Dresses For Big Women

Style tips that take women’s unique sets of curves

How To Dress For YOUR Body

It seems simple to classify clothing as either straight- or plus-size. One refers to styles available in sizes below a 16, as plus-size clothing designer and pattern-maker Trudy Hanson explains, and the other covers those above. It's placing actual women under those umbrella terms that just doesn't work for us, and with the plus-purchasing population dominating 67% of the market in 2013, according to Business Insider, there's no way that group can be defined by a single physical descriptor.

So, we’re tossing it aside, in favor of full-figure style tips that take women’s unique sets of curves into account.

The task of dressing for your body type — pear or hourglass, for example — requires a slightly different approach when it comes to styling from the plus-size department. “For us, it is about choice,” Evans’ head of design Rebecca Vann Reicher says. “If you are plus-size you still want to follow trends.” With her help, doing so is as easy as finding flattering silhouettes and styling tricks tailored to your type.

In the spirit of offering as many sartorial choices as possible, we’ve also plotted out three different approaches for every curvy shape. “It's fine and dandy to know and use the classic dressing tricks, which are all really designed to give the wearer a more traditional hourglass silhouette,” Hanson adds, "but the 21st-century girl often wants to dress in a more directional, high-fashion, or personal way." With this in mind, we separated style moves into beginner, intermediate, and advanced levels — creating more daring choices along with a few easy and personalized ways to flaunt your shape.

Hourglass

The hourglass woman's hips and bust are full, and her waist is naturally slimmer. Along with pear, this is one of the most common plus-size body types, Vann Reicher tells us.

Beginner

As Hanson explains, hourglass-shaped women “tend to go for a retro look,” which makes perfect sense. As with a fit-and-flare dress, the silhouette exactly mimics yours. There is full coverage for your curves, and a subtle accent at the waist for definition.

Intermediate

Further emphasize your curves in a peplum top. The flared waistline will enhance the proportions between your slim waist and more ample hips.

Advanced

For the most enhanced version of your shape, go for a sexy, body-hugging option. “If you are an hourglass shape you can totally wear body-con this party season,” Vann Reicher says. “It accentuates the hips and bust.” We love the hourglass shape of this design; it will take your own to epic proportions.

Busty

Just like the straight-size version, a plus-size busty woman’s largest measurement is across her chest. Her hips and midsection may be curvy, but on a smaller scale.

The Beginner

The V-neck top can be daring or demure, depending on how low you dip. Either way, it's a busty girl's staple. At its most extreme it can be a cleavage-boosting cut, but a small V can also help elongate your neckline and actually minimize your top.

The Intermediate

Busty women often have to deal with the sack-of-potatoes problem (clothing that fits in the bust and hangs loose everywhere else). This waist-cinching dress will help highlight your upper body by slimming the middle with its knotted.