Love Italian style and want to infuse your plus size outfits with a touch of Italian elegance and effortlessness?
I’m so glad you’re here. Hi friend — I’m Alessia, the founder and writer behind Italy with an Italian. I write a lot about fashion, from timeless Italian looks to everyday style for women of all ages. But today, it’s all about you.
I’m sharing outfit ideas inspired by Milan street style — looks that are perfect to celebrate your curves while embracing that natural Italian confidence.
Of course, not every look will fit everyone perfectly, but I’m sure you’ll find plenty of inspiration to try something new and make Italian style your own.
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Table of Contents
A Little Body Talk: Fashion Inclusivity & Plus Size Brands
Before sharing those outfit ideas I promised you, I’d like to start with a little discussion about how every lady, independently of shape, size, and age can dress like an Italian woman.
Let me remind you that Italian fashion is all about styling high quality pieces in a way that channels simplicity, elegance, and good taste, with the main goal of making the person wearing those pieces feel and look good. Italian designers have helped pave the way for fashion inclusivity, so that every woman and body would feel amazing in what they are wearing. After all, isn’t that the main reason why we buy new clothes, and take extra care of the ones we love, because they make us feel great?
There’s no better place than Italy to celebrate curves. Italian women, especially Southern and Mediterranean ones like me, are known for being curvy. Think Maria Grazia Cucinotta, Sabrina Ferilli, and Vanessa Incontrada. Those women have the hourglass figure that women throughout the century have always aspired to, until mass fashion media started promoting a completely different female body image, one that saw curves as being unnecessary, and almost wrong. Well, gladly things are changing, and the world is realising that smaller and perfect don’t mean better!
Of course, one can be curvy at different sizes, and that’s exactly the point. You might be thinking that Cucinotta is not a plus size woman. Well, it doesn’t really matter. The message I am trying to convey is that any woman, Italian or not, skinny or curvy, size 8 or 18, can look and feel amazing with the right clothing. And that’s what we are here to find out, which outfits you are attracted to, so you can try them on with the pieces you have in your closet, and maybe a few new ones, and find those outfit formulas that make you and your curves feel and look your best, no matter your size.
If you are curvy and love Italian style, there are many beautiful clothing brands that tailor to you – Elena Mirò, Marina Rinaldi, Fiorella Rubino. Also, many popular Italian designers have started doing larger sizes; those I know of include Versace and Max Mara.
Italian Style Tips To Celebrate Your Curves
After that body positive chat, I’d like to give you some practical tips you can use right away as you plan your outfits, shop for new clothing, and get dressed for different occasions.
First, let me suggest two reads I think you will find helpful. I consider those to be my pillar posts about Italian fashion, and they apply to every woman, and men too, no matter the size and age. These are:
The Pillar Concepts Of Italian Fashion
20 Pieces To Dress Like An Italian Woman
Now, let’s get real.
When you get dressed in the morning, or perhaps when you plan your outfit the night before, do you find that an easy process? Or do you struggle?
If you struggle, why is that so?
Is it because you think you don’t have enough clothes, or because you don’t like the ones you have?
Either way, it’s usually because of the second reason, and that holds for every woman.
Why don’t you like the clothes you have?
- Because they are not good quality.
- Because they don’t suit you – color, shape, style.
- Because they are no longer your style.
Here’s my first tip
Don’t look at your clothes as one big pile. Start looking at each individual piece, try it on, and see how it makes you feel.
The best way to do that is pair it with another piece you love and feel confident wearing.
For example, try on that pair of trousers you love the most, and see which tops, blouses, button ups, sweaters, blazers, etc go well with it. When you find a pairing you like, snap a picture.
Also, don’t stop at one season. If you know you wear that pair of trousers all year round, try to style it for every season with the items you already have, and see if you can come up with one outfit per season you really love, or more!
When you are done, move to the next piece you love, and play styling.
If you’re already doing this, great; let’s move onto my next tip.
Tip number two
Think about the outfits you wore this year, look at the pictures you or your partner took of you, and take some time to reflect on those outfits, and how they made you feel.
Make a note of those that made you feel wonderful and gorgeous, and those that made you feel the opposite.
Let’s take it a step further.
Can you spot a pattern?
Were you wearing a particular style of trousers, or top, or even a dress or a skirt? Maybe, it was a color, or even the same piece.
If so, what don’t you like about that piece or style of clothing?
When you are trying to answer this question, think about it from the way it makes you look and feel.
Make sure to do the same for those outfits you love. Which piece or style of clothing do you think made the outfit look amazing on you? Or was it a particular color?
Take note of both the negatives and the positives, and try to keep those things in mind when it’s time to style your next outfit and get dressed.
I started with two general tips because even though you might be plus size, your body type and shape also matters when you are picking clothes, and trying to make them work for you. That’s why it’s important that you start with understanding what you like and don’t like about your current style and outfits. Let’s move onto the next three.
