For many years, clothes for plus-size women were not only limited, they were meant to make them feel like they have something to hide. With a shift in culture to embrace diversity and inclusion, there are now more choices for extended sizes. However, many of these clothes were designed and created for a common size and scaled up.
Scaling up to plus sizes is not the optimal way to get a good fit because the different body shapes and proportions of the curvy women need to be considered. “Being plus-size does not mean we are round. We have shapes too. With good cutting and fitting, we can bring out the curves and hide the flaws,” says Voyce Chan, founder of Voycestas Plus.
“Growing up as a plus-size, I know exactly how it feels to be one. I used to lack confidence and I was often wrongfully labelled as unmotivated, lazy, and sloppy by others. Making friends was stressful as most prefer to hang out with the cool kids. I was not well dressed because I had difficulty finding well-fitting clothes that are appropriate for my age. As a teen, I could only shop at the section for mature women in departmental stores such as OG and Metro because they offer extended sizes.
Although I enjoyed doing personal styling for friends when we shop, I could only look enviably at how well-dressed they were. I wanted to be able to dress up like them and I eventually resorted to popping prescribed slimming pills. After successfully shedding enough weight to be able to fit into the largest size at Forever21, I love how it felt to be able to fit in fashionable age-appropriate clothes and getting good attention from people. Since then, I was inspired to start a plus-size apparel brand to build the confidence and self-esteem of others who may be like me.”
Fast forward to many years later, Voyce became a struggling first-time mum who was at the same time feeling dissatisfied with her sales job. “Even in the workplace, I found myself being overlooked as opposed to my slimmer counterparts although I could do the job as competently,” she recalled. Feeling tired of being disadvantaged, she decided it was time to take a leap of faith to pursue her dream. From doing extensive research on the different body shapes of curvy women to finding the right suppliers, Voyce founded Voycestas Plus in 2017 – an online store catering to women from size 10-20.
Voycestas Plus encourages curvy women to explore different styles that embrace their body types instead of hiding them in loose fitting clothes. To promote inclusivity, the brand redesign styles that many thought would only look good on normal-sized women. It is all about fitting, fitting, and fitting.
The team offers free personalised fitting sessions and manufacture clothes that are almost akin to tailored-made ones. In addition to being sensitive to sizing and fitting, they are also very intentional when it comes to selecting materials that are suitable for tropical climate.
Style Tips for Plus-Size Women
- Have your measurements ready
Sizing may vary from brand to brand. Always check the measurements in the size guide before buying online.
- Do not hide your entire body in loose fitting clothes
Oversized is not the solution. The key is to enhance on the right parts and find the balance.
- Know your shape
Is your body apple-shaped or pear-shaped? Select styles that favour your body shape. E.g., The key to dressing a pear body shape is to take attention away from wider hips and draw it towards the defined waist.
- Know what you are most comfortable and confident in
It could be a smocked midi dress or a fitted top with wide leg pants. Fill your wardrobe with a selection of these.
Selecting the correct style that flatters your body form may be a daunting task. Voycestas Plus can help you with this with their personalised fitting session. Feel free to Telegram them at 82680023 to book an appointment.
The brand has built a closely knitted community and many regular customers have turned friends. “Those who have been with us, trusted us in dressing them up. However, due to social stigma, many of them still shy away from liking and sharing plus-size related content. We hope to see all of them carrying their heads high and be confident in accepting themselves,” says Voyce, with anticipation.
As the brand continues to evolve and keep up with the current trends and needs of the plus-size community, they are working towards having a physical store two years from now. Offering a one-stop beauty and retail space is also in the pipeline so that they could holistically help to take care of their customers from head to toe.
For more information or to check out the clothing line they carry, visit or follow them on Facebook or Instagram (@voycestas) to redefine plus size fashion today!
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This article was brought to you by Voycestas Plus.
