Number 4 has to do with you.
4 Things I Learned While Designing Plus-Size Clothes
I believe there’s a secret designer in all of us—and I found mine this year when I was tasked with helping create Glamour and Lane Bryant’s new collection of chic size-14-and-up clothes. As a former plus-size model and a bigger-than-average fashion person constantly frustrated by the lack of stylish plus-size clothing options in my size, I jumped (OK, lunged) at the opportunity. And with our collection hitting stores this fall, and new items arriving monthly, I’m sharing what I learned along the way:
Huffine brought our looks to life with a little help from the Glamour team.
Lauren Dreeland1. The old rules don’t exist. If you’re above a size 14, you’ve most likely been instructed to avoid horizontal stripes, cover your arms, blend in by wearing black—the list of nauseating commands goes on and on. Because of those conventions, plus-size labels often play it safe. But Glamour is over that; we designed “rule-breaking” pieces like sleeveless jumpsuits and sequined skirts. And those were the pieces our model, Candice Huffine, right, asked to take home. Point being: Risk taking pays off!
2. Proportion is everything. Want longer-looking legs? Grab a high-waisted skirt (like our pleated one, on Huffine, right). Trying to appear taller? Reach for an elongating duster vest (coming in November). Into defining your waist? A cropped jacket (like the one at bottom right) works. And wide-leg pants help balance hips. Now you know!
Our Pieces! Glamour x Lane Bryant dress ($90), jacket ($100), skirt, ($90, available at lanebryant.com)
Tim Hout3. Good fit is all in the details. There are tricks, I learned in the Lane Bryant studio, that make clothes easier to wear if you’re a 14 or above, so look for these wherever you shop: waistbands with hidden elastic to accommodate different waist shapes; button-down shirt fronts that are sewn together to avoid gaping on larger chests; and “pencil” skirts that actually have a slight A-line for extra mobility when you walk.
4. Most important, women’s opinions matter. Thanks to social media, brands are in tune with what their customers want to see on shelves. Why not tell them what you love and hate? When @glamourmag follower @littlelimedress told me she was desperate for “high-waisted, wide-leg tailored trousers,” I listened—and we made them! Use your voice; smart designers will listen.
More on awesome plus-size clothing:
You Need to Know These New Plus-Size Clothing Brands
9 Fall Dresses for Curvy Girls—and Exactly How to Wear Them
This story originally appeared on: Glamour - Author:CelebDailyPosts
