Are you a large person?  join the club.  You're in good company, and this article may be for you.

I'm going to let you in on a little secret.  It's no shame to be fat.  I'm going to let you in on another little secret.  There are more of us than there are of them, (the beautiful people.)  My point is that large people have been taught by society that we are less desireable and less likely to succeed.  That simply is not true, (unless you want to be a petit clothes model.)  But...there are things that a large person can do to enhance his image: attitude (a sense of humor), dress, and health.

Part I of this article, (which discusses having a sense of humor), can be viewed in the article section of my website mentioned at the end of this article.

Dressing for success.  The primary building block for dressing successfully is good personal hygiene.  My father once told me, "We, (large people), have to take care of ourselves in places other people don't even have places."  This statement is true for many of us.  It is essential for large people to practice good personal hygiene.   Expensive clothing can't make up for bad personal hygiene whether a person is thin or large.  Take time to trim the fingernails and comb your hair and bathe well.  The few extra minutes it takes to practice good personal hygiene are well worth the investment.

Dress Appropriately.  Large people can't wear small people clothing and look their best.  We must dress for our size.

When I was in grade school I was constantly in trouble for wearing my shirt tails on the outside of my jeans.  Every time the principal caught me breaking the rules he marched me into his office and gave me swats.  After my third whack session the principal asked, "Why do you insist on wearing your shirt tails out?  You know you'll get into trouble."

I tucked my shirt inside my trousers and said, "Look.  When I tuck my shirt inside my trousers I look like I'm a fat person that's trying to be thin, but when I wear my shirt on the outside of my jeans I look like someone who knows how to dress for his size.  I look much better with my shirt tails out, and I'm willing to take swats to do it."

The principal conceded that I indeed looked better.  We compromised.  I could wear my shirt tails out as long as my shirts were square-cut.

The point of the story is that large people should not try to dress thin.  I usually get embarrassed for large people who try to wear clothes that are unflattering.  Our bodies are not our strong point.  I've seen many large women who dress for their size and are absolutely beautiful.  They're usually referred to as full-figured women.  There are many attractive styles of clothes that are available for the full-figured woman.

Men have a tougher time finding clothes for "dress" occasions that are flattering.  Most large men's suits are still of the "tuck-in" variety.  If you have to wear a "tuck-in" suit, do not wear a tight fitting suit.  Give yourself a chance to breathe with comfortable fitting clothes.  (I prefer lighter made materials so that I don't become too hot or uncomfortable in a stuffy room.)

I prefer to wear "untucked" square-cut shirts whenever possible.  I've worn square-cut shirts under suit jackets to all manner of business functions and have had very few problems as long as I have dressed tastefully.  Dress so that your abilities and strengthes are enhanced.  Don't let poor clothing selections detract from your strengths.

Don't wear wrinkled clothes whenever possible.  A wrinkled garment says that you don't care about your appearance.  Choose clothing materials that are mostly wrinkle free.

Wear a smile.  A smile is the most important part of your appearance.  People like being around happy people. 

Remember that a good attitude, (a sense of humor), and dressing for success are two major building blocks of successfully "Living Large in a Thin World."  Living healthy will be addressed in the third part of this series.

About the Author.  Mark Brown, who writes under the pen name J-me, has served as vice president of three corporations and president of a non-profit corporation.  He has been an instructor and is the author of three technical manuals and his hilarious book "Mason Bricklin" which can be viewed on his web site at www.masonbricklin.net