Forever21
- Lower end pricing
- Amazing Sales
- Plus Section
- Junior sizing
I've been shopping at Forever 21 for about two years or so in their Plus section. It is quite small considerably compared to the "non plus" section. The price is pretty great, and they are a great way to add in some trendy pieces for cheap (Dresses $22-39ish). Their sales are always pretty amazing, and you can get dresses for around 10$ if you know how to bargain shop. I was a little addicted.
One thing you have to watch with Forever21 is that their sizing is pretty inconsistent, which is pretty normal for women's clothing but Forever21 is junior sizing. Luckily my chest and waist can work well with this. The downside? Their pants aren't the greatest. Some of their dresses are extremely short.
A lot of these styles are meant for the younger crowd, but I don't concern myself with such facts. I like what I like. While a lot of the trends are too young for me, I love experimenting.
That said, some of the fashion isn't really in a lot of curvy girl's comfort zones. Crop tops, cut outs, and such don't work for all curvy girls. If you can rock it or are comfortable- get it girl! I just know I'm not in that place ;)
Wet Seal
- Lower end pricing
- Amazing Sales
- Plus Section
- Junior sizing
Wet Seal is very similar to Forever21. Their plus section is really new, and they have only added a physical store that cary them recently. I've only made two orders from this site, but everything I've ordered from them so far has been pretty great.
The last time I shopped with them, they had a Buy 2, Get 3 free on clearance items. Yes... these items were marked down to around $10 on their own. I got five dresses for $22. I also got boots, work shirts, etc... My total order was 140$ and I got 22 items. I'd say that's a pretty great deal.
The quality is hit and miss with them, but so far the quality actually has seemed better than Forever21 but only time will tell. They've got a great selection of dresses and such, but like forever21, their style is aimed more towards a teen-twenty something.
Torrid
- Entire store dedicated to Curvy girls
- Moderately Higher Prices
- Pretty consistent sizing
I've shopped at Torrid for a while. I remember when they were the "Plus Sized Hot Topic". I'm not quite sure when they started catering to both the alternative and the classy fashionistas, but its been a pretty nice mix considering I like to play with my items a bit to see what I can do.
Torrid's prices are moderately higher ($60+ dresses typically, shirts around 40$+) but their quality is much higher than the other stores. Torrid typically uses thicker materials, and focus more on being complimentary to the larger body types (skimming fabrics, different cuts).
That said, I'd say that their cuts and sizing run more like in the middle of junior plus and women's. You've got to be careful when you order, and typically I can wear a much smaller size at Torrid than forever21 or wet seal.
Overall, I've been pretty happy with them. I will never buy from Torrid at regular price because they have tons of sales, and typically almost always are doing a Buy on Get one, or giving out "hot cash" to redeem later which can be $25 off $50 at times. Keep your eyes open and visit (and yearn) often and you'll be able to find some great deals.
Gwynnie Bee
- Sizes 8-32
- Multiple Brands
- Pricing moderate to high
- Clothing Rental- monthly fees
I have only recently discovered Gwynnie Bee two months ago. I stumbled upon it when researching Birchbox and Ipsy somehow. I never thought about a clothing rental places, and the fact that it was Plus was one of the most exciting things that I have ever found as an adult.
I browsed the site and added items to my "closet" for over a month. So many cute things, I couldn't at least try it. They were giving out one month free trials so I went for it. Now, I am addicted. I can't say enough about how great this site is. If you want to check it out, let me know and I'll get you a referral (pretty please? haha).
Anyway, I've only been renting for about a month now, but it has been an amazing experience. You get to wear something as much as you want it, and return it as quickly or slowly as you like. When you're done with one peice, you get a new one. It is so exciting to see the new items that are going to be shipped to you! Also, if you love something, you can purchase it for a discount.
The only downsides are:
It's cycled through the Gwynnie Bee community. That means, others can abuse the clothing. I've never gotten a bad piece. All of mine have been perfect condition. I know I should knock on wood now. I've gotten over ten dresses this month. I fell in love with one of them and almost bought it, but I have so many clothing that I'm looking to actually cut back on what I own.
