Plus Size Clothing Brands Women Actually Want To Wear
Unlike many others, these brands are killing the plus size clothing game.
As recently as a few years ago, most plus size clothing was just plain unfashionable (and all the same). It was pretty difficult to find something trendy and original if you wanted to update your wardrobe from season to season. Contrarily, there was never a lack of tent dresses that hid waists instead of showing them off, or tunic tops that hung loosely on gorgeous curvy frames instead of celebrating them. Luckily, with the advent of so many beautiful curvy fashion bloggers like Callie Thorpe, Stephanie Yeboah, and Katie Sturino (who replicates outfits seen on celebrities who wear smaller sizes — seriously, check out her Instagram page), chic plus size clothing brands are hitting the scene. From lesser-known boutique brands to fast fashion and high-street stores, so many awesome plus size sellers are providing women a variety of clothing to choose so they can hone and create their own personal sense of style instead of having to wear what is available to her. While we all love investment pieces, it's also fun to head to British high-street store ASOS and make a few wallet-friendly spontaneous purchases for a night out, right? Sometimes, you just need a new dress to wear to work to make the work day a bit more fun, and for that, we turn to Eloquii.
Thankfully, the body positive movement has arrived (these gorgeous plus size wedding dresses are a testament to that), and it's not going anywhere. J.Crew has made strides, as well: The brand now runs up to size 28 in dresses and 37 in jeans, and most online items are shown off by three differently shaped models. Ditto for Madewell. In this age of Instagram filters and curated lifestyles, it's more important than ever to see versions of ourselves in fashion, social media, and in clothing that celebrates people of all shapes and sizes. Today, there's a plethora of options, and every woman can channel her inner fashionista, bohemian, minimalist, pinup, or whatever her style may be.
Often, brands are successful because their founders were personally looking for something on the market and couldn't find it, so they created it themselves. That's the case with many new plus size clothing brands: They were created by gorgeous plus size women who had a vision of what they wanted to wear, but couldn't find it in their size. It's amazing how a great-looking dress can put a pep in anyone’s step, so we rounded up the best plus size brands that will have just that effect. Here's to getting you excited about shopping again.
Eloquii
Eloquii carries sizes 14 to 28, and the brand is basically the holy grail of chic plus size clothing. It actually launched in 2011 with The Limited, but later shut down. In 2014, it returned as a free-standing brand and has enjoyed much success. Everything is under $200, and there are semi-frequent sales. We love Eloquii's array of gorgeous dresses. The site offers every style, from soft midi dresses to long-sleeve numbers to short-sleeve mini shift dresses. Eloquii also offers jackets, shoes, pants, tops, lingerie, and accessories, but its dress collection is especially clutch.
The brand is also a big fan of collaborations, and we love a good collab. It recently launched a new collection with dress designer Jason Wu (who dressed Michelle Obama) and has worked with Reese Witherspoon's brand, Draper James. The Draper James collection contains everything you see the actress wearing in paparazzi shots, from floral A-line dresses and plaid skirts to chambray button-down shirts and blazers.
ASOS Curve
British e-store ASOS is the best place for impulsive plus size shopping, since the retailer gets new inventory every single day. It's also pretty affordable, and offers free shipping and returns. ASOS has several collections that cater to different women, including Maternity, Tall, Curve, and Petite. The clothing in the Curve collection really flatters enviably curvy bodies, from pretty wrap dresses and high-waist denim skirts to comfortable skinny jeans and cozy basic t-shirts. You can also find coats, bathing suits, and every other type of plus size clothing there. We love that, while some of the ASOS collections overlap (ASOS sells the same dress in ASOS Curve, ASOS Maternity, Petite, and Tall), many of the items in the Curve collection are exclusives. Buyers get unique pieces that complement their shapes. Also, Curve's plus size coat collection is pretty extensive, so if you're a coat person, you will not be disappointed. From fabulous faux fur jackets and leopard-print coats to classic khaki rain jackets and cute toggle coats, ASOS pretty much has it all.
Torrid
Torrid made waves in 2017 with a ground-breaking plus size runway show at New York Fashion Week, but the brand has been a staple for plus size style mavens for years. Torrid produces well-made, affordable plus size pieces ranging from sizes 10 to 30. Its vibe is a fusion of rock 'n' roll and urban chic with a dash of dreamy flare. We love the site's wide range of plus size garments, from playful, sophisticated lingerie to funky velvet anorak jackets — not to mention denim that's made just for your figure. Torrid does not mess around. It rocks every piece.
