Fashion for curvy girls

Look, let's be real about security—anyone can share an opinion if they actually know what they're talking about. But these low-blow comments claiming people who shop online hide behind a screen and should just go for a walk instead (wow, excuse me, I prefer hiking in the woods over wandering through a mall...) and looking for excuses are, frankly, STUPID. You made your point, but now you're just being insulting. Besides, you took half of that out of context—nobody said curvy women wear the EXACT same stuff as thin women, just that they can wear EVERYTHING (dresses, leggings, skinny jeans, you name it). Just because you can't pull something off doesn't mean nobody else can.
And yeah, I have a car, but driving all the way to downtown Chicago every single time I need something? No thanks. I’d much rather take a weekend trip to the Ozarks, hang out with my family and friends, or just curl up with a good book. Instead of burning cash on gas or bus fare, I can buy something else. Honestly, these excuses are pathetic; like, oh sure, better to drive to the city for a shopping spree! 🙄
I’ll end my argument here: is it better to shop online or in-store? Clearly, you think you're the smartest person alive, which explains why more and more people choose online shopping while you claim they're just lazy cowards 😳

Btw ladies, Victoria's Secret has an extra 20% off right now, everything is basically a steal 😍
Oh, and regarding thigh chafing—it's true, it's more about body shape than weight, though most curvy girls deal with it. I handle it by applying a heavy moisturizer (haven't tried baby oil yet) and then everything just glides perfectly, no rubbing 😍 and no irritation! How do you guys use oil? Doesn't it feel too greasy? Does it leave marks on your clothes?
Another fix, like Bradley Jones3 suggested, is wearing some thin, lightweight shorts. Bikers aren't the best choice for summer because you'll totally bake in them 😳

Look, security first—but seriously, I don't get why you have to force your lifestyle on everyone else? Just because you love wandering through every single shop in the mall and trying on a hundred different outfits doesn't mean that’s the "right" way to do things. It's just not for me.
Honestly, I absolutely loathe shopping. Any kind of shopping. I get so incredibly cranky whenever I actually have to hunt for something—like, I’ll go into one store, realize it's not right, then trek over to another, then realize I missed something at the first one, and suddenly I'm back where I started and nothing fits right... ugh, it's exhausting.🙂
And it’s not just about clothes, either—it applies to everything! Spices, furniture, gifts... you name it, if I have to hunt for it, I'm annoyed.

Another thing I totally disagree with is this idea that you aren't "curvy" enough unless you're under a size 4. Like, excuse me? I wear a US size 10 or 12 and let me tell you, I am more than curvy. It’s just that everything seems to sit in all the wrong places on my body!🤣

Usually, I’ll hit up the local Target, Macy’s, or maybe a Kohl’s, but only because they're close by and I know they carry larger sizes. And I only go when I actually need something specific—I’m definitely not going there to kill time or just wander aimlessly around the aisles.
Sadly, I’m not quite brave enough to tackle online shopping yet, even though, if I'm being real, that's exactly how I'd prefer to buy stuff.

Oh, and about that whole thing with baby oil—someone was asking if it leaves stains? Now THAT is something I’m curious about too! I might actually have to give that a shot and see...

So, I found this stick on eBay that’s basically a lifesaver. It’s made for athletes—think swimmers or cyclists—to stop skin chafing, but honestly, it's perfect for shoes that give you blisters too. I grabbed some specifically for my salsa dancing shoes!
Best part? It doesn't leave any greasy mess on your clothes.
Here it is: http://cgi.ebay.com/BodyGlide-Body-G...item2eaf9024e6

brightcobra20 said:Everything seems to be somewhat relative, I suppose... I usually wear a size 4 in pants, though for certain styles I might go up to a 6, and for skirts or tops, a 2 might work better. My body type is such that I have pretty wide hips and a narrow waist, so finding pants can be a bit of a struggle if they don't have any stretch in them, I guess. I noticed nobody mentioned Marks & Spencer when talking about larger sizes, which is a shame because they really have everything... they carry up to a UK 22, but a 16 or maybe an 18 in jeans fits me just fine.
I'm not quite sure why anyone wouldn't want to wear dresses... personally, I think knee-length summer or winter dresses look much better on me than pants do, since they hide my hips and my calves aren't too heavy, plus they highlight my waist. For someone with a fuller figure, wearing heels probably looks a hundred times better than just wearing a baggy shirt and some loose trousers, maybe.
Anyway, I'm currently on the hunt for some skinny jeans, and I'd rather not trek all the way to the H&M in downtown Chicago to find them. Does anyone happen to have a suggestion?

