Here at Elle Courbee, we’re big advocates of body positivity. We believe that every body is beautiful, and you should love the skin you’re in as much as you can. After all, it’s an amazing thing! But we’re not naïve. We know that when you’re a plus-size woman, there are certain challenges you face that thinner women just don’t experience -especially during the warmer months. So this year we’ve asked around and done some digging, and we’ve come up with some amazing hacks that can either prevent or mitigate 4 of the most common plus size fashion issues. After all, summer is for everyone, and we want you to enjoy it as comfortably and carefree as possible!
Problem #1 -Chafing Thighs
Summer is the time for wearing dresses, skirts and shorts. But if you have bigger thighs then this can be a bit intimidating, because with bare thighs comes the possibility of chafing. When your skin is hot and sweaty, and constantly rubbing against more skin creates friction. It’s painful, uncomfortable, and honestly, the reason so many plus size women love linen trousers in warm weather.
There are generally 2 ways that you can overcome the chafing problem. The first is by using a barrier product. There are a huge range of creams, powders and sticks that can be applied to your skin that stop it from becoming irritated by the friction. Everyone reacts differently to different products, so it might take some experimenting before you find the one that works for you.
We prefer the second option, which is to wear a pair of light cotton shorts. These anti-chafing shorts are widely available, and are essentially a form of light control shapewear or tights. They provide enough of a barrier that your thighs can’t rub together, and provide you with some security in case of a stiff breeze blowing your skirt too! We prefer this because it’s comfortable, we don’t have to remember to keep applying product, and it doesn’t end up in a sticky mess by the end of the day!
Problem #2 – Boob Sweat
Under your arms isn’t the only place you sweat when it’s hot out. Anyone with large-ish breasts can testify that they get pretty sweaty as well, particularly underneath and in the cleavage. Not only is this really uncomfortable, but the sweat can cause chafing with your bra, and sweat stains can become visible on your clothes as well.
Thankfully, there is such an easy solution for this – deodorant! Specifically, a stick deodorant applied across the underneath of your breasts and in your cleavage. This does the same thing on the rest of your skin as it does under your arms – it prevents a lot of sweat from even forming. If you don’t want to use stick deodorant on your skin, you could also look into bra liners, which are essentially little fabric sheets that sit inside your bra and soak up sweat from within.
Problem #3 – Swelling Feet
Granted, this problem can happen to anyone of any size, but it’s particularly prevalent in plus-sized women. As the temperature goes up, your body tries to retain more water, and it tends to do that in your feet and hands. If you’re walking more than you normally do, we find they tend to swell up even more! Oddly, it might affect both feet or just one, but it’s inconvenient and uncomfortable when it does happen!
You can’t really do anything to stop the swelling, since it’s a natural bodily function. But you can be prepared for it. We’ve found that buying shoes that are ‘wide fit’ (but still in your usual size) works perfectly, because it gives you that little extra wiggle room when your feet do swell, but doesn’t impact you wearing them every day.
Problem #4 – Riding Up Tops
Have you ever been out and about and had your tank top constantly rolling up on you? When it’s warm it feels like it happens every time you sit down, stand up or even move! But in spring and summer weather you don’t want to be covering up, and tank tops are often the best option to keep cool and match with every outfit. If you struggle with this, why not try a bodysuit? It’s essentially a tank top that keeps going and buttons up in your crotch like a leotard, allowing you to layer clothes on top knowing that the tank top won’t budge. They’re a great option when you really don’t want to be thinking about your outfit all day!
The good news is you can find 2 of these solutions right here at Elle Courbee! We stock a wide range of bodysuits in a variety of styles, and our support shaping shorts make the perfect protection against chafing thighs! We’d love to hear about any tips or tricks you have to stay fashionable in the summer, so drop your suggestions below. And if you have any questions, just get in touch with one of our team today and we’ll be happy to help.
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