Plus-Size Fashion: Hot Blouses, Tops, and Shirts for Spring 2011

The upcoming spring 2011 fashion trends are all about bold colors, interesting patterns and breezy, festive designs, and many of them lend well to plus-size fashion. The following five recommendations for blouses, tops, shirts and tank tops have been selected for their versatility to curvy ladies, and each section has examples and tips for wearing the style.

Plus-Size Spring Style: Floral Tops and Blouses.

Celebrate the return of spring with flirty, festive garments featuring bright floral patterns and lots of pastel colors. Deeper, richer hues are popular, though not as much as bold pastels paired with neutral pants and gold jewelry. The "Mint Floral PRint Hanky Hem Top" by Torrid is a great example of this fun, spring-inspired style. With a ruffled, billowing hem made of lace and an all over floral print in shades of blue with red and yellow flowers, this empire waist tank top is a flattering plus size spring style. You can purchase it online for $38.00 in sizes 0-4.

Another popular spring 2011 fashion trend is bold stripe patterns over the entirety of a garment. The "Short Sleeve Stripe Floral Tee" by Fashion Bug combines the floral print popularity with this second emerging theme, creating a vivid, unique combination on this lightweight tee. The orange hues are very appropriate for this spring, as shades of orange, coppers and browns are becoming increasingly popular. This plus size shirt is available online for $20.24 in sizes S-4X.

Plus-Size Spring Style: Retro 70s Tops and Tunics.

Retro-inspired patterns, silhouettes and styles are all over the runway for spring 2011, but some 70s styles are more flattering on a plus size figure than others. Tunics which are properly sized for your curves can be festive and eye-catching, without adding extra layers or concealing the shape of your body. Make sure that the garment isn't too loose or too tight, and that you feel comfortable in the bold 70s pattern. This "Three Quarter Sleeves Boatneck Printed I-Kat Tunic" by Alfani is a great choice, with the wide black hem and nearly vertical patterns of designs. The nearly tie dye print is bold but slenderizing, especially when paired with black tights or slacks. This plus size spring style is available online for $38.67 (Sale) in sizes 1X-2X.

The "Tile print sleeveless tunic" from Lane Bryant is another festive option, with a paisley inspired purple pattern and large, 70s style orange flowers. This tunic capitalizes on both the 70s trend and the popularity of floral prints for summer 2011, making it a very appropriate choice. The scoop neck is flirty, and being both sleeveless and lightweight you can easily pair it with a shawl or sweater on cooler evenings. You can grab this plus size spring style online for $49.95 in sizes 26/28.

Plus-Size Spring Style: Bold, Bright Shirts.

One of the most outrageous and eye-catching spring 2011 fashion trends is the combination of bold, bright colors paired together in unconventional styles. Vivid, turquoise shirts and purple pants, lemon hued vests over grass green jumpsuits, and the loudest shirts under the sun paired with chic black slacks or white jeans. Pairing these wild hues with a curvy figure can be slightly more challenging, as some shades and styles simply aren't slimming on a plus size body. The most important thing to remember is that the cut of the garment is appealing to your shape, accentuating where you want the eye-an ornate neckline, a belt at the narrow of your waist, and so forth. The lighter, brighter items will make that section of your body seem larger, so plan accordingly. Also, don't hesitate to add layers if you want to keep the bold hues but want a slenderizing vest or a playful skirt in addition.

The "Embroidered Zig Zag Tunic Tee" from Avenue is available in 10 colors, which includes rich purple, the increasingly trendy orange, vivid pink, aura, yellow and red. The stitched embroidery along the collar lends extra feminine charm, and the shirttail hemline is flattering on curvy figures. It's also budget-friendly at $16.90 online, in sizes 14/16-30/32. Similarly, the "Smocked Tunic Tee" also from Avenue has 10 rich shades in similar options, like Sunset Orange and Sunlight. The smocked bust emphasizes curves, and the flowing hemline is slenderizing and forgiving, while the Raglan sleeves are feminine. This option is also $16.90 in sizes 14/16-30/32, making the pair two great plus size spring style choices.

Looking for more spring 2011 fashion trends? Try these articles from Lori:

Spring 2011 Fashion Trends: 5 Must-Have Plus-Size Styles

Spring 2011 Fashion Trends: 3 Hot Plus-Size Choices

Spring 2011 Fashion Trends: Fruit Patterns and Citrus Print Clothing

Fashion Trends for Spring 2011: Cat Eye Sunglasses Under $100