Stylist Shan Williams discusses dressing to suit the size 16 plus

“I never wanted to look like models on the cover of magazines. I represent the majority of women and I am very proud of that.” Adele

Well said, Adele... I am sure there are lots of us that agree with you.

Research shows that the average size for a British woman is a curvy 16 and nearly half of UK women are a dress size 16 or above.

So why are we still bombarded by the media with waif-like models and celebrities? More than one popular magazine every week criticises a celebrity because they have put on as many as 8lbs!

The real thing that concerns me about this is the effect it has on our teenage daughters. Isn’t it more important to be happy, have body confidence and think of a successful future than being body conscious at that age?

Things are changing slowly – Debenhams is using size 16 mannequins to merchandise its clothes, and on a recent visit to the Fashion Show at Bristol Fashion Week, two of the models out of 10 were a size 16.

My style advice to those of you who on the plus side is to find out what your body shape is. A lot of high street retailers assume that if you are a size 16 and over, your body shape must be oval or round. The danger with this is that you will end up wearing baggy clothes that will make you look bigger, especially if your body shape is a full hour glass or rectangle.

Many of my clients are eternally grateful to me for telling them their correct body shape and what style clothes they should wear, enabling them to look their slimmest.

My friend Liz, who is a plus size lady, has a fabulously full hour glass figure. She always follows her rules of wearing shaped clothes and looks amazing as she travels around the country to attend meetings for the UK’s largest training provider.

Liz is a lover of comfort too and teams her black trousers with outstanding jackets and tops in her best colours.

She confessed to me recently that on a holiday abroad with her plus-sized friend Eileen they went skinny dipping in the villa pool – how’s that for body confidence! (Liz has given me permission for sharing this with you!).

I think Liz and Eileen would agree with the quote below: “If I had been around when Rubens was painting, I would have been revered as a fabulous model. Kate Moss? Well, she would have been the paintbrush!” Dawn French Take these words to heart the next time you get frustrated with current concepts about what makes a beautiful body.

What Dawn French is saying is that concepts of beauty are entirely subjective and change over time. In the 16th century, when Rubens was a painter, thin women were considered both unhealthy and unattractive. So, what matters is that you are accepting of yourself and see yourself as beautiful.

On a final note, my last quote for this article: “If nature had intended for our skeletons to be visible it would have put them on the outside of our bodies.” Elmer Rice, American playwright.