Tips For Looking Great In A Plus Size Dress

There are so many contradictory rules out there for plus size dress shopping (don't wear stripes, do wear stripes, etc) that it can make what should be a fun shopping excursion a complicated, confusing ordeal. Here, then, are three fail proof fashion rules of thumb, guaranteed to have you buying and wearing dresses with confidence.

First thing you should think about is what your physically appealing strengths are. An hourglass figure, small waist with equally proportioned hips & shoulders) has always been considered the most appealing shape. Clothing choices such as wrap dresses and shirts, skirts that hug the waist and hips paired with a blouse, belted dresses or shirts, are all great choices for those who have an hourglass shape and want to emphasize their small waist. Those with a rounder, apple type figure have their weight distributed more in their stomach area have to give more consideration as to what clothing choices will flatter their figure. Fashions should draw the eyes away from your mid-section. Do you have killer legs? Tops that billow towards the middle and skirts that end just above the knee are good choices for you. If you have a very pleasing face then a dress with a pretty, interesting necklines (ruffled, cowled, etc.) will bring people to look upwards towards your face and away from the middle section of your body.

If you're a plus sized woman, there's no need to be afraid of wearing prints. They can liven up your wardrobe and give some much needed variety that solid colors can't provide. Not only that, but they can also be used flatter your figure. Do you fall into the pear shape category? Then combine an eye-catching printed blouse with a skirt of a complimentary solid color. This strategy will create a much more balanced look, de-emphasizing your bottom half while accenting the top.

Finally, never, ever, ever, ever underestimate the power of color. The best silhouette in the world won't do anything for you if it comes in a color that is unflattering. Which colors will work for you and which will wash you out is something you can quickly determine by yourself at home. You don't need to drop by a make up counter at the mall to have a sales clerk who's working for minimum wage study your face and then declare you an autumn or summer.

The process is easy. First, find pieces of solid colored fabric. This can include towels, bedsheets, clothing etc. You'll also need a mirror and a well lit room. Then you'll hold the fabric up one at a time, placing it just below your chin. Each time you switch colors, you can see a chance in your face. Some colors will have a glorious brightening effect, while others will make you look dull or even ill. This shows how the colors works with your own coloring, and is a great way to drive home why it's critical to know which colors flatter you and to buy clothing in only those colors.