Plus size girls have traditionally had a hard time shopping for
occasions dresses, but it doesnt have to be that way!
You just need to have some ideas about your body shape and the kinds of styles that will suit and flatter you.
Read on to get some great tips about which styles you should grab and which to avoid.
Occasions dresses like prom dresses are available in several different styles, but not every style is flattering for the curvier plus size girl. There are some dos and donts when choosing your dress and some handy hints that can help you look your best.
First lets look at some great styles for plus size girls.
Empire style dresses The empire dress has a high waistline starting just below your bust and a skirt that flows out and down to the hem. It may be a classic style, but its anything other than matronly. In fact think Helen of Troy, or Cleopatra and youll be closer to the gorgeous truth.
Since its waistline starts high, the flowing skirt will not accentuate your hips and tummy, rather just skirting over them and not defining them. It also will often have a square neckline which will help busty girls to keep everything in check and smaller busted girls to draw attention towards their neck instead.
If you choose a nice light fabric like chiffon then it will look very light and give the skirt the ability to move and keep you comfortable, because as a plus size you dont want to be constricted by a tight dress.
A-line style dresses The A-line dress is defined by its shape, looking like a capital A. Another really classic shape and flattering dress for plus sizes, it has a bodice and then a skirt that flows out and down to the hem. The waistline is a little lower, but the skirt still flows straight out from your bust to hem giving the dress quite a sharp line.
This is great news as the skirt will again serve not to define your hips, tummy and any other curves you might not be confident about.
If you choose a princess style A-line dress then this will be particularly slimming as it features long vertical panels from neckline to hem which create vertical lines which will draw the eye down and take attention away from your curves.
If you are pear-shaped then A-line will be a fantastic choice as it enhances your upper body whilst taking emphasis away from your tummy and lower body. If you are busty then it will be great as these dresses are often strapless or spaghetti strap style which will show off your assets to the max!
So we can see that Empire and A-line are really flattering dress styles for plus size occasions dresses, but there are also some handy tips to keep in mind.
Dont choose print patterns, do choose plain colors. Prints, floral for example, will serve to make you look bigger, whereas plain colors will not draw attention to your shape.
Do choose black. Other colors are fine too, but black is always a safe option as its slimming.
Do show off your legs. Crazy? Not at all. Curvy girls usually have great legs, so dont always automatically choose a very long dress. You can be brave and choose a shorter empire or A-line dress and then team it up with some killer heels to really make a statement.
Do choose sleeves if youre not totally happy with your arms. Sleeves wont make you look old as long as you choose some made of a light fabric like lace or organza. These look really classy and will help you to feel more confident.
So if you're a curvaceous plus size girl you needn't stress about your next occasions dress. Just consider these classic styles and handy tips before you start shopping and you'll save yourself a lot of stress and find a dress that looks simply fabulous too.
If you are wondering where to find a great selection of plus size dresses then online stores could be a good option. Many mainstream stores don't hold a wide range of plus size dresses, but you'll find that online stores do and they are much cheaper too.
