Contrary to popular belief, plus size women are not just “round”. Just like our slimmer sisters we all come in different shapes and forms and need to style ourselves according to our body types.

There are as many plus size shapes as there are normal sizes. Some of us have big bums and hips and barely anything on top, some have large backs and full chests, but shapely legs. Some are straight up and down with evenly distributed body weight. And there are even some very lucky, very shapely "big girls". Think Anna Nichole Smith or Kirstie Alley.

Before you can dress for your body type, you first have to figure out what your body type is! There are 5 basic figure types. Take the  BODY TYPE QUIZ  to find your figure type. And remember, when you gain or lose weight, your body shape may change and your clothing needs along with it!
 
There are 5 main figure types:

Apple Body Types

These figures are generally "round" all over with the waist being wider than the hips and shoulders.  Typical dressing problems include pants that either fit in the waist but are too big in the hips and bum, or fit the hip/bum area but can't be done up in the waist.  Fitted or tailored shirts tend to pull around the middle and you can forget wearing a bias cut dress!

Apples need to focus on their fantastic legs and arms.  Stay away from fitted cuts, and go with things that will flow around your middle.  Layering with thin pieces is a great look on apples.






Pear Body Types

Pears are bottom heavy, with full thighs and rear.  Dressing problems include pants that fit over the thigh area gape in the waist, and wearing different sizes on the top and bottom.

Pears need to focus on drawing attention away from their hips and draw it up to their faces, which tend to be thin and their pretty shoulders and necks.  Keep bottoms on the wider side of straight.  A-line anything looks great on pears.










Hourglass Body Types

Hourglasses are the lucky ones, with their curves in "all the right places".  Sometimes hourglasses have problems with finding clothes that fit their curves properly like their pear sisters.

Hourglasses need to focus on keeping proportions in balance and not overloading any part of their body. Remember that clothes that are "sexy" (i.e. deep V-neck, short skirt, etc) will look even more so on an hourglass and can be easily overdone.  Less is more for you!





Rectangle Body Types

Rectangles are inherently proportioned like hourglasses, but lack waist definition resulting in a loss of curves.  Rectangles often have a problem with "muffin tops" because their waist is often a half to a whole size bigger than the rest of their body.

Rectangles need to keep their proportions balanced while maximizing their curves.  Jackets and tops that hit at the hipbone and bottoms that are on the skinny side of straight will make you look curvy and slimmer.






Inverted Triangles

Inverted Triangles are much wider on top than on the bottom.  The difference to an apple is that inverted triangles have much wider shoulders and backs, and tend to put on weight in their back and arms as opposed to their bellies and chin like apples.  Dressing problems include ill-fitting shoulder areas in shirts and dresses and wearing a size or two bigger on top than on the bottom.

Triangles need to stay away from things like shoulder pads and anything that draws attention to their strong shoulders and backs.  Detailing around the hips, like sequins on jeans or peplums on skirts and jackets will really help even out the figure.  Stay away from starkly tailored shirts, but don't go for boxy cut clothes either, as these will hang off you.