Hey curvy girls all over the world,
I am what you would call a true shopper. There is no clothing store I won’t go to. Before I became a plus size blogger and before I came to know about all the amazing plus size designers and brands, I was a plus size girl who frequented straight sized/ Missy stores. I never really shopped in plus size. The bulk of my wardrobe came from straight sized stores. I learned from the women in my family that size doesn’t always matter when it comes to shopping. There are other elements to finding the right clothes for shape. It’s just as important to focus on the cut of clothes just as much as the size. Not only is the cut of a garment an important factor when shopping while plus, knowing that every designer and apparel brand doesn’t follow the same measurements is important too. You may be a size 12 in one brand and a 16 in another.
I receive quite a few emails from women who just can’t fathom that I fit my size 18 body into an H&M Large or 14 comfortably or how I’m able to shop at non plus size stores like Loft, Ann Taylor, or Banana Republic. Well, I will share my knowledge with those of you who don’t know.
Here are 3 things every plus size girl should know about straight sized stores.
1- Straight size stores like Loft, Ann Taylor, and New York & Company carry sizes up to an 18. Yes, that’s right you heard me. These stores don’t advertise it but they do. Often times they are carried online only. Before the recession Loft and Ann Taylor carried up to a size 16 in store. Even J. Crew has joined the band wagon and offers select styles up to a size 20. Yup!
2-As a former retail employee of quite a few clothing stores I know that anything above a size 12 is never ordered in abundance. Companies order few of sizes 12 and 14 which is one of the reasons they’re always the first to go. Hello, the average American woman is a size 14, so you would think they would order more.
3-Fast fashion stores like H&M tend to cut their clothes on the fuller side and depending on the current trends sometimes a garment may have been designed to be worn loose or draped and it winds up fitting your plus size curves perfectly.
4-When shopping straight size stores it’s important to try things on. As I stated above, different cuts for different brands. It’s better to try things on than to just look at it and say it’s not going to fit. You will be presently surprised.
It is unfortunate that many of these stores fail to advertise that they carry above a size 14 and it’s even more unfortunate that they don’t use models in the size 14-18 realm to showcase looks that they offer in larger sizes.
Back in 2010 Loft actually created a buzz when they showed how to wear a pair of harem pants by using everyday women in their offices. This was a hit with consumers. So why not continue pushing the envelope by creating the same thing on their website or just by using bigger models?
Straight size brands that carry above a size 14
J. Crew-00-20 Yup, J. Crew now carries size 18 and 20 in their special occasion dresses
Ann Taylor-0-18 XXS-XXL
H&M 0-16-size 16 in select styles.
Loft–0-18 XXS-XXL-Generous cuts in dresses, Julie fit pants are the best for curves. Ann fit is best for an ample tummy.
Banana Republic-00-16 XXS-XL Note: Generous cuts in tops and dresses. Jackson fit pants are the best for full hips and ample rear
New York & Company–0-18, XS-XL
Gap–00-20-Generous cuts in tops and dresses
Excellent article, as usual, and the tips are right on time. Chico’s also carries plus sizes online as does Neiman Marcus who closed their brick/mortar plus size dept a few years back. It’s just amazing how short sighted the retail industry can be! BTW, I’m a size 22 and I’m wearing an H&M top today! And it’s a actually a bit loose….
Thank you so much for this post! I’ve been searching for two outfits and this just gives me more confidence that I’ll find something perfect!
GREAT article, I didn’t know J. Crew and H&M carried larger sizes. I do alot of shopping in straight size stores for dresses and tops, especially since flowy and dolman styles are popular.
Really interesting (I was the one who clicked it)! I tend to work from a similar philosophy. Things can fit you depending on the cut. Just because it says a size 16-18 and you are a 20-22 doesn’t mean it wont fit It work on your shape. I think the looks I get in the past have put me off certain shops but that is something you just have to get past!
Hailes<3
i’ve been a Gap girl for years and my inner bourgeise ( not spelled right, lol) also desires Jcrew, but at a consistent size 18, i’m always searching the racks and online for something over size 12. All of the places you mentioned are hit or miss, but 18’s and 20’s are floating around. When you are aware , you know where to peak. i get a rush from finding things to fit me in stores even my ‘straight” sized friends don’t think to look in. +
Great tips!
Very helpful post!!! I will be checking these sites because I hardly ever go into the straight sizes stores. From now on I will definitely be checking them out! Thanks!
Great tips! The bulk of my clothes come from straight sized stores and I am an 18.
Actually, prior to Seventeen magazine’s “curvy” girl features and blogging, I didnt know about stores like Torrid, F2F, Asos etc. All I knew was certain things from certain store fit me. The loose drapey things in Forever 21, H&M, Charlotte Russe etc. were perfect fits for me. It’s all about trying things on.
~Sherine
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Confessions Of A City Girl
Thanks for sharing. It is so important to try on clothes. I am always presently surprised.
I remember years ago I was able to fit my size 12 body into a size 8 dress.
One more quick add: Talbots misses sizes go up to 20. Like many of the other stores you mentioned, they don’t consistently carry the extended sizes in stores, however. I usually am able to get those in store if they are a catalog or Web site return.
Thank you so much for this article. I can’t tell you how much of a help it is !!
Thanks Ladies!
Thanks for posting this, great info. As a personal stylist I’m always trying to stay on top of what I can find where. It’s astonishing to me how few stores carry larger sizes considering so many if not most women need them. You’d think they’d realize they’re losing money.
Talbots actually has plus sizes up to 24 or 3X. I’m a 22, and buy most of my clothes there. Certainly online, and their stores have 2 sides for regular and plus. http://www.talbots.com
In addition, JJill online only carries a full range in plus sizes up to 24, 4X. http://www.jjill.com