How to dress if you're full-figured

Generous round the bust and heavy-hipped, with a less-than-washboard stomach? It’s not always easy to dress fashionably when you've got real curves and don’t match up to the skinny models in magazines. Here are ideas a-plenty for dressing your curves up sexily.

- Long, loose, high-waisted trousers (long if you’re tall and loose if you want to camouflage your thighs)

- Loose, non-pleated, trapeze shaped skirts

- Coats that fall below your hips but aren't too loose and still show off your bust

- Low-cut summer dresses

- Long, fluid, low-cut evening dresses that nip your bust in and skim your bottom half

- Boots

- Skinny belts that sit on your hips

- Vertical lines, for a slimming effect

- Loose fabrics that fall vertically, for more structure

- Loose long-sleeved tops (avoid bustiers and strappy tops if you have thick arms)
- Tunics and long blouses

- Short jackets which hide busts and emphasise thighs

- Coats with pockets over the bust

- Low-rise trousers

- Flares that hug your hips

- Dresses with high belts under the bust

- Large prints

- Miniskirts

- Combat trousers (lots of pockets make thighs look heavier)

- Too much layering (though light or strappy tops are OK)

- Short, tight tops

- Fully zipped or buttoned Coats (leave them open!)

- Strong horizontal lines

- Shiny fabrics

- Stretch fabrics

- If you’re confident about your figure, all that people will see are beautiful curves, not excess pounds!

- Black and dark colours are slimming and make you look more in proportion.

- Match motifs and accessories to your shape: imposing jewellery and big hair can make you look more in proportion.

- If you’re bottom-heavy, put your top half on show by wearing shoulder-padded jackets or big accessories, for example.

- It’s better to get clothes altered than wear something that’s too big.

- What really matters is that you feel gorgeous and happy with your body, so if you feel good in strappy tops and bright colours then there's no reason not to wear them!