There are so many catalogs and websited that claim to carry plus sized, even queen sized, clothing. Honestly, are any of them truly made for not just "plus sized" women, but "big" women? There is a difference in plus sized and big. To be technical, plus sized in the clothing industry means to be a 14 (sometimes a 12) and up. Many of the plus sized models I see are merely big boned at most.

Look at the popular plus clothing catalogs. The models in the catalogs can wear a shirt that is only 28 inches long, but how many actual big women with a belly can wear that same shirt and feel good about it? I don't feel too pretty with my tummy playing peek-a-boo from under my shirt.

Ok, lets talk material! I shop in a popular big men's catalog and find many basic tops in wonderful heavyweight cotton...real cotton! 100% cotton! So why aren't women's clothing available in this wonderful and comfortable natural fibre? Who knows! But imagine what would happen if the industry started using it in the infinite ways and designs it could! Hmmm...comfortable, well fitting, and actual plus sized clothing! If any of you out there can handle a needle and thread or a sewing machine, you can do like I do and buy inexpensive trims and decorations like patches, beads, and buttons to sew or even iron on those men's shirts. You can even buy collars to stitch on and they look great.

How many "rules" are there about what big women should and shouldn't wear? Tons! I have some as well. I need to add that I am a big woman, a BBW if you will (though I prefer BGW-big Gorgeous woman) so I'm not talking about big women from the outside of the plus sized world. I'm right there in the thick of it myself. These are my personal observations from what I see on both big and small women.

*kick pleats...ladies of all sizes have these on their skirts and i have to say that side pleats look best. Looking through at your knees from front or back is not flattering on any size woman, especially when the pleat is higher than you realize. Did you really plan to show your flowered underwear or that g-string your wearing?  From the side there is the peek of a soft sleek leg, much more flattering and alluring if you're trying to be seen (from a good angle that is).

*hem length...oh boy here we go! No matter what size you are, it is the most horrible sight to see a skirt or shorts where the hemline is above the point of leg contact. To be blunt, no one wants to see where your legs rub together-not man, not woman, not anyone. Just not a pretty sight...on any sized woman. In a skirt, when you sit down, whether or not you can cross your knees, the skirt pulls taught across the front and gives plain view to that skin contact area and your undies...and lets hope you're wearing undies! Longer skirts with higher side kick pleats work best to cover your "stuff" and if you're trying to show some leg, it does so in a more dignified manner.

*shoes...Have you ever seen a very large woman trying to perch herself atop shoes with super skinny heels? Proportion is what I'm talking about. I don't think anyone looks good in those super high, super skinny heels but that's my personal opinion of the shoe. Proportionally speaking, a larger framed woman looks more 'put together' when she's wearing a shoe with a thicker heel, even if its a high one. Just as a very thin woman may look a bit silly in a giant clunker shoe, a large woman looks just as silly in a shoe with a heel like a toothpick.

*clothing patterns...There are so many rules about this one! All I have to say is that if you like it, and you feel good in it...by all means wear it! Horizontal stripes, bright colors, big prints, or small prints, you have to try something on and see it in action to know if you think it looks good.

Despite all of the above self proposed rules which are based solely on my own opinions and to give you some food for thought, the only rules you have to follow are the ones you make for yourself. No matter what you wear be it shirts, shoes, or skirts, just make sure that YOU like it. You are your most beautiful when you're happy within yourself.