Women – we love beauty, color, and fashion. That’s why since their debut on the fashion scene, women have been obsessed with jumpsuits. Talk about fun, chicness, and modesty wrapped up in one outfit! Jumpsuits really pack a punch. With the style craze jumpsuits are associated with, can plus size women rock jumpsuits?
Well-tailored jumpsuits suit the specific body needs of their intended silhouette. That’s why plus size women can rock jumpsuits with finesse and elegance. It’s never about size, just great style and a touch of confidence.
Let’s talk about why jumpsuits are amazing.
- They serve as a complete outfit on their own. There is really no need to wracking your head on what to throw on in addition to your jumpsuit. Gone are the days you spent hours agonizing over what blouse to couple your new pants with or vice versa; jumpsuits offer a complete package. Just throw it on and you are good to go.
- They come in a wide variety of cuts and designs, giving you numerous options to choose from. You can have 5 or more jumpsuits in your wardrobe and still startle in every one of them without being deemed monotonous or ‘boring’ because each piece has something new and fresh to offer.
- They can be worn to numerous types of events. From work to date night, game night, a graduation ceremony, wedding, or a Sunday barbecue at your mom’s. When styled correctly, they are appropriate for nearly all occasions.
- They are super comfortable to wear. You can nearly go to sleep in them. Well-tailored jumpsuits give you the perfect fit. They are not extremely tight on their upper or lower halves and conversely not extremely loose that you feel like your clothes are slipping off.
- They are stylish. There is something about jumpsuits that make them among the top fashion options in modern contemporary fashion. They give you poise, structure, and great definition to your silhouette – which is what every fashion-forward lady desires to have.
Plus Size Women and Jumpsuits
Plus size women come in all shapes, sizes, and with varying unique features. Therefore, it is not prudent to have a blanket approach in deciding what works and what does not for the ‘plus size frame.’ Within the plus size fraternity, some women are taller, more top-heavy, with narrower or broader shoulders, with longer or shorter torsos, longer or shorter arms, longer and shorter legs, wider bandwidths in comparison to their hips, and those with proportionate or smaller bandwidths in comparison to their hips, etcetera.
With this in mind, we can better appreciate the unique fashion needs of each and every plus size woman. It ceases to be a one size fits all affair. Every silhouette is to be considered on its merit and treated uniquely. This not only serves as a reminder for stylists around the globe but also for every plus size woman who desires to purchase a flattering jumpsuit. Simply put, just because it looked good on your friend or favorite plus size model, does not mean it will look great on you.
Appreciating your unique silhouette is the first and most fundamental step when it comes to dressing it. Next is understanding your fashion taste. What is it that you like or dislike? What look would you feel great and confident in? Are you more laid back and reserved? Or more bold, experiential, and daring when it comes to fashion? Being true to what you genuinely prefer helps you develop a general idea of what kind of jumpsuit you would prefer to have.
These 2 fundamental things will save you from trying on every single jumpsuit in the store only for you to not find what you want. That can definitely be frustrating and exasperating. Appreciating your silhouette and personal taste will help you save on time, energy and come closer to identifying the perfect jumpsuit for your silhouette.
Some Basic Considerations…
Largely, when it comes to plus-size women, finding the right jumpsuit should not be problematic. There are some basic considerations that you should take into account when deciding which jumpsuit you should pick. Here are a few.
1. Neckline
The neckline is one of the first features our eyes are drawn to simply because they are nearer to the face of the individual. The style and cut of your jumpsuit neckline are crucial to turning heads.
Consider how wide and deep the neckline is cut? Also, the type of neckline is important. Is it a V-neck or a plunging neckline? Is it a turtle-neck design? If you are top-heavy it is advisable to avoid a turtle-neck design as this emphasizes your voluptuous bust. Instead, you may want to consider a wide V-neck design that ‘opens up your chest’ and helps create a visual emphasis on the neckline and not the size of your bust. Also, you should stay clear from any chunky details around your upper half as they will tend to visually enlarge the size of your bust.
If you are not top-heavy, any neckline would do. However bear in mind the deeper and wider the neckline is, the flatter your bust will appear. If you want a fuller bust appearance while wearing a plunging neckline you should definitely invest in a quality push-up self-adhesive bra.
2. Sleeves
There are innumerable designs when it comes to jumpsuit sleeves. Puff sleeves, short sleeves, long sleeves, sleeveless and off shoulders are the more common types. When choosing a jumpsuit, examine the sleeve to see whether:
a) It is long enough and your desired length.
b) It is well-fitting around your shoulders and upper arms. This is of particular importance as you do not want to have an ‘arm wedgie’ around your armpit area because the fit is too tight or small. Ensure you can easily move your shoulders and arms with ease while in it.
