I don’t know about you, but I love a short haircut. You never have to worry about how you’ll wear your hair, it sheds less on your clothes, and you don’t need nearly as long to dry and style your hair. Yet as a plus-size gal with a new ‘do, you’re not sure what type of wardrobe to style. What looks should you rock?
Embed from Getty ImagesHere are some plus-size fashion tips when rockin’ a short haircut:
· Graphic tees are your BFF
· Feminine styles balance you out
· Baggy clothes are a no-no
· Go for embellishments
· Try open-shoulder looks
· Sport a nice hat
· Turtlenecks stand out more
That’s right, I’ve compiled 10 handy plus-size fashion tips for shorter haircuts that will help you dress like a brand-new woman. Keep reading for more actionable info!
1. Wear Graphic Tees
It’s a pet peeve of mine for a gal to wear a graphic tee with her long hair down. Her hair blocks half the shirt.
Of course, a woman can dress however she wants, and far be it from me to try to dictate anyone’s fashion.
However, if you can’t see what’s on a graphic t-shirt, that kind of defeats the purpose of wearing one, wouldn’t you say?
Your hair is short enough that you never have to worry about the aforementioned issue. You should stock up on graphic tees for your clothing collection.
For a plus-sized gal, graphic tees are relaxed enough that you don’t have to worry about unflattering lumps and bumps showing.
You can rock a graphic tee with any bottoms, including boyfriend jeans, skinny jeans, leggings, leather pants, a mini skirt, or a maxi dress. If your graphic tee is long enough, you can even wear it as a dress.
2. Embrace More Feminine Styles for Balance
Listen, although I don’t personally agree, there’s this misconception among some people that having shorter hair makes a lady more tomboyish.
If that’s something that you’re feeling more self-conscious of than ever since you trimmed your locks, that’s okay.
Now is a great time to embrace your fashion femininity in a big way.
Bring out all those big bold pink outfits you maybe felt too nervous about wearing before. Don those floral prints. Wear more skirts, dresses, and heels.
Carry a very femme handbag.
Of course, I’d only tell you to do all this if it’s a part of your own personal style already. As I’ll talk about later, there’s no need to completely usurp your way of dressing just because you cut your hair.
Bold prints and colors are usually two things that plus-size gals shy away from, but I say nah to that.
Prints can guide the eye away from trouble areas, and colors also put more focus on your clothes than the body that’s in those clothes.
3. Avoid Baggy Clothes
You’re not going to like this one, especially if you’re a shier plus-size gal who relies on baggy clothing to obscure her figure.
There’s something about short hairstyles and baggy clothes that don’t go well together, especially if you have very short hair.
Once again, allow me to add the disclaimer that it’s your clothes and you should be comfortable.
You don’t need to follow each and every fashion rule in the book, but this one is worth heeding if you’re willing to exit your comfort zone.
I’m not saying you need to do a complete 180 and suddenly begin sporting skin-tight garments. That’s not going to feel comfortable for you, and if you’re not comfortable, you’re not confident. End of story.
However, maybe eschewing some oversized clothes and buying outfits more in your size is a good starting point.
Again, that doesn’t mean your clothes need to fit like a second skin, but only a smidge tighter.
4. Go for Embellishments
Embellished tanks, sweaters, and tops are so cute. However, once your hair gets past a certain length, wearing embellished clothing becomes really difficult.
Your hair can get tangled in the studs or spikes. You either pull your hair up or don’t wear those clothes anymore.
Long hair also hides embellishments on your clothing, especially those around the neckline, shoulders, and back.
Now that you’ve cut your hair, you don’t have the aforementioned issue at all. You should start proudly wearing more embellished clothing with lots of ornate details.
Your hair is short enough that those details will come through loud and clear. You can make a big, bold fashion statement no matter where you go, whether that’s the office, date night, grocery shopping, or brunch with the girls.
Embellishments will bring more attention to your outfit as a plus-sized lady, which is something to keep in mind.
At the start, wear an outfit with embellishments that fits you well and makes you feel comfortable.
This way, you won’t mind all the extra attention you’ll undoubtedly get.
5. Wear More Open-Shoulder Tops and Dresses
Another type of style that gets overshadowed when worn by ladies with long hair is open-shoulder or off-the-shoulder fashions.
One’s hair naturally sits on their shoulders, especially if your hair is long enough. Any open shoulder details are diminished. You can still tell the shoulders are exposed, but the details are lost.
You’ve chopped your hair, and now your shoulders are freer than they’ve ever been. Let them show in open-shoulder or off-the-shoulder dresses and shirts.
One shoulder showing in a sweater is so flirty and makes the doldrums of winter more bearable, at least in my book.
