Thread: Plus sized ladies: fitted skirts, or full skirts?

Which do you find to be more flattering, and why?

By fitted skirts I mean straight skirts and trumpet/mermaid skirts, and by full skirts I mean circle skirts.

How tall are you?

I am a boarder line "plus" size. well, at the moment I am between a 10 and a 12, which here in LA is a plus size model. But I am 5'6"ish and can carry off either full or straight skirts. My only issue seems to be that at my current weight, I don't feel straight flatters me as much as a full skirt. Because when I am heavier, while I still have a waist, it's not very noticeable. I am short waisted and can look as though I am very up and down and heavy / blocky. Circle skirts, on the other hand, can give the illusion of fullness at the hip - artistic tucking - there by helping me look more curvy and balanced.

Now, when I drop a little as 10 lbs, this changes. A great deal. Which is fun! Waist becomes more pronounced, thighs become a little smaller and the proportions are a little more balanced. Which is good.

{{{HUGS}}}

I love both full circle skirts and fitted mermaid skirts-both on me(short,chubby at 5´3 and 171lbs)

BUT I need L.Rose luxury version to balance out my thighs;the straight skirts do not flatter my figure at all.

I would say it all depends on your shape; are you a large but perfectly firm hourglass, balanced but soft, pearshaped, apple or topheavy?

Extremes are often best to avoid, like ultra tight straight flimsy lycras or very poufy chiffon skirts that are gathered a lot at the hip.

Completely depends on your height, bone size, proportions. I am top heavy with wide shoulders and broad back, slimmer hips. Anything really tight around the hips just emphasizes that. I think taller, larger frame plus size dancers probably have more options than petite, smaller boned plus size gals who could be overpowered by circle skirts or by really tight lycra straight skirts.

I am tall, large-framed, plus size and I cannot wear full skirts. I need the skirts to hug my butt to emphasize the little curves I have. Otherwise I look like a square. I can do the chiffon skirts if there is a fitted part at the top down to mid-thigh.
I agree it depends on the body shape.

I am 5'4, 180lbs, a size 10-14 and proportionally I have a hourglass
figure (40-34-44) my torso is pretty short, though.

I don't have enough experience to know which is more flattering on me personally, and I like the look of both of them equally.

I'm top heavy with a bottom that sticks out at the back J-Lo stylee, but doesn't round out sideways at the hips so much. Thankfully I'm reasonably tall (5'7") and hold my self tall.

In theory I should steer clear of the circle skirt, but actually I have enough of a waistline that they still work, especially if I use a skirt with gradations of colour (Thank you Jes & Akai) or patterns, the plain block of colour doesn't help my figure so much.

But I do love a straight skirt and in particular a mermaid skirt. I plan on making a couple of skirts that really *fouff* from the knee down (think Diana Ross in the Chain reaction video!)

I agree that it's more about body shape than size. I have a thick waist and no hips or booty, so fuller skirts look better on me.

Originally Posted by nitewindz

I agree that it's more about body shape than size. I have a thick waist and no hips or booty, so fuller skirts look better on me.

That is funny because that sounds like me and I look awful in full skirts...l;,
I guess personal taste also comes into the equation.

I 'm a tall, full-bodied hourglass, and I prefer mermaid-shaped skirts as they emphasise the curves. Circle skirts I can wear as long as there is fullness at the hem, such as a fishing line hem, so it gives shape. Straight skirts and circle skirts with a beaded hem tend to look blocky on me.

Originally Posted by gisela

That is funny because that sounds like me and I look awful in full skirts...l;,
I guess personal taste also comes into the equation.

I like the way full skirts give the illusion that I have some hips :) The skinny, clingy lycra skirts just emphasize my "spare tire" tummy

I'm 5'6' with a 33 waist and 43 lower hips. I like myself in both but I prefer full skirts, which at the moment, I have none. LOL....

Originally Posted by catysue

I am 5'4, 180lbs, a size 10-14 and proportionally I have a hourglass
figure (40-34-44) my torso is pretty short, though.

I don't have enough experience to know which is more flattering on me personally, and I like the look of both of them equally.

It sounds like we're pretty similarly shaped. I'm a little taller (5'6), and have been a pretty wide range of sizes. At all sizes, the same types of things have still looked best, so I agree with the others that shape is dominant.

I'd suggest mermaid/trumpet skirts, or full skirts with a soft drape (rather than stiff folds, which add visual bulk). Straight skirts can work, but are usually more flattering with at least a little flare (especially a flare that comes from a panel under the butt).

I'd especially recommend choosing wider belts. Belts that don't have enough "visual weight" when worn on your hips can throw your proportions off. (It's because of all the empty space, just like jeans with tiny pockets make your butt look bigger.) I especially like belts that are almost like miniskirts.

For example:





Or this one, which actually is a miniskirt, with the skirt attached:

Originally Posted by jmdruadh

It sounds like we're pretty similarly shaped. I'm a little taller (5'6), and have been a pretty wide range of sizes. At all sizes, the same types of things have still looked best, so I agree with the others that shape is dominant.

You look GORGEOUS.

I am a pretty serious hourglass. I have to wear fitted skirts. No straight and absolutely no circle skirts. I am too short to pull off the circle skirts. I end up looking like a box with a tiny waist on top.

As most responders to this question say, and I agree -- it so depends on your height and proportions. An evenly-proportioned, or hourglass plus size is different for flattering costume choices than if the weight is more at the top, or in the middle, or on the hips.
I agree that circle skirts are not the best choice for a very short dancer.

One consideration, for instance: If a dancer has "saddlebags" at the sides of the hip, a fitted straight skirt will call attention to this. Veil drapes from the belt help camouflage the area; Dramatic sleeves, or something like that on the top, creates a better balance between top and bottom.

If you sew, there are choices besides form-fitting and circle; several panels layered over pants, for instance, or carwash style with a number of slits, or vertical drapes and ruffles in the seams that create movement.

In my book "Flattering Costume for Bellydancers," I have an illustrated Do-and-Don't section addressing many different body types.