Styling tips I’ve learnt from being a plus-size model

“Throughout my career, I’ve worn thousands of items of clothing so I’ve learned a few things about what works best for plus-size bodies.”

Being a plus-size model has some perks, such as getting to try on everything, but there are drawbacks, such as having to try on everything. I could wear up to 100 different items of clothing in a single day. Modelling looks glamorous and fun, but the reality is I’m jumping up and down half-naked while lunging into my 20th pair of jeans that day.

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Throughout my career, I’ve worn thousands of items of clothing so I’ve learned a few things about what works best for plus-size bodies. Let me share some tips I’ve learned with you. Hopefully, this advice helps you out the next time you’re shopping for clothes.

Shirring will support a fluctuating body

The Goldilocks of the fashion world, shirring is a sewing technique that gives clothing stretch, making everything fit just right. I have a lot of shirred clothing in my wardrobe because my weight has constantly fluctuated, leaving me with items ranging from a size 12 to a size 20.

My favourite thing about shirring is how it adapts to hug your body in the best ways possible. Our bodies are always going to change; having clothing with shirring enables us to continue wearing our favourite dresses and tops even as our bodies evolve.

Look for lace-up

There’s a reason why corsets have been a recurring trend throughout history. I think the lacing-up aspect is one reason they have been a mainstay of fashion for so long. Lace-up closures are popping up more and more lately, and I’m here for it.

Having the ability to adjust clothing to fit your body shape is extremely appealing. Personally, I find it difficult to find clothes that fit my hips and waist, which can be annoying, but the clothing I have with lace-up features has always been able to be adjusted enough, making it seem like these pieces were custom-made for me.

Wrap dresses will always flatter

I know, I know, I make fun of wrap dresses a lot, especially if they are floral, but there is a reason they have been a staple in plus-size wardrobes. The waist tie allows it to be customised to your body, while the draping creates a beautiful shape across your figure.

Wrap dresses are simple to style and have the quick-change capability to shift from casual to dressed-up. The other benefit is that wrap dresses are typically easier to find for those times when you’re in a bind because fashion designers seem to think it’s the only item plus-size bodies want to wear.

Gathering creates shape

Not to be confused with shirring, gathering is a sewing technique that, you guessed it, gathers the fabric. There are several ways to apply gathering to a garment, but I’ve found that it works best for my plus-size body when it collects at an angle or in the middle. A big part of fashion styling is creating shapes.

Gathering produces forms that may look fantastic on every type of body, whether in the silhouette or the actual garment. The ultimate Houdini is gathering. It can divert attention from areas you might not feel as secure in showing off just yet by attracting the eye to other places. 

Ignore size labels

I can practically guarantee that if I took 10 people who all wear a size 20 and asked them to put on a shirt that size, it wouldn’t fit well on everyone. Since size is subjective, pay more attention to how something fits and how you feel, than to the size on the tag. There’s no set standard for sizing, and as the majority of plus-size and curve ranges are only accessible online, it may be very hard to figure out what would fit you.

If something doesn’t fit, try to remember that fabric, cut, design and details may all affect size; it is not a reflection on you. That speaks more to the dumpster fire that is clothing sizes than it does about your body.

Finally, embrace your belly and thighs

I personally try to avoid shapewear because it reinforces the narrative that I need to shrink or change myself in order to wear certain types of clothing and have it be deemed suitable by others. I don’t dress for other people; I dress for me.

If anyone has an issue with the way I dress, it’s entirely their problem. Put on a crop top. Wear the shorts. Wear whatever makes you happy because feeling confident will make any outfit look good.

This article was originally published on October 10, 2022.

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