I'm 5'6 and 218 lbs. I wear a size 16 in Lane Bryant and Avenue and a 16 or 18 or XL in Old Navy. I wear an XL (regular) or 1X (plus) at Kohls.
What are some other stores I can look to shop at? Who has the biggest XLs and goes up to size 16 or 18? I'm so tired of Lane Bryant, Torrid, and the Macy's plus-size section!
Have you tried Dots? You'd probably have to shop in their plus section but their plus section and regular section are often the same (actually I think their plus section is nicer).
Forever 21 carries plus sizes now (it's called Forever 21 plus or something like that). I've see it online and I'm pretty sure its in certain stores as well. I've never bought anything from the line but might be good to check it out!
I am 5'6 and just reached 216 and the 18 and Avenue is still a smidge too tight! My Old Navy 18s are almost falling off. All of the 16s I have from any store are still too tight. I guess I have big hips! Last measurement was 49" - I also wish I knew where to shop. Edit to add - I have 18s from Kohls that are a bit loose...but I think I need to reach 200 before thinking a 16 would fit me - again, I'm guessing it's my hips.
Last edited by chickadee2; 06-27-2012 at 08:14 AM.
I'm going to second the forever 21 vote. Although a lot of the plus sized clothing isn't all that spectacular, their regular sized L was large enough fit me at 215-220. I think their clothing runs big all round. I have a sized small shrug/cardigan thing that fits quite well. (I'm large chested)
I personally think American Eagle has sizes that are much higher than many other stores I've shopped in. At around 200 lbs, I was a medium in a lot of their tops, where I would have been a large or xl in other stores. It's nice if you need a basic tee-shirt or sweater for the colder months. I find that their jeans are kind of hit or miss though. I have several pairs of their size 12 jeans and some are tight, while others are falling off. Still, I find that overall AE tends to run big.
I just went to Dressbarn a few weeks ago and love it! I have shopped at fashionbug for years and they bought Dressbarn so they have the same kind of clothes. There is a plus size section and a regular section. I could of bought half the store.
i've always wondered this as well. It's weird because at 164 in Old navy I'm usually a L or XL and I have always found that at AE I was a L or XL too. It's amazing how sizing is so different everywhere.
Plus can I just say (at least here in Canada), crop tops are like everywhere now and same with those bat arm shirts. For someone who wants to cover their stomach a little, these shirts are sooo frustrating!! I can't find anything else. Like nooo I do not want my shirt to stop just a couple inches below my chest.
- I co-sign what people have said about American Eagle Outfitters.
- Try (Ann Taylor) LOFT, I wore their XL tops in the 230s, I never tried their pants at my highest but they are over-all a pretty generously-sized store and they go up to 18.
- Also of course Target, I got dresses and tops from there even in the 250s.
- Try New York & Company, they go up to an 18 and are pretty generously-sized. They were more or less my only straight-sized store in pants in the 240s and 250s. They also have good tops and camis.
- Old Navy (even with the excised in-store plus section) is still a good option for workout wear, camis, cardigans, t-shirts, hoodies, even jeans (although I've never liked the way their jeans were cut).
- What about JCPenney? I know it's more or less like the whole Macy's plus thing, but I think they had a larger, more varied, more affordable selection of plus-sized clothing or even straight sized 16s and 18s. And it is an alternate.
- And also Sears. You most likely won't need to size up as I always found all their brands to be generously cut.
RE: plus size clothing, I was at Macy's last month and went into their plus section with my mom. Strangely, I kind of liked the selection there better. I don't quite know what to make of that.
Last edited by toastedsmoke; 07-03-2012 at 01:08 PM.
Agree with American Eagle - I've had sales people there even warn me that their jeans stretch up to a size - and they carry size 14's, so I would give that a shot.
I don't know if you have a winners where you are, but they have various brands and sizes too.
I like American Eagle and I pretty much wear only their jeans, but I do not agree that they stretch up a size. But I also like Maurices and they have a fabulous plus size selection in store and online.
I shop mostly at Maurices. I love their Hydraulic jeans. They are a higher rise so no muffin top and they come in bigger sizes. They have a good selection for plus sizes and some of their XLs run big too, it just depends.
Forever 21 plus size (I believe it's called Faith 21??) is a good one like others have mentioned. If you're open to online shopping, Asos is incredible. Great quality, sizes run on the big side I find (normally I wear an 18 but I'm a 16 in Asos clothes) and so many options!
Normal stores with generous sizing?
