In the world of fashion, there are no shortages of ideas about do's and don'ts when it comes to what clothes to purchase. The specialized world of plus size fashion is no different. While some of these tips are genuinely useful, others are little more than myths and misconceptions. Lets debunk a few of these myths commonly associated with plus size fashion.

The fashion tip that plus size women should not "show skin" is not at all acceptable. Why should plus size women cover as much of themselves as possible and hide in "fat clothes"? Zero in on your own favourite feature and go ahead and highlight it. For example if you have shapely legs, wear a short skirt or wear a V-neck to show off some sexy cleavage!

Big girls should never show bare arms. Plus sized girls have been told for years: "Never go sleeveless!" but it's untrue. Showing off a little bit of skin can make you feel desirable if you take a few simple ideas into consideration. Not secure in showing off your entire upper arm? Sling a pashmina or shawl around your shoulders, or use a shrug. Or try a pretty blouse with sheer lace or chiffon sleeves. Try these ideas to bare a little skin without feeling too exposed.

Hefty ladies are advised not to wear clothing with sideways lines as it is not a good idea. Multi-directional stripes can be appealing if they are worn in the right places on your body. Pear shaped women should make sure to wear the sideways stripes in other areas of their bodies such as their chest, neck area, or near the leg area of the body rather than at their larger mid torso area.

Myth: Plus-size women shouldn't wear clothes that contain bold print patterns. Truth: Big and bold prints will flatter plus size frames when chosen properly. Prints that have only a little blank space in between the print edges are sure to flatter bigger girls. In fact, prints with edges that actually overlap flatter more than prints with lots of blank space.

The conventional wisdom usually goes something like, "plus size girls should wear baggy clothes." Often plus size women believe this myth, shying away from form-fitting and flattering clothing for oversized sweatpants and sweatshirts. But instead of looking for clothes that hide your body, look for clothes that are body-conscious. Look for flattering attire than hint at your curves and emphasize them. Try the "tight-loose" rule: Wear a fitted top under a looser-fitting jacket, for example. You don't want an all-over clingy fabric that hugs your figure in all the wrong places, but don't be afraid to show off those fabulous curves either!

Plus girls can't wear white. True, dark colors such as black, charcoal and navy are slimming, fit is more important than color. Color can be used to your advantage. If you are bigger on the bottom, wear a simple, darker color there and a lighter color on the top. You may even choose a bolder print on top. The point is that plus girls are not confined to the dark colors, by all means, lighten up! Wear red, blue, pastels, you name it, and, of course, wear white!

Andrea writes about Plus Size Clothing. Visit us for plus size deals on Plus Size Lingerie