Fashion tips for plus size teens

Plus-sized young girls can be just as stylish and fashionable as skinny girls. It’s all about accentuating the positive and developing your own personal style.

Photo Credit: Justin Horrocks
By Marie Hughes

Just because you are a plus-sized teen doesn’t mean you can’t be a fashion queen! Check out some of these style tips:

Don’t Hide Under Baggy Clothes
The biggest fashion mistake that plus-sized teens make is hiding themselves under layers of oversized, baggy clothing. The intention is to conceal their extra pounds by covering themselves up. Unfortunately, wearing baggy clothes only makes you look bigger, and it hides the shape and figure that you do have. A baggy, long shirt will mask your waistline and make your body look much wider than it actually is. Layers of clothing will only add bulk to your appearance. Get clothes in your size, or one size larger if you like a slightly loose fit – but no more than one size above your actual size. Don’t be ashamed of your body – every body is beautiful.

Accentuate the Positive
Being a teenager is all about being fashion forward. Develop a personal style, and always accentuate your favorite attributes. For example, if you’ve got great calves, don’t be afraid to wear a skirt that is cut above the knee to show them off. Just because you’re not a size four doesn’t mean you can’t wear stylish outfits. Just because you don’t have Jessica Simpson’s inhumanly small waistline doesn’t mean that you can’t still have a beautiful, voluptuous shape that is totally worth showcasing.

Be Colorful
You’ve probably heard that black is slimming, and while this can be true, why would you want to look like you are going to a funeral every day of you life? The gothic look is so over, and all-black outfits went out right along with it. Come out of mourning, and add some splashes of vibrant color to your life. Not only will you look better, but you will feel better. Bright colors can actually lift your spirits. Also, when you wear black, you blend into the background of things and when you wear color, you stand out – and yes, that is what you want! While it is advisable to avoid stripes if you’re trying to look more slender, you shouldn’t shy away from patterns.

Accessorize
Fashion isn’t just about clothes. It’s also about the accessories, as every fashionista knows. You can work your accessories just as well as the skinny Minnie next door can. You should coordinate your outfit with your shoes, jewelry, and handbag. Your hair and makeup are also integral to your style. It is unfortunate that so many plus-sized teenaged girls simply ignore their appearance because they feel that if they’re not skinny, there’s no use in trying. This could not be further from the truth! Take care of yourself and nurture your appearance. Just because you have the biggest pants size doesn’t mean you can’t also have the hottest hairstyle. Look through celebrity hair style magazines, and ask your hairdresser to replicate the style for you – be sure to bring along the picture. Also, make sure that you ask your hairdresser to walk you through the techniques that he or she used to create the style – so that you can do it yourself at home.