Tip number three
How about you try dressing in a way that emphasizes your favorite body parts?
Is it your waist, your legs, your décolleté, or perhaps your curvy hips you love the most?
Here’s a way to emphasize each of them.
Emphasize your waist like an Italian woman – by wearing pieces like cigarette pants, midi A line skirts, and wider leg pants that flare out making your waist look even tinier. Don’t forget to try tucking in your blouses, tops and button ups, and see if you like it. Try adding a belt too. Choose dresses that cinch you at the waist, but also blazers, jackets and outerwear that are cut in a way to emphasize that smallest part of your body.
Emphasize your legs like an Italian woman – by wearing more trousers, whether it’s cigarette pants that make your long legs even longer, or straight leg jeans that hug those legs softly showing them off elegantly. Try pencil skirts or straight leg knee length skirts that show your legs in a classy way. When Summer comes around, don’t forget to try on a pair of bermuda shorts. They are long enough to be smart, yet seasonal, and you can dress them up with a matching blazer and heels, or dress them down with a tshirt and a pair of flat shoes.
Emphasize your décolleté like an Italian woman – by wearing v necks and lower neckline tops, unbuttoning your shirts just a little more, choosing dresses that emphasize that part of the body, but always make sure it’s done elegantly without showing too much, and always leaving something to the imagination.
Emphasize your hips like an Italian woman – pencil skirts and dresses, and straighter line bottoms are great at doing this. Even if you don’t have pronounced hips, but like how certain clothes that give you that help you achieve that make your body look, you can achieve that with pieces like cigarette pants that are cut in a way that cinches you in at the waist, and then create a curve around your hip area. If you think you need extra volume in that area, you can try a few pants with larger pockets. Lighter trousers and bottoms are also a great idea.
Tip number four
Try all the stereotypical Italian-style outfit formulas, and see which ones complement your body shape and curves the best.
1. Tuck your button up inside your trousers, jeans, skirt, or shorts.
2. Try styling your favorite jeans or trousers with a blazer and shirt.
3. Emphasize your shoulders and add some extra warmth and style to your outfits by adding a sweater over your shoulders. This can work over a shirt, a blazer or jacket, but even a dress.
4. Try showing off some extra skin to elongate and flatten. Roll up your sleeves, try a cropped pair of pants, show more neckline. You will be amazed how a little bit of extra skin can flatten any shape and size.
5. Wear more heels. They not only elongate and flatten your body, but they also make you feel more feminine, more dressed up and put together, and ultimately more gorgeous.
6. Wear more structured pieces, or at least one or two with each outfit. If you think your body looks frumpy, it’s your clothes that are giving you that look. Structured pieces like blazers, tailored trousers, good quality fabrics that hold their shape, can immediately remove the frump and add structure to your look.
7. Wear pointed shoes. That little point is like a magic wand that immediately elongates, flattens, dresses up an outfit, and adds elegance. Try it, especially if you always opt for rounded or squared toe shoes.
8. Overdress rather than underdressing. It will help you feel more confident and love your outfit more, which in turn makes your day better.
9. Finish your outfits. Are you forgetting to wear your jewellery, pair the right shoes and bag, or maybe add a scarf? Those pieces not only add style and interest to an outfit, but can also attract attention to where you want it, and help reduce it to other parts you don’t want to emphasize.
10. Don’t forget to add your personality. It can be through wearing your favorite color, or your unique style of jewellery and accessories. Or it can also be wearing more of a piece you love, or styling it in a unique way you do that you like so much. Lean more into what you love and what makes you unique. That boosts your confidence and makes you feel and look a million bucks.
Tip number five
Try my favorite Italian fashion outfit formulas, and see if there’s one that you love.
1. Cigarette pants with a button up shirt tucked in and either a pair of heels or loafers.
2. Midi A line skirt that flares up styled with a shirt tucked in, and a pair of heels – pumps or sandals; boots might work too, depending on your body shape and height.
3. A wrap style dress in a beautiful high quality fabric that cinches you in at your waist, elegantly emphasizes your neckline, and falls straight down your hips. If your hips or derriere are a concern of yours, you can go for an A line wrap style dress.
4. An A line midi camel coat that cinches you in at the waist with a matching waist belt. It can be in another color and you can wear it over different outfits.
5. A power suit. Whether it’s for work, for a wedding (even your own!), or for daily wear, have you tried styling a suit with heels in a way that feels feminine but also like you are a strong lady that loves herself and her body? There are so many styles of suits, from oversized to suits with skirts, although I think that trousers add to that power suit look I love. Read more about Suit Outfits here.
Try one of them or all, and see which ones can work for you. You might need to try on a few options and ways of styling each until you find the perfect fit, but it’s worth it because once you find that winning outfit formula, you can rely on it forever.
There you have it, all plus size tips I wanted to share with you from an Italian fashion perspective. I hope you found them useful, interesting, and made you think that maybe it’s time to try something new, rather than staying stuck and complaining about how your clothes don’t make you feel and look lovely. Let’s use fashion as a tool to make us feel great, not the opposite!
