There's a lot of misinformation floating around about what works and what doesn't work for plus size fashion. If you followed every "rule" that people pass around you wouldn't be able to find anything to wear that doesn't violate at least one tenet of fashion wisdom. But, if we go a a little deeper and look at the intent behind the snippet of fashion law, we can find out what the desired behavior was meant to be and look to follow that advice while shopping and putting together outfits.
The first rule we'll look at involves wearing horizontal stripes. Commonly available advice tells us never to wear horizontal strips since it accentuates a round shape and make you look bigger. This is only a half-truth, since not everything with a horizontal stripe on it will make you look like a circus tent. Yes, loud, obnoxious stripes will draw the observers eye to the depth of your figure and possibly accentuate a feature that you don't want to show off. However, tasteful, carefully chosen and orchestrated stripes can act to accentuate things that you do want to draw attention to. Maybe you have some great curves that you don't mind showing off, or maybe you've found a blouse that is perfect in every way, but you're just plain scared of the stripes. Don't be. If it looks good and you like it, don't let stripes scare you out of a purchase if they are tastefully done.
The second rule we'll look at is that vertical strips elongate your figure, giving you the illusion of being thinner. Again, at best a half-truth if we look at the basis of the advice. What the coiner of this fashion nugget wanted to get across is that subtle, graceful vertical strips in slacks that are properly fit can accentuate good curves and draw the eye up past bad curves. What it doesn't mean is that any pair of plus size clothing with vertical stripes is going to take 20 pounds off your frame. Again, the focus here should be subtle and properly fitted. If you have a pair of slacks or a pencil skirts that has perfectly executed pin stripes on them, but they don't fit you properly, the stripes are likely to do the exact opposite and draw attention to the fact that you clothes are too tight, and you'll end up looking like a mess.
So in summary, take these two rules with a grain of salt and think about the intent, or the behavior that they are attempting to encourage. They aren't mean for absolutes, but guidelines to make you think twice before buying a rainbow-striped blouse, or to err on the side of light pin striping for your slacks.
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