Prints look beautiful! They are carefree,
colorful and energetic. No wonder it is a great way to take a break from the plain,
severe and formal look of solids. However, if you’re on the heavier side,
you’ve probably been told to steer clear of prints. Every time, you stand to
admire a beautiful printed dress or skirt, you have that voice screaming inside
- “You’ll look fat! Black is the only
color for you.”
Wait a minute! Whoever said you
couldn’t wear prints because you are plus-sized is highly mistaken. Black and
white can actually make your bulges more visible to public view. As a matter of
fact, selected prints can create an illusion of a slimmer figure. Here’s how you can dress your plus-sized
figure in creative prints.
The Solid –
Print Balance
An excess of printed patterns
especially in bright and bursting colors can become an eyesore. Hence, try your
best to balance them. If you have a
heavy bust, go for a plain top paired with printed pants. On the contrary, if
you have a heavy bottom, go the other way with a printed top and a pair of
plain pants. Sometimes, even pear-shaped women can wear printed pants depending
on the prints you choose.
All-Print
A dress or a one-piece looks good in
all-print. Make sure it is not all pattern; it should show some of the
background. The background color should flatter your skin tone. Pair it with the right footwear and you are
ready to go. You can choose the print to wear depending on the time of the day
and the occasion. It also depends on the fabric. For instance, a long maxi
dress for beachwear looks great in soft, flowing fabrics and subtle romantic
prints and floral patterns.
What’s the
right size?
This is one of the major debates on
prints for plus-sized women. Some will tell you not to go for small while
others will mention no large-sized prints. You should opt for medium sized
prints that do not draw attention to your large frame.
Wear vertical strips instead of
horizontal stripes as they take the eye top-down. Horizontal stripes will make
you appear wider. Besides this, you can play with geometric shapes, abstract designs,
floral patterns and art-inspired shapes.
Get the
right fit
The print is not the only thing that
matters. The fit also determines your overall look. Loose and baggy clothes
will make you look fatter while skin-fitting clothes will accentuate your bulk
frame. Therefore, get clothes in the right fit. If you want to wear printed
pants, opt for skinny pants instead of a trouser fit. You can also layer your
printed dress with a tailored jacket.
Color
Blocking:
You can wear prints by using the color
blocking technique. It involves playing with colors to highlight your
attributes and conceal the flaws. The colors are used in a gradient with the
darkest going on the largest part of the body and lightest on the slimmest. So,
if you have a large bust, it is dark for the bust, light for the bottom and
medium for the waist.
If it suits you, stop dressing to
look thinner. Wear what you feel most comfortable and confident in!
