8 plus size outfit looks built from basics
Plus size outfit formulas are repeatable top-plus-bottom recipes that work in any color, so one decision covers the whole week. Here are eight.
Plus size outfit formulas are fixed recipes: a top shape plus a bottom shape plus, sometimes, a third piece, repeated in any color. The eight below are tee + knit pant, tunic + leggings, tank + open shirt + capri, polo tunic + jeans, collared shirt + zip-fly jeans, rib tank + tiered skirt, tee dress + bike short, and woven blouse + wide-leg pant.
Each one is built from Woman Within® basics you can find across our plus size tops, with the lengths and inseams you need to choose the right size.
1. Tee + knit pant
The formula you'll repeat most pairs a relaxed tee with a pull-on knit pant. The Perfect Short-Sleeve V-Neck Tee is 28 inches long (26 inches in Petite) and doesn't cling, so it falls loose over the waistband instead of grabbing at it.
Underneath, the 7-Day Straight-Leg Knit Pant is high rise and sits above the waist. Inseams run 30 inches Average, 28 inches Petite, 26 inches Petite Short, and 33 inches Tall.
To repeat it, keep the shapes and change the colors: a printed tee one day, a solid the next, the same pant both times.
2. Tunic + leggings
For coverage over a legging, choose a tunic of about 30 inches. The Perfect Crewneck Tunic hits that 30-inch tunic length with a straight hem, the length shoppers mean when they say “long enough to cover my hips.”
Pair it with stretch-cotton pull-on leggings, which have a fully covered elastic pull-on waistband and a body-hugging silhouette that contrasts with a relaxed top. Some reviewers say your underwear may show through under leggings, so if that matters to you, choose a longer length tee or tunic to offer ample coverage.
Any 30-inch tunic works with any legging, so this formula scales across every top in that length.
3. Tank + open shirt + capri
This is the two-piece capri outfit built from separates: a tank, a button-down worn open as a light layer, and a knit capri. The open shirt adds a second layer and texture without adding much warmth.
Start with the Perfect Scoopneck Tank, 28 inches long (26 inches Petite) with side hem slits. Over it, the Short-Sleeve Button-Down Cotton Seersucker Shirt is designed to be worn open or closed and has roll-tab sleeves, 30 inches long (28 inches Petite).
Finish with the 7-Day elastic-waist knit capri, which has a 21-inch Average inseam and a 19-inch Petite inseam. One shopper found a tank's armholes roomy, so check the fit if you plan to take the shirt off.
4. Polo tunic + straight-leg jeans
A polo tunic over straight-leg denim gives you a collar and a more substantial knit with a casual pair of jeans. The Elbow-Sleeve Polo Tunic is a heavier-weight interlock knit, 30 inches long, with side hem slits.
Its product description says it “holds its shape and drapes without clinging.” Pair it with the Mid-Rise Stretch Denim 5-Pocket Straight-Leg Jeans (30 inches Average, 28 inches Petite, 34 inches Tall), or choose from other straight-leg jeans for women.
One reviewer found jeans too tight in the calf while the rest fit well, so compare the leg shape mentioned on our product page before you order, to ensure you're ordering the desired jean silhouette to suit your taste.
5. Collared shirt + zip-fly jeans
When you want a zipper and real denim, pair a collared shirt with back-elastic jeans. The Perfect Back-Elastic Gap-Free Straight-Leg Jeans are 100% cotton with a zip fly and button, and the back elastic waistband flexes so the waist stays close when you sit.
Inseams run 30 inches Average, 28 inches Petite, and 34 inches Tall, and reviewers praise back-elastic jeans that are real denim, have pockets, and aren't cut in a narrow leg.
On top, the Perfect Short-Sleeve Collared Button Down Shirt is wrinkle-resistant with a shirttail hem, 30 inches long (28 inches Petite). Wear it out over the waistband or half-tucked at the front, depending on where the rise sits on you.
6. Rib tank + tiered skirt
A rib tank over a tiered knit skirt is the warm-weather formula with the most movement. The Rib Knit Tank has wide straps and a 28-inch length, and its product page pairs it with this exact skirt.
