Welcome to this month’s Ageless Style linkup where each month, ten women share their sense of style.  This month Jennie of A Pocketful of Polka Dots selected the theme: Dressing For Your Body Type.

If you’ve been following me for any length of time, you know that, to me, “dressing for your body type” means wearing whatever the heck you want!!! I’m more interested in knowing what feels right to me…what is comfortable, what I enjoy wearing…than in following some restrictive rules.

Or, as I like to say, “Bettye Breaks the Rules.”

Many fashion “rules” are about creating “flattering” shapes. But flattering to whom? To Joe Schmo walking towards you on the street? Or to your own eye in the mirror? I don’t know Joe Schmo and couldn’t care less what he thinks about the way I look. I care about how *I* think I look!

First and foremost, I want to Feel Comfortable. Walking, standing, sitting, going about my day. Comfort is Key. Next comes suitability to weather and activity. Once those points are considered, then *I* want to like the way I look!

Here are some old-school “rules” for how plus size women should dress:

Plus Size Women Shouldn’t Wear Bright Colors

Dark colors like black or navy tend to recede. In other words, go stand in a dark corner where no one sees you.

NOPE (unless you like not being seen, then wear all the invisible colors you want).

Curvy Women Shouldn’t Wear Horizontal Stripes

In theory, your eye travels back and forth horizontally to “see” stripes, and I think it’s all the back and forth making your eye move from the right side of your body to the left that makes it seem like your body covers so much width. Wide body = fat. Cuz that’s the worst thing to be in life! Spoiler Alert: It’s Not.

Larger Sized Women Should Keep Their Arms Covered Up

Sadly, I think this “rule” mainly comes from women themselves. Women who spend their entire lives never going sleeveless in the summer, or going to the beach or pool for fear of revealing their arms.

Come on, ladies! a) no one really cares about your arms…they’re obsessed with their own arms! b) let your arms go free! Just try it. Wear a sleeveless top for 30 minutes at the market. Did your higher power smite you?? No? I didn’t think so. Keep wearing the sleeveless tops!

Basically, the “rules” tell fat women to “look smaller.” Here’s my rule: SHRINK FOR NO ONE. Do YOU. If you’re comfortable where you are, wear whatever you want. “Appearing small” is not the be-all and end-all of life! If you’re not comfortable where you are, then, by all means, make changes to make yourself more comfortable, but in the meantime, Wear What You Like!

Wear the stripes and the puffy tulle skirts and the skinny jeans and the sleeveless dresses and the bikinis…or the caftans or muumuus! Wear what makes you feel like YOU!

There. That’s how to dress for your body type.

Big or small, wear it all!

Make sure you visit my friends to see how they address (ha ha, pun slightly intended) dressing for your body type:

Amy ~ Amy’s Creative Pursuits Blog, Facebook, Instagram, Google+, Pinterest

Bettye ~ Fashion Schlub Blog, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube

Daenel ~ Living outside the stacks Blog, Instagram, Pinterest, Twitter

Debbie ~ Fashion Fairy Dust Bloglovin, Blog, Instagram, Pinterest, Facebook, Twitter

Jennie ~ A Pocketful of Polka Dots Blog, Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter, Bloglovin

Jodie ~ Jodie’s Touch of Style Blog, Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, Bloglovin, Twitter

Julia ~ When the Girls Rule Blog, Facebook, Pinterest, Instagram

Kellyann ~ This Blonde’s Shopping Bag Blog, Instagram, Bloglovin, Twitter

Shelly ~ The Queen in Between Blog, Instagram, Bloglovin, Pinterest, Facebook

Shugunna ~ Nzuri N* Simplicity Blog, Pinterest, Instagram

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