One of the biggest complaints I hear from my fellow curvy girls is that it is they have a hard time finding clothes. Many stores don't carry plus sizes (although I have noticed more and more stores starting to expand their sizes! THANK YOU). Plus, a lot of plus size clothes currently on the market are not very flattering- I cannot even count the number of times that I've heard women say everything they've tried on was either a shapeless tent or "frumpy".Even worse, many BEAUTIFUL curvy women hate shopping because they don't like the way they look. For many many years, magazines, ads, movies, etc. have been telling us that thin is beautiful, and people with extra weight are shamed and criticized. All of this can result in shopping trips that are frustrating, disheartening and sometimes completely depressing.
I am fortunate because I have always LOVED shopping and fashion. While many shopping trips were frustrating, and occasionally ended in tears (not gonna lie!), for the most part, I was always able to find things that I really liked. Over the years, my personal style has changed and morphed, but one thing has always remained true- I love bright colors, and I love to stand out! No shy little flower here. Through my many many shopping trips (including online shopping of course!) I have come up with the following tips and suggestions to help make shopping and finding clothes a bit nicer (hopefully!) Who knows, maybe you will also soon start to love shopping as much as I do!1. Find your own personal style. Your clothes should be a reflection of your personality. You want to look at your clothes and be excited to put them on! If you are an upbeat, fun person who loves bright colors and patterns, but end up always wearing black and navy because "it's camouflaging" you're probably not going to be very excited to put your clothes on every morning.
Ask yourself the following questions: What do you like? What colors speak to you, what sort of patterns do you like, what kind of fabrics? Are you a casual jeans and t-shirt kind of gal? An elegant dresses and heels lady? Are you sporty chic? Comfy in leggings and tunics? A free spirit in flowy skirts? Knowing what style you like will help you narrow down the stores you shop at.
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(P.S. Let me know if you guys are interested in a blog post dedicated to finding your shape and what styles work well)
3. Do not get stuck on a size! This one gets a lot of people, especially with the negativity around "going up a size". It is mentally challenging to put on something that is a size bigger than what you normally wear. The problem with this is that different brands size things differently! While you may be a size 20 at most stores, there may be one store that you need to wear a size 24, and another where you wear a size 18. Further, different styles may fit you differently based on your shape. For example, I am pear-shaped (smaller in the chest, and bigger hips, booty and thighs), so in a peplum top that flares at the waist I can probably size down, but in a tunic style top that goes straight down, I am probably going to need a size (or two) larger to fit over my hips. If you are fixated on only wearing "your size", you can either end up wearing clothes that are ill-fitting, OR miss out on a style that would work really well because you don't want to size up. This is not an easy thing to get past, trust me, I know, but do yourself a favor, and stop looking at the size on the tag as some sort of a magic judgemental number.
4. Avoid wearing clothes that are too big or too small. This tip seems pretty obvious, but our mental trips can really get in the way with this one too. Many people mistakenly believe that wearing something really big will either make them look smaller or will hide them. The truth is that most of the time if you wear something that is too big, it's just unlikely to be flattering and isn't going to do much for you. Now don't get me wrong- some styles are meant to be oversized, and this can be very comfortable! I am not totally opposed to oversized clothes, but as a general rule, try to find clothes that are well fitted. Similarly, things that are too small can be uncomfortable and unflattering. We can get caught up in the desire to fit into a smaller size, and get excited if we can. This can result in wearing clothes that don't quite fit simply because it feels good to get into that size (similar to tip #3).
5. Find Stores that carry clothes that fit your style and flatter your shape. This is HUGE! Once you find stores or brands that you know work well for you, it becomes so much easier to find things you love. At the end of this post, I will list a few of the stores and brands that I personally like best!
