Spring/Summer 2008 Fashion For Plus Size Women

On the surface, spring and summer 2008 fashion is a nightmare for plus size women. All those frills and ruffles, tiers and flares and voluminous skirts make a woman look twice her size. Those dresses with tiers from top to bottom are enough to send a grown plus size woman running in the opposite direction.

Seriously. When will designers realize that not everyone is a size zero. It is apparent that most designers think most women are skinny. We big girls do have purchasing power too and we like gorgeous clothes made to flatter us. We do not need ruffly details to enhance our figures. We have enough *ahem* volume. Naturally.

Basically, this season's ruffles and voluminous skirts are out. Which big girl wants tiers everywhere to make her look twice her width? I have to concede that the season's frilly styles look great on skinny girls but not on women larger than a size 6.

So what is a big girl to wear throughout the spring and summer period?

In spring, slim cut jackets that go down to the hips are perfect. The ones to get would be the trenchcoats. Get the ones that are belted. By the way, large belts that aren't covered with sequins are your friends. They make you look curvier. Sexier.

On the topic of curves. If you've got them, flaunt them. Forget about tent dresses. They aren't flattering. Don't even dream about hiding beneath them. You'd look like a tent.

Instead, wear clothes that are cut close to the body. If you are worried about your tummy, or excess fat, wear a miraclesuit under your outfit. You'd look curvy like a pin up model decades ago. By the way, retro is in. Yes, the flapper style that flatters ultra-thin women is back, but then again, so is the hourglass, corset style which is perfect for curvy women.

Go retro with dresses meant for hourglass figures. Belts are everywhere this season, if you like your dresses a little loose, cinch the waist with a wide belt to emphasize your hourglass figure and womanly curves.

Color-wise, white is the big neutral for spring and summer, but white makes the wearer look fatter. A good alternative is gray. If you love black, then go for black clothes as they are slimming.

As for prints, hey, bright prints on a black base is slimming. Or you could even wear a brightly colored jacket over a black dress and look amazing this season.