Being fashionable isn’t all about wearing something and making yourself look good, it also means keeping the environment in mind and making yourself feel good with your shopping choices. With sustainability being a big talk in the world due to issues such as climate change, it is important for us to understand what it means to not only look good but also feel good.
So how do we solve this?
To become sustainable, you first need to know what it means to do so. Fashion, as we know have very many factors to consider, such as; variety, color, fabric, design, and many more. Jupiter Shop lists three factors to consider when wanting to be sustainable, yet fashionable.
- Bio-degradable or Recycled Fabrics – linen, organic cotton, silk, bamboo, etc. are all made from natural sources, which make them good options to look out for. In the Philippines, brands like Uniqlo, H&M, Bench, Penshoppe, etc. now lists down the materials used for certain products and whether they are recycled. With polyester and nylon shirts being the more common option in the past, being aware of the materials used for the clothing you wear is not a bad idea to say the least.
- Logistical Carbon Footprint – while Jupiter Shop lists how their brand exemplifies this, it is important for us Filipinos to also support local shops. Domestically produced clothing reduces the need for large shipments by ship or plane, which significantly cuts down the environmental impacts your clothing creates.
- Minimal Wastage – being plus-size means creating clothing bigger than the stereotypical “average-sized” clothing. So the next time you make a purchase, make sure that the clothing you buy is proven to last longer, ensuring that there is less of a need to produce more every time you wreck a piece of clothing.
Style on ‘em!
Now that you understand what it means to be sustainable, the next question to ask is; “how do I style this?” As we know, there are a wide range of options for plus-size given that every person in the community exhibits a different body type, which makes it more difficult for the average plus-size consumer to identify which clothing options are both high-quality and flattering to the figure.
Step 1: Define your body type
- Determining your body type helps a lot in keeping your fashion choices narrow, but wide enough to make sure that every piece complements your silhouette. The Kurba’tin team has already prepared a quiz for you to identify your body type (YOU CAN TAKE IT HERE). After you’ve taken it, you can come back to this article for step 2.
Step 2: Match your size
- As plus-size men, we know how relatable it is to pick a shirt that’s big enough to hide our curves, but end up still looking too big and bulk you up more. A regular shirt or top can prove to be a better option as it opens up the possibility to layer vests or jackets on top of it. Additionally, it’s important to mention that baggy bottoms are not the answer as although they can be comfortable, choosing baggy bottoms can add bulk to your silhouette. Choosing regular fitted pants or pants that are wider around the legs are great choices that can help compensate for any thickness you may have wanted to hide with the baggy options you considered.
Step 3: Color matching
- Color plays a big part in creating a look, which obviously, can make or break your outfit. Being plus-size however, adds an additional factor to your choices as certain colors can also contour your body well enough to either slim or elongate your figure. It is up to you to decide if striped shirts look good on you to help hide the curves you may be conscious of, or you may go for neutral or dark tones to help reduce shadows and the tendency of those shadows to highlight more of the things that put the focus away from your face and the entirety of the outfit.
Step 4: Add layer, add layer, add layer…
- Living in the Philippines means that it can get quite humid and sweaty, so keep this in mind when layering your clothes. While layering your clothes may mean that you wear a jacket, it can also mean that you can wear accessories as substitutes, especially if the weather isn’t too forgiving on leather or fleece outfits. However, if you still want to layer it up, putting on an open jacket over your shirt (which still complements the color of each other) helps highlight the colors instead of the curves. But make sure to not wear too many layers as it not only can get too hot, but can also add more bulk.
So the next time you shop, try taking all of the things listed here into consideration. While fashion can undoubtedly become pricey, it’s still important to look good with the colors and outfits you wear, while keeping other creatures in our world in mind when making your next fashionable purchase.
Article cross-referenced from Jupiter Shop and atlasformen
https://jupitershop.com/blogs/plus-size-fashion-blog/plus-size-fashion-can-be-sustainable-too#:~:text=Plus%20size%20fashion%20shouldn’t,from%20this%20microscope%20as%20well.&text=i)%20Bio%2Ddegradable%20fabrics%20%2D,in%20this%20journey%20of%20ours
https://www.atlasformen.co.uk/inspiration/style/advice/plus-size-style-guide.aspx
Written by: Kovi Aparece
