Plus Size Dresses

I’ve been doing a LOT of shopping for plus size dresses online lately.  I have to be honest, I spend a lot of time shopping online for great plus size fashions and I love the heck out it.  It’s pretty close to instant gratification, if only I could find a way to virtually try them on and not have to wait for shipping.

I’ve mentioned it before, I think, but I buy a lot of clothing online and send a lot of it back once I get it.  You have to be organized to make sure you don’t end up with a bunch of clothes you won’t wear, but I think it’s perfectly OK to buy, try, and return if it’s not quite what you had in mind.

Here’s a few of my recent favorites that you have to take a look at.

From our friends over at Igigi, we have these two divine selections:

This is a great number that has a more casual feel to it, but could still be worn to the office or a fun night out to dinner and a show.  It has an empire waist, which I love, but still maintains a tailored bottom and emphasizes your curves and does a real number on your legs as well.  The 3/4 length sleeves give it a slightly more professional, or career look.  Perfect for a big meeting or presentation.

Next, we have this gem, again from Igigi:

This is definitely a more casual, cocktail dress that you’d wear to a party or out on a date with your one-and-only (tell him he’s your one-and-only no matter what..! =] ).  The bateau neckline goes wide but still hands on the shoulders.  It’s the closest thing to strapless that you’ll get that still has sleeves.  Again, it has an empire waist and a flared skirt.  The detail on the sleeves is the icing on the cake.  I love it!

Head on over to Sydney’s Closet to have a look at this number:

Wow!  They claim it’s an A-Line, but I don’t necessarily agree with that.  It’s also listed under plus size bridesmaid dresses which it certainly could be, but it might upstage the actual wedding gown itself so be careful!  It’s strapless, which some gals tend to shy away from (I love them), but it’s clean and cut well enough that this could be a great break-through dress to expand your fashion comfort zone.

I hear the same question over and over again from my clients - “I know what want, but I don’t know how to describe it to a sales person.”  The problem, of course, is one of communication and not ability.  The fashion world uses a language all its own, and if you don’t understand the terminology you might as well be speaking in a different language.

For communication to occur, a message must be sent, received, and understood.  If you don’t know the language of the land you’re not going to be able to accomplish the most basic task of describing a dress that you like.  So to solve this problem and bring a little more plus size fashion joy into your life, I’m going to start a series of articles that teaches you how to not only describe the cut and fit that you’re looking for, but also converse intelligently about it when you see someone else wearing it.  Let’s get going.

We’ll start at the top, and in the world of plus size dresses that’s the neckline.  I classify necklines in 6 different categories.  There are several different modifiers that can be applied to each category, and we’ll cover those last.

V Neckline

Plus size dresses with this neckline (and any size dresses, actually) have a literal V-shape with a point at the bottom.  There can be any number of intermediate angles and sides on the way down, but the defining attribute of a V neckline in a dress is the vertex, or sharp angle at the bottom.  If it is rounded or squared we’re dealing with a different cut.

Bateau

This cut runs very wide to the shoulders with a slight arc beneath the neck.  It generally stays high, but it may come down a bit.  Then again, it doesn’t have to.  Dresses with this cut still hang on your shoulders.  If they do not, they are not a bateau neckline.  It is similar to a U or a scoop except that it runs much more horizontal at the bottom, again, parallel to the ground.

Off The Shoulders

This is a plus size dress with a cut that still goes around the arms, but not over the shoulders.  The top of the shoulders will be bare with an off the shoulders neckline, but the sides of the shoulders will still be covered by material.  Do not confuse this cut with a strapless neckline, which is completely off the arms altogether.

Scoop

As mentioned above, a scoop neck is one that swoops down in a graceful arc.  It is not pointed at the bottom, it is not parallel to the ground, it is an upside down U.  This is a very common neckline in plus size dresses today, but don’t over do it.  You want to present an entire, polished package.  Not draw too much attention to one feature.

T-Line

Think of this as your basic neckline, found in most t shirts and sweaters.  It simply surrounds the neck evenly on all sides, keeping equidistant from the neck.  It is symmetrical and quite basic.  Some people will refer to this as the jewel neckline.

Polo Neckline

Also known as the turtle neck for obvious reasons.  This cut involves fabric that encircles the neck and bunches up in the process.  It is not necessarily tight or lose, but can be either.  It is quite popular in the winter and colder months.

Now, to take all these a step farther, there are variations of every one of them, and some variations don’t have a name or any basis in fashion design fundamentals whatsoever.  Some necklines are inexplicable, and you either like them or hate them.  They’ll likely never catch on in the mainstream, though, so there’s no need to give them a formal name.

These are the basics for plus size dress necklines, though, and you’ll be able to communicate intelligently with staff at any plus size store in the country when talking about necklines.  Once we pair this knowledge up with waistlines and hemlines, you’ll have the whole package and be able to describe and ask for any type of dress that you can imagine.  It’s fun, trust me.