Off-the-shoulder looks are also great in the spring when the weather is sort of cold but sort of warm as well.
Outfits with shoulder keyholes add so much more punch and dimension to your look. You won’t have to worry about people looking at your trouble areas when you’re dressed in a style like this.
Instead, it’ll be all eyes on your shoulders, which is a nice change of pace!
6. Sport a Bandeau
On a similar note, when spring and summer arrive, it should officially be bandeau season for you.
With your shorter haircut, you’re giving your shoulders a chance to shine all summer long.
Bandeaus don’t have to be scary for plus-size women to wear. If you’re nervous about letting it all hang out there, so to speak, you don’t have to do that.
You can always wear a supportive strapless bra under your bandeau. You’ll get more breast support, so your boobs won’t feel like they’re inches from your belly button.
On top of that, you also won’t have to worry about your nipples looking like headlights, distracting everyone in the vicinity.
You can try all sorts of bandeau styles as a plus-size gal, from crop tops to longer strapless tunics, bikinis, and dresses. Let this be the year your shoulders go free!
7. Pair Your Look with a Nice Hat
As great as having short hair is, even I’ll admit that if you have this hairstyle for long enough, it can begin to get a touch boring.
You don’t mind saving extra time every morning since your hairstyles so quickly and easily, but you miss the days of being able to rock a ponytail, a bun, or a topknot.
Hair barrettes and clips are fun but not enough to change up your look.
What you need is a hat.
It doesn’t exactly matter which kind, although an assortment is always good.
From fedoras to wide-brimmed straw summer hats, berets, and every other hat style in between, give a variety of hats a try.
Hats are great for those bad hair days. And yes, short-haired women get bad hair days too, even if our hair can only go in so many directions at its length.
You can completely transform and reinvigorate an outfit by wearing a hat with it just the same way you can by carrying a different handbag or trying a new pair of shoes.
You can count on your hat distracting from any trouble areas that you might feel reluctant about flaunting since you’ve begun trying new styles. It’s a win-win-win!
8. Wear Turtlenecks All Autumn and Winter
Turtlenecks are having a major style moment lately, and rightfully so.
It’s time to reclaim what was once assumed to be a dorky style and make it chic and attractive again.
The only problem is, if you have longer hair, it can be difficult to wear a turtleneck.
The extra bulk around your neck gets in the way of your flowing locks, and the whole look feels kind of awkward.
You already know what I’m about to tell you. Your hair is shorter, and thus, you don’t have to debate between pulling your hair up or throwing away your turtlenecks altogether.
You can wear turtlenecks as soon as the last vestiges of summertime are over and autumn stays nice and cold. Into the winter, when the temps get even colder, you can continue your turtleneck-wearing habits.
Even in the spring, a lightweight turtleneck or two will help you transition into the new season quite nicely.
Turtlenecks don’t always have to be tight, so there’s no need to have conniptions as a plus-size gal.
Try somewhat looser-fitting turtlenecks or turtleneck sweaters if that will help you adapt to this style in your wardrobe.
9. Oh, and Collared Shirts and Jackets
You also don’t have to fret about long hair interrupting the natural feel of collars, be that a collared button-down flannel shirt, a delicate blouse, or even a leather jacket.
Be sure to play up your fashion freedom by wearing collared shirts whenever you get the chance.
Whether it’s a chic collared tank, a large-collared winter coat, a timeless denim jacket, or your boyfriend’s old leather jacket, you will look so cool.
As I talked about in another recent post on the blog, jackets are a plus-size lady’s best friend. The jacket will obscure any trouble areas in the stomach and hips and lend your outfit more shape and structure.
10. Go On, Embrace Your Tomboyishness
I said I would come back around to this, and now it’s finally time.
Although the prevailing belief is still that long hair is the epitome of femininity, that doesn’t mean you have to try that much harder to look and feel feminine because you got a haircut.
That’s absolutely ridiculous, and I’m sure you agree if you’re reading this right now.
So if only some of these styles are in your wheelhouse or even none of them, that’s okay. You can dress the same way you always did, just now with short hair. You do you!
Conclusion
If you’re feeling a little confused about your plus-size fashion options now that you’ve cut your hair, I hope this guide showed you that you have nothing to fear.
You can try all sorts of fun and unique styles that bear your shoulders, show off shirt embellishments and are a general change of pace from your regular wardrobe.
I do want to stress that if none of these fashions is your thing, that’s perfectly okay too. There’s no rule that says your whole wardrobe has to go just because a few inches of your hair did.
For those plus-sized ladies who are feeling adventurous and in need of a change, the tips and suggestions in this guide are a great place to start. Have fun experimenting!
