When it comes to buying plus size suits, there are many options and if you focus on buying the right cuts and styles, you will find that suits can be really slimming.

The first order of business is the color. Darker colors are slimming so you might want to stick to these. Pinstripe is actually a common type of material used in suits and the vertical lines can be very slimming so try on some of these while you are at it.

When choosing the suit jacket, you want to take a few things into consideration. The length is quite important and the ideal length depends on your body type. If you are “apple” shaped or “rectangular” shaped then you will want a long jacket that goes past your hips. This will help draw the eye down and away from your middle area. If you have an hourglass shape, then you might try a jacket that ends just below the largest part of your hips. This tends to have an overall slimming effect on the hip area.

If you are large busted, then you want to avoid plus size suits with large lapels. Basically, the idea is to NOT emphasize your problem areas so stick with a lapel that is plain. A similar rule can be applied to women with large shoulders - steer clear of shoulder pads! On the other hand if you are wide in the hip and small in the shoulder, shoulder pads in your suit jacket can help balance out your body shape and have an overall slimming effect.

If you are buying a suit with a skirt, don’t go for a straight pencil skirt as this style typically does not flatter the plus size woman. An A-line skirt usually goes well and can have a nice tailored look. If your suit is less “business” and more “fun” you could go with a flowing skirt that flares out after the hips but make sure it is in a loose, but not clingy material.

Slacks should be tailored and slimming. Avoid pockets and pleats as both of these features tend to add bulk where it is least needed. Straight legs can add the illusion of length to your body, especially if you wear high heel shoes. Boot cut style pants can help balance wide hips.

When you are out shopping for plus size suits, don’t forget to add a few accessories to give your suit some punch as well as give the eye something to distract it. However do be careful as, sometimes accessories can work against you. Bracelets can draw attention to the hips and pins can draw attention to the bust, so unless you want the attention there avoid these accessories. By the same token, belts will draw attention to the waist so be careful with these too.