shopping dilemma - plus sized clothes

last year

I recently returned from a 5 week vacation, during which I realized I don't like much of the clothing I have. (It took a vacation to recognize that because 2 days a week I wear work clothes and 2 days a week I wear work-out clothes during the day.) My problem is where to find clothes I like and want, especially in Canada. I'd be willing to consider a trip to the US to find clothes to try on and buy (if I like them), if only I could find a location with stores where I'd be likely to find what I want - sometimes it's cheaper to go to the US to try them on than to order them online, pay shipping and duty, then have to pay to return them if I don't like them or they don't fit. Strange but true, especially if I can find a place that's inexpensive to get to and stay overnight.

Here's where maybe you can help: I'm looking for Plus sized cotton tops without Spandex (t-shirt or tunic styles (not button-up), or cotton sweaters), and cotton or cotton/linen wide-leg pants (i.e. not skinny pant style. Why do plus sized pants always have skinny legs or capri-length styles?). I'd like something that is kind of flattering to curves, not just a standard crew neck t-shirt and jeans, like I'm wearing men's clothing. I do wear men's clothes, but it's not my preference.

Everywhere I look online I see synthetic blends and/or Spandex, or casual pants that are narrow and/or end above the ankle. LLBean has nice 100% cotton tops, but style and colours are limited. Where should I look for plus sized clothes in lightweight natural fabrics? Bonus for a Canadian company or distributor, but not required.

Featured Answer

eld6161

last year

Plus sizes have many options.

Before you head to the US, have you looked at:

Shepards

This site came up on my social media and I liked watching their fashion shows.

They have their own line ascerll as name brands.

To me, everything looks generous. The owner is second generation and she a plus size.

Laura.ca Another company in Canada. Lots of lovely things to look at in your size range.

As for the US of course Talbots

The department stores have plus sizes as Macy’s, Dillards, Bealls to name a few.

Finding clothing that is comfortable and looks good is a challenge for many.

Throw in vanity sizing and things get even harder.

When I am not sure I often just order two sizes, but I sometimes call the company and try to get the measurements of across the chest and the length.

I return a lot but I go the store to save on shipping with the slight possibility I will see something in the store.

I’m a petite and my section is a tiny corner! I often peruse the regular size clothing to get an idea of how a garment looks in person and see if it is available in petites to online.

If something works, I get spares, especially in white t-shirts which are my favorite.

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Comments (18)

lucillle
last year
I've gotten some nice cotton tops from onestopplus.com.
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I am like Marilyn. I don't do dress up. I own one pair of gray pants but they are probably too big for me now since I lost a bit of weight since last year. I'm overweight,over 60, wear jeans and mens t shirts. Still get hit on all the time. Like Emma said, it's attitude. I walk into a room like I own it. Using Poor posture and stance is the most aging thing one can do. I learned my lesson years ago at an awards ceremony for a scout thing. I was in my late 30's. After shopping most of the afternoon I was practically in tears. I hate most women's fashion. I am short and they make me look old and frumpy. Don't even get me started ranting about those stupid looking hobbit pants. LOL So DH said to wear what I wanted and I did. I went in clean newish (not faded) jeans and a nice sweat shirt which were in style back then. When we got there there we a sat down at an empty table. Later all these men came in and sat with up. The whole room was either in uniform or dressed up. The women were all in dresses and jewelry and such. Guess who had the best time? ME!!! We talked sports, autos and guy stuff. I think had I been dressed girly they would have been more subdued. The guy next to me was tipsy and hilarious. Turned out the guys at our table were all the national head honchos. They had been partying earlier. Now had I worn a dress or dressy clothes I would have been so uncomfortable I would have been evil. My personality changes for the worse as the layers of "feminine" clothing go on. So I have learned to stay in my comfort zone. The heck with what others think. The church thing? How nice of those women to judge. Bless their brittle little hearts.
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I have long, slender legs with narrow hips and a small bottom so skinny jeans and leggings look good on me. I love them, but wear them only with blousey tops that cover my bottom. At my age, anything else would look inappropriate with them, IMO. I'm not considered overweight, but I have to admit that menopause has done a number on my waist and I would so love to tone it up. I started running on my eliptical again, and doing sit ups to help . . . but instead, gave myself a major abdominal strain that put me out of commission for 3 weeks. That was so incredibly painful! My DH said that I was lucky I didn't give myself a hernia! As for tops, I don't like to wear the tight ones. Those were all well and good when i was young and wider cut slacks and jeans were in style, but for me, not now. As I mentioned earlier here, I buy a lot of my clothes via Soft Surroundings online. I'm just not liking the very long backs that are showing on many these days. I have a few that I'm actually taking to a seamstress this week to have shortened some. As for my style, I went through a kind of hippie stage in my teens, but even then my jeans were always clean and pressed (lol). Then "surfer girl", living on the ocean in Florida in my Twenties. My 23 y/o daughter would tell you that I've definitely dressed "preppy" for as long as she can remember. Most likely, Southwestern Preppy, though! That is, except when I'm gardening. Then, my style runs heavily towards bag lady!
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roxsolid
last year
last modified: last year
TV, I’m not exactly sure what they carry, but have you tried Penningtons or Reitmans? In Alberta they are advertised as plus sized clothing and they are located in all the major places. I think there are stores in Ontario.
Toronto Veterinarian
Original Author
last year
" Laura.ca Another company in Canada. Lots of lovely things to look at in your size range. "

" Shepards "

"have you tried Penningtons or Reitmans? "

All synthetics - mostly polyester, viscose, and spandex, or rayon and modal (semi-synthetics made from wood pulp). Virtually nothing in cotton.

