Summer Style Secrets for Curvy Girls

Ginny Mills is rocking Instagram with her curvy girl fashion tips and we love following her insights at Hiho. 

Get the scoop on her Big & Beautiful Hot Girl Summer in our latest interview.

A CURVY GIRL'S GUIDE TO SUMMER

The sun is out, temperatures are rising and the fear of jiggly arms and a bouncy belly are kicking in.. Well it’s time to put the “I can’t wear that” mindset in the bin; My Big & Beautiful Hot Girl Summer is here! 

I often hear people say things like “that’s nice but wouldn’t look good on me” or “my arms are too big for that.” When did we start believing we couldn’t wear a certain style of clothes because of our shape?

And I get it, every time I open my phone or log onto social media or even read a magazine, I seldom see representation of my fuller figure. The image portrayed of the “perfect body” has never been my reality but then again it isn’t real.. We don’t see the process of photoshopping and airbrushing, just the “finished product.” Well Marilyn Monroe didn’t have a super toned stomach; she had thighs with cellulite and stretch marks on her tummy yet she is considered one of the most beautiful women ever.

Body shape is not universal. Just like hair colour or eye colour, height or skin tone, it’s not one size fits all. You are unapologetically unique, so stop hiding behind dark colours & baggy clothes (unless of course this is your style, then rock it!) Everyone has their own opinion on what they think is beautiful but don’t let someone else’s view stop YOU from expressing YOURSELF.

 personally can’t remember the last time wearing a spaghetti strap top actually prevented me from doing anything?
The best outfit is one that makes you feel comfortable and confident. For me these are summer dresses (paired with my trusty Chub rub shorts of course). Maybe not the most stylish but an absolute saviour as by gosh do my thighs like to get cosy. I have a smorgasbord of anti-chafe shorts in my wardrobe for all styles and occasions! I love a pair of high waist shorts or trousers. I find them most comfy for my shape and pair them with any style of top! Wearing the correct size clothes makes such a HUGE difference to how I feel. Too big a garment makes me feel frumpy, too small a size and I feel restricted and uncomfortable, this can be so distracting.

Clothes sizes themselves can be a minefield, it seems every brand works to different measurements these days. I can be anything from a size 16 to a size 22 depending on a brand’s size chart. At the end of the day as long as all my “bits and pieces” are covered, the number on the sizing tag really doesn’t matter. Do not be afraid to size up!

There is a long way to go until we have a more equal playing field when it comes to plus size representation. A lot of brands do only stock up to a size 16 (which when you google the average dress size in the UK is a size 16, they are excluding a huge demographic) - it doesn’t make sense. There are so many brands who do create stunning clothes for us curvy girls! I’ve created CountryCurveStyle on socials to share my favourite pieces from brands who DO cater for larger ladies, some you may not have known from their advertising! 

Fill your feed with positivity. If you find yourself scrolling and feeling negative from the content you are consuming then unfollow, don’t engage and you will see less of it! One of the best things I ever did was fill my feed with people who look like me! 

So, what to wear as a curvy girl this summer? - the short answer, whatever the heck you want. There is more to this summer than worrying about a bit of cellulite. Wear the darn dress, claim your space and embrace your individuality. In the words of Hailee Steinfeld, “You look greatest when you feel like a damn queen”.

Ginny x

(Ginny also features on The Countrywoman’s Guide podcast, which is run by our very own Emma, so follow the link below if you’d like to hear more from Ginny)