Hey curvy girls all over the world,
When it comes to shopping straight size stores as a plus size girl, I am a self proclaimed expert. Many plus size women are afraid to step foot in a straight size store due to fear of discrimination and lack of knowledge, which is understandeable. It can be rough out there for a plus size girl in a skinny world. This post is to help those of you who don’t know, how to shop straight size stores as an alternative to plus size stores. The plus size industry is still growing with budding and seasoned plus size designers. However, I still feel there is a void in the market for contemporary and trendy styles in plus. Because of that, sometimes a girl like me has to seek out other stores to find that trendy piece I’m looking for. Brands like H&M, Top Shop, and Zara are the go to stores for trendy clothing. They don’t really carry plus sizes but they do carry clothes that can comfortably fit a plus size woman over a size 16 to about a 20. I know, because I have pieces from all of these stores and I am a size 18/20.
Now, don’t get me wrong. There are plus size brands out there like Monif C and Jibri who are making trendy and fashion forward styles for plus sizes. A number of bridge lines like Calvin Klein, Michael Kors, and DKNY also make modern classic styles for plus sizes. If you like a plus size brand, by all means support them. If you love you some Lane Bryant, Ashley Stewart, Just My Size, Avenue, Jessica London, go ahead and support them. However, depending on your size, don’t feel like those are the on places you can go. It’s okay to step outside your comfort zone every now and again.
Things you should know before you go:
1. A number of straight sized brands carry sizes 16 and 18 but never advertise them. Brands like Loft, New York and Company, and Ann Taylor go up to a size 18. Banana Republic, White House Black Market, H&M, and J. Crew go up to a size 16. With the exception of Ny&Co and White House Black Market all these brands offer size 16 & 18 online.
2. Befor shopping a straight size store you must Come to a place of acceptance of your plus size body. This is important
In addition to accepting your body, you must understand that not everything in the straight size store is going to fit you. There is a lot of trial and error.
A) Understand your shape, not your size, but your shape. Are you a pear, rectangle, oval, or an hourglass.
B) You must take your measurements. It is very important to know how many inches your waist, hips, and chest are. This will make shopping an ordering online so much easier.
For those of you that don’t know. A number of brands carry above a size 14 but never advertise that they do. Which drives me insane. Often the only way to get extended sizes from these straight size brands is to order online. Brands like Loft and Ann Taylor both go up to a size 18 and XXL. Years ago they used to carry atleast up to a 16 in store but now they only carry up to a 14 in store. Banana Republic and J. Crew are brands that go up to a size 16.
Great topic. Grid format would be great to get at a glance content/organization. Eddie Bauer also will not stock over a 14 in store, but they make MOST all ladies wear for 3X and they are generous in the plus sized style. Like they carry XS-XXL for ladies, in all styles. Plus sizes are 1X-3X. I am a XXL and 1X is really too big in most cases. The larger line is available in their catalog and online. If you go in and want a size not in-store or just not in stock there is a direct line to EB catalog agents. You pay nothing for shipping if you have it sent to your home. They also accept returns and exchanges in store. Nice perk that they offer. Classy styling – love my EB vests. I enjoy picking out a new one each season when they have their big sale. They hide my secret assets :).