Navigating Summer Style: A Plus-Size Fashion Insider’s Guide to Effortless Chic
Summer fashion often promises a season of breezy dresses, relaxed silhouettes, and easy-to-wear sandals. However, for many plus-size women, achieving that coveted effortless look in the heat can be a genuine challenge. While the Australian fashion landscape has seen considerable progress, with more brands finally expanding their size offerings, true inclusivity often comes with its own set of limitations.
This is a sentiment echoed by fashion model, content creator, and industry insider Jessica Lucey. In a recent episode of the Nothing To Wear podcast, Jessica delved into the realities of dressing for the heat as a plus-size woman, sharing her insights and personal journey in advocating for greater representation in fashion.
“I want to break the ceiling,” Jessica stated passionately. As the Community and Content Manager for Australian plus-size fashion brand De Gail, she’s on the front lines of this movement. “For so many years, there’s been this misconception that people above a size 14 don’t want to participate in trends or don’t want to wear what everybody else is wearing. But they do. And they should be able to.”
Jessica’s conversation on the podcast offered a valuable guide to summer fashion for plus-size women, highlighting brands that are getting it right and the trends that are genuinely resonating within the community.
Jessica Lucey’s Top Summer Fashion Picks for Plus-Size Women
Jessica’s approach to summer dressing is all about balancing comfort, style, and the ability to embrace current trends without compromise.
1. The Ribbed Maxi Dress: A Summer Staple
One of Jessica’s most frequently worn summer pieces is a ribbed maxi dress. She highlights styles from brands like Fayt The Label as being “effortless, breathable, and endlessly versatile.”
“It’s so easy, and if I had to say my number one dress that’s on rotation all summer long, it would be that,” she enthused. Jessica generally gravitates towards neutral tones, preferring to inject colour and personality through her accessories. “You’ll see me wearing a lot of neutrals,” she explained. “I like to bring colour in through styling.”
Beyond Fayt, Jessica also praises Vagary The Label for their timeless, flowy dresses. These designs are crafted to move with the body and offer enduring appeal, designed to remain a wardrobe favourite long after fleeting trends have passed.
Image: Instagram @jessica__lucey.
2. Long Tunics for Breathability and Style
While Jessica typically favours natural fibres like linen and cotton for summer wear, she makes an exception for long tunics. Brands such as Commonry are noted for consistently delivering on breathable fabrics.
“A lot of them aren’t necessarily cotton or linen — they might be viscose or a polyester, say — but they have a side split, or they have something in there that’s going to promote airflow,” she explained. These design features, even in synthetic fabrics, are key to ensuring comfort and a good circulation of air.
Undergarments are also crucial for overall comfort and breathability. Jessica specifically calls out Boody and Nala for their commitment to creating comfortable yet stylish foundational pieces.
Image: Instagram @jessica__lucey.
3. The Waist-Tie Scarf: A Trend Reimagined
The waist-tie scarf trend was one Jessica desperately wanted to embrace, but sizing limitations presented a significant hurdle. “Every store I went into, I’d try to tie a scarf around my waist, and it just wasn’t big enough,” she recalled. “I loved the silhouette and really wanted to be part of that trend.”
Her frustration stemmed from the accessibility of such an item. “In my head, a scarf is something that has multiple uses, and it’s something that I really wanted to incorporate into my wardrobe.” This personal challenge led to a collaboration with De Gail to develop a size-inclusive waist-tie scarf, ensuring the trend is accessible to a wider audience.
Image: Instagram @jessica__lucey.
4. Embracing Butter Yellow and Light Blue
While Jessica advocates for choosing colours that genuinely suit one’s personal style rather than blindly following trends, she admits to being a big fan of the current trending colours: butter yellow and light blue.
“This excites me as a neutral girly,” Jessica commented, as these softer hues complement her existing neutral wardrobe beautifully. She prefers pairing these shades with chocolate brown instead of black, finding that brown offers a softer, more summery alternative that can feel harsh in warmer weather. Furthermore, brown itself is a highly on-trend colour at the moment.
Image: Instagram @jessica__lucey.
Image: Instagram @jessica__lucey.
Image: Instagram @jessica__lucey.
5. Chic Summer Footwear for Every Occasion
Jessica’s summer shoe collection is a testament to versatility, encompassing everything from classic thongs and mesh ballet flats to fishnet mules and soft leather slides. “I’m so glad thongs are back,” she exclaimed, also noting the return of kitten heels, mesh flats, and fishnet styles.
For comfortable, all-day wear, she recommends Frankie4 for their elevated and supportive sandals. While she appreciates high-end pieces like chocolate-brown Alaïa mesh mules, she’s quick to highlight the value offered by brands like Therapy Shoes.
“They do fantastic budget-friendly shoes that are cute, fun and actually look good,” the fashion model stated. “I find they dip into those trends, so if you are liking those little kitten heels and fun sandals, they’re nailing it with the colours.”
6. T-Shirts with a Thoughtful Twist
When it comes to essential basics like t-shirts, Jessica believes that subtle design details can make a significant difference. She actively seeks out t-shirts featuring side splits, boat necks, or understated cut-outs, as these elements promote airflow and ease of movement.
“Heat rises,” she explained. “So I do look for those little splits and those little things that are going to create a bit of movement and flow. Not too tight.” For well-designed basics with these playful yet practical details, Jessica recommends brands such as Sneaky Link and VRG GRL.
Image: Instagram @jessica__lucey.
Trends That Still Need More Inclusivity
Despite the progress, Jessica points out specific trends that continue to present challenges for plus-size women due to limited availability.
Sequinned Skirts
Although Jessica leans towards a classic, minimalist aesthetic, she admits to being drawn to the allure of sequins. “They always come back, they’re always having a moment,” she observed. However, access remains a significant barrier. “There have been so many times where I can’t participate in a trend because it’s not available in my size.”
Silk Tie Shirts
Similar to her experience with the waist-tie scarf, silk tie shirts are another style Jessica admires but has found difficult to acquire in her size. The versatility of a well-sized scarf, which can be styled in numerous ways—from a waist tie to a draped top—makes it an invaluable summer fashion item.
For more in-depth fashion advice and discussions, you can listen to the Nothing To Wear podcast or watch their content on YouTube.
