How to Look Cute When You're Heavy Set

Last Updated: September 2, 2022 References Approved

Heavy set women often feel insecure about their bodies. Your first reaction may be to hide beneath layers and layers of unflattering fabrics, but you do yourself a major disservice every time you act on that impulse. Your weight does not need to prevent you from looking cute. Try on fitted pieces in flattering colors, and adorn yourself with plenty of fun, funky accessories. If you do that, you may look in the mirror and realize just how beautiful you actually are.

Method 1

Method 1 of 4:

Buy the Right Fit

The most important thing you can do to make yourself look cute is to choose pieces that flatter your body. Do not hide beneath your clothing. Instead, choose pieces that fit you right.

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Avoid shapeless clothing. Many heavy set women settle for shapeless plus sized clothing because they feel a need to hide their heaviness. Oversized, baggy pieces only make you look larger, however.^{[1]
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Look for tailored pieces. Like any other woman, you should dress in a way that works with the natural contours of your shape and accentuates your curves. Fitted tops and dresses that nip in at the waist are especially flattering since they define your waist, making your top and bottom look more proportioned.

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Dress your size. Clothes that are too tight will show any rolls of fat or excess weight you likely want to hide. Clothes that are too big will make you look boxy and larger than necessary. Purchase clothing that brushes against your body without squeezing it, and remember that bunching or pulling will only draw unflattering attention to those areas of your body.^{[2]
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- Remember that there is no standardized sizing, so don't be alarmed if you're two sizes bigger than you think you are or two sizes smaller than you think you are. It doesn't matter.
- When trying on some pants, you should get help, because it's really hard to check the fit from behind by yourself.
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Consider long tops and coats that brush past your hip. Long, fitted pieces that extend past your hip create a smooth, streamlined silhouette that may make your hips and stomach look thinner. Avoid pieces that end at the widest part of your thighs, though, since the horizontal hemline across that area of your body may make your thighs look larger.
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Opt for tops that stop above the hip if you are a plus sized petite. Long tops may only make you look shorter and stouter. Tops and jackets that stop just above your hip bone elongate your leg, reducing the appearance of stoutness.
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Wear straight-legged pants or pants with a flare. Tapered legs only make your hips and thighs look larger. A straight-legged pants streamlines your appearance, reducing the appearance of thickness around your thighs. Pants with a slight flare, like boot-cuts, also help by balancing out the width of your upper leg with extra material at the bottom.^{[3]
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- If you want to look taller, your pants, shoes, and socks should all be the same color, as that will help you grow up in stature.
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Gravitate toward A-line skirts and dresses. A-line skirts flare out toward the bottom, creating a flattering silhouette for your hips. Wrap dresses and empire waist dresses are also very flattering since they define your waist and drape naturally off your curves.
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Know your body type. Not all heavy set bodies are the same. You may be an apple shape who carries her weight around her stomach, a pear shape who carries her weight around her thighs, an inverted triangle who carries her weight in her chest, or a rectangle whose weight is evenly distributed throughout her body. Determine your body type and learn about what styles of dress flatter your shape best.^{[4]
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Choose soft, draping fabrics. Stiff fabrics often create a boxy look that adds pounds rather than taking them away. Clingy fabrics tightly form to your body, often accentuating excess weight. Draping fabrics fall off your body naturally, lightly hugging your contours without drawing extra attention to them.^{[5]
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Method 2

Method 2 of 4:

Wear the Right Colors

Avoid colors and patterns that draw attention to the widest parts of your body, but do not be afraid to include a little splash of color into your ensemble. In fact, outfits with too little color often look bland and unflattering.

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Break away from black. Black does have a slimming effect, and having a little black in your wardrobe is certainly advisable. Too much makes you look bland and bleak, however. Adding color into your wardrobe gives your clothing personality and makes you look cuter.^{[6]
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- Wear dresses that have a dark side panel; this will give the body an elongated look.
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Gravitate toward bold colors. Light pastel shades may make your body look larger, so be careful about choosing them. Bold, bright hues, on the other hand, do not have this widening effect and often look flattering.
- Solid blocks of color tend to work best.
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Avoid large patterns. Huge patterns that cover your entire outfit often appear overwhelming. As a result, your curves get masked, and you may end up looking heavier. Stick with smaller patterns or patterns that are limited to one area of your body.
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Avoid embellishments on the widest parts of your body. Stay away from tops that have ruffles down the front or pants that have decorative zippers on the thigh. These details automatically draw the eye, making the parts of your body they cover noticeably in a very unflattering way. Look for unadorned pieces or those that have embellishments on other parts of your body, such as blouses with beading at the neckline or skirts with lace at the bottom hem.
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Try on dark wash jeans. Dark wash jeans look slimming and clean-cut without looking bland and boring. Light wash jeans may make your legs look wider, but many medium washes also work well.
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Consider a medium to dark wash denim jacket. A fitted denim jacket with a short waist can add spirit and liveliness to your wardrobe. Stick with medium to dark wash denims, however, since anything lighter will probably make you look heavier than you are.
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Choose colors that flatter your skin tone. You can get help from someone who is familiar with matching color to skin tones or use online resources to help you. If the tones match, you will look healthy and beautiful.
- Be aware that what may have suited you 10 years may cause you to look washed out now, as your skin ages. Always update.

