Dear Lucky: The Perfect Plus-Size Summer Dresses

A: Dear Amy,
I am not a plus size, but arm-related anything, especially sleeveless, sends me into a whirling maelstrom of insecurity. The worst problem is too-tightness: If a strap or a sleeve is going 
to leave even the slightest impression or dent in the nearby skin, do not wear. Oozing arm/back/side skin is not just a plus-size issue; unless you are super-in-shape, it is worth thinking about when you try on summery sundresses.

So: Fit is essential. Beyond fit, I vote for 
a fluttery (not tight) bit-of-a-sleeve kind of top. If the top has light-colored edging to 
pop against skin (this works whatever your skin color), it will be even more flattering. Also, I think thick straps can be more attractive than spaghetti, if your arms are bugging you—though I don’t think that spaghetti straps are necessarily a problem—just so long as they are not tight.

Anne, of course, had a particularly chic solution: “What about a cute shirtdress 
with elbow-length sleeves that you can roll up a little? It’s still cool enough, and it’s 
an adorable look.”

Brilliantly, at the above website, you can design your own dress with its free custom fit and styling features. We picked floral, but you can do anything—patterns, solid brights, even an Anne-pleasing geometric-print shirtdress.