All My Plus-Size Ladies – Make Trends Work For You!

Now, not every woman is going to have a stick- thin fashion model figure. But that doesn't mean that you're not beautiful and that you shouldn't be able to purchase the hottest threads.

Some of the summer's trends and fall's up-coming trends aren't very 'plus-size friendly', if you know what I mean. However, there are ways for 'non-zeros' to wear the latest fashions.

Some of the year's latests trends tended to vary, with major influences from every decade from the 1970s onward – from cheap vintage pieces that are easy to find (like boyfriend jeans) to elegant couture that’ll cost an arm and a leg.

What's hot right now:

1. Light-wash denim

2. Hammer pants

3. Motorcycle jacket

4. Skinny jeans

5. Strong-shoulder jacket

6. Cut-out dress

7. Leggings etc.

There's always a tweaked version to most trends, even if they're not exactly like what the designers make for the runway, which is why a lot of 'non-zeros' have to wait until the trend trickles down into the department stores. By then the trend is adapted a bit to fit the average-sized person (between sizes 8-14) because, let's face it, that IS the larger demographic.

As for 'hammer pants', plus-size ladies HAVE to beware because these pants can make the hips appear much larger.

And let's not get started on empire waist clothing! A garment with an empire waist also feels cooler and less restrictive, but if you've got large thighs, well, it's not your friend .

However, skinny jeans come in ALL sizes, for the 'skinny bitch' (diet book New York Times bestseller Skinny Bitch by Rory Freedman and Kim Barnouin) and the plus-size lady.

"Skinny pants were made for a skinny girl, obviously," says Cindy Weber Cleary, InStyle Magazine fashion director.

"I recommend them for a boy-like silhouette because they're narrow through the thigh as well as the ankle." Not a good idea for those ladies with thick ankles!

What I would also suggest for the 'non-zeros' is the pencil skirt. It shows off that beautiful curvaceous shape the 'zeros' may not have. Though walking needs to be done in short strides and entering and leaving a car gracefully takes practice, this fashionable piece is so worth it. And I know that some of you may say that it's too restrictive but there are those that don't hug you as tight. (Avoid a pencil skirt with trimming in the fronts and sides. The trimming will put more emphasis on wider hips.)

One of the hottest 1990s trends was back for the spring/summer '09 collections – the denim jacket (Alexander Wang, Balmain, Marc Jacobs and Baby Phat). This is a great asset for plus-size ladies as it helps to hide those 'non-zero' arms.

Sun-dresses!! Perfect for the plus-size girl. It is flattering for most body shapes, and it provides a feminine look that may be lighter and more comfortable than a skirt and blouse, or any other type of dress. Unlike pants or shorts, dresses can be figure fixers.

"Consider cardigans, ponchos and blazers as a workable layer for dresses . . . Baring skin doesn't have to be intimidating. Draw attention to your shoulders, neckline, or legs to find the most flattering shape for your body type."- said Jodie Michalak, writer for plus-size fashion.

And the PERFECT accessory: boots. Plus size ladies look HOT in boots, preferably knee-high.

Now, the classics – black and white vertical stripes, and anything black.

Vertical stripes are great for elongating the figure and can make legs look like they go on forever! The trick is to not wear super thin vertical stripes that are too close together. This will cause a visual sensory overload and you run the risk of looking like a wobbly optical illusion.

And, black, ANYTHING black works. Black is known for its slimming effect on ANY shape or size. Black is a slimming colour because it "hides" the visible shape of your body, including the shadows created by your 'lumps' and 'bumps'.

So, go my plus-size beauties, and show them what you got!! ;-)

– Dre DeCarlo

Whitney, plus-size model and winner of America's Next Top Model Cycle 10, who is a size 10, wearing a pencil skirt.