This guest post is by Clari Farkash is the designer of the Clarisse line of prom dresses

The greatest thing about the dress is that its many shapes and forms can be designed to compliment any figure. Not all cuts look great for every body type, so it is important to select the one that suits your body the best and paints you in the most favorable light.

• Box cuts are a definite no-no for ladies with curves.  Whatever you do, tailor fit it to your correct shape.  If it is a little too boxy, cinch it with a wide belt to create an hourglass shape.
• Show off your neck and shoulders.  It’s feminine, sexy and classy all at the same time to bare your shoulders while covering your legs.  Skip the mini skirt in favor of a longer dress with more open air for your neck and shoulders to breathe.
• Solid colors with a touch of lace trim.  Certain patterns, especially horizontal stripes, polka dots and large floral prints just don’t flatter the curves, but solid bold and dark colors are striking and dazzle the eye.
• Draping in the front or the back, if well tailored, is a great way to add dimension tastefully.  Just make sure that you’re wearing the correct sized garment because if the draping is being stretched it is very obvious.
• Don’t ever feel like you need to hide your body, just accentuate your figure with the right kind of fit.  Try these tricks to highlight your curves next time you’re dress shopping.

Clari Farkash is the designer of the Clarisse line of prom dresses, cocktail dresses and homecoming dresses for promgirl.net. Clarisse dresses have been worn by such celebrities as Miss Galaxy International and Miss Teen Galaxy UK. Promgirl.net has been selling prom dresses and formal gowns from America’s top designers for over 25 years.

Full Figure Plus - Plus Size Fashion For Today's Active Women

I have written countless articles on how to build your wardrobe.  The key is to have select pieces that can be used in many different ways.  What this will do for you is twofold.  First, it will give you versitility in your closet.  The second is the most important.  You will save money.

Now I am not saying this is the case with all brands but the example I am going to set forth today will show how plus size fashion which is expected to top $120 billion in sales this year has plenty of options available.

A bracelet sleeve jacket or cardigan can be worn year round whether at the office or a night out on the town.  Normally this piece is worn casually but can be switched out for something more dressy for after 5 activities.

Capri pants whether denim or other materials should be a staple in your closet.  This piece can be dressed up or down depending on the occasion.

A nice short sleeved sweater with the right accessories is essential to from late Summer to Spring especially if you are like many who work in an office that the temperature is on meat locker.

With the hundreds of brands of modern straight leg jeans on the market you really can’t go wrong the problem is simply making a choice.

You should have as many ribbed tanktops as possible in your wardrobe.  This piece should be thought of in the same light as your foundation garments. White, Black, and whatever your favorite colors are should be where you start.

The 10 items, which include many pieces that are on sale come to $611.87 making your daily cost per wear $1.67.

A nice denim skirt should also be a cornerstone piece in your wardrobe.  Getting a pencil and an ankle length will give you even more outfit combinations.

Owning a denim jacket is another piece that you can get as many colors and styles as you want and each will add to the depth of your wardrobe.  FYI: Avoid cheap denim jackets that will not hold up in the wash.

The jersey dress is another piece that will allow you many different looks. Be it v-neck, maxi, wrap, or any other style you can’t go wrong with the jersey dress.

A sleek modern straight leg pant can be dressed up or dressed down depending on the shoes and accessories you pair with them.

A long sleeve v neck tee is the final piece to round out your wardrobe. Go crazy with the color as well as the style and your closet will explode with possibilities.

If you have not already noticed with these 10 pieces, versatility is the key.  The math on these 10 items works out to 22 outfit combinations and as you saw earlier your cost per wear is pretty low for just 10 pieces.  If you add different styles based on these core items your cost per wear may rise a bit but you will have dozens of outfit combinations without having a closet full of clothes you don’t wear.

Bonus Tip:  Maximize the look of your wardrobe by changing up your shoe and accessories so even if you are on a budget and in actuallity don’t have lots of clothes it will not look that way because of how you change things up.

Bonus Bonus Tip:  Pay a bit more so that the items will last at least three seasons.

Full Figure Plus - Plus Size Fashion For Today's Active Women

Do You Shop For Your Size Or Shape? Hollywood Squares answer: My size is something that we don’t talk about unless you want me to kill you.  Real Answer: This size 22 dress fits me but I am so depressed because I DO NOT wear a size 22!

You have probably heard this talked about a few times or even said it a time or two.  No matter how many times we hear shopping by your shape is more important than shopping for your size millions of plus size women have made the new year’s resolution to get down to size x as if getting down to x size will validate them.  For that reason Full Figure Plus with the help from the Evans US website is going to demonstrate shopping for your shape.