Tara, you are spot on! Just to back you up from a guy's perspective, 😉 skirts and dresses really do look wayyyyy better on curvy women than pants do! 👍 Obviously, I'm not talking about micro-minis 😉 but more like knee-length or longer styles. If the cut is right, it can totally hide extra weight or camouflage things like wider hips or a bigger backside...
Honestly, the worst thing to see is when curvy women try to squeeze themselves into these super tight jeans where everything looks like it's about to "explode." It’s just not a good look... I guess I really don't get why some fuller-figured women think they look better in pants?! 🤷

When it comes to pants, I pretty much live in them all winter long—it’s just way more practical for me, you know? Although, lately, it feels like every pair I buy is somehow massive. I end up having to take them all to the tailor to get them taken in. Honestly, I don't know what the deal is with sizing these days, it's like they're making everything for giants!

Baby oil doesn't really leave any stains, I mean, you aren't going to pour a whole liter of it on yourself... it's more like when you're just applying some tanning oil. It feels a bit more convenient for me than using foundation, and I feel like it lasts longer too, plus you can just toss it in your bag if you need to touch up later.

Honestly, I didn't even have the heart to finish reading through all that clutter; I just caught sight of those same people popping up again, claiming they wear a size 14 or whatever, acting as if that’s somehow "fuller" by my standards, or pretending they don't shop at places like Target or Kohl's. I feel like I've said this a thousand times already—I'm not sure why it’s such a struggle to grasp, though perhaps my way of expressing things is just too convoluted for some. Why the sudden outburst? Just because I mentioned that plus-sized women shouldn't try to squeeze into little dresses because people will laugh? Well, I certainly would. They do laugh. People tell you an outfit looks great to your face, and then they snicker behind your back. And as for those who spend their time trying to convince themselves they aren't actually heavy and that everything fits perfectly... fine, go ahead. That isn't on me, and it certainly isn't a flaw in my reasoning, thank you very much. I don't wear that clothing; it’s worn by people struggling with deep insecurities, trying to force themselves into the same styles as their skinny friends. I'm not twenty years old, so there's no need to lecture me, especially not from the younger crowd who haven't yet navigated the nuances of a professional career. It’s frankly quite rude to call someone stupid or "disconnected from reality," because, frankly, I might be thinking the exact same thing about you, even if I’m too polite to type it out. I wasn't targeting anyone specifically, just speaking generally, so let's try to maintain a little decorum. I've lived enough life to see just about everything when it comes to how larger women dress, both through my university years and throughout my career. Rest assured, whenever a slightly heavier client walked into the office, the reaction from the crowd was always predictable. If a fuller-figured woman walked in wearing a tight little dress, you’d hear people—both men and women—muttering things like, "Did she really not look in a mirror before leaving the house?" So, there it is.
Besides, the whole point of this forum is to offer advice on what to wear and where to find it, not to use the space as a platform for direct insults.

rapidheron2 said:Tara, you are spot on! Just to back you up from a guy's perspective, 😉 skirts and dresses really do look wayyyyy better on curvy women than pants do! 👍 Obviously, I'm not talking about micro-minis 😉 but more like knee-length or longer styles. If the cut is right, it can totally hide extra weight or camouflage things like wider hips or a bigger backside...
Honestly, the worst thing to see is when curvy women try to squeeze themselves into these super tight jeans where everything looks like it's about to "explode." It’s just not a good look... I guess I really don't get why some fuller-figured women think they look better in pants?! 🤷

Just read this carefully. You’ll see what people are actually thinking—even though he claims dresses are better for curvy women, he specifically qualifies it by saying "not short ones" and only those that can "hide" the weight. I mean, what kind of clothing is designed to "hide" someone's body? Maybe don't tell him his opinion doesn't involve much intellect.