The site has a "how we fit guide" on its website that breaks down the fit styles of all its denim and lingerie. Where your bust is concerned, Torrid separates its plus size lingerie into four areas of measurement: straps, cups, band, and underwire. This is a brand that knows the perfect bra makes the perfect outfit even more, well, perfect. Then, there's the denim: On Torrid's website, you enter a world of blue with every booty-flattering shape imaginable. Boyfriend? Check. Bootcut? Check. And for those of you who've been binging That ’70s Show on Netflix, Torrid's got flare.
ModCloth
We've always loved ModCloth for its cute, vintage-inspired dresses, and we love it even more now that it's added adorable plus size dresses to its repertoire. From cocktail dresses — perfect for a wedding, picnic, cocktail party, or any other event on your schedule — to wedding dresses, you can find just about anything. One of our favorite ModCloth gowns is a lace, three-quarter sleeve dress by Chi Chi London. Nipped at the waist with illusion sleeves, a sweetheart bodice, and an A-line skirt that hits just below the knee, it would be perfect for an outdoor garden wedding (or city hall nuptials). When you click on an item on the brand's website, you can see images of everyday ladies wearing it. It's so fun to see snapshots of them at their weddings!
Gwynnie Bee
For women who do not love shopping, this online clothing subscription service is a fashion lifesaver. Gwynnie Bee’s flattering, inclusive options (it offers sizes 0 – 32) include a variety of dresses, tops, pants, and jumpsuits to suit your everyday life.
Here's how it works: You fill out a form online and share the brands you wear and how they fit you, then you choose from tons of categories, like shirts and blouses, dresses, and jackets. A package of curated picks comes in the mail, and there you go! You can rent the clothes or buy them at a discounted retail price. It's the perfect solution for those days when you feel like you have a closet full of clothes but nothing to wear. Everyone has been there, right? Oh! Last, but not least: They offer free shipping and free returns.
Lane Bryant’s Cacique
Lane Bryant has a great edit of plus size clothing and accessories, but we also love its plus size lingerie, athleisure, and intimates brand, Cacique. No longer must you wear unflattering, unpretty bras that aren’t supportive. Cacique makes gorgeous, delicate-looking bras that provide women with larger cups the support they need. Cacique offers 78 sizes of bras and supplies women up to size 50K. It also has a bra guide that's helpful when shopping online (full coverage, no wire, balconette, T-shirt, plunge, strapless, bralette, etc.) so you don't have to sift through tons of bras you don’t need. The site also has cute pajama sets, bikinis and one-piece swimsuits, activewear, shapewear, and robes.
Shop Lane Bryant's Cacique here.
Coedition
Coedition is a plus size fashion site that carries a huge collection of awesome plus size designers, from RACHEL Rachel Roy and Little Mistress to Hanky Panky (one of our favorite intimate clothing brands) and Cosabella. It also carries tons of accessories, like jewelry, shoes, handbags, belts, pins, and scarves, so if you're a one-stop shop kind of girl, Coedition will be the perfect site for you.
Adrianna Papell
Finding the right evening wear can be difficult, regardless of your size. Adrianna Papell makes it easy because this brand specializes in formal wear, from bridesmaid dresses to wedding dresses.
The brand's site is also easy to navigate. In the plus size section, shoppers can peruse by occasion, whether that's date night, a party, homecoming, a rehearsal dinner, or a wedding. You can also shop by style, if you're looking for a particular silhouette.
City Chic
For great skinny jeans that fit like a glove and aren't insanely uncomfortable, you need to check out City Chic. The brand has a great denim selection, from mini denim skirts and shorts to corseted skinny jeans (it also has on-trend denim pinafores, if you're in the market). We love that everything CC makes is a little trendy, but not too trendy — there's an element of timelessness in every item so you feel like each purchase will still be wearable two years later.
Violeta by Mango
The Europeans have struck gold again! Everything offered by Mango's plus size brand, Violeta, is affordable, which is great (and surprising, because its pieces are so chic, you'd think prices would be higher). In terms of dresses, it offers body-con, long-sleeve sequin dresses (perfect for New Year's Eve parties!), work-appropriate checked shirt dresses, and probably the chicest mustard yellow jumpsuit we've ever seen. Violeta also has colorful corduroy trousers in shades like red and navy that are perfect for the fall and winter, along with cozy leggings that we definitely need.
We hope you love these brands! Just so you know, Livingly may collect a share of sales from the links on this page.
