As a plus size girl it’s hard enough to find clothes that fit properly and flatter my curvy shape.  I find that I continue to fall within two categories when selecting my outfits no matter if the event is formal or informal.  First, I always default to baggy, frumpy, tops and improperly fitting pants somehow persuading myself to think that I’ll look smaller if the clothes are bigger.  The second category is what I refer to as “over accessorizing.”  I start off with good intentions end up looking like a sale rack in the corner of a department store.  I’m layered in shirts, sweaters, a jacket, a scarf, necklaces, big earrings and sometimes even a hat.  I cover myself in layers and layers of items that often don’t mesh well together in hopes to draw attention away from my flaws.

So I had my “light bulb” moment the other day when I glanced in the mirror.  What I saw looked like a six year old playing dress up with mismatched items from a musty trunk in her grandmother’s attic.  This had to stop. For the next month or so I watched every fashion “how to” show I could find.  I read fashion magazines I never knew existed and tried on outfits that I never would have considered in the past. I scoured the internet for blogs and tips and here’s what I learned about dressing curvy.

1.)  It’s OK to wear snug, tailored clothing.  It is not OK to wear tight, revealing clothing.  One of the items that I would have never dared to try on is the blouse shown above.  It’s the Kiyonna Loretta Lace Top.  In the past I would have thought, it’s too tight, too revealing, and too low cut.  What I found after trying it on is that it had a tailored, crisp, trendy look.  It gave me a waistline that I haven’t seen in years and had a plunging neckline that was cut just right to create a little intrigue.

2.)  If you’re like me, comfortable flattering pants are impossible to find. If they fit nicely through the waistline they are too right through the hips.  If they happen to fit comfortably through the hips, they’re too long.  I’ve found that looking for a waistline on pants that hits slightly below your natural waistline will make your waist look smaller and lengthen your torso.  Another tip that I hadn’t considered:  alterations.  If you find trousers that fit perfectly and are comfortable through the hips, but they’re just too long, find a good seamstress.  Hemming pants is quick and typically inexpensive.

3.)  A fun tip in the reinvention process:  Buy new shoes.  Find a great pair of trendy, comfortable shoes that accentuate your look.  Heavier style heels that are not too tall will balance out your calves. Additionally, avoiding strappy shoes will lengthen your legs and make them appear thinner.

4.)  Lastly, have fun accessorizing, but don’t over do it.  Sometimes less is more.  Though one of the benefits of being plus sized is being able to wear larger jewelry, pairing metal accessories with glass beads or pearls with a trendy bangle just doesn’t work.  Pick a trend and use it consistently throughout your look.