Dressing for your body shape

Here, at Yours Clothing, we have the perfect clothes to help you feel amazing.

Forget about size, what you need to remember is to wear clothes which suit your shape. There are four main body shapes for women - Apple, Hourglass, Pear and Busty.

But which one are you?

Apple

A softer and fuller middle with slimmer legs and bottom

You should wear:

Straight clothes made from soft fabrics to avoid volume

Empire lines - where the waist line is just above the bust

Clothes which fall from your shoulders

V-necked tops and wide legged trousers

Black & Red Rose Floral Tunic, £25; Black Palazzo Trousers, £23

Hourglass

Curvy bust and lips with a defined waist

You should wear:

Scoop neck or deep V-neck tops

Wraparound tops to accentuate your waist

Pencil, bias or full skirts

Flat fronted trousers

Tailored shirts , jackets and coats

Black Straight Jersey Skirt, £14.50; Fuschia Beaded Trim Top, £22

Pear

Curvaceous hips and bottom with a smaller bust and shoulders

You should wear:

Frills and ruffles on your top half to balance with the lower half

Slash neck tops

Bootcut trousers

Lighter coloured tops with darker bottoms

Black Frill Detailed Cardigan, £30; Black Stretch Twill Bootcut Trousers, £22

Busty

Voluptuous bust with narrower hips and bottom

You should wear:

V-necklines

Patterned skirts creating interest on the lower half

A-line and maxi skirts to create a balanced silhouette

Flared or bootcut trousers

Rust Twist Front T-Shirt, £14.50; Denim Seventies Jeans, £27

Healthy is perfect!

Nicola Roberts, the stunning redhead of the music act Girls Aloud has hit out against the media criticism she has faced regarding her slim figure.

The pint sized pop star claims to have never been a gym bunny, but Roberts doesn’t seem to give credit to the energetic dance routines performed on Girls Aloud tours over the last eight years.

Claiming “It’s irresponsible for people to obsess over it [her weight] because I don’t want girls to feel they have to be the same shape”, we couldn’t agree more.

There is a strange preoccupation amongst women to be the perfect size, but we are yet to live in a society where healthy should be seen as ‘perfect’.

At Yours Clothing, we sell clothes for down-to-earth real women. Girls who enjoy their lives without ridiculous body hang ups are way sexier than stick insects who restrict their lives to maintain a size 4 figure (are you listening Victoria Beckham?!)

Women are MEANT to be curvy, so don’t hide under shapeless clothes, pop on this eye-catching belt (pictured above) over the top of your favourite dress, jumper or shirt and show off your waist.

Also, if you want to make the most of having a gorgeous and womanly shape, wear a well-fitting bra that gives you a boost. If you’re looking for support, style and shape then you need to take a look at this polka dot bra (left) that has attracted rave reviews from customers who have dubbed it sexy, a good fit and a great price... and for £12, we’re thrilled that you love this bra too!

Your Essential Guide to Christmas Style!

With only four weeks until Christmas we’re all beginning to make our festive celebratory plans and think about what we can revive from our tired wardrobe in order to ensure we look our best no matter where we may end up. If like me you haven’t updated your wardrobe since the mince pies first emerged last December then follow these simple tips to look at your best without blowing your present-buying budget.

Top Festive Style Tips:

1. Add some sparkle!

As we all know, Christmas is full of colour, light and shimmer. Why not embrace the occasion and mirror this season of glamour and fun in your outfit?! By no means am I suggesting that we all wrap tinsel around our necks or don some novelty jewellery, but by choosing styles which incorporate a hint of sparkle, spirits are automatically lifted and the party season suddenly becomes alive! For curvy ladies in particular, a little bit of glitter in the right places goes a long way to show off enviable curves and reflect a vivacious personality. If glitter just isn’t your thing, then try some foil detailing. Take a look at this gorgeous foil detail top for example. The tunic style is flattering and versatile. The wearer can choose to team it up with leggings, jeans or a skirt while the subtle sequins and foil swirls add just enough Christmas glamour.

2. Be comfortable

It’s all very well embracing Christmas glamour but if you’re rushing to and from parties and running last minute errands then it’s important to be comfortable! There are many ways to look chic while being relaxed. Dark boot-cut jeans are always a good option for plus-sized figures. They create a balanced silhouette and can be jazzed up with endless styles of Christmas tops. If you’re event calls for a smarter look however, there’s still no need to compromise on comfort. This black figure 8 dress for example has all the ingredients for flattering, eye-catching outfit while the stretchy jersey material offers flexibility and endless comfort.

3. Layer Up!

With the weather getting increasingly wintery but party venues and relatives’ homes feeling warm and festive, keeping a constant body temperature is always going to be a struggle. The answer? Layer up. This season, Christmas dresses and party tops are spoilt for choice with the amount of cute cardigans and shrugs that are hitting the high street. A perfect way to keep the chill off yet easy to shed when the disco starts! Besides shrugs and extra layers, scarves, hats and gloves are a must when enjoying the festive season.

So now all you have to do is take these hints and convert them into your very own style. Take a look at the ‘Yours’ website for great plus size party wear that will keep you festive and fabulous and all at incredible value!

Plus-Size Success!

In the past decade or so, us women have firmly proven that we are as capable and talented as our male colleagues in practically any occupation we choose. Women all over the world are now respected heads of state, soldiers, politicians, surgeons and more besides. While diligence and dedication are key to a successful career, I strongly believe that image and appearance also help to create a good impression in the workplace. However it can sometimes be a difficult task to hit the right balance between smart work wear and a fashionable look. Just because we are working and need to uphold a certain amount of credibility, why should we not also embrace our love of fashion?! Combining hot season trends with practical, versatile pieces which can be worn again and again is a great compromise.

