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by Reena Daruwalla, guest writer for Nancy Hayssen.com

Are you Plus Size? Do you dress to camouflage your curves? Do you dress baggy? Do you dress drab? Do you dress to blend into the background? If so why?

I know that Nancy is the obvious person to give you the advice in this department, being the successful model that she is, but as person who has been plus size most of her life, I think I picked up a trick or two over the years that I thought I’d share. I like to think that I developed a certain personal flair and some personal style. Luckily for us, peeps, plus size no longer means large floral smocks and unflattering tents.

Wear well-fitting but not tight: Do yourself a favor and find things that are actually your size. Too loose and the clothes look baggy and boring, too tight and all the unseemly bulges will come into sharp focus. I recommend a well fitting Tee with a saucy something or other on it: displays self confidence and is a conversation starter.

Make the effort to find the perfect jeans: So what if you have to try one literally dozens of pair to find the perfect pair, you will thank yourself for the effort. First jeans rule: deep, dark blue is best. Two, a straight boot cut flatters most figures. Three, a high waist and tapered leg is a No-No; it doesn’t do anything for anyone. And for heaven’s sake do not try to fit into jeans that are not your size or too low waisted: a tight waist simply makes everything bulge out over the top and nothing is more unseemly. Instead admit that this is my waist size and ask the shop assistant for that size.

Splurge on a few classic essentials: My wardrobe is structured around a few basics: the classic pencil skirt: black, maroon and beige, well fitting, flattering trousers in black, burgundy, tan, and yes, white as well! I team these with a variety of solid colored and printed tops is a variety of textures, drapes and cuts. Vary them for the desired level or formality or casualness. Then there is a classic white shirt and the classic black shirt, well tailored and well fitting, they never go out of style. For the casual, flirty look there is nothing better than the wrap around skirt, which shows off a lovely ankle, a hint of a shapely calf.

Cleavage and Sleeveless are FINE: So what if you are curvy? I say if you got it, flaunt it! There is nothing as flattering as a well cut V neckline which shows a hint of bosom. A well fitting sleeveless outfit (that does not cut into the flesh, please) can be very flattering even on us plus sized women. No need to go about hiding our arms. And don’t be shy of dressing sexy, big is beautiful, curvy is sexy!

I could go on but I won’t because these are the basic dos and don’ts that I follow religiously, and mostly I get paid more compliments for my dressing style than most thirty-something-mothers-of-two could hope to get!