Comfort reigns supreme and these days to be stylish you don’t need to compromise on your comfort. Of course the above only applies if you intend to purchase a jumpsuit with sleeves. If you are going for an off-shoulder design, you should consider whether the fastening band sits comfortably across your arm. It should not dig into your flesh or easily slip off at every sharp or forceful movement.
If it’s a completely sleeveless design with fastenings around the neck or back area, cross-check to see whether the design gives you adequate support around the bust area. To ensure that it does have adequate support, examine the thickness or thinness of the straps/fabric that seem to support your bust. Do they seem strong? Are they well-structured and tailored?
3. Fabric
Fabric that has considerable stretch to it is highly recommendable for plus size women. Avoid fabrics that are too stiff or bulky, no matter how cute they look.
4. The Crotch Area
The front wedgie may, hands down, be the most annoying thing of ill-fitting jumpsuits. This is whereby the crotch area is stifled with excess fabric that accumulates and bulges around the area. In other instances, it is the awkward tightening of fabric around your crotch area as it, seemingly, is sucked in around your upper thighs and crotch. The sight is simply horrendous.
Ensure that the fit around the crotch is perfect – no excess fabric or tightening – just a well-fitting crotch area. Never compromise on this. I’d also caution against the general tendency to have your tailor adjust the crotch area to give it a more regular fit. This may not always solve the issue and may in some cases aggravate the problem. If the crotch does not fit, don’t buy it!
5. The Mid-Section
For most plus-size women, their bellies are a primary concern when it comes to dressing their silhouettes. Many are quite conscious of this part of their bodies, which is understandable. To minimize any bulge, look for jumpsuits with an added touch of detail around the midsection. Details such as overlays, draping, or ruching are perfect to distract the eye from the wideness or bulge around your midsection. As an additional perk, such details give your outfit an edgy and detailed finish that will set your outfit apart from the rest.
6. The Legs
It is preferable to opt for a looser fit around your thighs and legs. This helps mask any excess fat or bulges you may have but still gives you the needed silhouette definition. A very tight jumpsuit may cause an imbalance in your upper and lower body proportions, especially if you are top-heavy or thicker around your hips and butt.
This is not to say that you should never wear any body-hugging jumpsuits. To rock such a jumpsuit just try to balance out your proportions by throwing in a loosely fitting coat, kimono, or top to the mix.
7. The Details and Embellishments
Nowadays, jumpsuits come with every bell and whistle you can think of; you can even have actual diamonds sewn onto them! Unless you are overly enthused with the glitz and glam, try to keep the embellishments moderate so that the beauty of the actual outfit will shine through. Keep the ruffles, the draping, the embroidery, the shimmer (and the sewn diamonds) at a minimum to allow them to naturally blend into the outfit as opposed to looking like a separate decorative piece. You don’t want to look like you are doing too much despite the consideration you’ve put into your outfit.
How to Rock the Most Basic Jumpsuits
Now that we know exactly what we should look for, here are some tips on how you can rock the different types of jumpsuits in the market today. These are not hard and fast rules but a springboard from which you can tap into your sense of creativity and style to develop your own styling options.
1. Wrap Design Jumpsuits
These designs are ideal for highlighting the smallest bit of your waist. They tend to come with a fabric tie that you can secure around your waist giving you that coveted synched look. In styling such a jumpsuit, you should make sure not to distract from the synched upper waist as that is really the highlight of the outfit.
You can pair this jumpsuit up with a loose-fitting chiffon kimono or cardigan. Alternatively, if the design permits, you can add an additional belt around the fabric tie (make sure to secure the ends so that they do not stick out) for added definition or synching. Avoid sweaters or tops that end just where the synch is, as this will tend to either add bulk around the area or distract from the synch effect.
2. Flared Bottom Jumpsuits
If your jumpsuit has a more flared bottom you definitely want to maintain the relaxed feel of the outfit. Preferably wear sneakers or a cute pair of sandals and throw on a denim shirt or a simple woven sweater, if you’d wish to. Any additional garments on your upper half should end in a crisp finish around your midsection. Avoid longer bulky garments as they will add to your lower half proportion.
3. Tight-leg Bottom Jumpsuits
Tight-leg pants can be coupled with loosely-fitting garments such as coats or trench jackets on the upper half which should end around your mid-thigh. This will help conceal any bulging especially around your thighs and give you an elegant sophisticated finish. Throw on a pair of dashing heels or boots, and you will be good to go.
Conclusion
Plus size women can look fabulous in jumpsuits. With a simple dash of confidence and smile, you are sure to turn heads wherever you go. With these tried and proven techniques and advice, you are bound to enjoy rocking your jumpsuits and leave a lasting impression while at it. Remember there are no hard and fast rules in fashion, be creative, have fun with styling and accessorizing your jumpsuits, and best of all be yourself!
