HOW should you dress if you are a plus-size woman? “I just know how to choose what works for me,” says Chronicle Librarian, Jerilee Alicia Arthur.

Dressing in a sloppy fashion does not work for her, and so she chooses the type of clothing that would make her feel uplifted.
Ms Arthur, 30, is the single-parent mother of young Keanu, an autistic child, but she believes that that is no circumstance to get her down. Each day, she dresses her best, and in a way to please no one, though she would at times be the recipient of “outrageous” comments about the way she dresses.
“But I would always tell them that this is who I am, and this is what I like to wear. I dress like this because of how I feel about myself. And when you feel good about yourself, you let it show. And I don’t think I need to explain to anybody why I dress like this,” she said, adding:
“I have size, and I am a plus-size girl,” she modestly conceded, but added, “I always tell myself that, no matter what, I must always look good, even if I am having a bad day.
“I am constantly asked how I do it every day. I get this question all the time. But even if I have a problem, I don’t let it show. No matter how much I am upset, I try my best not to let it show, and just dress and look fabulous.”

A good fit
Ms Arthur proposes clothing that fits well, as opposed to those that are big and oft-times left flying or hanging on the body. “I like clothes that fit me well. I like to dress appropriately; well covered. You would never see me wearing anything that exposes my body unnecessarily,” she said.
Before she steps out of the house each time, she thus ensures that she takes a look in the mirror to ensure that she is looking right. “If something doesn’t look right, believe you me, I would go back and change. Because, if I don’t do that, I don’t feel myself; I don’t feel vibrant for the entire day. I feel self-conscious when I don’t dress properly.”
Ms Arthur said she loves her mirror, and even went as far as calling it her best friend. Instead of wearing one thing over and over, she prefers to mix and match. “I switch it up so it always looks new and different. Sometimes I would just wake up and feel like changing my hairstyle. I dress according to how I feel, in a manner that makes me feel confident in myself.”
She likes to wear colourful, “chunky” accessories, meaning the big and elaborate ones. Being a fan of pearls, she loves accessories that brighten, like a little bit of glitter.
“At times you wear a simple outfit, but when you throw on the accessories, it makes a difference. If you are wearing a simple outfit, you have to wear something to bring it out. So that’s why I always go for the bigger accessories. And I think I wear them well,” said Ms Arthur.

A few pointers
Meanwhile, the following are points to remember when crafting a wonderful plus-size wardrobe:

* Ditch unshapely plus-size clothing looks.
* Black is not the most flattering or slimming colour for fuller shapes.
* Try buying online to order apparel stores with plus sizes and designer variations.
* An ideal fitting, full-figured bra is important to every last plus-size wardrobe.
* Don’t buy plus-size apparel that are too small or are the wrong size.
* Women’s fashion accessories can make or break an excellent, classy outfit.
* Appreciate your plus-size body the way it is. (Source: Wiki How)