High class plus size clothes from the leading plus size clothing designers for women are often hard to find in many of the local stores outside of large cities, especially to keep up with current trends and styles. Many of the newer and more popular clothing designers often include specialty plus size clothing as well as the standard sized clothing due to the increased amount of people who are plus sized. Some leading designers also focus solely on plus size clothing lines rather than standard smaller sizes due to the increasing demand for plus size designer clothes for women.

Popular Dress Styles from Plus Size Clothing Designers

Many dresses for plus size women over 40 offer longer lengths, gentler cuts, and more flattering fabrics and colors. Many new holiday dresses in high end plus size boutique’s come in colors such as black, medium blue, and deep purple with or without belts. Casual dresses with belts are perfect for wearing to the office or other informal meetings where a dress may be required. Many dresses come with a solid silk or satin material layered under a delicate lace fabric for a truly unique feminine look. Some of the most popular formal dress styles for plus size women come in tea length as well as floor length. Some shorter knee length dresses are also available for casual day time wear.

Some of the most popular formal attire for plus size women utilizes billowy sleeves to create a flattering look while attempting to draw the focus away from the woman’s large figure. Some utilize low necklines, high-waisted belts, and full skirts to minimize the curves of a plus size woman. Many of the leading plus size clothing designers choose to use soft fabrics such as silk and polyester along with specialized blends to create a dress that has the best ability to flow smoothly regardless of weather and environment. Many of the casual day time dresses offer many different color and style options to allow the plus sized woman to have something different to wear to the office each day of the week, without feeling like her wardrobe is a boring collection.

Where to Shop for Plus Size Dresses

Women’s plus size dresses are typically easy to find, however, it can be difficult to find just the right style to fit the occasion and personality of each individual woman. Department stores such as Nordstrom offer a wide variety of plus size casual and slightly formal dresses. If a woman needs something slightly more formal than a department store an offer, boutique’s that offer designer clothing made by designer’s such as Yuliya Raquel and Monif C. are the place to go. Yuliya Raquel and Monif C. are some of the leading plus size clothing designers for women and have a large line of both casual and formal dresses as well as accessories, separates, and shoes. Both designers offer women the choice of shopping online or in a physical store.

Many women find that shopping for plus size dresses can be a difficult task and often requires patience to find just the right style and material for each occasion. Many leading plus size clothing designers offer boutique’s both online and physical stores to enable women to experience shopping in their own personal style. Designers who offer both types of stores will also find that they have a larger average clientele than those with just one of the types of stores, due to the fact that they are able to offer more items than a designer with just a physical or an online store.

Designer brands are nothing new in the world of standard size clothing.  However, in the plus size clothing industry, women have gotten used to ill-fitting, low-price, low-quality apparel.  Designer brands who specialize in plus size clothing are putting forth great effort to persuade a shift in the consumers’ thinking from quantity to quality.  To help them understand the development process: which involves choosing the right content and blend of the fabric, as well as taking time to find the right fit.  In addition to the development process, manufacturing in theUnited States also contributes to the cost and that’s why 95% of garments sold inAmerica are made overseas.

Anna Nicole, owner of Annalogy, a plus size clothing store is one of the few designers whose plus size clothes are made in theU.S.  She’s a plus size woman who understands the frustration of trying to find stylish, well constructed garments in her size.  Annalogy specializes in what Anna calls “comfy-chic” plus size apparel for sizes 14 & up.  She describes the Annalogy woman as someone who “is more classic than trendy, but who keeps up with what’s current in fashion, and loves stylish yet comfortable clothing.”  Those two elements, a blend of classic and comfort, were what Anna felt was missing in the plus size marketplace.  She goes on to say, “I want my garments to fit well, to be of a certain quality and to have longevity.  That’s why I spend so much time on the development process.”

According to an article in the New York Times, the most formidable obstacle (of that process) lies in creating a prototype.  “The proportions of the body change as you gain weight, but for women within a certain range of size, there is predictability to how much, born out by research dating to the 1960s,” explained Kathleen Fasanella, who has made patterns for women’s coats and jackets for three decades.  “We know pretty well what a size 6 woman will look like if she edges up to a 10; her bust line might increase an inch,” Fasanella said. “But if a woman goes from a size 16 to a 20, you just can’t say with any certainty how her dimensions will change.”