If you love this conversation, don’t forget to share it with a fellow plus size friend, or on your social media. And if you want more fashion talk, but also delicious Italian recipes, I invite you to join my newsletter. You’ll find multiple sign up boxes throughout this page.
Although it might sound like it, this post is not over. I still have all the beautiful plus size outfits to share with you, so let’s get to it.
15 Stunning Plus Size Outfits From Milan’s Streets
I am going to keep this section less chatty, focus on sharing the outfits, and highlighting those things that work so well about each of them. Enjoy.
Should You Cinch Your Waist?
Can you see how this one outfit works for different body shapes? You can cinch it in with a belt to emphasize your waist, if that’s the smallest part of your body. You can leave it open for a more edgy look, and also if you want to deter your eye from that area. The square neckline draws the eyes up, and the cropped trousers help elongate the legs and add more style.
Empire Style vs A Line
Two very similar dresses with the waist sitting at a different point. The first has a higher waist, almost empire style, which helps take the attention away from the middle section of the body. While the second is emphasizing the waist and then flaring wider to hide the more voluminous lower body.
Slim + Elongate
Both red dresses have a very similar silhouette, and both shapes are also very alike, but the fabrics and the way they are styled make a difference. The v neck helps draw the eye up, and the skin color shoes help elongate the legs.
Lighter Colors – Yay or Nay?
If you think you can’t wear light colors as a plus size, thin again. Instead, try wearing thicker structured fabrics that help you look more polished, less frumpy (if that’s how you usually feel), and focus on those parts of your body you love the most. I also suggest trying brighter accessories, to add some color and style, plus draw the attention there.
Tonal Outfits
Tonal outfits are perfect for everyone who wants to feel more elegant, classy but also add a little edge to an outfit. However, they also elongate, slim, and instantly create a more tailored look.
Can You Wear Shorts?
The nude shoes work so beautifully with that burnt orange color while also elongating the legs, and drawing the attention towards those beautiful bermuda shorts which are so flattening. Yes you can, but I would do longer bermuda style shorts, and that holds for everyone, plus size or not!
Print in Disguise
If you don’t love your stomach area, try a maxi skirt with a print, even if it’s a subtle one like this. Also can you see how that roll neck adds some structure, which wouldn’t be there if the top was just sleeveless and with a scoop neckline?
The Perfect Figure Hugging Dress
What can I say about this stunning outfit other than it’s perfection. It hugs the body in the right places, it draws attention to the areas the woman feels more confident about, and the wrap ruched design helps disguise the stomach area. Of course, this kind of dress needs to be worn with the right shapewear.
Dress Up Your Maxi Skirt
Here’s another way to wear a maxi skirt Italian style. We are adding a tailored piece, structure, heels, and we are playing with classics in a more modern way.
How To Wear Jeans
If you love wearing jeans, try wearing them this way. Add a classic blue shirt, a structured pair of comfortable shoes like loafers, some color for that added personality, and a utilitarian jacket that brings comfort but also a little structure to the outfit.
Black Outfit with a twist
Need a black outfit idea for the office or a smart day out? How about this one? It keeps it classic but adds a twist with the burgundy leather blazer.
Show off Your Curves
If you want to emphasize your curves, here’s an outfit to help you do that. Add some color at the bottom, keep everything else minimal, show some skin, wear pointed shoes with heels and feel gorgeous.
A Timeless Outfit
A classic outfit inspired by my favorite designer, Max Mara. If you can manage to style a similar one that makes you feel amazing, you’re going to have an outfit for life.
Classic yet Bold
If you want to lean into the color of the season, how about pairing it with a unique color that goes so well – lime? We are keeping all the rest tonal, but playing with fabrics, mixing corduroy and leather, while keeping everything tailored and structured to help us achieve the shape we like.
Classy Winter Uniform
And here’s another Max Mara inspired look for the Fall Winter, one that feels a little more feminine but also edgy. Which one is your favorite?
More Plus Size Italian Fashion
Although this is my first full on plus size outfits post, I have these other two that also include plenty of plus size outfit ideas:
Black Capsule Wardrobe – 31 Pieces Every Woman Needs
Italian Christmas Outfit Ideas
If you are a fellow foodie, you are welcome to grab one of my favorite recipes and try it!
Soft & Fluffy Italian Sandwich Bread
The Best Creamy Italian Sausage Soup Pasta
Italian Chocolate Spiced Christmas Cookies
And if you are planning a trip to Italy, you can find my Italian travel guides here.
Thank you so much for taking the time to read this post. I really appreciate you.
Don’t forget about my invitation to join my Buona Settimana newsletter. If you do, you’ll get one email every Sunday. It’s like chatting with a new Italian friend, and it’s the best place to get to know me, while also giving me the chance to get to know you.
Take care.
A presto,
Alessia
