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Semi Charmed Kind of Life: Velvet Fashion for the Plus Size Woman

If you were born in the 1980's or even the early 90's and you owned a radio, you were probably surrounded by the sweet sounds of Third Eye Blind. Alternative hits were quite big at the time so were fashions made of luxe fabrics. The ongoing researgence of 90's fashion revival has brought us an array of fashions from hip neons to grungy flannel.  For some time the market has lacked soft, velvet fabrics especially in the plus size sector. This fall/winter season the options available to the plus size woman for velvet is pretty expansive even in the more affordable stores. 

So why the reference to Third Eye Blind? Well I bought my first velvet dress recently and I couldn't stop singing "When the plane came in she was crashing the velvet it rips in the city we tripped on the urge to feel alive, but now I'm struggling to survive the days you were wearing that velvet dress..". When fashion is in music you know it's big!

 Even when velvet was big in the 90's the options for plus size women (and teens) was not. I recall only ever owning two velvet peices. Two cropped tops with stripes. One in purple and the other in mustard. It wasn't exactly hip and the horizontal strips and short nature of the tops did little for my pulse size pre-teen body. With all that being said, I feel this is a wonderful time to try this trend if you didn't have access to it the first time around. If you're younger than the above mentioned age range please don't fear velvet! There are so many ways to wear it and it's such a pretty fabric. Due to limited ability you may not know how to style it. If you fall into this category I hope my following tips help you. 

The Velvet Dress

The velvet dress is probably the easiest to pull off. Whether it's a body hugging body con or flirty skater dress you can work it like any other fabric. Velvet tends to be a little stretchy (though check the composition) so it is often a comfortable material. The way light hits velvet, especially crushed velvet can hide many imperfections that other dresses may excentuate. Keep your accessories minimal or go big glam with a statement necklace. Pair with shimmery nylons for a party look or knee highs for the ultimate 90s pairing. Velvet dresses can be casual paired with a scarf or classic paired with a blazer. 

Velvet dress from www.forever21.com

Knee highs from www.torrid.com

Shoes from www.target.com

Hat is also from forever 21

http://www.torrid.com/torrid/Dresses/OnlineExclusives/Velvet+Skater+Tank+Dress-10225837.jsp

Velvet pants/leggings

Velvet leggings, depending on the shade, can be a little tricky. Black velvet can be worn much in the same way you would wear any leggings. Pair with tunic, oversized band tee shirt, pair with plaid for a grunge look, or pair with leather for a rocker look. You can also go glam with a metallic top or girly with some lace. I recently tried red crushed velvet leggings and found them a little bit tricker to style. I found they paired well with animal print, leather accented peices, tunics and band tee shirts just like the black but color played a more important role. You don't want to outshine the pants. Let the pants make the statement. 

 

Velvet leggings: www.torrid.com

Plum peplum top: www.torrid.com

Suede vest: www.forever21.com

Faux leather boots: www.torrid.com

 

http://www.torrid.com/torrid/Bottoms/Leggings/Crushed+Velvet+Leggings-10214976.jsp

Crushed velvet leggings: www.torrid.com

Animal print chiffon top: www.torrid.com

Leather accent blazer: www.torrid.com

Necklace: www.rainbowshops.com

http://www.torrid.com/torrid/Bottoms/Leggings/Crushed+Velvet+Leggings-10214983.jsp

Velvet shrug/kimono

If you want to go I a completely different direction you can get a little Stevie Nicks circa 1977 with a velvet and fringe Kimono. You can pair this with the most casual pair of jeans and t-shirt to wearing it over a simple body con dress for an effortless coverup that adds just an extra level of style. 

http://www.torrid.com/torrid/Outerwear/Jackets/Velvet+Floral+Open-Front+Fringe+Kimono-10250271.jsp

Velvet Shoes

If you find yourself still unsure of this trend maybe try a pair of velvet combat boots. Still channeling the 90's in both style and fabric you don't have to step too far out of your comfort zone. 

http://www.wetseal.com/velvet-combat-boots-50596713.html

Have you tried the velvet trend? What are your thoughts?