How to Shop for Plus Sized Women's Clothing

I am a plus sized woman. Even when I was my thinnest, I still stand about 5'10" tall with a large frame, and that makes shopping for clothing difficult at best. What plus sized women really want is clothing that is stylish and popular, but doesn't accentuate the fact she is a bit outside of standard clothing sizes.

Plus sized women don't need large polka dots and bright floral prints that make them stand out even more than they already do. But it's not easy to find stylish clothing in the larger sizes, or sizes outside of the norm, especially for tall women. I can find plenty of things to fit me size-wise, but pants are almost always too short for me.

Years ago, I worked for a business school, as a career services coordinator, and one of the things I implemented at the school, which had many low-income students seeking to improve their education and income, was a clothing closet to help prepare the students for job interviews and dressing for success in the workplace. It is possible to dress your best, even if you are plus sized, and still look professional, clean, and neat in appearance.

First, larger woman tend to buy clothing that is actually too large for them. I've done this too. You buy the baggy t-shirts that cover up all the 'problem areas' or flowing and full one-piece dresses. Truth is, these types of clothing actually will only make a plus-size woman appear larger and won't accentuate any of the positive figure features she may have.

The better choice would be to buy clothing that is form fitted but not snug. Fitted shirts or button up shirts look better on a plus sized woman than t-shirts or thinner cotton shirts do.