Best Plus Size Outfits for Casual Events
Casual can mean quite a few things, but one thing it doesn’t mean is sloppy. The best plus size outfits for casual events make you look polished and put together, but not ready for the boardroom. But also not ready to do some gardening. As always, the crucial factors are fit and quality.
Are there different levels of casual?
There sure are. For our purposes, I’ll talk about Athleisure, Medium Casual, and Smart Casual. We carry all three of those, so I’ll get specific.
Athleisure
Athleisure is a bit sporty (obviously), but not super sporty. Athleisure is for when you’re grabbing brunch after an early and not-at-all-challenging hike - or want to look that way.
If you’re chronically overdressed like I am, you may only wear Athleisure at home but plenty of people wear Athleisure to meet friends for coffee or run errands. Other people wear Athleisure all the time - it depends a lot on you, your friends, and where you live.
For a great Athleisure outfit, pair our Angel Pocket Pants with one of our cotton tees or tanks.
Smart Casual
Smart Casual is at the other end of the spectrum. It’s what you wear to go out to dinner at a nice, but not super fancy restaurant.
A good Smart Casual outfit makes you look like you really have your act together. It projects confidence - it shows that you know how to put an outfit together and that you’re not trying too hard to look good. When it comes to Smart Casual, I absolutely love prints.
For a great Smart Casual look, pair Wide Leg Pants with a closer fitting top like a Short Sleeve Tunic. Or wear a 2 Pocket Swing Tunic with Pull On Pants or Slim Leg Pants.
Medium Casual
Medium Casual is appropriate for meeting friends for lunch, or going to that backyard barbecue. It projects a relaxed confidence.
When it comes to Medium Casual, I always think of jeans and a t-shirt. But not just any jeans or tee. Our premium denim jeans paired with one of our cotton tees makes for a wonderful Medium Casual outfit. In warmer weather, our Crop Pants make for some fabulous Medium Casualwear.
Some dresses can be Medium Casual. Yeah, I know, but hear me out. Not all dresses are pantyhose and high heels. One of our T Shirt Style Dresses or V Neck Pocket Dresses can hit that sweet spot - you could easily curl up on the couch in one of those dresses.
Is it better to be too casual or not casual enough?
When in doubt, being overdressed is better than being underdressed, even at casual events. I’m not talking about wearing a gown and opera gloves to a backyard cookout, though
a casual day dress or wide leg pants wouldn’t be too fancy. The unfortunate reality is that some people perceive plus size women’s outfits as sloppier than they really are. People can be the absolute worst, and some otherwise lovely people can have unconscious biases. So for us, it’s always better to err on the side of smart casual.