As more retailers targeting the plus-size fashion market open their doors in Dunedin, women have even more reason to celebrate their curves with stylish clothes, as Ellie Constantine discovers.
No matter how young or how old, how tall or how short, how thin or how voluptuous you are, everyone wears clothes.
However, finding ones which fit can be a hard task involving numerous changing-room meltdowns.
Curvy girls especially can feel they have limited options when it comes to buying fashionable pieces.
But with various specialty stores in Dunedin, and another on the way, along with several lines within general retail stores, they have better options than ever before.
Australian-owned City Chic opened in Dunedin towards the end of last year targeting a younger market, but finding itself appealing to women across the age spectrum.
Manager Francesca Pasco said consumers were quick to praise the store, which wants to help women "enhance their curves".
"Everyone is loving having another place to shop," she said.
Its latest range is inspired by the 1950s pin-up girl with pencil skirts, puff sleeves, polka dots and bows featuring prominently.
She said their ranges mirrored general seasonal trends, of maxi dresses and one-shoulder pieces, but always focused on being flattering to a fuller figure.
One of the key things to be aware of when buying clothes for a larger frame is to avoid anything which is too tight.
"You want to skim your curves, rather than hug them," she said.
For those in doubt, asking for advice on cuts, fabrics and fits was recommended.
A common misconception Miss Pasco liked to disprove was that a larger girl could not wear skinny jeans.
It was all about fit, apparently, so finding a style designed in a bigger cut, with a higher waist (to avoid muffin top) often changed people's opinions on wearing them.
"They can lengthen your legs [sic] if you have the right style on," she said.
With all pants, it is also important to look for a longer-line top, which will skim over any lumps or bumps and flatter the figure.
TS14+ sales assistant Angela Fawcett said the Australian-owned store, which fits sizes 14-24, prefers to stock bolder patterns and colours than some people may be used to.
But she encouraged them "not to be frightened".
"I think a lot of ladies hide.
What's the point of it?"The most important aspect of clothing was the cut, she said.
Ranges of clothing in TS14+ often come in three different styles, such as a tunic, cardigan and shorter top, so every woman can enjoy the fabric in a way which suits them.
She recommended women visit the store for a personal styling session to introduce them to different styles, colours and ways of wearing clothing in a flattering way.
It was also a good way of disproving certain clothing myths, such as that curvy ladies should not wear stripes, shorter women should not wear long clothing, and black was always slimming.
Among the tips she had was to flaunt your assets.
If you have slim legs, go for narrow-leg trousers rather than a wide leg, and give crinkle fabric a go, as it flows over curves and minimises where they are.
Virtu, a sister store of TS14+ will open in Wall Street in March, offering "after-work wear", sleepwear and leisure wear in sizes 12 to 24.
Tips
- Wear clothes which fit. Clothes which are too baggy or too tight will do nothing for your figure.
- Emphasise your best features. If you have great legs or a narrow waist, draw attention to those areas.
- Straight leg or boot-cut jeans and pants will take the emphasis off your hips and bottom. Pairing these with heels or pointy-toed shoes will seem to elongate your legs.
- Empire line dresses are great for skimming over a fuller figure and accentuating the bust.
- V-neck tops will create the illusion of a longer neck.
- A-line skirts, with a hem which flares away, will produce the illusion of an hourglass figure.
- Foundations are key. Ill-fitting underwear will ruin any outfit, no matter how gorgeous. Ensure you are wearing the right size bra by being fitted by a professional. Take the time to try on panties to ensure they are offering the coverage you want. Smoothing and shaping underwear can also help clothes fit better and is widely available.
- Keep accessories in proportion. An oversize handbag is a great accessory but a small handbag will make your figure appear bigger. The same goes for jewellery.
- Go monotone. Dressing in one colour (not necessarily black) will seem to elongate your silhouette.