Talbots has some interesting things, though - I'll have to look a little more deeply.
morz8 - Washington Coast
last year
Eileen Fisher has nice fabrics and a plus line, wider legs on some of the pants styles, boxier tops, often longer jackets and shirts. I see there are Canada stores including one in Toronto if that's really where you are. Shop the sale section, her things are long wearing but not cheap. I have several pieces I've picked up when on sale or have bought from Nordstrom Rack specials.

And be warned, they tend to be sized generously in regular sizes, I buy a size smaller pant than I might wear in other brands. I don't have need for the plus and I haven't purchased any for anyone else so I can't speak for the larger women's things but suspect the same. If online ordering the sizing info will often indicate that you might want to size down....
lily316
last year
I feel you wanting natural fabrics. As I said to my daughter the other day, I buy no new clothes but since I always dressed preppy with neutral colors I have a huge stash of all cotton,all linen and no synthetic fabrics in my closets. When I shop today I find the material so strange. I told my daughter I did recently buy a Gap sweatshirt at Marshall's because many of my old clothes are from Gap, Eddie Bauer R. Lauren, LL Bean, Lands End.... I did not look at the tag and it is all polyester and after one washing it pilled. So I am holding on to my clothes from the last three decades which are not out of style.

For you, I suggest LLBean who just opened a store a few miles from me and Lands End although I haven't bought anything lately from either. My daughter bought me a 100% cotton shirt from LLBean last year and it's nice but still not the quality cotton of my old ones.
chisue
last year
I can only add that Talbot's pima cotton tops feel great and wash well.

My peeve is trouble finding narrow width shoes. (Brooks has them.)
eld6161
last year
eld6161
last year
Kohls has cotton t’s. While inexpensive, I gave this brand. I always cold wash delicate cycle and hang dry all my new tops
JoanM
last year
Do you have JJill in Canada? The quality on some of their fabrics has gotten cheaper lately but many products are still nice quality. They do vaniety sizing there. For example I am a Jjill small or petite small where as I am a M/L just about everywhere else. I love their pajamas.
Eileen
last year
last modified: last year
I have a lot of Kohl's Croft and Barrow T's and long sleeve T's. They have V neck too. The fall collection is usually a bit heavier weight. I machine-dry mine.

They're regularly on sale for under $10. I've gotten them for under $5 on clearance when they clear out their spring/summer and fall/winter selections.
Sherry8aNorthAL
last year
Land’sEnd is changing and their clothes are not near a nice ad they used to be.
summersrhythm_z6a
last year
last modified: last year
I found a lot of 100% cotton and linen tops at TJ maxx. Check your local TJ maxx stores. I am sure they have plus sized tops too. They should have their spring stuff out today.
LynnNM
last year
I’m one of those folks who keeps a lot of foods on hand in my pantry, fridge and two freezers. But, the essentials I/we always try to keep on hand are: Smart Balance (instead of butter), Greek yogurt, almond milk, almond flour,garlic, salt, bread, DH’s healthful cereals, avocados (I have avocado toast for breakfast M-F), bananas, eggs , green chiles and cheeses. Probably more, but that’s what comes to mind at the moment.
floral_uk z.8/9 SW UK
last year
I think that should be in the essentials Floof thread, Lynn.
porkchop_z5b_MI
last year
I like Talbot's a lot, nice mix of things from work-wear to casual, and I really appreciate that they don't shy away from COLOR (with some companies it's always the same washed-out drab colors year to year but not Talbot's)

I'd look at LLBean and Duluth, too.

I'd stay away from Land's End. Their quality has gone down to the toilet.
Ally De
last year
Totally agree Land's End is now garbage. I used to buy a lot from them, decades ago. Not worth it now.

Also agree with porkchop that Talbot's and Duluth are generally solid.

I was also nodding my head in agreement with Lily. It was so much easier to find nicer things decades ago, even at the lower end of the price scale. Now it's mostly garbage and falls apart in a season. I am not hard on clothes in general and I am grateful most of my older things still fit. It is hard to find new apparel that doesn't disappoint me.
jehanne hansen
last year
I find most clothes in the stores to be just this side of being awful in every way.

I am so glad that I can sew! I will buy tops when I find something that I like, which is not often. But pants and dresses, I sew. I keep my style simple and try to find natural fibers as much as I can. It is not easy.

I soundly reject the major part of any offerings in any store.

The offerings of J Jill and Chicos are all plastic feeling fabrics nowadays. I wouldnt give a plug nickel for any thing in either of those stores anymore. They used to have nice things, but it all changed.

I dont think any retailer has much to offer, period!! I shop Kohls mostly.

I dont shop plus sizes but I do shop L and XL. So, I cant speak to that in particular, but I sure do know how lousey the clothing market is!

shopping dilemma - plus sized clothes

eld6161

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lucillle

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