The only other thing is that while you get to choose what goes in your "closet", Gwynnie Bee will send whatever they have in que waiting, so its a surprise until you see it closeted. You can get excited, or you can say "that's cute, but there are so many otheres that I really want!" and if you have specific occasions, you're gambling. From what I hear, you can e-mail them and make requests though.
Gwynnie Bee has casual, but mostly dresses and office wear. I pretty much think that I am going to use this service to try and budget what I spend and not buy much other than staples and coordinating items.
Gwynnie Bee has casual, but mostly dresses and office wear. I pretty much think that I am going to use this service to try and budget what I spend and not buy much other than staples and coordinating items.
Maurices
- Both junior plus and women's sizing
- sizes xs-XXl & 0-4+
- Moderate prices
I've been shopping at Maurices since I was in middle school. Back then, they were only in a few cities in small towns and catered to both men and women. They were trendy to a point, but not extremely. I dont know exactly when they changed their marketing strategy but they are growing quite fast now. They've changed from "blah" stores to a very modern and pretty "empowering women" theme.
Their theme is white and tiffany blue. It's really quite lovely. I've got way too many of those tiffany blue bags lying around. They are the reason I actually developed a shopping addiction. They were the first place I had ever shopped that had curvy fashion forward outfits.
I love my local Maurices and would recomend them to anyone, skinny girls to us curvy girls. They have XXl in the standard size section, and then 0-4 in the Plus section. I can shop anywhere from the XXL to the 2 (but usually go with 1). They offer some of the exact same styles on the plus section as they do the regular sizes... so that is actually pretty nice.
Maurices is the one place that has both sizes that I feel completely comfortable shopping next to the other girls. Its a great environment.
Online ordering is easy, and their sizes are pretty true. i rarely have a problem with something not fitting right, but you've got to be careful with the XXL. it can go either way.
This is by far my favorite store ever, and everyone there knows me by name. I used to go in once a week, but I've been trying to limit it to once ever two, three weeks or so and not purchasing as much. Its a problem, a drug.
They're styles are both trendy and classy. They've got a little bit of everything from casual, to date night. I'm in love. Maurices does "model" searches, and really focuses on all women being beautiful and stylish. They're very pro women and are active in trying to bridge the gap between the sizes. Next thing I know, they will be making everything made in plus sizes, and eliminating the sections... hmmm. That's a great idea... ;)
H & M
I've never shopped at H & M plus, but they've got some cute things. They're pretty "hipster" trendy and while I can sometimes be a hipster, I find their clothing a bit bland. I love their accessories though.
Simply Be
I've also never shopped here before, but I've seen so many awesome things on this site. I just discovered it while doing some research on this. Their prices seem to be from moderate to slightly higher, but they sem to have a wide range of styles.
Love Couture
I had no idea that this had any plus sizes. It doesn't have a huge selection, but its a nice win for us curvy girls. I guess I'll have to check it out.
Macy's
Ohhla-la. Higher prices, but Macy's can't really go wrong.
Lane Bryant
I always visit Lane Bryant, but I rarely ever find anything that I love there. I had stopped going recently because their prices are pretty high (higher than Torrid's, not quite Macy's) and their style is a little bit different than mine. While I've seen really cute clothes here, they styles rarely work for me.
They seem all to be built for a more "apple shape" as most everything is very bulky in the waist and shoulders. I absolutely hate their jeans.
That said, Ive seen this look amazing on some girls, and they are the original Plus sized store to me, so I give them lots of love for that alone. Even Fashion Bug had both sizes.
Fashion to Figure
I've never shopped at Fashion to Figure, but I'd heard some great things from Gwynnie Bee members, so I checked it out and I am blown away by how cute everything is. It's more of a classy tendy from what I can tell, and it definitely looks like they've created them with a more upscale look. I saw a few skirts and dresses that I am dying of desire from... and this one jacket....
That said, Im trying not to buy as much so I'll just covet from my computer and debate for hours if I should do so. That said, their prices seem pretty reasonable from what I've seen, especially for how they look. I don't know the quality, but it seems pretty legit.
SWAK Designs
Another place I haven't purchased anything with, and they look like they cater to different styles, but I heard about them from Gwynnie Bee as well.
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