The Elastic-Waist Knit Tiered Skirt has a smocked elastic waistband, slat pockets for a phone or keys, and a 25-inch length.
On a cooler day, swap the tank for the V-neck tee from formula 1, add a jean jacket and keep the skirt.
7. Tee dress + bike short
A tee dress with a bike short underneath gives you a one-piece outfit with a coverage layer for a day of walking and sitting. The Perfect Short-Sleeve Crewneck Tee Dress is A-line, 42 inches long, and has side pockets.
Under it, the Stretch Cotton Bike Short has a fully covered elastic waistband. Treat it as a coverage and comfort layer and choose your usual bottom size.
8. Woven blouse + wide-leg knit pant
For days that call for more than a tee, pair a woven blouse with a wide-leg knit pant. The Rayon Three-Quarter Sleeve Tab-front Blouse is woven rayon with three-quarter sleeves and a 30-inch tunic length, long enough to wear out over a pull-on waist.
The 7-Day Wide-Leg Knit Pant is a wide-leg knit pant with a pull-on waist, with inseams of 29 inches Average, 27 inches Petite, 25 inches Petite Short, and 33 inches Tall.
It's the formula for a workday: a woven top reads dressier, and the knit pant keeps the comfort of formula 1.
How do you size these formulas for your height?
Choose by length and inseam, not size alone. Most of these basics come in Petite and Tall versions with different measurements, and reviews note that tops and bottoms can run large, so check each size chart before you order.
A 30-inch top covers more than a 28-inch top, so reach for the 30-inch tunics and shirts when the bottom is a legging, and the 28-inch tees and tanks when the bottom is a skirt or high-rise pant.
| Piece | Measurement | Average / Regular | Petite | Tall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Perfect Short-Sleeve V-Neck Tee | Length | 28 in. | 26 in. | Not listed |
| Perfect Scoopneck Tank Top | Length | 28 in. | 26 in. | Not listed |
| Cotton Seersucker Button-Down Shirt | Length | 30 in. | 28 in. | Not listed |
| Perfect Collared Button Down Shirt | Length | 30 in. | 28 in. | Not listed |
| 7-Day Straight-Leg Knit Pant | Inseam | 30 in. | 28 in. (Petite Short 26 in.) | 33 in. |
| 7-Day Wide-Leg Knit Pant | Inseam | 29 in. | 27 in. (Petite Short 25 in.) | 33 in. |
| 7-Day Knit Capri | Inseam | 21 in. | 19 in. | Not listed |
| Mid-Rise Stretch Denim Straight-Leg Jeans | Inseam | 30 in. | 28 in. | 34 in. |
| Perfect Back-Elastic Straight-Leg Jeans | Inseam | 30 in. | 28 in. | 34 in. |
Frequently asked questions
What tops go with leggings for plus size?
Tops long enough to cover the hips and seat. A tunic of about 30 inches, such as the Perfect Crewneck Tunic or the Elbow-Sleeve Polo Tunic, gives that coverage over a body-hugging legging and reads as a finished outfit rather than a layer.
Can you wear a dress with shorts underneath?
Yes. A stretch cotton bike short under a knit tee dress adds coverage when you sit, walk, or bend, as well as modesty. Choose one with a fully covered smooth elastic waistband so the waist stays comfortable and remains flat under your dress all day.
Do the 7-Day knit pants sit high or low on the waist?
The Woman Within 7-Day Straight-Leg Knit Pant is high rise and sits above the waist. If you prefer a lower rise with a zipper, the Mid-Rise Stretch Denim Straight-Leg Jeans sit at mid rise.
Do these basics come in petite sizes?
Many do - yes! Our Perfect V-Neck Tee, Perfect Scoopneck Tank, and both button-down shirts come in Petite lengths. The 7-Day pants, 7-Day capri, and both straight-leg jeans list Petite inseams, and the 7-Day pants also come in Petite Short and Tall.
How do I build more outfits from basics I already own?
Keep one formula and change one variable at a time: color, print, or texture. A tee and knit pant in navy, then in a print, then with a seersucker shirt worn open gives you three outfits from one recipe.