For all the pleasently plump gals

[Mishetta]

Catherine's carries very nice things. A little pricey but very nice selection. I don't know if they're all over though. I know they are in MI & in CA & OH.

 

[Disney Doll]

I have had good luck at Dress Barn Woman (although this spring season the larger size clothing has been more "matronly" and I said something to them about it!). I do a lot of catlog as well.

Some of my favorites:

Lands End
LL Bean
Eddie Bauer
Jessica London
Chadwicks
Willow Brook
Draper and Damon's
Coldwater Creek
Alight.com

Some of my larger size friends have started to rave about Chicos, but I haven't been there yet.

I agree that many of the manufacturers of larger size clothing think:
1. The person wearing it is 85 years old and very matronly
2. We want big flowers on everything
3. We want cutesy embroidery on everything
4. We don't need shoulder pads(I'm not talking huge "Dynasty" shoulder pads, but just a small one would make some garments "fall" better!)
5. Everything should be boxy, with nothing that's shaped (I'm not talking tight) or nipped at the waist... I may be big, but I do have a "figure")

Good luck in your search!!!!

 

[hercamore]

Land's End and Eddie Bauer have nice clothes in XL and XXL.

herc.

 

[MAC3]

Thank God I found this thread. I have 2 weddings this summer and have an extra 30 lbs on me this year. So I have yet to start shopping for something to wear.

 

[aprincessmom]

I've always had a hard time finding business appropriate clothes. I lost about 50 lbs. and am now in a 16 or 18 and still have a hard time finding them but mostly because I'm looking for something I like...which is a whole different story

I've had good luck with finding clothes of any kind (casual, business or formal) at:

Talbots
Lands End
Nordstroms
Coldwater Creek
Lord and Taylor

I occasionally get Old Navy stuff but find that I can take 3 different pairs of pants into the dressing room, all the same size and style and get three different fits. My DD who is 8 and thin as a rail has the same problem with their clothes. I think their stuff is cut horribly but for the money it's a good one season wonder if you can find the one size 16 in the capris that fits you properly!

 

[momof3disneyholics]

I've been a 16/18 since I had my twins 4 years ago, and I find great clothes at Cato. The prices are very good too!

 

[minniecarousel]

I REALLY like Coldwater Creek. There is a store near-by, but even the catalogue is easy to shop. I love their sales!

There used to be a plus-size store near-by that was called "Pretty & Plump" arrgh! I used to call it "Fat & Happy"! What a horrible name for a store!

 

[missypie]

Have you actually tried on the largest sizes at mainstream but stylish stores like Banana Republic? It's a well known fact that the higher priced stores cut their sizes "generously" to flatter their customers. I've always been small, but after having 3 kids I went from a size 6 to a size 8. However, the stores at which I shop have started cutting their clothes larger, and now I'm a size 4 at Talbots and a 2 at Banana Republic...believe me, I haven't gotten smaller...the clothes have gotten larger! So their size 16 is probably really a 20.

I had a similar complaint when I shopped for maternity clothes...I kept finding cutesy clothes like jeans with bows on them...fine for a 17 year old pregnant girl...not fine for a 38 year old pregnant woman.

I really think the clothing industry could boost their sales if they looked at what size women really ARE...and how dare anyone to presume that heavier women need to wear certain colors or patterns....

They also need to realize that girls are developing/growing sooner and are getting larger. So many of the middle school aged girls I know have physically outgrown the stores that target their age group, so then they move up to the "teen" clothes that are inappropriate for them (many aren't that appropriate for the teens either!)

 

[luvdisney81]

Wow you guys have helped so much!!! Lifted my spirits that I may just find something to wear. After losing so much weight, down to a 16/18 I find it frustrating having to rebuy clothes. Never finding a good fit, everything is cut to think your ***** are perky up to your chin. Can make a good day sour. Well I will have to hit Lerner and others in my area. Thanks! Glad this was a helpful thread for others too.

 

[hockeymom7691]

I love shopping at The Avenue. They also have a website. Their clothes fit nice. They can be a bit pricey but about the same as Lane Bryant. You can sign up and get tons of coupons though. They even sell shoes which are so comfy!

It seems that everything at Fashion Bug runs so darn small where Avenue is true to size!

 

[Mimi Q]

I have found some cute plus size clothes at Cato.

 

[theSurlyMermaid]

Posting to say I find it absolutely hilarious that at most stores you can't find any size 10s but you will find an absolute swamp of 0 through 4s. Why? Because everyone has bought out the 10s and left the clothes that don't fit anyone!

 

[SC Minnie]

My problem with the clothes in style right now is that they don't have a waist! I have size 12 bottom and 10 top with small waist. I try on pants or skirts and the waist sticks out 2 inches. When will the clothes designers realize that some of us do have a waist/hips and are not size 0!!!!!

 

[MScott1851]

Posting to say I find it absolutely hilarious that at most stores you can't find any size 10s but you will find an absolute swamp of 0 through 4s. Why? Because everyone has bought out the 10s and left the clothes that don't fit anyone!

ITA!!!

I used to be friends with a girl who worked at The Limited, and she would always call me the morning that she got a new shipment in, because they would send ONE 14L pair of pants. I kid you not. One pair out of a shipment of 30! So I'd scurry in and hope they fit...

 

[Disney Doll]

Is Cato online, catalog, or a store????

 

[snoopy]

I'm so tired of not finding ANY tall sizes in department stores. I mean, c'mon, they have a whole SECTION for petites, a whole SECTION for full figure women, but nothing for talls??? I get so annoyed with that. I buy almost everything online since I can never find anything long enough (especially pants) in department stores, but it would be nice to be able to try things on and not have to worry about postage if it has to be sent back.

 

[Aroura]

I am SO in agreement with the person who started this thread....

I have often commented that just because I am a bigger girl, I must not like wearing clothes that are fashionable.. and must love wearing somthing tacky, elastic, or just plain God awful... I find this EXTREAMLY unfair...

I would personally kill to be a size 14... there are TONS of cute things in that size... *sigh*, try being a size 22 bottom, and wear a size 14 top... LOL...

and clothes that ARE trendy enough for the bigger girls, cost an arm and a leg... there is just no winning.... Only losing the weight.. because they are not going to conform...

 

[arminnie]

Originally posted by Annie&Hallie'sMom
I had a friend who swore she was going to open a shop and call it "Short & Fat"

My sister says they need a short and wide shop.

New Orleans is the best place to buy larger sizes. They love their food there and the stores carry tons more cute clothes in large sizes than other cities do.

The "Woman" department size clothes are too big for me but sometimes the tops in regular sizes are cut so skinny these days that the large or XL in regular sizes is too small.

 

[kathyk2]

I have had lots of luck finding clothes at qvc.com. Their sizes run from small to 3x so you should be all set. They also feature pants for tall ladies.

 

[BedKnobbery2]

Doh! I totally forgot about 2 websites that are great for trendy plus sized stuff. www.alight.com and www.sizeappeal.com . Very fun and funky stuff at both!