If you are "plus-sized", a bigger large, or even have a larger chest, bigger hips, or a bigger butt, then you know the difficulties that come with shopping. I would go to the mall with friends or family and, until quite recently, hated going into stores that didn't carry my size.
I would walk around, hating my body, envious of those that could fit into cute and fashionable clothes. I have always been "bigger", making it difficult to shop in stores with my often thinner, straight sized friends.
I know I am not alone in this, and many suffer the same problem, especially younger gals that don't have a large access to shopping online or going to the mall all the time.
As a recap, straight sizes are your average, run of the mill, walk into any store sizes: Small to Large, sometimes including XS or XXS to an XL. Next, we have junior plus sizes, which, while varying from store to store, can be anywhere between XL to 3XL, or 0XL to 3X. Hint: XXL and 2X are NOT the same sizes.
XXL is significantly smaller than a 2X. Finally, there is the official plus sizes, which are usually 1X to 3X, 4X, or 5X. In pant or dress sizes, a 16 can be considered plus size, but more often plus sizes begin around 18 or 20. I know, I know all of these numbers getting thrown around are really confusing! There is also "oversized" wear (which we will get to later.)
With back to school season upon us, it can be hard to find clothes when you aren't straight sized or are a college student or a high school student with a budget. So here is a compiled list of stores with a large size range, varying from different price ranges, some online and some with stores you can find in almost any town.
Let me know if you have any questions, or if this helped you! For reference, I live in California, so some of these stores may be local.
The guide will be separated into stores, in no particular order, rated based on their quality, size range, and availability (five stars * being the best) - So let's get started:
1. Target
Price Range: **** Availability: ***** Size Range: *** Quality: ****
Target is a great place to go if you need something quick, or if you are on the smaller end of plus size fashion.
Their underwear is very junior plus, meaning that if you are close to a 2x-3x, they may not fit you comfortably. Their best underwear brand is Gilligan & O'Malley, which have a greater level of comfort and stretch than their more teen friendly brand, Xhilaration.
While Xhilaration has cute underwear and bralettes and is very often on sale (5 for $25 is their usual sale) they do not last very long and will often stretch, roll, and become misshapen or discolored. With that in mind, they have excellent tank tops, perhaps even better than the coveted Forever 21 tank top; they are soft, flattering, and come in a large range of colors.
They have, in most articles of clothing, up to an XXL. Their jeans are a hit and miss, since they don't cater to specific body types, and do often tear at the thighs. Their plus size brand, Ava & Viv, has some good pieces, especially for sweaters: but can run a bit expensive. Their overall rating comes to a *** for me, with tank tops and t shirts being their best article of clothing.
2. Charlotte Russe
Price Range: *** Availability: **** Size Range: **** Quality: ****
Charlotte Russe recently came out with a line of plus size bralettes, which are lovely. They come in many, many styles and colors, and are extremely affordable, ranging anywhere from $3 to $12. Up until charlotte russe, a cute bralette for a size 3X was near impossible to find, and when found, far too expensive.
So if you are on the hunt for some cute bralettes to wear underneath your fall sweaters, give charlotte russe a try! They have stores in most malls, but you will find your largest selection online. Their jeans are my absolute favorite, coming in a variety of styles, cuts, and sizes, up to a 20 or 22, and are my most recommended for girls with a larger tummy or that like a close to the body fit.
Jeans are usually on sale at buy one get one-half off. I have also found great outerwear here too, so if you are shopping for a good fall jacket, check them out. Their overall rating comes to a ****.
3. Forever 21
Price Range: **** Availability: *** Size Range: **** Quality: *** *
If you are plus-sized, you already know what a god send Forever 21 has been for years, but I'll include it anyway for those that don't know. 90% of my clothes come from here. They have great jackets, tops, skirts, dresses, and body suits, even athletic wear for very affordable prices.
The quality of their clothes, despite some reviews, is pretty good if they are taken care of properly: I get long wear times out of my items if I wash them according to their labels. Forever 21 was the first store I was able to walk into at the mall and shop with my straight sized friends.
However, not all shops have a large plus size section, and they only recently became larger, providing more clothes that extend their straight line instead of providing a completely separate, boring experience for plus sizes (H&M, I'm looking at you).
My only wish is that they up their availability, because sometimes you won't find much in store: meaning you have to shop online, which can be hard for plus sizes new to the game. This is why I can't give them a five-star rating, but they come in close, at **** and a half stars.
4. Torrid
Price Range: ** Availability: *** Size Range: **** Quality: ****
Ah, Torrid. I have a love hate relationship with Torrid that very recently turned more to hate after a bad return fiasco. But I digress: Torrid does have great clothes, especially if you are older and don't want to shop with teens.
They have excellent bras and amazing jeans: my favorite bra and favorite pair of jeans are from Torrid. But they are extremely expensive to the average shopper, especially to the average teen shopper. They also don't stray from their usual style, and don't offer fresh pieces - so if you have shopped them often, you have essentially shopped them to death.
