How to wear a denim shirt as a plus-size? 10 styling tips in 2024!

I know many curvy ladies trying to avoid denim shirts as denim is not as stretchy as other fabrics and that limits the ways of styling.

Well, I used to think in this way before but not now after trying out all the outfit combination possibilities!

A denim shirt can be really flattering on us and they are really versatile for any Occasion.

So here are the 8 tips on how to wear a denim shirt for plus-size ladies, enjoy!

1. Don’t button all the way up with your denim shirt

Before sharing the outfit combination, let’s quickly touch on some basic tips first.

As a girl with chubby cheeks, my genuine advice is don’t button all the way up to your shirt.

Instead, you should always button down a few to create a long V-neck shape.

With that, you can elongate your neckline and by proportion, your face will look smaller as well!

Also, you may want to avoid the chunky round necklace as again, it will cut your neckline and make your face rounder.

A V shape necklace is always the most flattering choice!

2. Be intentional about the fabric of your denim shirt

There are indeed many kinds of fabric when it comes to denim shirts.

If you want to find the one that hugs your curve perfectly, here are the three main types of fabric you want to know.

A. Thick denim

Thick denim is the most common one that we saw all the time, it’s the rugged, twill weave woven fabric so it’s really durable.

For thick denim, I think it is perfect for an oversized jean jacket as the fabric is more structured and balances the bagginess of the jacket.

As for a denim shirt, it’s also a great choice if you want to look slightly more formal and dress up as it makes your body lining looks more structured.

However, it may not be the most comfortable fabric as it’s not so flexible.

So I always size up rather than size down when it comes to thick denim!

B. Stretchy Demin

Stretchy denim is denim that is mixed with stretchy fiber like spandex and lycra to give the fabric huge flexibility.

As a pear shape girl, this is such a lifesaver for me and it makes me feel comfier in a denim shirt.

For wearing jeans, I also recommend choosing stretchy denim.

You can always see the little white material tag inside the clothes to check how much % spandex or lycra the shirt got!

C. Cotton chambray

Cotton chambray is my favorite fabric when it comes to denim shirts! It looks like denim but is more lightweight and has a softer, lighter texture than denim.

Every time when I wear a thick denim shirt in summer, I sweat a lot in just 15 minutes.

But with the chambray shirt, it’s more breathable and the difference is really huge!

I feel like no one mentioned the fabric and how we should use them for different purposes, so I hope you girls find this helpful!

3. Belt your denim shirt

Finally, it’s time for styling tips!

Not gonna lie, for half of the time, I use my denim shirt as a belt instead of wearing it! lol

For a tight dress like bodycon, I am not feeling too confident in wearing them as it shows my muffin top and belly fat so easily.

But tying the denim shirt as a belt helps to cover my tummy area and the cellulite in the back of my thighs.

Also, the belt accentuates the high waist and makes my whole figure look more like an hourglass.

For the long floppy dress, I always tie the denim shirt on to make my body figure looks smaller and it works perfectly!

With a pair of white sneakers, this is my lazy Sunday look!

4. Wear an oversize/ long denim shirt with over-knee boots

I adore this look so much!

With the oversize shirt, it adds a bit of spice to the outfit but a causal fabric like denim can always balance the thing out.

So we can look sexy without people thinking we are trying too hard.

For me, I will always style a light blue shirt dress with a black belt and a pair of black over-knee boots.

I usually wear the chambray shirt as the fabric is thinner so this is way easier to belt.

Despite belts, I recently realized a corset belt can look really flattering on us as it has more coverage and it covers my belly perfectly!

Last but not least, I love to keep my whole outfit simple to just two colors.

Not only this can make my overall outfit look more united, but visually fewer color palettes on your body can have a slimming effect!

5. Go for monochrome with your denim shirt

Wearing a monochromic outfit with your denim shirt is a no-brainer if you run out of any outfit ideas.

Tone-on-tone is always flattering as again, it makes us look taller and slimmer overall.

However, for the denim shirt style, wearing the same shade of dark blue can look a bit chunky as denim is a thick fabric.

Instead, we should always style thick denim with chambray to balance the bulkiness.

A light blue chambray shirt with dark blue jeans is always in trend.

If you want to look taller, try flared jeans, and wear heels inside! Don’t be surprised if you look 10 inches taller!

6. Wear Denim Shirt Tied Up With a High-Waisted Skirt/trousers

If you want a refreshing look, tying up your denim is always flattering as it accentuates our waistline and helps us create a feminine silhouette!

Besides the flared jeans I’ve mentioned above, any A-line high-waist skirt can look flattering as well!

If you want to have a more feminine look, a lace or satin dress is always the elegant fabric to go for.

As for any printed dress, always choose the small printed instead of the huge one to avoid enlarging effect.

If you want a casual look, a dark grey dress with loafers looks chic as well!

Seriously, the combination is endless when you tie your shirt up, it goes well with almost everything!

If you don’t want to tie up the shirt, you can always tuck your shirt into your dress as well!

But always remember to wear something light in this case otherwise your dress will show all the bulkiness.

7. Layer a long-line cardigan to your denim shirt

During the cool days, you can still style your denim shirt with some easy layering.

For me, a long-line cardigan is my favorite as the long line visually helps us elongate the body and make me feel more put together.

I try to avoid wearing a cardigan or jacket of the same length as a denim shirt as this will make my upper body looker bigger.

With a grey knit long cardigan and a pair of pointed beige heels, you can blend your summer denim shirt seamlessly!

8. Wear your denim shirt under a sweater for some layering

Last but not least, for a chill autumn look, you can always wear your denim shirt under a thin sweater for some layering.

I always get some sweaters that are too thin to wear alone but in this case, wearing a denim shirt beneath is always a good choice!

Pair your shirt with something light like creamy white, or beige, and always look so classy and polished.

FINAL THOUGHTS:

So ladies, here are the 8 tips on how to wear a denim shirt for plus-size ladies! Let’s have a quick recap first.

• Don’t button all the way up with your denim shirt
• Be intentional about the fabric of your denim shirt
• Tie your denim shirt as a belt to style your bodycon or long dress
• Wear an oversize/ long denim shirt with over-knee boots
• Go for monochrome with your denim shirt
• Wear Denim Shirt Tied Up With a High-Waisted Skirt/trousers
• Layer a longline cardigan to your denim shirt
• Wear your denim shirt under a sweater for some layering

For a long time, I tried to avoid denim shirts as I just don’t think they will look cute on me.

But apparently, I was so wrong! After knowing the difference in fabrics and trying out every outfit combination, now I can’t live without my long denim shirt with over-knee boots look!

So ladies, don’t limit yourself and it’s time to get creative with your denim shirt!

By the way, if you are interested in plus-size styling, you may be interested in these articles too! See you there!

• How to dress elegantly plus size? 8 creative tips I wish I knew sooner
• How to wear a pleated skirt as a plus-size? Not the average tip!
• How to dress up jeans as plus size (+ what should avoid!)
• How to wear white jeans with cellulite? #4 tip will shock you!