Size 20 and Surviving
In a Size 10 T-World

By Roxy du Monde

Corset's all cinched, makeup looks great, hair's styled,

Now, What to Wear?

This is one of the most difficult parts of being a big T girl.  Often I look at a mail order catalog, find an outfit I love and then realize it doesn't come in anything close to my size.  Shopping is probably the most difficult part of presenting an attractive  big girl image.    I'm not saying throw away the Lane Bryant catalog, but do not order the white sweater with the teal turtles.  Look for fashions that allow you to disguise big shoulders and that will help you "create the waist".  I almost always wear long sleeves.  If formal is required, I opt for gowns with long sleeves.  Big shirts, jackets, blazers and  long sleeved blouses can all help create a more natural look for the big girl.  I even have a short spaghetti strap dress that I love.  But I top it with a long sleeved balero jacket or sometimes a long lacy duster.  Even my fetish outfits have long sleeves.  Jackets and long sleeve blouses can really help the total look.  Here's another tip that someone gave me.  It's ok to wear shoulder pads.  They actually square off the top of the outfit and help to create that V shape towards the waist.  And if you get the right body shape with corsets and forms, it's even ok to wear something tight and close fitting.  In fact, it can be very sexy.  All the world loves a big  bombshell in a tight sweater.

I prefer short skirts and dresses.  Anyone who knows me understands that.  I have a big round butt and long legs.  I think they are my best assets so I dress to emphasize them.  And personally, I enjoy the attention that high heels and short skirts garner.  Don't be afraid to show those gams.

And I suggest you find a good seamstress.  When I buy a suit and  the jacket fits, the skirts have to be altered.  They are always too big for me.  Regardless of your shape, nothing makes you feel better than wearing clothes that fit you. And for large ladies, that's tough.  If you know a good seamstress and  see an outfit you just can't live without, you can have it made.  And I've found that alterations and tailoring can be quite reasonable.  And it can be a bit humorous.  Last year, I had a couple of outfits made from scratch at a local leather shop.  I spent a couple of lunch hours for fittings wearing my boy underwear while wearing a corset.  All the gay boys thought it was very funny.  But I wound up with  a couple of wonderful new latex look outfits that fit me perfectly.  And I didn't pay any more than I would have at a quality San Francisco fetish shop, that doesn't carry my size anyway.  If you are going to have mail order custom work done, insist on speaking with the tailor and go over in detail exactly what you want.  Accurate measurements are a must.

If there is any message here, I think it is "avoid frumpy at all costs."  If you look at the large size shops and catalogs, it can get depressing.  But if you really look hard, there are all kinds of clothes out there for you.  Believe it or not, I love cruising the large ladies sections at Sears and JC Penneys.  I've even found cute tops at Target.  Another tip on formal wear, so I hear,  many of the sequin gown makers will make their gowns in custom sizes.  I really want to have a custom sequin gown made.  I have the perfect design in mind.

Shoes

I admit I've always loved high heels.  But I've developed a passion for platform heels.  I'm tall anyway and the platforms help create so much more length to my overall image. I still wear pumps, but not very often.  I can actually wear the platforms all night long while the pumps hurt my feet after several hours.   The downside is that with teased hair and platform heels, I'm very  tall.  I always stand out in a crowd.  I figure I might as well be able to see over them. And I've actually gotten some attention from NBA scouts. I don't think they really wanted me to slam dunk though.   Seriously, try to find shoes that fit and don't be afraid to wear sexy shoes.  I do try to match up the outfit and the shoes.  There are tons of places that sell shoes in larger sizes.  My favorite place to buy shoes is a little store in San Francisco called Foot Worship. They always have a great selection of sexy shoes in large sizes.  Every time I go there, I have to buy several pair.   Another good tip is to ask the GG dancers at your local strip joint where they get theirs.  And it's probably not a good idea to wear your patent thigh highs with a formal gown, but then I've been wrong before.

All Dressed...Have a good time.

Get out of the house.  Go to Dinner.  Meet people.  Smile a lot.  Be the life of the party and shake that big groove thing.  Stay safe, but have the courage to have fun.  I still get a bit  nervous when I go out, but not like I used to. It's not much different than any other kind of jitters.  Once you get over them,  you can do pretty much anything you want.  Just don't go overboard on the jewelry.  Oh, and it's ok to carry a small purse.

Most importantly, make friends.  The importance of friends, regardless of their size,  simply cannot be understated.

And show the world that big girls can be beautiful too.