Going to the cinema is one of those occasions where I absolutely refuse to suffer for an outfit. You’re going to spend the best part of two or three hours sitting in a dark room, probably with your coat bundled somewhere awkwardly beside you, so this is not the moment for anything restrictive, fussy or requiring constant adjustment. But I still want to look like I’ve actually left the house on purpose.
That is basically the brief for this outfit: comfortable enough for the film, but nice enough that you can go for food beforehand or a drink afterwards without feeling like you’ve turned up in your sofa clothes.
The soft dusty-pink top does most of the work. It’s loose without being shapeless, the V-neck keeps it flattering around the neckline, and the sleeves give it a little more interest than a basic T-shirt. It comes in sizes up to 3XL, which makes it a much more useful option for a plus size wardrobe. It’s one of those tops that makes jeans immediately feel more like an outfit.
I’ve paired it with jeans from Yours Clothing, a brand that actually understands that plus size doesn’t stop at an arbitrary size 20 or 22. For a cinema trip, I wouldn’t want anything digging into me for hours, so this is definitely a day for denim that you already know you can comfortably sit down in. Nobody wants to discover their waistband has a vendetta halfway through a two-hour film.
The white belt helps break up the pink and blue and ties in with the rest of the accessories. It’s also plus size friendly, which matters because belts are one of those accessories where inclusive sizing can still be surprisingly hit and miss.
On my feet, I’ve gone for classic white Adidas trainers. They make sense here for exactly the same reason as the rest of the outfit: we’re not making life unnecessarily difficult. They’re casual, clean-looking and ideal if dinner, shopping or a wander around town gets added to the plans.
Then there’s the white crossbody bag. I like a crossbody for the cinema because you can keep your phone, purse and everything else together without carrying something enormous around with you.
And yes, purely coincidentally, a bag is also very useful for transporting snacks purchased somewhere considerably cheaper than the cinema foyer.
Ahem.
The silver bracelets finish everything without making it feel overdressed. They’re exactly the sort of small detail that takes jeans, trainers and a loose top from “I’ve just thrown this on” to “yes, this was intentional.”
And that’s really what I want from casual outfits like this.
Plus size fashion doesn’t always need to involve clever styling tricks or clothes that are trying to transform the shape of your body. Sometimes you just need an outfit that fits, feels comfortable, looks good and works for what you’re actually doing.
This one gets you through dinner, the cinema and whatever happens afterwards.
Just remember to stop at B&M first.
