People in the fashion industry are all too happy to tell you what is proper, and what you should be wearing. This extends to those who specialize in clothes for larger women. Many of these tips are useful, but others are what the computer industry refer to as fear, uncertainty, and doubt. We will attempt to separate fact from fiction.

Plus size women should not "show skin." This seems more like a way of hiding plus size women by covering as much of them as possible instead of being a real fashion tip. There is no reason why any woman, plus or otherwise, should have to hide in "fat clothes." Find a feature that you like and flaunt it, girl! Short skirts to accent shapely legs or a V-neck to show off a curvy figure are definitely a yes!

The myth that plus girls should never bare their arms is wrong. It is widely held that plus size girls should never wear sleeveless shirts but the truth is that a little bit of skin showing can be quite attractive. However, if you are conscious about baring your upper arms, you can cover them with a shrug, wear a shirt with lace or chiffon sleeves that give the see-through effect or just drape a sheer shawl over your shoulders.

Another common myth is that plus size women should never wear horizontal stripes. This is just plain silly. Stripes, whether vertical diagonal or even horizontal, can be flattering. There are, however, a few rules regarding the placement of the stripes that are worth considering. If your hips are your widest point, then you should wear horizontal stripes on other parts of your body, such as your upper body or on your legs.

Myth: Plus-size women shouldn't wear clothes that contain bold print patterns. Truth: Big and bold prints will flatter plus size frames when chosen properly. Prints that have only a little blank space in between the print edges are sure to flatter bigger girls. In fact, prints with edges that actually overlap flatter more than prints with lots of blank space.

Plus size girls should not wear clothes that are form fitting. If you want to send out the message that you are hiding your body from the world, this is the myth to follow. However, it is bunk. Plus size girls should not be sentenced to a life of big, baggy clothes. Clothes that are body conscious, hinting at your curves can be very flattering. The "tight-loose" method of fashion works well here. A fitted cami under a jacket that is unstructured or relaxed is an example. You don't want clingy fabrics that hug the wrong places, but don't be shy about letting your clothes hug and accentuate the right curves!

Plus girls can't wear white. True, dark colors such as black, charcoal and navy are slimming, fit is more important than color. Color can be used to your advantage. If you are bigger on the bottom, wear a simple, darker color there and a lighter color on the top. You may even choose a bolder print on top. The point is that plus girls are not confined to the dark colors, by all means, lighten up! Wear red, blue, pastels, you name it, and, of course, wear white!