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*2024*7 rules to wear horizontal stripes as a plus-size lady!

*2024*7 rules to wear horizontal stripes as a plus-size lady!

Ladies, I can’t imagine I am writing this article now.

For a long time, I thought horizontal stripes and plus size can’t live in harmony with each other.

I don’t have any horizontal stripes dresses in my wardrobe in the past until one day I saw a curvy lady who looks AMAZING in her horizontal stripes.

This really shocks me and now I realized there are many tips and tricks to wearing stripes in a flattering way!

Here are the 7 tips on how to wear horizontal stripes as a plus-size lady, enjoy!

1. Opt for narrow horizontal stripes instead of wide stripes

How to wear horizontal stripes as a plus-size lady?
Source: Inmyjoi Blogspot

I am glad that I’ve found this picture as this is a perfect illusion of how the width of the stripes can affect how we look dramatically!

I wish I knew this sooner – yes, narrow horizontal stripes are way more slimming than wide stripes.

The thick stripes create an exaggerated effect and make the pattern looks larger than it originally is.

These board patterns also visually chop your body into a few big chunks and that makes you look bulkier.

But when you opt for thin horizontal stripes, with the density, they just look like lines and avoid the “chopping effect”.

According to research from Anglia Ruskin University, it is advised that your clothes will be slimming when you opt for a width of stripes under 2.5 cm and when your clothes have more than 20 stripes or more.

DISCLAIMER:

The truth is, we are all perfect imperfections.

You want to learn these outfit hacks ONLY if you feel like it but are not pressured by others. Remember, we never have the need to “fix” our bodies!

You don’t have to be pretty like HER, you can be pretty like YOU.

And believe it or not, there’s still NOT ENOUGH plus-size content around Pinterest and other places on the internet …at all.

So ladies, before reading the tips, please help pin the pin below & support plus-size ladies ♥!

2. Minimise the color contrast between the stipes

How to wear horizontal stripes as a plus-size lady
Source: Sexyaffordable

I realized this rule myself when I saw how flattering I look in grey-white horizontal stripes than in my black-white stripes top.

One of the reasons why stripes can make people look fatter is it draws much-unwanted attention by creating a big contrast between colors like white and black.

That being said, if you wear clothes with less contrast like a grey-white or baby pink-white combination, you can minimize the attention and look slimmer naturally.

I personally love colors combination other than black and white for a less intense and softer look!

3. Wear the horizontal stripes that are even out

Source: Belk, Forever 21

This is a small tip yet many people don’t know about that at all.

Always wear the stripes that are more even as this slims down your figure visually.

The ideal ratio is for the width of the black stripes to be the same as the white stripes.

Some people may think they will look better if the clothes have fewer stripes.

This is just a myth and oppositely, this will make the stripes look more obvious and again chop you visually into a few pieces.

The even more stripes, make the pattern less messy and avoid the exaggerating effect.

4. Layer your look with a plain color jacket

How to wear horizontal stripes as a plus-size lady
Source: Forever21

If you want to wear a sharp color combination like black and white, another way to balance the volume out is to do plain color layering.

Not only it’s chic, but the plain color can also stop the exaggerating effect and make you look more polished and put together.

I recommend wearing something that is more structured with sturdy fabric so it can give you more shape.

Fabrics like tweed, faux leather, and thick cotton are always better than flowy fabrics like silk and polyester.

Added to this, avoid all the tops with big prints as “prints x stripes” will create a really overwhelming pattern and ruin your body ratio.

When in doubt, always remember looking good is all about taking balance. “Plain color x stripes” is always the golden rule.

5. Style the horizontal stripes that flatter your curves

Before purchasing a striped dress or top, always the question is those stripes flatter your curves.

Besides the full stripes, we can always pick different designs like chest stripe shirts or arm stripe shirts to cater to our body shape.

For girls with a small chest and who want to add some volume to their upper body, a chest stripe shirt is always a flattering choice.

This is also why there are many guys wearing chest stripes shirts as this can bulk their chest up.

For me, I avoid all the tight horizontal stripes dresses or pants as I am a pear shape girl, tops or long dresses are always the smarter choice!

Added to this, no matter what designs you prefer, always wear the one that is a bit looser.

It makes the horizontal stripes less intense and minimizes the exaggerating effect.

