Fabulous Plus Fashion
The chances of most women over the age of 17 being a size zero are, well... zero. But that shouldn't be a cause for despair.
With summer nearly here, BETH MILLWARD suggests a few simple tricks for real women that will not only flatter your figure but celebrate your curves too!
Right! May’s long out (the blossom if not the month) and we’ve cast off our clouts with gay abandon. And there are some glorious prints and colours to tempt us.
Of course we always deeply regret those luscious Sunday dinners that we can't resist and comforting puddings and those biscuits which seem so perfect with afternoon tea. Not to mention the boxes of chocolates left over from Easter. I could go on but what’s the point? Far more productive to devise clever ways to counteract our happy greed and come out looking good.
And there are plenty of ways to do that this summer, whatever our size. Florals are back with a vengeance and they can be extremely useful for disguising lumps and bumps.
Look for your best points then play to them and distract from your less good ones. Patterns can be very helpful in confusing the eye of the beholder and a v-neck can help reduce a larger bust.
For an apple shape with a bit of height, choose a boxy jacket or a long tunic to skim over a plain skirt or trousers. Beware of having both top and bottom wide or the overall effect will be back of a bus.
A fabric which drapes well is always advantageous. We want it to skim over the bumps, not too tight and not too loose; to give a defined shape but not to cling, heaven forbid.
And best to avoid bias cut. It usually does exactly what you don’t want by going in and out at all the wrong places. It can be very cruel.
Horizontal stripes are now officially allowed after proper scientific research. Extraordinary optical illusions make some vertical stripes actually enlarge a body.
Darker colours and plain colours can certainly be flatteringly slimming.
One of our greatest allies this year is the long dress – if your shoulders are half-way lovely then reveal them with joy.
If you feel a tad self-conscious (age/size/whatever) you can always add a shrug or a floaty shirt.
It’s glorious to see colour and romance swishing down the High Road so enjoy the freedom of all that fabric.
In contrast, there’s always the knotty problem of swimwear. But even here we can find some kind draping.
Choose a one-piece with clever pleating across the tummy. An asymmetrical design gathering at one side of the waist is ideal.
Or a pattern with a central panel and darker edges to give the illusion that those pesky side additions just aren’t there.
And then go out and enjoy the sunshine. Tuck into all the fruit and salads and before you know it you’ll be a size smaller anyway!