6. Be Confident and wear your clothes with pride. This is much easier when you find things that are flattering, comfortable and suit your personal style. If you feel uncomfortable, you will look uncomfortable. If you feel happy and confident, it will show in your smile, your eyes, your walk and yes, your clothes. Personally, I think this is the most important tip, but also one of the hardest because it has to come from within. Learning to love yourself is not an easy task for many people (and this has nothing to do with size, shape, age, sex, etc.- I know so many phenomenal, beautiful people that do not like the way they look and judge themselves harshly- this is not limited to plus size women!). We are taught from a very young age to be self-critical and to find our flaws. This is so ingrained, that learning to love what you see can feel impossible. To start with, I suggest making a list of the things you love about yourself- this list doesn't have to be all physical traits but should include at least one physical trait. I know, it may be hard at first, but force yourself to do it anyways. If you are having a hard time making a list, ask your best friend, your mother, your partner- I guarantee they will have some great things to add! Then, whenever you hear that negative judgmental voice in your head, look at your list. This will help you start to build up confidence. Over time, add to the list, I bet you will start to notice more and more of the phenomenal things that make you special. Great clothes can also help to build your confidence, so finding a few pieces that make you feel amazing can really help you on your way. (I plan to do many posts on body positivity and learning to love yourself, so stay tuned). A few Stores and Brands that I LOVE
Note- at the time of this post I am not sponsored by any of these companies, just sharing some of what I've found works great for me.
Lularoe- This is my current personal FAVORITE! About 70% of my wardrobe consists of Lularoe. This is a consultant based business (I will be doing plenty more Lularoe posts, and will be sharing information from some of the Consultants that I have found to provide excellent customer service!)
What I love about this brand is that the clothes are all really really comfortable. They are most well known for their buttery soft, super cozy leggings (see several of my pictures above for samples), but they have tons of different styles- shirts, dresses, skirts, kimonos, etc. I have found several of the styles to be very flattering for my particular shape, and they have clothes that flatter every possible body type. The clothes run from XXS up to 3XL, and most are generously cut with stretchy fabric. This means that if you find a style you like, you can often wear it in multiple sizes. The patterns are limited edition and constantly changing, so the variety is amazing! The best way to find consultants for this brand is to go on Facebook and do a search for it.
Torrid- I have been a fan of Torrid for at least 15 years! Unfortunately, there is no Torrid on Maui, so I do most of my shopping online. This is a store that is exclusively plus size, with sizes ranging from 10 to 30. Torrid has a lot of fun and funky clothes, which is something that I personally love. They are a sister store to Hot Topic, so, if you enjoy alternative fashion (punk, goth, retro, etc.) Torrid is likely to have items that you will like. This is a great place to get pop culture items (Disney, Marvel, Dr. Who, Barbie, Hello Kitty, Harry Potter, etc.) They also have plenty of classic and popular styles, so don't be intimidated if you don't like bolder styles.
Maurices- When I was in High School and College, Maurices was one of the stores that I loved to shop in, but rarely found clothes that would fit. Fortunately, they expanded their sizing and now carry up to size 26! Maurices has a lot of good basics (jeans, leggings, tanks, tees, etc.) and carries current popular trends. I think that most people can find something that they like from Maurices. I have always had good luck with the fit of items from Maurices, and they are one of my go-to stores.
Old Navy- Similar to Maurices, Old Navy has a lot of good basics and appeals to a wide audience. Another great thing is that their prices are pretty reasonable, and you can often find some really great clearance deals. Old Navy plus sizes are only available online, but stores carry up to an XXL, and the clothes are typically generously sized.
Lane Bryant- Lane Bryant is another exclusive plus size clothing store. I don't shop from Lane Bryant that often anymore because there are no stores on Maui, but when I lived in Minnesota I used to shop there quite a bit. Lane Bryant is a bit more expensive, but the quality is great. I find Lane Bryant to be really great for professional and dressy attire (something that I don't really need to wear much these days). I also really like their undergarments.
I hope that these stores give you a good starting place to begin searching for new clothes and that my tips are helpful. There are many many more awesome stores that cater to plus-size ladies, and I hope to explore more brands and stores in the future. Please let me know if you have any favorite stores, I would love to check them out!
