Testimonials from Young Plus Size Women on Clothes Shopping?

Question

I would like to hear of some testimonials/opinions on clothes shopping from young, plus size women. How hard is it to find clothes that fit that are actually sold in stores at the mall? Or to find plus size clothes in the mall that are actually stylish or that don't look like it came from your grandmother's closet? Is it frusterating to order plus size clothes from an online store or catalog, only to find out that they don't fit right? I would love to hear any and all stories you have about these and anything else clothes shopping related you would like to share. I will be using this information as background research for a college-level speech I am giving on the need of more plus size stores and selections in todays malls, because not everyone can order clothes from an online store and be satisfies with the fit (something they would have been able to avoid if they were shopping in a real store in the mall). Thanks so much in advance for any and all stories you are able to share.

P.S. You rock, Anna Simon!

Answer 1

This question strikes me to the core. I have been stuggling to find clothes most of my life and I'm 23 years old. I am too round for "regular" clothes from walmart and forget mall stores! Yet, I am too small for most things sold at Lane Bryant or other stores specifically targeted to Plus Sized women.
When I was about 10 to 17 years old, I could only find clothes in the Miss and more adult sections of stores because the clothes for girls my age wouldn't fit. It was embarrassing to see ladies at least 20 years older than me looking at the same dresses and jeans as me. To compound things, I was raised by a single dad who really didn't understand why I was upset.
Still today, I HATE clothes shopping. Sad as it seems, I have one pair of jeans that fit me OK, not great, which I found at Torrid. And I wear Dickies shorts which have been handed down to me from my boyfriend. Mens T-shirts are a staple for me.
Finding work appropriate clothes is a nightmare. I can find some things that are work appropriate at Old Navy approximately 1 of every 3rd visit to their stores.
I have not tried on-line shopping because I don't want to "waste" my money on clothes that I cannot try on.
I am sure that there are some stores out there in the world that produce fashionable, and flattering clothes, but there does not seem to be anything available to a person on a lower middle class budget.
It seems that plus sized clothing is ugly and if its not ugly, it does not seem to make an effort to flatter good parts and minimize trouble areas. The patterns and prints that I see on the racks at these stores seems to want to embarrass people into fitting into smaller sizes. Plus size clothing seems to make a statement that, "look at me, I am obviously plus sided and am wearing non-trendy, ill-fitting, unflattering clothes."

Answer 2

I actually have a hard time. I'm like an 18, sometimes I need a size bigger than that. It's hard to find stores in the mall that carry plus size. Most aren't too stylish unless it's lane bryant and their clothes are a bit weird. I'm also 22, so of course, I look for cute clothes that are stylish and flattering for a 22 yr old.

If it really came down to it, i'd order online, but i'd say 98% I wouldn't. You never know how something is going to fit.

It sucks being plus size!

Answer 3

I used to be a size 18 when I was fat, and I never had trouble buying cothes in the mall. There are tons of stores that sell good quality, well made plus-size clothes. These stores are Macy's, JCPenney, Lane Bryant, Avenue, Old Navy, Target and Kohl's, just to name a few. I have never been forced to order clothing online, not when I was a size 18 and not when I was a size 8, and not now when I'm a size 12. I'm don't know where you got the idea that plus-sized women or girls can't find stylish clothing at bricks-and-mortar stores. That's not true. In addition, I find your comment that plus-size clothing looks like it came from my grandmother's closet to be extremely insulting. I recommend you find another topic for your college-level speech. I doubt you're in college anyway, so you have a lot more research to do.

Answer 4

Whew! Finally a question I can relate to. Well first and foremost I am quite young, 21 to be exact. I am a size 13/14. I have NEVER been this size. I gained a lot of weight due to child birth and health problems. I was a size 5/6, I miss that size lol. But anyways, I go to malls ... its a drag. I usually shop at Burlingtons, or ebay.com. I just started shopping at Marianne Retail Fashion Store ( mainly for plus size women). I love this store, you can find just about anything in any size ( Plus Dept.) I shop at Burlingtons, I spend about 300.00 every 2weeks on shopping. I recommend ebay.com or Marianne Retail Fashion Store, even Burlingtons, and Target.

I feel that plus size women are cheated. Junior size women can shop just about anywhere. I go thru hell looking for certain items, I am very specific when shopping so I usually shop everyday online and on weekends I go to stores / malls.

Answer 5

It's very hard to find long dresses for plus size women. I don't want to look like a trashy person, yet that's all the stores want to sell you. Wal-mart doesn't even carry dresses of any kind in this area. I've found bargain shopping on the Roamans website is really the way to go. I hope you have good luck, too.