Thank goodness, gone are the days when a big percentage of American women struggled to find clothes to fit them. Women´s apparel retailers like this one are finally starting to sell plus-size clothes that are specifically designed for the curvier figure.

They are tapping into the fact that the average American woman is now a size 16. This means that there is a huge demand for plus size clothing.

Women everywhere are no longer prepared to buy clothing that makes them look like their grandma. They are sick of having little choice but to wear frumpy clothes. Fortunately, they no longer have to because the fashion industry as a whole is finally starting to cater for them.

Plus size models lead the way

This is very clear from the fact that the curvier models  that work in the industry are starting to get far more work than they used to. During New York Fashion Week alone, 27 plus size models appeared on the catwalks.

Much to the surprise of many, this trend also took hold in Europe. The Paris shows are well known for their crazily thin models, but this year things were different. Both Katy Syme and Stella Duval appeared in H&M’s see-now-buy-now show and they blew everyone else away. It was their photos that dominated the Twittersphere for hours after the show. Their appearance on the catwalks of Paris created a huge amount of interest that carried on long after the shows had finished.

New retailers and designers  

The fact that the traditional fashion industry has been slow to respond to the growing demand for stylish clothing for the curvier figure has opened the door for smaller firms to make their mark. For example, SimplyBe, the UK-based plus size fashion house, has found a big market in America. The almost instant success of firms like this has opened the eyes of other retailers to the potential for selling high volumes of plus size apparel.

The plus size blogger has played an important role

Evidence of the plus size revolution can also be seen online. There are some extremely successful bloggers working in this sector. Women like Callie Thorpe and Lauren Nicole are inspiring curvy fashion fans everywhere to blog about what they are wearing. Their posts are opening the eyes of many to the world of plus-size fashion and increasing demand in the process.

If you are interested in plus size fashion and are looking for bloggers to follow, just click here. There are some great US based bloggers on the list that you will find there, as well as most of the more well-known European ones.

The future of plus size fashion

The future for those who focus on this sector looks bright. Recent market research that has been carried out by NPD Group shows that sales reached a staggering $21.4 billion in 2016. With growth rates of around 6% each year, there is no sign of demand slowing down, anytime soon. Men´s big and tall fashion is also growing at a phenomenal rate.

Blouses are an important component of any woman´s wardrobe. Choosing the right one for the occasion is vital if you want to look good.

As you can see here, there are dozens of different styles to choose from. It is always nice to have a choice, but sometimes it can be a bit bewildering, which is why we have put together this post. Below are a few tips and tricks to help you to determine which kind of top is appropriate and buy one that fits you perfectly.

A good work blouse

A lot of us like to wear a suit or skirt in the workplace. Dressing like this makes it easy to look smart and the fact you can take the jacket means you do not have to sit there feeling uncomfortably hot.

Generally speaking, a formal style of blouse or shirt is the right choice for wearing with a suit. It is certainly the safe option. However, you do not always have to wear a plain shirt with a collar. Provided you choose wisely you can just as easily wear a lightweight top under a plain suit. You just need to make sure that when you remove the jacket your top is still modest. It is very important that it is not so thin that your bra can be seen underneath. You also need to make sure that when you bend over you are not showing too much cleavage.

A blouse for your holidays

When you go on holiday try to buy lightweight blouses. They take up less space in your case, and, importantly, are less likely to crease. If you choose one that is made from a fairly thin manmade fabric you can normally rinse it out and get it dry again within a couple of hours.

A blouse for a night out

A night out gives you the chance to kick things up a notch and buy something a bit brighter, and maybe a little more daring. If you can, try to buy the type of blouse that can be worn with more than one outfit.

A blouse for a special occasion

For a special occasion, like a wedding, it is worth spending a bit more money. Potentially a nice cotton blouse can be worn later for work or meals out.

If you opt to buy one in a luxury fabric like satin or silk the chances of your being able to wear it again are slim. However, that does not mean that you should not buy one. You can usually sell them online and get much of your money back. Just be sure to sell it immediately after the event. That way it will still be considered fashionable when you are trying to sell it. This greatly increases your chances of getting a good price for it.

Getting the fit right

Regardless of the type of blouse you choose, it is important that it fits well. This pdf explains the correct way to measure yourself for a top or shirt. It really is worth reading and putting what you learn into action. If you follow this advice you will always look smart and well-groomed.