With the right style or fit, this season’s fashion trends can work well on any body type. “If they’re cut right, all the trends will translate over perfectly,” says plus-size model Candice Huffine.
This season, Ms. Huffine, who confesses to being a big fashion lover, particularly loves the black-and-white trend in clothing. “I know I will look sleek and polished in simple black-and-white pairings,” says Ms. Huffine. She particularly likes to wear black-and-white-stripes, which she thinks looks “beautiful on curves.”
Regardless of whether you’re doing the look in stripes or a pattern, “the shape is going to be key.” Something simple like a fitted black dress with some white, vertical detailing on the side “creates a nice silhouette,” says Ms. Huffine, who has been featured in ad campaigns for retailers including Bloomingdale’s, Lane Bryant and H&M.
Jumpsuits are an easy item for curvy figures, Ms. Huffine says. “I like wide-legged jumpsuits. There are so many available right now, for all occasions,” she says. And “sheer, kind of flowy silhouettes,” such as harem pants and blousier tops, “are really easy” as well.
“I love a really flowy, lightweight silk top with a slimmer-cut pant or a skinny jean or shorts and if I’m doing a harem pant, I would wear a more form-fitted shirt on top,” says Ms. Huffine. “There’s a common misperception that curvy women just want things that are completely square so they don’t show anything at all.”
Culottes may be intimidating for any women but Ms. Huffine is looking forward to working the look into her wardrobe. If in doubt, “go a size up,” she suggests. “You don’t want your culottes to be too tight in the waist or upper thigh area, then flare out at the bottom. And wear heels with it.” If you’re still worried that this cut could be tricky, try it in black, she adds.
Another easy item to pull off this season is the shirtdress. “Get a flared, white shirtdress with a great fit. You can belt it if you’d like,” Ms. Huffine says. Wearing all white is a chic look that works well on all shapes. “I love a great white skinny jean and a sheer white button-down with a Panama hat. It’s so fresh.”
Whether a dress or top is something flowing or fitted, “just having your waistline in the right place makes a difference,” Ms. Huffine says. “Everybody’s shaped very differently and having a waistline that’s a little too high could accentuate,” for instance, your bust and be unflattering to your midsection. “Be cinched where you should be—or have the option to belt it in the right place.”
Don’t be afraid to play around with the sizing as each brand tends to cut its pieces differently, meaning some sizes will fit you better than others. “If it’s not the right fit, go up or down,” Ms. Huffine says. “You have to feel good.”
Bright colors such as orange, red and yellow are popular this season and Ms. Huffine is embracing the bold colors. “There have been rules in the past—one of them being that [plus-size women] should be in dark colors—but that’s not something I adhere to,” she says. “I’m not afraid to be seen.”
If attempting a bold color or pattern, Ms. Huffine suggests keeping the shape and silhouette more tailored and close to the body. “If you feel like the outfit is saying a lot, then pair it with more neutral pieces so you’re not being overtaken,” she says. Ms. Huffine may pair a bold item with a pair of heels in a neutral shade and simple jewelry.
As for what not to wear, she says her advice for curvy women is to “go for it and have fun.” “I didn’t think I’d be drawn to yellow particularly this season but how quickly my mind changes once I try it on,” she says.
Ms. Huffine says it’s important to pay close attention to one thing: undergarments. Nude undergarments are a safe, all-around choice, particularly with an all-white look, she says. And “a comfortable body shaper is a great staple to have” and can smooth you out when needed under a form-fitting dress or a light fabric, she says. “That’s the one mistake I see the most—not starting with the right base,” she says. “In the summer, when there’s less clothing in general and the fabrics are lighter, you have to be seamless underneath.”
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