Plus-size statuesque women through the ages have been revered. Though today you can't just drape your body in loose cloth like the plus size goddesses we have here. Privately acknowledging your own shape will help you buy the right clothes to flatter your figure. General fashion trends can be helpful or hurtful in plus size women's clothing, depending on what is being offered in the current season. So let's talk about flattering the plus-size woman with clothing that accentuates the positive, fits right and makes you feel good! We're going to diffuse our figure flaws as much as possible. Then, let's find the stores that offer those clothes to make you one of the great women of our time!
" Statuesque" is defined as having the beauty or formal dignity of a statue. Casually today, a statuesque woman is one who wears at least a size 14, and has little to do with statues- except that you can easily see that some of the Greek and Roman goddesses appear to be plus-size goddesses with apple, pear, banana and full hourglass shapes. Today the statuesque lady is a plus-size woman!
The shape of a goddess!
My guess is that this Venus looks at least a size 14 making her a
full hourglass figure as her bones seem fully padded, but proportional.
Hera here appears to be a big woman with strong shoulders and a more banana
shape camouflaged in many draped layers of clothing giving her a massive,
unflattering look. It appears that many of these ladies would be stepping
on their garments as they walked - so the problem of getting clothes in the
right length seems ages old. Kleo's added hip wrap only accentuates her pear
shape - and someone should have told her. Demeter and many more ancient goddesses
were depicted as apple-shaped,
with a round, prominent tummy usually signifying fertility. Read more on defining
your own shape.
You'll find tips and tricks for plus-size women in my "Off the hanger" section on each page. Compare problems and issues with plus-size fashions on the left under Hot Button Issues on most of our pages!
Take a look at how style and color can change your shape!
Every shape has its own issues. Choosing the right
style for your shape can make a significant difference in your overall appearance.
See examples in our fashion workshops that make a difference
in how you look:
Color tips and clothing style tips for the plus size pear shaped lady -jeans, pants and tops that are right for you.
(More style and color examples coming soom for other shapes!)
2007-08 Fall and Winter Plus Size Fashion Trends
Color
No single color has burst on the scene for this fall and winter, but these
are leading the pack::
Style
Empire waist tops have come on the scene big time, and that's good for us
plus-sized women. These are longer tops that nip below the bust and flare
out. Usually they are longer than last year's shorter tops and they can cover
bottoms and upper thighs when long enough! They can diffuse an apple or banana
middle nicely too.
2007 Plus Size Fashion Summer Trends Notes
Quiet Crochet
The trend has diminished somewhat, mostly to crocheted accented tops, some
even with a fashion look of the 70's!
Unspectacular Summer
So far, this summer has not burst with anything particularly new - no stunning
change in colors, nor style, except maybe a few more vertical stripes turning
up in tops and pants - which is great for plus size clothes for us. Vertical
stripes are almost always slimming!
I'm Seeing Spots
Seems many places are offering one thing with dots! It's more like a summer
fun idea rather than a trend. I've seen dresses, blouses and even shoes in
dots! These are great fun, but choose small or even tiny dotted patterned
items - except for shoes - where any size dot will do. Large dots - 1/2 inch
in diameter or larger will make the item, and you, look much larger.
Crop pants, capris and clam diggers
You've just got to see the fashion workshop about these!
2006 Plus Size Fashions - Trend Notes
Chocolate is in!
Well for me, chocolate is always in, but I don't mean the color.
Shades of brown made a big splash in casual and dessy wear. Is this a good
plus-size fashion trend? It depends on your skin tone, the shade of brown
you choose and the style of the item you choose.
Clamor for Crocheted!
Crocheted tops and sweaters, jackets, even skirts trimmed with crocheted edges
appeared everywhere. Is this a good plus-size fashion trend? Cropped anything
isn't the most figure flattering for us, and it was hard to find longer crocheted
sweaters that covered our hips. Crocheted items are good for cover-ups as
they are cool on warmer days, but cover your forearm nicely. Sometime special
care is needed for washing such as drying flat, and a little fabric softener
helps with a sometimes abrasive feel.
Big Bag!
This is great for us! Large purses- almost as big as a tote or carry-all!
These are proportional to our size. Forget the tiny handbags and go for one
of these. The trick of course, is not to fill it.
Clams and Crops
Clam diggers, crop pants, high-water pants, and shorter pants by any other
name that fall way below the kneecap and above the ankle gained enormous popularity
this year. But the old addage, "what is right is not always popular,
and what is popular is not always right", should be applied here. Observe
other plus size women in these pants and notice how it visually redistributes
all the weight upwards towards the middle and the "bottom". It is
an out-of-balance style for us. They are wonderful for gardening!
That's not all!
As more issues become evident, I will continually expand the site with the
dual objectives of helping us all look better and hoping the women's clothing
designers and manufacturers begin to act on our issues.
Here's what's coming: Fashion dictionary - what are "gathers",
what's the difference between a "ballet neck" and a "boat neck",
and much more. Plus size fashion chat and a page to show you how color combinations
and the cut of your clothes change how you look to others are all in the works!
Jo
4/19/07
Be among the great women of our time!