Besides, maybe we could all agree on what even constitutes being "plus-sized," because it seems completely subjective here; one person thinks a woman in a size 18 is perfect, while another is lamenting her size 12 figure. In my book, a size 12 can pull off a dress, but a size 18 probably shouldn't. Then again, by today's standards among the younger crowd in the States, even a size 12 is considered quite heavy, so...

Nathan Baker said:Just read this carefully. You’ll see what people are actually thinking—even though he claims dresses are better for curvy women, he specifically qualifies it by saying "not short ones" and only those that can "hide" the weight. I mean, what kind of clothing is designed to "hide" someone's body? Maybe don't tell him his opinion doesn't involve much intellect.

Besides, maybe we could all agree on what even constitutes being "plus-sized," because it seems completely subjective here; one person thinks a woman in a size 18 is perfect, while another is lamenting her size 12 figure. In my book, a size 12 can pull off a dress, but a size 18 probably shouldn't. Then again, by today's standards among the younger crowd in the States, even a size 12 is considered quite heavy, so...

Please, just define what you mean by a "sundress," because I suspect that's where our misunderstanding lies.

There’s really no point in continuing this. I’ll just leave the thread here so certain people can go back to their little delusions of grandeur, congratulating themselves on how stunning they look in a "mini dress." I suppose I’ve gone and ruined the illusion by touching a nerve, which explains why everyone started screeching.
To some, 140 pounds is considered heavy, while to others, it isn't—it’s all just a distorted mess of perceptions. I genuinely thought we were discussing fashion for "curvy" women, but it turns out we’re actually talking about fashion for those who carry maybe 2-$67 extra pounds, so you decide. I guess it’s just expected that a middle-aged woman who doesn't spend her life scrolling through online boutiques would shop this way. It’s the same whether she’s picking things up at a local Target in rural Ohio or browsing high-end shops in downtown Chicago. And apparently, according to this logic, someone weighing 220 pounds will look great in a miniskirt, while someone at 120 pounds is somehow told they look fat. It’s pathological. Anyway, cheers—do carry on. I refuse to waste my eyes or my mental energy bickering with people who lack even a shred of basic decency, especially since they were the ones claiming they’d wear absolutely anything, which clearly they do, likely ordering everything from Amazon or hitting up a mall in Phoenix. I suppose that’s just the modern way to dress for every generation and every corner of the US.
Human stupidity truly knows no bounds. 🙄

I suppose it might be best to wrap this discussion up, since we’ve already gone and started it.

Nathan Baker said:Honestly, I didn't even have the heart to finish reading through all that clutter; I just caught sight of those same people popping up again, claiming they wear a size 14 or whatever, acting as if that’s somehow "fuller" by my standards, or pretending they don't shop at places like Target or Kohl's. I feel like I've said this a thousand times already—I'm not sure why it’s such a struggle to grasp, though perhaps my way of expressing things is just too convoluted for some. Why the sudden outburst? Just because I mentioned that plus-sized women shouldn't try to squeeze into little dresses because people will laugh? Well, I certainly would. They do laugh. People tell you an outfit looks great to your face, and then they snicker behind your back. And as for those who spend their time trying to convince themselves they aren't actually heavy and that everything fits perfectly... fine, go ahead. That isn't on me, and it certainly isn't a flaw in my reasoning, thank you very much. I don't wear that clothing; it’s worn by people struggling with deep insecurities, trying to force themselves into the same styles as their skinny friends. I'm not twenty years old, so there's no need to lecture me, especially not from the younger crowd who haven't yet navigated the nuances of a professional career. It’s frankly quite rude to call someone stupid or "disconnected from reality," because, frankly, I might be thinking the exact same thing about you, even if I’m too polite to type it out. I wasn't targeting anyone specifically, just speaking generally, so let's try to maintain a little decorum. I've lived enough life to see just about everything when it comes to how larger women dress, both through my university years and throughout my career. Rest assured, whenever a slightly heavier client walked into the office, the reaction from the crowd was always predictable. If a fuller-figured woman walked in wearing a tight little dress, you’d hear people—both men and women—muttering things like, "Did she really not look in a mirror before leaving the house?" So, there it is.
Besides, the whole point of this forum is to offer advice on what to wear and where to find it, not to use the space as a platform for direct insults.

