Special Occasion Dresses for Plus Size Women

Not so long ago, really nice special occasion dresses for plus size women were thin on the ground. If you wanted to be elegant, attractive and didn’t know how to sew or have access to a professional seamstress, you were pretty much out of luck. Fortunately, designers have woken up to reality and stepped up with excellent party wear for the woman of size.

A 1950s style dress with a shaped bodice and flowing skirt makes for a lovely special occasion look.

When setting out to shop for a party dress, you first have to assess the nature of the event. While rules are nowhere near as strict as they used to be – not so long ago, there were clothes that could only be worn in the morning or afternoon – you still cannot wear certain kinds of short dresses to formal events, if you care about being appropriate. Day and nighttime events call for very different styles, as does the event setting.

If you don’t wear dresses very often, you should also assess your figure to determine what looks best on you. Most curvy women look best in bodice-hugging dresses with full or A-line skirts. Think about the sort of dresses that were so popular in the 1950s – these are ideal for the larger woman. The look does demand foundation garments – you don’t have to wear a corset or girdle, but both do help smooth your silhouette. However, a good push-up bra is a must. It will give you a longer torso and more defined shape.

Empire dresses are also popular, in everything from sundresses to full-length formal evening gowns. You also need a good push-up bra for an empire dress, but it hides any imperfections while drawing attention where you want it. A well-cut empire dress will give you a longer, more elegant figure.

It almost goes without saying that when you go shopping for special occasion dresses for plus size women, you need to shop in person. A dress like this should be tried on and seen in a mirror before a decision is made. You also want to try on several options, rather than just select something on the expectation that you can return or exchange it. And if you shop at a better boutique or department store, you can get the help of a salesperson who can assess your figure and recommend dresses that will be the most flattering. Remember, something that doesn’t look like much on the hanger can look amazing once it’s on.

If there just isn’t a good selection of shops in your area that cater to the plus size woman, don’t worry about shopping online – you probably do it all the time, anyway, and if you shop in advance, you have plenty of time to do an exchange, should it be necessary. For optimum success, you should shop at a site that caters specifically to full-figured women. Not only will the selection of clothes be better, but the customer service department will be able to address a host of questions and understand your concerns. Clothes, especially good dresses, designed with your body in mind will always look and feel better than even designer clothes in larger sizes.

Here are a few sites worth visiting as you go shopping for special occasion dresses for plus size women:

• Jessica London. They have a nice selection of simple yet pretty dresses at reasonable prices up to size 34W.

• Curvaceous Chic. A variety of great dresses for women of style.

• Igigi. It’s a bit pricier, but it’s also hands-down the best online choice for really beautiful plus size special occasion dresses that will flatter any figure up to a size 32.

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