They do offer coupons once a month in the mail, usually the same, so if you need to stock up on bras and underwear, which is reportedly the best for plus sizes, then these might soften the blow. Still, I would only suggest shopping here if you have nowhere else to go, and highly suggest trying out some other names on this list. *** star rating.
5. Fashion Nova
Price Range: **** Availability: ** Size Range: **** Quality: ****
Fashion Nova: if you have an Instagram, you have heard of it; everyone, from Kylie to your favorite Youtuber, wears them. So is the hype worth it? Definitely. If you are looking to expand your fashion style with fun pieces that you thought only straight sizes could wear, check out Fashion Nova.
They have fun very sexy pieces suitable for nights out, while also carrying your basics with a twist; sweaters to tops to skirts alike are some of my favorites. They are often at the head of "baddie" fashion, adding new pieces to their website almost every day.
They are quite affordable, and their jeans are probably their most popular. I do however suggest that if you are getting their coveted high waisted jeans to size down - these jeans are so high waisted they sit almost beneath your bra line.
Getting too big a size can result in an ill fit, so be weary of fabric and stretch when purchasing. I can only give them four stars due to their availability, which is almost strictly online. Check out your favorite YouTubers, like PassionJones, for 20% coupon codes.
6. H&M
Price Range: *** Availability: * Size Range: ** Quality: **
Sigh. Okay, let's try and get through this one without a rant. H&M is one of those stores that claims to cater to different body types but really doesn't. Their clothes are boring and just... kind of ugly. Their availability, at least in my store, is half a wall.
Their clothes overall just hang and are sloppily put together. With that being said, I have heard good things about their oversized straight section - which would require you going into the store to try the pieces on. Due to that, H&M is our lowest rated store, with a * star rating.
7. Old Navy
Price Range: **** Availability: ***** Size Range: *** Quality: ***
Old Navy is a hit or miss type of store. While their shirts are great, soft, and cute, their jeans truly depend on your body type. I have known people that have a big butt, hips, and thighs to love their jeans and they fit them beautifully. But for me, a girl with a stomach and slimmer legs, they all fit terribly and rather uncomfortably.
They are too tight up top and too loose on the bottom, making them unflattering everywhere. If it is your first time shopping here, I suggest finding a store near you and taking a large chunk of time to try out all of their jeans - trust me, they have many different styles, and their sizing is a bit different from any other stores.
I am a solid 18 across the board, no matter where I go, but at Old Navy, I'm a 16 if I am lucky to find a pair that fits. Some 18's though, are too tight. So you really have to explore and want to have the patience to do so, but save yourself some time and just go to stores that cater to your body type in their jean selection.
With that, I give Old Navy a 3 and a half * rating, since their dresses and shirts are really lovely.
8. Kohls
Price Range: *** Availability: ***** Size Range: ** Quality: **
I debated even including this one, but due to its fairly wide availability, I decided to give a short blurb on it. Kohls has cute clothes - if you are 12-16 years old. I shopped there often when I was in high school, up until their clothes no longer fit me.
Their jeans worked for me for a while, but they definitely don't cater to women's bodies - meaning they are unforgiving to those with hips or a larger stomach, or any type of butt. If you are younger and need more range in clothing, you can try here, since their prices are fair, they often have coupons and it's a store that will have huge savings for back to school; * and a half star rating.
9. Victoria Secret/Pink (?)
Price Range: ** Availability: ***** Size Range: *** Quality: *****
No, Victoria Secret nor Pink cater to plus sizes. Yes, that is a problem. No, I don't have three hours to discuss it (right now, anyway) but they DO have clothes for you plus sized gals out there that just can't live without their college girl popular pieces. Their boyfriend sweats are my absolute favorite sweats in the world, ever.
They are soft, comfortable, and fit perfectly. They are flattering and just... beautiful, really. If you want or need something from Pink, try their boyfriend sweats. They won't disappoint you. Their tops, particularly their long sleeves, are often oversized and a 2X-3X can get away with a large if it is particularly oversized. Tip: Keep an eye out for labels like "boyfriend" and "oversized."
These are usually perfect for plus-sized folks. In their underwear department, I find their boy shorts that took twitter by storm are particularly comfortable, with a thicker waistband that covers the tummy, full coverage for your butt, and thicker material that doesn't roll down like their seamless panties.
While their customers would certainly grow if they catered to plus sizes, we have yet to see any turn in that direction: but here is to hoping. *** star rating, mostly because of the sweats. Seriously, go try them out.
And that's all for now!
If you have a store you would like a review on, let me know, or if you are shopping for a particular article of clothing and need recommendations, feel free to ask - or if you are also a plus size shopping connoisseur, drop your tips in the comments so we can all help each other out.
I know shopping while plus size can be frustrating, but hopefully, this guide helps someone make their journey a little bit easier.