Here at Yours, we offer both these genres of clothing to our plus-size customers and also, through this blog, some ideas of how best to create some great looks. So, here are my top tips for a fail-safe work wardrobe:

1. Invest in a pair of classic black boot-cut trousers.
A pair of well-fitting black ladies trousers in a flattering boot-cut is a fantastic wardrobe staple. They instantly smarten up your look and can be teamed with almost any style of top.

2. Don’t be afraid of colour!
As we established last week, bold colours are everywhere this season. There’s no reason why you can’t wear vivid shades just because you are in the workplace. If you are not used to dressing in block colours, keep your base black or grey and add a bright cardigan.

3. Keep it feminine.
Many women tend to ‘power-dress’ at work but this can often lead to a masculine look. Just a subtle frill or a flower print can maintain pretty style while still looking smart.

4. Layer Up
Air conditioning units play havoc with your body temperature in an office environment. By layering up, you are able to sustain a comfortable state and add or shed layers when necessary.

5. Be comfortable!
There’s no need to dress in restrictive clothing to look good. Elasticated waist bands and loose fitting tops can make all the difference when wearing an outfit all day long.

So, now you have a few ideas, why not visit the Yours website and check out our fantastic new range of work wear. Whether you need trousers, shirts, skirts or tops, your options are plentiful. Plus our prices, as ever, ensure incredible value.

The Bold and the Beautiful

With the weather turning increasingly dreary, I have some good news for all you plus size fashion lovers…colour is back this season and it’s brighter and bolder than ever! While last winter we were all dressing in taupe and ecru, this year we can banish the dull cardigans and non-descript jumpers in favour of warm, intense hues. I don’t know about you, but there is nothing that lifts my spirits more than livening up a pair of jeans or black trousers with a splash of colour. Not only does colour lift the complexion and add warmth to your look, it also shows that the wearer is not afraid to use daring shades to reflect their personality. In fact, Queen Elizabeth herself once commented that:

"Dress gives one the outward sign from which people in general can, and often do, judge upon the inward state of mind and feelings."

I have to agree! It is very rare that you see the Queen without a hint of colour and rightly so, it’s an instant mood lifter.

Now, I bet you’re wandering what colours we can all look forward to enjoying this season. Well, my hot tips are most definitely purples and reds. These colours are very kind to most skin and hair tones and will pretty much go with most wardrobe staples. Plus, with the new collection at Yours plus size women are spoilt for choice when it comes to finding their perfect shade. Check out our latest plus size clothing today and next time you decide to do a spot of retail therapy, ask yourself; ‘what is my inward state of mind at the moment and how best can I show this off to the world?’ After all, if the Queen herself follows this mantra, who are we to argue?!

Plus-Size Value!

As the dreaded ‘credit crunch’ continues to occupy the thoughts of millions of us across the country, this week I have been considering my recent fashion purchases. Like most girls, I tend to follow my heart when I see something I just have to have but now I am beginning to realise that we can all look great and enjoy good quality with a little bit of savvy spending and by turning our attention to great value stores such as ‘Yours’.

It seems that I am not alone in trying to save a few pennies when treating myself to a new outfit. Look at the Channel 4 program ‘Gok’s Fashion Fix’ for example. The premise of the show is that fashion enthusiast Gok challenges himself to find four complete outfits from the high street for under £800 pounds in total. This includes accessories, shoes and the embellishments he so cleverly uses to titivate his chosen designs. Meanwhile, four experts in designer clothing splash out over £10,000 on four similar look which inevitably look drab in comparison. While the catwalk element of the show often leads to fairly unwearable outfits, I love the fact that he proves all women can look up-to-date and fashionable on a budget.

Trinny and Suzannah, ITV’s answer to Gok, also concentrated on shopping on a budget this week when they re-educated women how to dress not only for their body shape but also how to source good quality, good value pieces that will last longer than one season. The lessons I took from both these shows was that fashion can be creative and fun without breaking the bank and that it is important to mix wardrobe staples with fresh fashion pieces.

This is a theory which we at Yours Clothing strongly align ourselves to. We too aim to provide a mixture of classic, trans-seasonal garments and also some high fashion articles all at outstanding value. I believe that there are four or five items every woman should have in her wardrobe. And, guess what…For women looking for plus size clothing and fashion, no-one has a better choice of these essentials than ‘Yours’!

Here are my top wardrobe staples that can be worn hundreds of ways:

1. Ribbed Bootleg Trouser

The classic black, bootleg trouser, an absolute must for any woman. These are smart, go with anything and with a great bootleg cut, very flattering on all figures. Not only that, they’re easy to care for and the elasticated waist band means that they’re ultra comfortable.

2.White Deep Sleeve Wide Rib Shrug

This gorgeous shrug is incredibly useful all year round. In a choice of black or white, it gives just enough coverage to keep the chill off and hides the troublesome top-of-the-arm area while not interfering with your outfit underneath.

3.Slouch Wide-Leg Jeans

These jeans offer more than just versatility and a classic touch of denim; with their slouchy fit and wide-leg style, they’re comfortable and bang on trend this year. Dress them up with heels, dress them down with flip-flops, the possibilities are endless!

4.White Ruche Front Round Collar Blouse

Not only does this blouse automatically add a touch of professionalism to any pair of trousers or skirt, but it also is right in-line with the coming season’s blouse craze and the silver thread makes it that little bit extra special.

5.Cerise Cap Sleeve Gauging V Neck Top

This top comes in four great colours, has a flattering V neck and capped sleeves and can be worn under any jacket or cardigan. Plus, it’s 100% cotton so is easy to care for and soft on the skin.