Everything You Need to Know About Plus Size Fashion
I started this blog because I LOVE clothes but it’s REALLY damn hard to find any that fit my fat body. The thing that many the fashion industry (and society as a whole) don’t understand is that women with bigger bodies still have style and we’d really like to be able to show off our personalities with our clothes like everyone else does.
So, I decided to do something about itβsort of. I started a plus size fashion blog. I LOVE writing and online shopping, so I thought I could put the two together and come up with a bunch of killer material on how and where women could find stylish and chic plus size fashion picks.
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I, like everyone else in fashion, like to categorize clothes by season. So we have master guides on every season that you’ll want to build a capsule wardrobe (or something bigger for). Feel free to check them out:
- Summer fashion
- Spring fashion
- Fall fashion
- Winter fashion
Becoming stylishly you
While stylish and chic plus size fashion finds can be hard to find, it’s not impossibleβyou just have to know where to look. Luckily for you, I spend A LOT of my time searching around for the best pieces that we can all add to our collections.
But you don’t simply want to start adding to your clothing collection all willy-nilly, you need to decide what your personal style is first.
Now, style is evolving so you’re not suddenly going to know all in one fell-swoop what you do and don’t like fashion-wise. I know I’m a huge fan of jumpsuits but skirts and vests don’t top my list.
Likewise, you might like something but realize that you’re not super comfortable wearing it. I LOVE the idea of wearing skirts and dresses but the chub-rub conundrum is real. Seriously, summer get’s real bad.
When it comes down to it, it’s really all trial, error and looking at a TON of clothes… and who doesn’t find virtual shopping fun? If you’re attempting to curate your own style here’s what I recommend:
Start on Pinterest
When it comes to exploring plus size fashion, I love to start on Pinterest. It’s basically a gigantic database of cute clothing options. And, yes, there are a TON of ideas for plus size women.
I start out with a private board called “future fashion” where I pretty much pin everything I come across that I like. This is my starting base of ideas and from there I branch out into different curated boards like “business fashion” or “summer looks.”
Putting things on my Pinterest board doesn’t mean that I’m headed out to purchase everything there. It doesn’t even mean my end wardrobe will look anything like the board. It’s simply a collection of things that I know I like so I can go from there.
Check out online fashion boutiques
There are plenty of online plus size fashion boutiques, if you happen to know where to look. The real problem that I find is that I can’t get everything I like and most plus size fashion ends at 3X or 4X. That’s really not accessible fashion.
Here are some of my favourite places:
- For vintage fashion, you can find great picks at Unique Vintage
- For athletic wear, I like Girlfriend or even Fabletics
- For unique everyday finds, I like ASOS
- For business wear and elegant picks, I like Eloquii
- For casual wear, there’s Loft
Create a fashion budget
Clothing costs money, there’s no way around it. That means you need to set a budget that you can not only afford, but are comfortable spending on your plus size fashion finds.
How much you spend on clothing is completely up to you. But I recommend setting a monthly or quarterly budget and adding pieces at a slow rate.
I have a bad habit of only replacing clothes when they practically fall off my body. That means that I end up buying a bunch of clothing all at one time. I don’t recommend that.
Instead, my goal for 2021 (and beyond), is to add pieces of clothing at a regular rate since I’m now basically down to a few select leggings, some tank tops and summer clothes that I have yet to ruin.
Create a list of pieces
My next step is to create a list of things I want for the upcoming season. Right now I’m personally looking at adding a vintage-style romper or two, a few pairs of high-waisted shorts and a super cute pair of oxford-style boots.
You need to differentiate high-ticket and low-ticket items, and pick the right season to purchase them. For higher budget items, I make purchases at the end of the season when I find the best sales. But if it’s something I need right now or a lower-ticket item, I’ll make the purchase sooner rather than later.
Start buying pieces
Like I said, my goal is to buy pieces on an ongoing rate. So, I’m adding a few pieces here and there. It’s easier on my budget and my closet (or, more accurately, bag) space.
Get pieces consciously and go for quality over quantity. You don’t need a dozen cute sundresses (even if your Instagram feed says you do), you simply need one or two super cute, high-quality pieces.
I get that fashion and styles change, but the only thing yours needs to do is accurately represent you.
Types of plus size fashion clothing
I like to talk about any and all kinds of plus size fashion pieces. If you wear it or carry it, you can be we’re talking about it. We curate major lists on the following topics, you can find your new favourite fashion find here:
- Bottoms
- Tops
- Sweaters and top-layers
- Dresses
- Jumpsuits
- Undergarments
- Outerwear
- Pajamas
- Shoes
- Accessories
- Jewelry
- Bags
Looking for something else? Shoot me a quick email at heythere@hellotaee.com/ and I’ll make sure we get it on the list right away!
Read our latest fashion insights:
I publish and update fashion finds on a weekly basis. Keep tabs on the blog by signing up for our email list and keeping up-to-date with our social media channels. I’m ALWAYS looking for the cutest new fashion finds with you in mind!