Shape for plus size fashion can be broken down into the following categories: Apple, Hourglass, Pear, & Busty

Apple – A softer and fuller middle with slimmer legs and bottom

The case for an apple shape:

Straight clothing lines and soft fabrics to avoid unnecessary volume
Create a vertical panel through the centre of the body
Empire lines — where the waist line is raised above the natural waist line, just below the bust
Clothes that drape from your shoulders
Details above the bust line or below the hip line to draw attention away from your widest point
V necks to draw the eyes up
Wide leg or flat fronted pants

The case against an apple shape:

Polo necks
Very high waisted pants or skirts
Details over the tummy area
Lycra, too clingy
Stiff shirt like tops
Long necklaces that fall to your middle

Hourglass – equally curvy bust and hips with a defined waist

The case for an hourglass shape:

Scoop neck or deep V neck fitted tops
Wraparound tops to accentuate your waist
Pencil, bias cut or full skirts
Shaped, wrap or bias cut shift dress
Flat fronted pants with side zips
Tailored shirts, jackets and coats that nip in at the waist

Case against and hourglass shape:

Boxy double breasted jackets
Straight tunics or skirts — these will hide your curves
Heavy stiff materials
High or polo necks can make your torso appear shorter
Smocks make you bigger than you are

Pear – Curvaceous hips and bottom with smaller bust and shoulders

The case for a pear shape:

Frills, ruffles and patterns on the top half of your body to balance with the lower half
Tops with volume or plenty of fabric to skim and flatter
Jackets and tops that finish above or below the widest points of your hips and bottom
Layering on top to balance you out
Slash neck tops to balance the width of your hips
Bootcut pants

The case against a pear shape:

Bias cut skirts
Jeans with too much detail on the bum
Skinny jeans in light colours
Tops and jackets that finish at the widest point across hips

Busty – Voluptuous bust with narrower hips and bottom

The case for a busty shape:

V necklines
Tops in dark solid colours
Patterned skirts, creating interest on the bottom half
A line & Maxi skirts to create a balanced silhouette
Flared or bootcut pants
As always – good fitting underwear
Chunky heels to balance your shape

The case against a busty shape:

Frills, embellishment and heavy patterns around the bust
Small or slim line accessories, petite clutch bags
Delicate or fine jewellery
Soft unstructured shoulder bags can create too much volume
Polo necks

Regardless as to what shape you are it all starts with the proper foundation garments aka bra and shapers. Regardless as to if you shop for your shape if you do not have the proper foundation it will be a waste.  Shopping for your shape will ensure the final fit is more tailored and refined looking than just looking at the size tag which was not made for you in the first place.

Full Figure Plus - Plus Size Fashion For Today's Active Women

As a plus size fashion consumer are you happy with the “business casual dress” category?  Do you fully understand what this category means today?  If you do not you are not alone.  For a moment let me show my age.

Way back in the dark ages of the 1980′s business casual meant men took off their tie and jacket and ladies wore loafers instead of heels.

Today things are bad and in the plus size community it is worse.  Things have progressed thankfully past the mumu’s, sweat pants, and shorts era.  Don’t let me get started on the prints walking the streets in years past.

Once you get your senses back from the fashion nightmare of the 80′s lets get into what business casual dress is and how it is still one of the dark areas of plus size fashion. If you work in a traditional office setting in some cases “business casual dress” mix together about as well as oil and water.

Business is business, or it should be. Casual attire honestly does not fit. The word casual dress immediately evokes clubwear in many ladies unfortunately. Additionally, the term business casual dress has confused more women than not including plus women who have a hard time finding clothes as is.

A few things to keep in mind when going to the office on those casual days:

• In a business environment your casual clothes should give you to flexibility of dressing them down with minimal effort
• Business casual dress in your office may not mean jeans and tennis shoes
• Dressing down does not mean you will be mistaken for a “working girl”
• If your spider sense tells you the look may not be appropriate then leave it at home

No matter were you work there is a level of professionalism you should have at all times in regard to your clothes.  Don’t get me wrong if you work in a profession that you get dirty then I am not talking to you.  I am concentrating on the lady who works in a setting that staff meetings and business travel are normal. The one issue with the proliferation of plus size clothing today which makes things even more confusing is it leans more towards the “trendy” side that the “business casual dress side.

Don’t let the trendy fast fashions deter you.  By simply following a few tried and true rules you will be fine.

