Taking The Negative Out Of Plus Size Clothing: July 2014

Thursday, July 31, 2014

Plus size body shape yoga

A plus size body shape does not readily come to mind when you think about a yoga class. However, yoga is a great way to:

1 - decrease stress - who doesn't need this these days?
2 - increase muscle tone - muscle may weigh more than fat, but it burns calories faster too!
3 - reduce joint pain and inflammation
4 - give you better balance
5 - improve self image by connecting the mind and body.

It is recommended that you seek out a yoga class for beginners with a qualified teacher. Pick one that is on your way to work or home from work so it's convenient. Yoga classes for plus size women are becoming increasingly popular. You can probably Google for some classes in your local area.

However, if you are not able to find classes to suit your schedule, etc., I have discovered a website that sells DVDs for plus size yoga and general exercise. http://www.phatmoves.com/dvds.php

Now that we have gotten the courage to seek out a yoga class or purchase a yoga DVD, we need to discuss what we will wear to said class. Don't get sucked into the "I'm plus size, I'm going to wear a baggy T-shirt and sweat pants" trap. It's alright to wear something form fitting. Check out the following links for ideas on cute and trendy workout clothes.
http://www.alwaysforme.com/viallac.html
http://www.justmysize.com/plus-size/workout/activity/yoga-clothes
http://www.lanebryant.com/apparel/plus-size-active/21288c20233/index.cat

No matter if you decide yoga is for you or not, take care of yourself. Be who you want to be and own it.

Sunday, July 27, 2014

Plus size swimwear...for your body type

How many of you just felt the cold chills with the mere mention of swimwear? Yep...me too. I am fortunate enough to have a swimming pool in my backyard, but I very rarely ever use it. Silly, you say. Maybe, but the thought of stuffing my body into a swimming suit and having my poor husband and child lay eyes on my in that suit are sometimes just too much for me.

I have done some research to hopefully help you have a more pleasant experience with swimwear. We will use the body shapes from a previous post.

#1 - Diamond shape - you want to enhance your bust while de-emphasizing your lower half. Swimsuits should have ruffles or some kind of embellishment at the bust....or patterned at the bust with a dark color on the bottom. If using a swimdress, tankini or skirt, look for an A-line that will skim your body without adding any volume.

on the left - Longitude/on the right - Shore Club

#2 - Hourglass shape - You are the lucky one. Most suits will look good on you. You will want to keep your proportions balanced. Look for suits with strapless tops, balanced embellishments on top and bottom to enhance your curves.

on the left - Tropiculture/ on the right - Longitude

#4 - Figure Eight (Spoon) - Much like the Diamond shape, you want to draw attention to your upper body..and also your legs. Look for a suit with light colors, ruffles, etc. on the top and dark simple bottoms. Retro swimsuits with high waisted bikinis or pin-up style one piece suits. One piece suits with rouching across the middle.

On the left - Suddenly Slim by Catalina On the right - Delta Burke

#5 - Rectangle shape - Since you do not naturally have your own curves, you will have to give the illusion of curves with your swimsuit. Look for ruffles and colors that highlight your bust and hips or a design that will give the illusion of a nipped in waist.

On the left - Aquabelle On the right - City Chic

#6 - Triangle (Pear) shape - Since you are heavier on the bottom, you want to draw the eye upward and create an illusion of a longer torso. Look for suits with lighter colors on top and bottoms that are cut relatively high. Underwires or padding enhances the effect.

On the left - Shore Club On the right - Torrid

#7 - Oval shape - The big issue here is the midsection. Your mission is to deflect the eye away from it...or hide it. Choose suits with wrap patterns or criss-cross patterns. Choose a suit with detailing at the hip such as a ruffle or a tie.

On the left - Roamans On the right - Longitude

#8 - Inverted Triangle - your upper half is larger than your lower half. This means you will need to look for suits to balance the 2 and create some curves.

On the left - Tropiculture On the right - Just for Us

I hope you find this helpful. At then end of the day, it's all about taking the plunge (see what I did there?) and getting yourself out there. No need to be stuck in the cover-up or the sarong. Make sure you try different suits within your specification and get the one that speaks to you and allows you to be who you want to be.

Thursday, July 24, 2014

Plus Size Women...how to fit your bras properly

Plus size women often have a large chest as well. If "the girls" are not properly supported and kept where they should be, this can change the way you look in clothes. I heard once that a study done somewhere determined that most women do not wear the correct size bra. If you are not able to get a professional bra fitting for whatever reason, this guide should help you in determining your correct size. An important fact to remember is to accept who you are and the chest you have been given. Give up trying to wear the skimpy bras with the spaghetti straps and 1 hook.

Those are made for the size 00 ladies who are an A cup on a heavy day. They will do you no good. Fashion for plus size women has come a long way. We can now get pretty bras! (this one can be found at jessicalondon.com).

I read this article on Pinterest a while ago. Fair warning - rating is PG. Very honest and real descriptions. At the end of the day, very informative. http://brittanyherself.com/2014/02/05/happy-boobs/

Did you know there is a proper way to put on a bra? I learned this several years ago, and I have been happy ever since.
*** To put your bra on properly, lean forwards so that your breasts fall into the cups, then fasten the band behind you (you can put the shoulder straps on before or after this part). Then, still leaning forwards, hold either the shoulder strap or the end of the underwire with one hand, and reach into your armpit with the other. Gently scoop from the armpit into the cup. Next, hold the bottom of the underwire with one hand, and reach into the bottom of the cup with the other. Use one hand to align the underwire to sit at the root of your breast, and gently lift your breast up into the cup with the other. You might prefer to align the underwire and then scoop from the armpit, but either way should work quite well. You may find that you need to scoop and swoop a couple of times before you are fully adjusted, especially if you have larger breasts or migrated breast tissue. If after doing this, you find that you have overspill, the cup is too small – try a bigger cup. If the cups seem to fit well straight after scooping and swooping, but then your breasts seem to move back out of the cups when you move around, this suggests your band is too loose to keep your breasts enclosed in the cups – try a band size down and a cup up (e.g. 34D -> 32DD).

I have noticed that different bra manufacturers have different sizing. I imagine board room meetings with bra company executives laughing at all of us being frustrated. I found this chart on herroom.com. Hope you find it helpful...

Difference between Bust and Band Measurements

10"

11"

12"

13"

14"

15"

US Standard Cup Size

DD or E

DDD or F

DDDD or G