Honey, for someone who's 5'5", a size 12 is more than enough to be considered "full." If you think it's okay to mock people for that, then you're the one who needs to adjust and hide under oversized sacks. Personally? Not happening.
And let's get one thing straight: you cannot tell me a 12 isn't a curvy size, because it is. Once you hit a 14 or 16, that's moving into "heavy" territory for me. As for how people react to curvy women in dresses? It's because people are narrow-minded and ignorant. Look at the girl on the blog—she doesn't look like she's being mocked; she looks like women like us are actually admiring how effortlessly she carries her curves. Since you decided to start this debate, you might as well see it through to the end.

I usually rock size 16 jeans, mostly skinnies. I wouldn't call myself built like a supermodel or thin—I’m more on the curvy side—but honestly, they look great on me, and most people seem to agree.
A friend of mine put it perfectly when we were talking about what girls who aren't a size 0 wear to stay trendy. I mentioned wanting to wear shorts and wondering why I wasn't thinner, and he just said that if I were any thinner, I wouldn't be nearly as cute.😬

Basically, there are plenty of women who carry their curves beautifully in modern fashion. Frekette (if I got that handle right) is a prime example of someone who handles criticism well, and I truly don't get why anyone would mock a girl like her instead of just seeing how adorable she is.

Look, you can try to act all tough and pretend nobody’s here to lecture you—since you’ve clearly seen a thing or two yourself—but then you turn around and start preaching about how women wearing a size 12 aren't "curvy" enough. Seriously?
They aren't, unless they're like 5'11", but since I'm only 5'4" (and someone else already pointed 😉 this out), I definitely am. And no, my view isn't some warped reality fueled by fashion magazines or whatever. If you actually saw me, you wouldn't even dare call me skinny. I already told you, everything is just in the wrong places, so you see every single extra pound—it's all right there. Maybe if I were built differently, I’d actually look curvy in a size 4?!
Anyway, you just can't generalize like that.

brightrider95 said:I usually rock size 16 jeans, mostly skinnies. I wouldn't call myself built like a supermodel or thin—I’m more on the curvy side—but honestly, they look great on me, and most people seem to agree.
A friend of mine put it perfectly when we were talking about what girls who aren't a size 0 wear to stay trendy. I mentioned wanting to wear shorts and wondering why I wasn't thinner, and he just said that if I were any thinner, I wouldn't be nearly as cute.😬

Basically, there are plenty of women who carry their curves beautifully in modern fashion. Frekette (if I got that handle right) is a prime example of someone who handles criticism well, and I truly don't get why anyone would mock a girl like her instead of just seeing how adorable she is.

Thanks so much, 🙂

Honestly 😉

It’s actually refreshing to see women who aren't built like fitness models and don't let it get to them, because frankly, they're a rare breed, and there’s zero reason to stress about it.

My weight is pretty evenly distributed, so I might look thinner than my actual scale number suggests, but I hold my own—and I’ve always received compliments rather than being mocked. These kinds of posts from people like above only serve to make insecure girls feel self-conscious for no reason, making them want to hide under oversized tents instead of just dressing well.

Most of my family tends to be a bit more sturdy, so why on earth would I get depressed just because I inherited those genes? I couldn't care less. I hope everyone else feels the same way, because we shouldn't pity the ones who become targets for jokes; we should pity the ones who actually let it get to them.😁

brightrider95 said:Honestly 😉

It’s actually refreshing to see women who aren't built like fitness models and don't let it get to them, because frankly, they're a rare breed, and there’s zero reason to stress about it.

My weight is pretty evenly distributed, so I might look thinner than my actual scale number suggests, but I hold my own—and I’ve always received compliments rather than being mocked. These kinds of posts from people like above only serve to make insecure girls feel self-conscious for no reason, making them want to hide under oversized tents instead of just dressing well.

Most of my family tends to be a bit more sturdy, so why on earth would I get depressed just because I inherited those genes? I couldn't care less. I hope everyone else feels the same way, because we shouldn't pity the ones who become targets for jokes; we should pity the ones who actually let it get to them.😁

That is exactly what I was just thinking about... It’s like it isn't even enough that we get bombarded by the media every single day telling us we have to be skinny, tall, and basically perfect just to be considered "acceptable" by society. On top of all that, you have people who really should be fighting against those standards falling right into the trap themselves and voicing these kinds of opinions... Like, how are we supposed to ever feel happy with ourselves then? We can't. Period.