• Your favorite television show should not be your inspiration for business casual dress
• Building a wardrobe of mix and match pieces will help you out no matter the occasion
• Business casual dress shirts should always be professional and appropriate no matter how relaxed the atmosphere is
• Comfort is job one when it comes to casual days so make sure your clothing is not to tight

If you are not trying to be the latest off the runwaynista then you should stick to stores like Lane Bryant, Work Style 9 to 5 at Kiyonna.com!, Up to 80%OFF @IGIGI by Yuliya Raquel! Code “NYE2012″, Macys.com, or Sealed with a Kiss Designs when looking for your business casual dress items.  One last note if all fails wear what you normally do Mon-Thurs but leave off an accessory or change your shoe to a more causal one.

Full Figure Plus - Plus Size Fashion For Today's Active Women

Do you have your dress all set and ready to hit the parties this holiday season? Consultation during the holiday season is one of the duties I have had for a few years. What this job entails is helping curvy divas find a dress ensemble to step out during the holiday season. This year other projects kept me from much consultation work but that does not mean I can’t share some of the experience with you guys.

Socialite Glitz Long Gown, Purple

Socialite Glitz Long Gown, Black

Velma Cocktail Party Dress, Red

Collete Cocktail Party Dress, Black

Harlow Faux Wrap Dressy Cocktail Dress, Red

The number one rule of finding a dress for the holiday party season is comfort. More than likely you will have to stand for long periods of time so it is a smart choice to have a dress that is not so fitted that you can’t breathe or have room for the snacks you will eat. Yes I said it. Just because you are more blessed in the hips does not mean you can’t eat while having fun at holiday parties. Now that we have the awkard stuff out of the way keep this in mind when looking for your perfect seasonal dress:

1. Get the color that works best for your skintone – This may mean the seasonal colors red and green may work for your dress selection
2. A wrap dress is fine for most occasions because they are adjustable
3. Maxi dresses are also good because they allow freedom of movement
4. Shoes should have a wide heel to support you through the course of the evening

Sequin Mason Maxi Dress

Classic V-Neck Dress in Red

Paint the Town

ASOS Curve Exclusive Cocktail Dress With Corsage Shoulder

Xscape Plus Size Dress, Flutter Sleeve Ruched Cocktail Dress

As you can see from the dresses here they are more on the conservative side. Why?  The answer is simple.  By going middle of the road with any dress you choose to hit the holiday party circuit with you will be able to wear that same dress year round.  In doing such you will have a dress that looks good for work and play meaning you can get more bang for your buck than you would just having a “special occasion” dress.

These suggestions are assuming you are attending parties of a casual nature.  If formal attire is called for then just grab the little black dress from the back of your closet put your slingback heels on and finish it off with a pearl necklace with matching bracelet.  Not only will your curves thank you but you will look like a million bucks.

Full Figure Plus - Plus Size Fashion For Today's Active Women

In the world of plus size fashion there is so much excitement that some ladies don’t think about what they are wearing until it is too late. I assume you are a grown person who does not need to be told what to do.  The point of a list of plus size fashion don’ts is to get you to into the mode of thinking that starts with “if I have doubts about it from the start I may need to rethink my outfit.”

Disclaimer: Normally, I would never even think about posting a photo like the example but I think you get the point of how a combination can be put together and not have you looking your best

Plus size fashion “dont’s”

1. Don’t wear anything that is too big
2. Don’t wear anything that is too tight
3. Don’t wear anything that washes your skin tone out
4. Don’t buy a piece today if you CANNOT wear it today
5. Don’t hold on to clothes in the hopes you will one day be able to wear them
6. Don’t ever leave the house with clothes that are tattered and torn
7. Don’t wear a style if it does not compliment your silhouette
8. Don’t support designers and stores who do not support you
9. Don’t fill your closet with one color – There are more colors out there besides black
10. Don’t forget about your foundation garments

In the many years and many posts on Full Figure Plus dealing with some aspect of plus size fashion I have always tried not to tell anyone what to do in some sort of draconian “do what I say or else” tone.  My passion for plus size fashion comes from wanting to see larger ladies looking their best at all times. Though most of the above list consists of things I have talked about literally for years I will keep repeating them until I feel the plus size fashion community has gone beyond the beginning stages of concentrating on size acceptance first and fashion second.

“Plus size fashion from a male perspective” is the tagline for Full Figure Plus and part of the reason I see things from more of a practical point of view and less of the passionate side which is when I say “don’t” do something it has more to do with looking your best at all times both inside and out opposed to brow beating you into submission. As with anything you read take what applies to you and discard the rest.

Bonus plus size fashion “don’t”

Don’t assume every style that comes out each season is for you and your unique figure.

If you think about it if you do the opposite of the don’ts you will get the do’s. Coming up next will be 10 plus size fashion do’s

Full Figure Plus - Plus Size Fashion For Today's Active Women