'Plus-size' means covering up with shapeless garments. 'Fat fashion' means clothing that fits, is cool and looks good on larger women, writes ROSEMARY MAC CABE

A COUPLE OF years ago I found myself trying on a new pair of jeans in front of my father – this, incidentally, is not to be advised; new jeans are for trying on in front of your lovely friends, your lovely partner or, at a stretch, your lovely mother. I asked him if they made me look fat. “No,” he replied, looking slightly puzzled at the question. “Well,” I said, trying a new tack, “do they make me look thin?” At this, he was even more puzzled. “No,” he said. “They make you look exactly the way you look.”

It was a tough lesson; fashion has the power to make you look good, but it is not, despite what advertisements might tell you, transformative – and acceptance is three quarters of the battle.

Luckily, there is help at hand. Although you’ve probably heard of fashion blogs, have you heard of fatshion blogs? These are exactly what they say on the tin – blogs written by women who are “fat”, that is, upwards of a UK size 16, and, more importantly, proud of that fact.

Fatchic.net, for example, is a blog about all things plus-size – although these ladies don't call it "plus-size fashion", they call it "fat fashion", which is a darn sight more straightforward, and its subtitle is "it's not about looking thin". These blogs are about finding clothing that fits, is cool, modern and on-trend, and that looks good on women whose bodies are larger than your average catalogue model.

Gabifresh.com, for example, advises readers to come to her blog "if you love fashion but you're sick of being told to wear A-line skirts, wrap dresses, boot-cut jeans and slimming prints", while Christina of musingsofafatshionista.comdescribes herself as being "a firm believer in taking risks" and says that "style knows no size".

Deena of fatgirlslikeniceclothestoo. wordpress.comsays that, "whether you weight 100lbs or 300lbs you should make sure you look fantastic at all times".

Fat fashion is not about “covering up your bingo wings” or “skimming over those lumps and bumps”; it’s about accepting that your body is, for whatever reason, the way it is, and that fashion should and can be democratic.

Don’t try to hide behind flowing kaftans and billowing sleeves – wear what fits, what suits and what looks good.

Just don’t ask your dad what he thinks.

Printed fringed kimono (€61.09) by Asos Curve. This is a perfect warm-weather cover-up, and will look great with leggings and a black tee. Jazz things up with a pair of gold hoop earrings

STAR BUY

Canopi lightweight sleeves (€39.95), available at Choice Boutique and Fran Jane stores nationwide, are a really simple way to add sleeves to a garment that has none, and are perfect for those of us who may be self-conscious about our upper arms. For more stockists, email fashion@fashionhse.ie

Where to shop: What to look for

Finding stylish clothes for women who fit into sizes outside the limiting mainstream (so beyond sizes six to 14) can be a challenge, but there is a certain level of fashion wisdom worth taking into account when shopping for a size 16-plus.

Although various high-street stores produce dedicated plus-size ranges (New Look and Forever 21) or stock sizes that go into the plus range (Marks Spencer and Next), it’s worth bearing in mind that clothing designed by a store whose main business is in “regular” sizing will be designed with those regular sizes in mind.

A size 16 in Topshop, for example, will be a dress that has been designed on a size-eight mannequin and merely expanded – meaning the cut, shape and fit will all have been imagined for a much smaller person.

Dedicated plus-size stores also design their clothing with a specific body type in mind – but it’s one that starts at a size 14. So waistlines will be higher, sleeves will be looser (there is nothing worse than trying on an XL in Zara only to find that the sleeves will go no further than your wrists) and the chest will be more accommodating.

Also, don’t expect plus-size fashion to be a Mecca for oversized T-shirt dresses and dark leggings – body acceptance means realising that nothing is off-limits. Mini skirts are in, as are sleeveless dresses (it is summer, after all, and sweat is a problem for everyone), skinny jeans and cropped jackets.

Dress for who you want to be, not to hide who you don’t.

DIRECTORY

Inspire, New Look's plus-size range, in sizes 18-26

Simply Be( simplybe.ie), in sizes 14-32

Evans, in sizes 14-32

Next, in sizes six to 26

Asos Curve( asos.com), in sizes 20-26

Monsoon, in sizes six to 22

Marks Spencer Plus(at marksandspencer.ieonly), in sizes 20-28

Forever 21, sizes XL to 3X

Hourglass(Powerscourt Shopping Centre, Dublin 2), sizes 12-24

Dorothy Perkins, sizes four to 22

Tempted Boutique( tempted.ie), sizes 16 to 28