As an avid online shopper, I frequently notice the abundance of different categories of apparel that are available to customers. It typically ranges from men, women, kids and maternity to plus sizes for women.
On some websites, such as Old Navy, you can also find subcategories such as petite and tall to reach further clientele. Though something that always seems to be missing is a plus sized section for men.
Sure, you have your specialty stores such as Destination XL, but these stores are costly and usually really out of the way location wise.
Some department stores, such as Dillards and Nordstrom, offer Big and Tall sections for men, but at department store prices. Many fast fashion stores such as Forever 21 and H&M still lack this section, even though they both have plus sizes for women.
As a woman who frequently shops in the plus size section, I find it frustrating that a man is not offered that same convenience. I mean, there was also a time when plus size women also only had specialty stores to shop at, why aren't we accommodating men the same way.
The plus sized fashion category can still use a lot of work overall. It is a part of the fashion industry that is frequently overlooked and swept under the rug. When going into Forever 21 or H&M it is never certain that there will be the same wide variety of options in their plus size section that they offer to other sizes or that there will be a plus size a section at all.
It is disappointing to see how beauty standards have changed and gone down a (mostly) downward slope.
Plus size apparel is also known for being unflattering and of lesser quality as opposed to their other sized sections of clothing. ASOS, a well-known British fast fashion retailer, has recently launched a plus sized men section and has promising reviews that say the prices are affordable and the clothes are in style.
I hope that with ASOS' advancements in redefining beauty standards other retailers will soon follow in their footsteps.