Women’s plus size clothing makes up only 17 percent of the women’s fashion market, reports The New York Times.  Analysts blame this small percentage on the lack of supply and variation in plus size clothes for women to buy. Still the industry generated $17 billion dollars in sales last year.  Furthermore, in the 12 months leading up to April 2010, the plus size market grew 1.4 percent, while women’s apparel declined 0.8 percent, according to The New York Times. With more women wearing plus size clothes, the market should continue to grow.

This is good news for companies like Annalogy.  Still, as Anna points out, “it’s an uphill battle for an unknown designer – trying to offer quality at an affordable price.”

Annalogy offers styles that are versatile, yet contemporary; that can go from casual to work and beyond.  Most of the plus size dresses and overall clothes are made of soft knit fabrics that feel good on the body and flatter the figure.

When asked about the name of her company, Anna explains: “The word ‘ology’ means the study of.  So Annalogy is the study of Anna.  I’m like most women who want to get up in the morning, throw something on and walk outside looking like I spent an hour putting my look together.”

Future plans for Annalogy include the addition of sizes 4x & 5x, as well as a collection of Loungewear.  Anna describes it as, “casual apparel that you can wear whether you are traveling or running errands.  It’s an alternative to the T-shirt and sweat pants look.  There’s no reason you can’t be chic and comfortable.” Annalogy is available online and will soon appear in stores around the country, starting with Vive La Femme in Chicago, Illinois.  For more information and a selection on their plus size clothing please visit www.annalogy247.com.  We thank Anna for sharing her humble beginning as a plus size designer along with her challenges and opportunities of running a business. We believe that Annalogy is here to stay given Anna’s determination, vision and passion for quality plus size clothing.  Large Size Living wishes her all the best! If you like to get your “word out” on your company’s product offering or service, feel free to contact one of our editors directly.

Sometimes, it is hard to admit even to ourselves that we cannot shop in the trendiest sections in a given store. Most stores put the plus size fashions in a different department, and some have fewer trendy and fashionable styles for plus size women. Some even charge more for plus size clothing, which feels like another blow to our pride. However, there are many flattering fashion styles for a plus size body, each that will offer definition and highlight a fuller figure, and most are very affordable at the right stores.

Look for shirts and dresses with an A-line pattern. These accent your waist, and are great for bustier women, as they minimize the cleavage and maximize the curve appeal. A flowery dress or top under the A-line will minimize the tummy, and make hips appear smaller as well. They are comfortable and roomy, without feeling or looking like a circus tent.

Choose colors and fabrics that work well with your complexion, not simply your favorite colors. You can visit a makeup counter to find out what season’s colors work best for your skin tone, eye color, and hair color, and choose fabrics and prints that work for you, complementing your best features. Although most advice columns for plus size women recommend sticking with navy or black, these are not flattering on every full figured woman, and dressing like we are heading for a perpetual funeral is not an exciting or trendy fashion statement.

As most critics are fast to point out, it is best to avoid horizontal stripes, as they make your waist and bust (and behind) appear much larger. Diagonal or vertical stripes are slimming, but avoid fatter stripes as they can make you look more bulky, especially if you have a bigger bust. A combination of wide stripes and thin stripes is attractive and flattering, and pinstripes are always a great choice, especially for a fashionable and dressy suit.

Floral prints should be kept to a minimum, and avoid the fat, showy floral prints that are often found on plus sized clothing. Prints should be smaller, and color patterns should suit you, not clash with your hair or skin tone. While it can be very flattering and beautiful to add a corsage or hair accessory with a larger flower, avoid them on shirts, dresses, and skirts. They accentuate the parts of your body that you are trying to minimize or hide altogether.

Most plus sized skirts offer a split for comfort and style, but be wary of the split when sitting, as they tend to pull open. Choose skirts and dresses with a minimal split in comparison to the length of your legs. Make sure that the split comes no higher than your knee, in order to avoid unsightly gaps that expose too much leg (or worse). Skirts should be worn at about calf length, to maximize height and minimize the appearance of cellulite, especially at the thigh and behind the knees.

Finally, geometric patterns are very flattering for plus sized women. Colors should cooperate well with each other, and with your skin tone, hair color, and eye color, creating a very neat and fashionable outfit. Pair with slacks or jeans that fit well. If you wear the pattern on a shorter dress, add a pair of cute leggings that match to slim and lengthen your legs. Complete any of these looks with a pair of comfortable and stylish shoes that fit well.

Flattering fashion styles for a plus size body are available at a wide variety of retailers, and once you know your measurements, you can even choose online shopping for a more convenient shopping opportunity. Choose the right styles and shades, and you will look fabulous, no matter what size you wear.