How? Simple! Just tune them out. 😁

I’m perfectly happy with myself, and frankly, I couldn't care less what anyone else thinks. It's happened a handful of times where people have made comments about my weight, but let's be real—it was always people who struggle with their own weight issues. They were preaching about slimming down back when they were in their "skinny phases" themselves. 😁

My absolute thinnest point was back when I was a vegetarian and walking two or three hours every single day. Physically, I wasn't even that different from how I am now, so I really don't see what more I'm supposed to do. 🤷

I wear clothes that make me feel good about myself. I try to find cuts that don't highlight my "problem areas," but honestly, I don't see why I shouldn't wear skirts, dresses, or even skinny jeans if I balance the rest of the outfit right. 🤷

Besides, if someone has a problem with it, they are more than welcome to just look the other way. 😁

brightrider95 said:How? Simple! Just tune them out. 😁

I’m perfectly happy with myself, and frankly, I couldn't care less what anyone else thinks. It's happened a handful of times where people have made comments about my weight, but let's be real—it was always people who struggle with their own weight issues. They were preaching about slimming down back when they were in their "skinny phases" themselves. 😁

My absolute thinnest point was back when I was a vegetarian and walking two or three hours every single day. Physically, I wasn't even that different from how I am now, so I really don't see what more I'm supposed to do. 🤷

I wear clothes that make me feel good about myself. I try to find cuts that don't highlight my "problem areas," but honestly, I don't see why I shouldn't wear skirts, dresses, or even skinny jeans if I balance the rest of the outfit right. 🤷

Besides, if someone has a problem with it, they are more than welcome to just look the other way. 😁

Exactly 🙂 Honestly, if they want to laugh, let them. It’s probably just easier for them to deal with their own insecurities that way. 😛

Nathan Baker said:Honestly, I didn't even have the heart to finish reading through all that clutter; I just caught sight of those same people popping up again, claiming they wear a size 14 or whatever, acting as if that’s somehow "fuller" by my standards, or pretending they don't shop at places like Target or Kohl's. I feel like I've said this a thousand times already—I'm not sure why it’s such a struggle to grasp, though perhaps my way of expressing things is just too convoluted for some. Why the sudden outburst? Just because I mentioned that plus-sized women shouldn't try to squeeze into little dresses because people will laugh? Well, I certainly would. They do laugh. People tell you an outfit looks great to your face, and then they snicker behind your back. And as for those who spend their time trying to convince themselves they aren't actually heavy and that everything fits perfectly... fine, go ahead. That isn't on me, and it certainly isn't a flaw in my reasoning, thank you very much. I don't wear that clothing; it’s worn by people struggling with deep insecurities, trying to force themselves into the same styles as their skinny friends. I'm not twenty years old, so there's no need to lecture me, especially not from the younger crowd who haven't yet navigated the nuances of a professional career. It’s frankly quite rude to call someone stupid or "disconnected from reality," because, frankly, I might be thinking the exact same thing about you, even if I’m too polite to type it out. I wasn't targeting anyone specifically, just speaking generally, so let's try to maintain a little decorum. I've lived enough life to see just about everything when it comes to how larger women dress, both through my university years and throughout my career. Rest assured, whenever a slightly heavier client walked into the office, the reaction from the crowd was always predictable. If a fuller-figured woman walked in wearing a tight little dress, you’d hear people—both men and women—muttering things like, "Did she really not look in a mirror before leaving the house?" So, there it is.
Besides, the whole point of this forum is to offer advice on what to wear and where to find it, not to use the space as a platform for direct insults.

I get the feeling you were chiming in too. 🤷

Peter Gray2, I'm right there with brightrider95. You are absolutely adorable, and you have great style. You know how to highlight your curves without being over the top about it. 😍 Both skirts and dresses look fantastic on you. 😍 And honestly, thanks for sharing the photos. 😍 😁

Anyway, enough about you. 😁

On another note:

Does anyone have recommendations for where to find good, affordable XXL tights or hold-ups? 😬