How to Thrive as a Size 10

We have all been there. Sweating, angry, contemplating to pull one more time to see if they go up… then going a size up to find that it consumes your whole body.
Personally, I believe this happens more often with people who are a size 10.

Why do I know this? Because I have basically been every size from 0-12…13 if you include preteen clothes. I love my curves, I just wish there were more options in buying clothes for them.

So I put this guide together to help other ladies THRIVE as a size 10 (or whatever beautiful size you are)

My most frequent problems and some solutions:

1. Button-down shirts opening-

You’ve got the button down on, and you do a little flying eagle check and there it is. DUN DUN DUNNNNNNNNNN your bra.. peeking right back at you. Just when you thought you were good.

I combat this for the most part by purchasing boyfriend style button downs. They are more forgiving on the buttons because they are cut wider, looser, an overall more relaxed fit look.

Here are some links for my favorite boyfriend button downs:

Click here for the one pictured (sold out except for plus sizes only $8.38!!) I am wearing a large.

Click here to view a similar one (same brand and cut) in sizes XS-XXL only $13.98!

2. Size large shirts running too long

I have this psychological thing I do to myself where I’ll try on the larger size first and then if it fits too big, I will go to the smaller size. Normally what happens is, I try on the larger size and I can’t see my hands. They’ve disappeared… swallowed by the shirt and sometimes my whole upper body is swallowed as well. The whole shirt has consumed my body.

So then I try on the smaller size…

3. Size medium being way too small

This is it ya’ll… Make it or break it. I am about to slip it over my head and then just from the mere stretch between my two arms, I can tell this isn’t going to be good. But I still go ahead and try it on…. Anddddd I’m stuck. I can’t begin to tell you all of the times this has happened to me and my poor mother has to bail me out. Bless her heart and her patience for wiggling me out of some tight situations.

I try to combat these two situations by comparing mediums to larges before I actually go to the fitting room. I try to gauge how different their sizing is. It will show me the likability of the clothes actually fitting. Like I NEED to know how much larger the large is than the medium (if that makes any sense)

4. Pants fitting in the thighs, but won’t close of the hips

I can tell almost instantly if pants are going to fit or not but the worst is when you are super excited, they are gliding up like butter and then you’re ready to seal the deal and the button and the hole don’t reach each other.

W T F… all that happiness goes away in an instant.

I try to combat this by lining up the pants with my body. If the lines match up or I can stretch them to line up then they will probably fit. Also, I really go for a little stretch in my jeans (not too much, i dont like the painted-on look)

Here are the links for my favorite jeans:

Click Here for the ones pictures. These are my absolute favorite

Here’a another pair I like:

Click Here

5. Most styles, being down-right unflattering!

So because I am a 10/12, I fall into the problem of clothes being designed for 0-6 bodies. I’ll look at a shirt on a mannequin and I think its cute. When I try it on, I’m like GOOD LORD… why is that ruffle right there! Or this shirt is intended to be cropped but on me its just a bra.

The only way I know how to combat this is by knowing your body. Personally, I do not like to highlight my arms. I think certain ruffles make me look like a linebacker. So before I try on, I look at the shirt or dress and focus on what it is trying to highlight and determine if I want that highlighted on my body.

In a perfect world, there would be a separate store for our “invisible” sizes. Where I can feel safe, knowing that I wont be eaten alive by a shirt or stuck in a dress. But that doesn’t exist… all I can do is support brands that support people shaped like me.

SO WHAT DO I DO ABOUT IT?

So naturally I gravitate towards Aerie. They do not retouch their models and that speaks volumes as you walk through their stores and automatically feel comfortable. They’ve gone through a rebranding and I love it! Unfortunately, there are only so many underwear, leggings and sweatshirts I can own… but the amount I own may surprise you.

When it comes to actual clothes I gravitate towards
The Loft,
The Gap (for my jeans)
Marshalls/TJ Maxx,
Old Navy
Anthropologie (keeps good sizing)