Method 3

Method 3 of 4:

Go Beneath the Surface

Beneath every good outfit lies good underwear. Properly fit undergarments will create a smooth figure for you to build outfits on, and flattering lingerie will make you feel confident and cute even when your outer layer of clothing comes off.

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Invest in a body shaper. Body shapers are worn under your clothes and help you keep your proportions in check. A good shaper should not be so tight that it leaves marks, but it will keep a little excess fat in check and give you an overall smoother, streamlined look.^{[7]
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Buy a properly fitting bra. Many heavy set women are gifted with enviable busts, but this makes it even more important for you to have a supportive bra that fits you correctly. A bra that does not fit correctly may make you look saggy, but a proper fit will help you achieve a very womanly, mature look.
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Look for long, flowing silk nightgowns with plenty of feminine detail. Nightgowns that drape over your curves will usually look very flattering. Long gowns work well for most woman, but shorter women should also consider shorter versions of this style. Look for a gown with a deep v-neck to flatter your bust as much as possible.^{[8]
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Method 4

Method 4 of 4:

Accessorize Wisely

Accessories are the heavy-set girl’s best fashion friend. Spice up any outfit by choosing fun accessories that suit your personality. Be a bit bold and have fun.

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Elongate your leg with heels. This tip is especially helpful for shorter women. Heels extend your leg, making it look longer and more slender. A longer looking leg reduces the appearance of stoutness, which may help your overall appearance look more slender.^{[9]
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Buy bold, chunky jewelry. Think large bangle bracelets, chunky beaded chokers, heavy pendants with large charms, and bold rings. Look for cute designs that appeal to your personal taste. Due to your larger appearance, you can wear bolder pieces with style, and without having your figure overwhelmed by them.^{[10]
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Look for pieces that draw attention to your face. Necklaces and earrings work especially well in terms of jewelry, but you can also consider scarves, hats, headbands, and other accessories that draw the eye away from your body and toward your face. Get as creative, wild, or elegant as you please.^{[11]
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Stick with one or two key accessories for each outfit. Accessories can definitely make an outfit look cuter, but too much will create a busy look that will end up having the opposite effect.
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Look for longer hairstyles, depending on the shape of your face. For many heavier set women, shorter hair can make the hips look wider and unbalanced. Balance out bottom heaviness by creating volume on top with long hair. Try incorporating layers and waves into your hair for even more volume.
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Use make-up to accentuate your eyes. Outline your eyes with eyeliner and mascara, and play with eye shadow color until you find something that looks bold without looking clownish. Noticeable eyes downplay a plumper chin.
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Keep the rest of your make-up looking natural. Stick with skin tone foundations and bronzers. Do not apply too much blush to your cheeks, and do not apply dark colors to your lips. Keep the focus on your eyes by keeping the rest of your make-up subdued.
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Sling a fun, colorful bag over your shoulder. Choose a cute design in a bright color or pattern to give your look a playful edge. Look for girlish embellishments like bows or frills.

Community Q&A

Question

What if you were born with chubby cheeks?

Community Answer

If you're young, your cheeks will look less chubby as you grow older. People usually don't notice your small flaws. Just smile and be happy with your chubby cheeks. After all, you probably can't do anything about them.
Question

What kind of outfit can I wear to school if I'm short and fat?

Community Answer

As a girl in your situation, I wear a lot of dresses (Hot Topic has great A-cut ones that are super cute), so I would recommend that. Otherwise, try wearing a t-shirt and jeans, with jeans that hug a little and a t-shirt that cinches the waist slightly. Stay away from stuff cut for men, as that can create a boxy look.
Question

What kind of skirt should I wear if my stomach pops out a little?

Jazmyn Lowen

Community Answer

A high-waisted one that is tight at the waist but widens going downwards.