Bombshellista Skinny Emmie

The Bombshell Attitude can be portrayed in many ways, but fashion sense is  one of those things that I personally am striving for.  One of my favorite shoes is What Not to Wear.   So, I asked my FAVORITE blogger Bombshell-ista to share with you some fashion tips.   (plus I have to add.. Emmie sent me an nice gift of inspiration recently…both in fashion and this weight loss journey….I received a bracelet that she made – I won it as being a part of her own fund raising efforts for her half marathon…….NOW, I wear that bracelet and it reminds me of just how dedicated she is to her journey and how I can do it too)

Now, without further ado….   Here’s Emmie

Plus Size Clothing Tips

Throughout my high-school-and-beyond life, I’ve always worn plus sizes. The sizes have ranged anywhere from a 16 (for about 2 seconds in 1999) to a size 34 (for way too long right before I started my weight loss journey). Between my purchasing of wardrobes in that many sizes, watching countless episodes of “What Not To Wear,” and taking photos of myself in outfits, I have a set of rules when it comes to how to flatter your shape and build a solid wardrobe- no matter what your size.

Know your assets: The great thing about clothes is they can camouflage or accentuate, depending on how they are cut and constructed. Have great legs? Make sure to highlight them with shorter styles and heels. Are you curvy with a defined waist? Go for wrap-style items or throw a belt on your narrowest part of your waist OVER your jacket or cardigan. Pick 1 thing about yourself that you want to highlight, and build the rest of the outfit around it.

(a basic wrap dress can give you a more defined waist. Basic black wrap dress, Old Navy. Leggings: Old Navy. Boots: Zappos. Necklace: Target)

Balance: The worst faux pas of fashion (in my humble opinion) is to have an imbalanced outfit. One example is to wear too much or too little. Don’t ever go over-the-top skin show OR completely covered up so much that your outfit may be confused with a Snuggie. If you are going for a knee-length skirt, it shouldn’t be super low cut and be sleeveless. If you go for a long skirt, or dress, make sure you show some skin on top either through a lower neckline or more exposed arms.

The same rule of balance applies to the drape of your items. If you are wearing a slimmer cut top, pair it with a pair of wide leg pants. Wearing jeggings? Go for a flowy tunic. Avoid the extremes of having an outfit that is 100% slim fit or 100% loose.

( a flowy top  (Calvin Klein from Macys) paired with slim fitting pants from Kohls)

Know where to spend: Most of us don’t have an unlimited clothing budget (a girl can dream), so shopping smart is key to building a successful wardrobe. Purchase basics like simple tees, leggings, basic cardigans and loungewear from places like Old Navy or Target. These items can mix with many of your more expensive pieces, and will get a lot of wear. You will be able to part with them much easier at a lower price point when you dribble your red wine onto them!

Splurge on items that are well constructed and have good details. A jacket that will pair with jeans and a tee as well as over a blouse with black trousers is something you will get a lot of mileage from. Same goes for patterned and embellished tunics, day-to-evening dresses, and classic shoes – neutral colored pumps, knee high boots, and a good pair of embellished flats.

( inexpensive cami from the clearance rack at Talbots Outlet, basic black pants that are about 5 years old from Lane Bryant, pricier Tommy Hilfiger cardigan from Macys, chosen as a splurge because of the luxurious knit and leather strap closures. Accessorized with very large silver dangle earrings from Target)

Accessorize: Accessories can turn an outfit from boring to beautiful in less than 60 seconds. Even a basic black and white outfit can be kicked up a notch by some earrings, a statement necklace and a bracelet. The same rule of balance applies here. If you do large earrings, don’t do a 60” multi-strand necklace – that’s overkill.

For trendier jewelry, I would go the budget-friendly route and look at places such as Target or Old Navy. I do think every woman in their lifetime should have a small collection of classic jewelry pieces in their arsenal: a pearl necklace, diamond stud earrings, silver small hoops and gold small hoops. These items will get so much wear out of them during your lifetime that they should be looked at as investment pieces.

Accessories also include belts, scarves and handbags. Whether you choose to save or splurge on these items is completely up to you and the look you’re going for.

Of course, the biggest success you can have with your wardrobe is to feel fabulous in it. No matter what rules you choose to follow, if you feel great about yourself and what you’re wearing, you’ve beat the fashion game.

Emily blogs at Skinny Emmie where she shares her weight loss adventure and occasionally photos of her outfits. She can also be found on Facebook and Twitter

NOW… Let me (and Emmie) know what fashion tip you like the best