Big Girl, Big Attitude

Yesterday, Sports Illustrated made a historic statement by releasing their first magazine that features plus sized model Ashley Graham. She is officially the first plus sized model to appear in Sports Illustrated.

She rocked a bikini with her size 14 physique, and it’s gorgeous. I think it’s her unadulterated self-confidence that truly made her shine.

Dressing for your plus sized body shape can be a challenge, but it is much easier when you are confident and open to trying on an outfit. Don’t let shyness get ahead of you! There are many trendy plus size clothing options available to you; all you need are the basic tricks to get you into the right ones.

• Fit is everything.If you hide it or flaunt it too much, you’d look frumpy and/or inappropriate. Layers and oversized clothes will only make you look bigger! Go for a comfortable fit. Neither too tight nor loose. Make sure you are wearing the right underwear. Make sure you’re not showing any unsightly lumps from a tight brassier!
• Prints and Accessories are your friends. Once again, moderation is key. If you find a half point between tiny prints and loud ones, you have a winner. Same goes for accessories. If you are pear shaped, a statement belt should not take up too much space on your tummy area, as it calls for attention on that body part. Put your accessory on your neck or wrist instead.
• Know your best and worst features. What do you like and don’t like about yourself? Which are the bigger parts and smaller parts? If you know which is which, you will have an easier time dressing up. Downplay a prominent area of your body to look leaner. Don’t like your tummy? Hide it by buying color blocking dresses with dark colors in the center.

At the end of the day, it really is all about how you feel about yourself. Let me quote Ashley here: “I think that you can be healthy at any size and my goal is to help and educate women on that,” she wrote. “It doesn’t matter if you’re a size 2 or 22 as long as you’re taking care of your body, working out, and telling yourself, ‘I love you’ instead of taking in the negativity of beauty standards.”

Are you a big girl with big attitude? Tell us all about how you dress to complement your body! Ready to go shopping for some new looks? Check out the cute and affordable plus size clothing available at rue21.com!