Slimming Summer Dresses for Curvy, Plus Size Women!
Summer is the time for birthdays, parties, and graduations. Do you have a few extra curves, Mom, and would you like to wear a cute summer dress to one of these events? Take a look at these darling plus-size summer dresses made for full figures.
Style Snapshot
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Wrap dresses are flattering, cinching the waist and highlighting curves and giving you a feminine hourglass figure.
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Empire waist dresses elongate the body, drawing attention upwards away from a heavy midsection.
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T-shirt dresses and shirtdresses are comfy, slimming summer looks.
The Wonderful Wrap
This flirty, floral wrap dress is just one lovely example of a summer dress that looks fabulous on women of all shapes and sizes after 40. A wrap creates an hourglass shape and lifts the bust, and a cascading hem accentuates your legs and hides heavy hips.
Elongating Empire Waist
Empire waist dresses create magic by making your body appear longer and slimmer. This sleeveless empire-waist dress features side ruching, adding to its overall flattering fit.
Cap Sleeves: Draw The Eye Upward
Cap sleeves take the emphasis off a heavy middle and put it up top by your pretty face. This printed cap-sleeve dress features a full skirt for balance, creating a wonderful hourglass shape.
A TT-shirt dressis the Ultimate in Comfort
This simple, short-sleeved, side-tie t-shirt dress is made from super-soft cotton for an effortless look. Style it with sneakers, sandals, flip-flops, and a denim jacket.
Denim Shirt Dress
If you are looking for a way to put together a chic, casual outfit, you can’t go wrong with a denim dress. This cute, tiered shirtdress can be accessorized a dozen ways and is comfy worn with sneakers or sandals for a dressier look. The tiered skirt hides a midlife middle, and the puff sleeves keep the focus on your shoulders.
Shirt Dresses are Flattering
A pretty shirt dress is one of the comfiest and most flattering dresses for a plus-size gal. The key to choosing the right shirtdress for your curves is to select one with a flattering length that is neither too loose nor too tight. Don’t you love this printed shirt dress? This all-over print keeps the eye moving around so it doesn’t focus on any one point of the body. The waist-cinching tie allows you to create a flattering fit at the waist.
Maxi Dresses are Modern and Easy
Some curvy types prefer to cover their legs. If that’s you, then this maxi dress is the perfect choice. With a wrap-style neckline and empire waist, this maxi dress emphasizes the bust and conceals the tummy. The sexy slit draws the eye to an alluring focal point – your lovely legs.
QUICK Q&A
A wrap dress creates an hourglass shape by cinching the waist, lifting the bust, and balancing the hips. The cascading hemline also highlights the legs while minimizing focus on heavier areas.
Empire waist dresses draw attention upward and give the illusion of a longer, leaner body. Side ruching adds to the flattering effect, making the waist and midsection look slimmer.
Yes, cap sleeves shift attention to the face and shoulders, helping balance proportions. Paired with a flared skirt, they create a soft hourglass silhouette.
T-shirt dresses are made from breathable fabrics like cotton, offering comfort and ease of movement. Styles with side ties add shape, while they can be dressed up or down with sneakers, sandals, or a denim jacket.
Maxi dresses provide coverage while staying stylish. A wrap-style neckline and empire waist highlight the bust, hide the tummy, and a slit adds an elegant, flattering touch.
I’m that woman the shift dress is made for. I have broad shoulders; my bra size is 42DD, my waist is 40 something, and my hips are also 40 something. I’m not quite wide enough in the middle for the apple shape; I’m like a bar of Ivory soap with some bumps and dents. I normally wear shift dresses that are only 1 or 2 colors, with no patterns other than the fabric’s weave, and I wear them with long necklaces, long earrings, and an arm full of bracelets. I wear them with flats for casual occasions, kitten heels for informal lunches and window shopping with friends, and a high heel for evening events. In the winter, I wear them with boots. I also tailor them so they fall above my knee or at the top of the calf. If you get one of these dresses tailored, you will fall in love with this style. The number of bags and shoes you can pair with such a dress is insane! And, of course, accessorize the hair! Scarves, humongous sunglasses, puffy headbands, hats, the dress disappears, and you are the ensemble’s star!
Hi Laura, I had to chuckle at your Ivory soap description. That’s a very cute way of describing the midlife middle so many of us share! Thanks for dropping by. I too am a huge fan of shift dresses. They’re comfy and so chic! Cheers, Deborah
Thank you for sharing styles for plus-size women. I was so excited as I read through your suggestions, and I look forward to trying them out.
There is not much stylish information for plus sizes available, and I hope you will consider including more ideas as we are often overlooked.
Thank you again.
Hi Deborah, thank you so much for spotlighting plus-size dresses. They are all gorgeous, and I would love to have every one of them. I get the “sleeveless thing” some others are responding to, but sometimes you’ve got to get over it and do it. After all, having style is not just about what you have on; it’s also about how you feel about yourself and not worrying about what others think. It’s supposed to be all about you, not them! Love your blog! Keep up the excellent work with your yowonderfulent blog!
These dresses are adorable.
WHY, WHY, WHY do they make all plus size clothes sleeveless????? I don’t understand…too hot in the South to layer. And arms that are not toned are not pretty.
I love maxi dresses, and I’m a short plus-sized girl. I found two maxi dresses with a petite length, so it doesn’t come to the floor. I don’t think it’s too much fabric at all.
As an apple shape with a big bust, one thing I struggle with is the sleeveless armholes. Even though I have bigger arms and wear a substantial bra, the armholes seem to be cut too big for me or anyone, forcing buy a sweater or something to wear over the dress. I also haven’t gotten into the maxi dress trend because it looks a bit like a tent on me because I’m short, and with that much fabric, it seems pretty hot to wear.
Julia
http://www.whenthegirlsrule.com
These are all great looks, and the curves are good!
I will rock any of these dresses. I’m just seeing myself turning heads in any of these. Thanks, Debora!
Hi- I love every dress except the one that is straight. That should never be considered. It makes either heavier women look more so or a thinner woman looks like she has no shape.
I don’t think the Empire or Shift dress styles are flattering. My daughter is tiny, and the Shift style looks terrible on her, too, so I’m not sure who looks good in them.
Deborah, I have just found your website and am in love. I didn’t think there were websites for women over 40, especially for us curvy gals. But you have done it, and I love to read what is in and out and what to do about makeup and different styling ideas. Thank you so much for being there!! I can’t wait to read more!!
I don’t know why people think an empire style is flattering to someone with low belly fat. It just makes a woman look like she’s pregnant again. I’ve struggled with this time and time again. If you want to look pregnant, then wear the empire style. It’s most flattering on someone with a flat stomach. If you think it’s hiding something, it’s not. My slender daughter, who can wear anything but is built like me, short, waisted, and low-belly fat, wouldn’t wear it either.
I love dresses. I wouldn’t say I like going sleeveless anymore. Even a little cap sleeve is something. If I wear sleeveless, there’s usually a sweater or jacket over it.
What a great article, Deborah! These tips are spot on. The images help to make your trips more meaningful. I love that Jessica Simpson nectarine dress and that maxi…woo! Bandeau style maxis are so very flattering with no frump in sight! Here’s to a great summer. Warm wishes from Australia:( Axx