❤️ 2024 Update ❤️

I’ve finally started my LTK account @hannahndreams and I just created a post dedicated to plus size baes.

The dresses that I’ve picked tick all the boxes below. (In case you want something extra forgivinggg)

  • ✅ Showcase the feminine neckline
  • ✅ The ruching details hide the belly
  • ✅ Asymmetrical hemline draws the eye upward and elongates the legs visually

I’ve also included my hidden gem – a peplum belt from Walmart. Check out my post here & please follow for more styling tips❤️!

Love you girls!!

6. Wear V neck or off-shoulder when you wearing stripes

Ladies, stay away from all high-neck or round-neck tops if you want to wear stripes. That can be brutal.

As stripes already add certain attention to your clothes, you want a slim cutting that can balance the volume down.

Things like a round neck not only will shorten your neckline, it makes your face looks rounder and your body looks chubbier.

Instead, the V-neck is a great choice as the defined lining adds an extension toward your neckline and creates some vertical lining to balance the stripes.

But my ultimate wear is always the off-shoulder, by showing the neckline (one of the thinnest part of our body), you just effortlessly tame the bulkiness of the horizontal stripes and make our shoulder appears slimmer like wonder!

So ladies, if you come across nice off-shoulder stripes that fit your curves, JUST BUY THEM.

This is so random… BUT

hey ladies, why not quickly do an affirmation and feel instantly better?

This new year, I’m trying not only to share fashion tips but come up with ways to instill body positivity in all women who are reading my articles – aka YOU!

Instead of just reading it, say it loud or murmur the quotes (if you are in public) to maximize the effect.

Ready? Here we go.

I love my body. She is my forever home and sanctuary.

Sassy isn’t a shape, it’s an attitude.

Work out because I love my body – not because I hate it.

I can love myself and change my body at the same time. No guilt about that.

It is completely normal to have tummy rolls. I come to realize that social media isn’t showing the reality… at all.

My happiest moments in life had nothing to do with the way my body looked.

I don’t have to be pretty like her, I can be pretty like …ME.

I AM perfect imperfection.

What are your thoughts on that? I hope that makes you feel better (as you deserved).

Please help me pass the body positivity message in your community. #womenhelpwomen

Alright, now keep on reading!

7. Style your horizontal stripes with accessories and shoes

Whenever I wear a horizontally striped dress, I will always balance it with some simple accessories.

It’s true that the horizontal stripes can look a bit too casual sometimes and wearing some simple accessories is always the easiest way to dress it up and elevate the look.

One of my favorites is wearing a Y-long necklace to create a straight line on my upper body.

For earrings, instead of the big hoop earrings that make my face looks rounder, I opt for the elegant long straight line earring for an elongating effect.

For shoes, I always wear pointed flats or heels to balance the horizontal effect on my upper body.

If you want to look even slimmer, wearing nude shoes that exactly match your skin colors can make your legs look longer!

So ladies, embrace stripes as your accessories can always balance it out.

FINAL THOUGHTS:

So ladies, here are the 7 tips on how to wear horizontal stripes as a plus-size lady!

Let’s have a quick checklist first.

  • Opt for narrow horizontal stripes instead of wide stripes
  • Minimize the color contrast between the stipes
  • Wear the horizontal stripes that are even out
  • Layer your look with a plain color jacket
  • Style the horizontal stripes that flatter your curves
  • Wear V neck or off-shoulder when you wearing stripes
  • Style your horizontal stripes with accessories and shoes

I hope these tips are new and practical to you! All in all, choose a dress that has narrow even light stripes and you are good to go!

For many curvy and plus-size ladies, horizontal stripes are a big tattoo.

But you know what, we can wear whatever we want! All we need is some clever tricks and tips to do some contour and we are good to go!

After all, as the quote says, “Life is too short to wear boring clothes!”

Love,

Hannah

By the way, if you are interested in plus-size dressing, you may find these articles useful! See you there ladies!

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  1. Courtney J says:

    I love your style and these tips are very helpful. I always gravitate toward stripes, but then think no! I’m going to look bigger than I already am.

  2. Rachael says:

    I LOVE THAT SOMEONE IS PROVIDING FASHION TIPS FOR PLUS SIZED WOMEN! And these tips are really helpful. I love a horizontal stripe, but as my plus size has spread (corona…), the stripes are looking less beneficial for my figure. I am going to have to find some stripes that don’t contrast quite as much!