understand which designs emphasize those assets and tones down areas of your body that you would like to keep secret. An apple body shape (inverted triangle)  has a larger upper torso and smaller bottom, so choosing tops that plays down the upper torso is key to giving the apple an overall balance. The exact opposite is true for a pear shape or triangle shape body. Accenting is also key to drawing the eyes away from negative areas and to the areas of your body you consider a plus.  For example choosing a design that accents a beautiful neck silhouette may draw attention upward and away from a prominent midsection. With a little understanding and practice you will do quite well with accenting your positive while keeping your little secrets top secret!

Think Vertical

Dressing vertical is the art of drawing the eyes of the beholder up and down your silhouette rather than from side to side, or as I like to say “Trick the Eye”.  One such example is dressing in similar hues like black or Gray to create a long unbroken line up and down your body.  Your not limited to solid colors but you should learn the idea of choosing a proper print. An example of using prints the right way would be to choose a print with vertical lines matching the color of your pants or skirt. Another trick to create a vertical line when choosing a top is to use V-neck.  Be careful not to draw your body into boxes like wearing an all white top with a black skirt. Another bit of advice is to stay away from horizontal line prints especially wide line prints, although I have seen some done well but seldom. An example outfit that would use all of these techniques would be to choose a vertical print v-neck top with a solid color knee length skirt and same color shoes. If you can wear shoes with higher heels this will also help in creating a longer vertical silhouette.  These are just guidelines so don’t be afraid to try anything as you never know when you might find that perfect combination.

Choosing the Right Plus Size Clothing Stores

Sitting in the privacy and comfort of your home shopping for plus size clothes is a convenient way to shop but you should exercise a little bit of common sense when choosing which clothing store your going to trust with your hard earned money. Spending a little time to read our page on choosing the right “Plus Size Clothing Stores” will help you eliminate some of the risk involved.

I believe if you apply the ideas covered in this short article along with choosing the right plus size clothing store you will save  a lot of time and money in the future not to mention make your online shopping experience more enjoyable for years to come. I hope I have made both fit and fashion much easier for you, and if you have any questions please feel free to email me anytime.

Best Regards,

Bobby G. Keith

Designer, Manufacturer and Retailer of womens plus size clothing both trendy and affordable at www.plussizesavings.com