The Ultimate 2024 Plus Size Clothing Brand Guide | The Glow Up Guide
Let’s face it, finding and shopping for quality plus size clothes can be really hard, disheartening, and downright frustrating. But, I’m here to help.
As a personal stylist, it’s my job to know where a plus size gal can find really great clothes that will last, that will look amazing, and that don’t pigeonhole you into fast fashion brands or worst, into frumpsville.
I believe you shouldn’t have to shop at a plus size only store.
I want you to be able to shop and have the same, or similar options, that straight size gals have. There are a surprising number of really great retailers out there that provide inclusive sizing; and more importantly, provide a selection that is high quality, stylish, and beautiful.
This list is focused on brands that offer quality, beautiful pieces for all.
It’s comprised of brands that offer size inclusivity to some extent, and that produce clothing in beautiful fabrics, of superior construction, that represent who and where you are in your life. Because having a closet that works for you doesn’t mean you have a lot of clothes, it means you have a highly curated collection of pieces that will work for you, make getting dressed effortless, that will make you look and feel your most chic and stylish self.
Abercrombie & Fitch has got a fairly sizable selection of their pieces that are size inclusive. Where they shine is in denim and trousers and I’m happy to say that they offer up to a size 37 or 24 in most styles. The really great thing about A&F is that they offer a majority of pieces in lengths - not petites, but rather they shorten or lengthen their pieces without scaling the size down. A win in my book
Anthropologie has a sizable plus size selection that comes up to a size 3X. They are boho leaning so for those of you ladies who like a less structured, more free style look, check here.
Aritzia only carries extended sizes, and not everything is offered however, I’m mentioning them because what I have gotten from them has been great quality. They are known for suiting and while they don’t carry a lot of it in plus size, what they do carry bears consideration.
Banana Republic is a favorite. A majority of their collections are carried in extended sizing. They go up to a XXL or a size 20. They run a bit large in their tops and sweaters, but run small in their bottoms. Still worth looking at because their quality is really good, longevity is good, and they will, at times, push outside of the classic, tailored box.
Banana Republic Factory is a lower priced version of Banana Republic. They have a similar selection to Banana Republic but nothing is exactly the same. While construction is up to par with Banana Republic fabrics are not as rich. Also, I find it harder to find pieces in stock in XXL here.
Honeylove is my favorite shape wear brand and one that I recommend wholeheartedly. They are comfortable and have a wide selection of products that span beyond shape wear. The shape wear does everything it’s supposed to and remains easy to wear, even during the heat of summer!
J Crew has got to be one of my favorite brands simply for the reason that they are truly size inclusive offering up to a size 24. That’s not to mention, they offer such beautiful, well made clothing that lines up with a classic, traditional style, in fabrics that will endure.
J Crew Factory, like BR Factory they offer a similar selection to their parent company. Quality is pretty much on par with J Crew, with fabrics that are very close in composition, but at a more affordable price point. Which means J Crew Factory is a really great value.
Mango is a bit of a hit or miss with sizing but they do have an extensive selection of plus size pieces that run up to a size 4X. Where Mango excels is in outerwear, blazers, shoes, and handbags. They are considered high street fashion, and while they don’t always score well on fabrics, they do score really well on construction and longevity.
Nordstrom is a one stop shop. They carry so many brands, as well as their house brands and you can find a wide selection of pieces at a varied price point starting at moderate on up. They also have an excellent loyalty program, plus we can’t forget about one of the biggest shopping events of the year - the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale.
Old Navy is a place where you can find pieces in extended and plus sizes. I’ve found the quality of Old Navy is quite good for the price point. While they have a mix of quality and not such high quality fabrics, what’s good is really good. And, they’re also good for trendier pieces because they have a lower price point, therefore trends aren’t going to be a big investments.
Quince is a new add that I have been blown away by. Having recently opened up offerings in plus size, they have really well made pieces, of superior quality fabrics (cashmere, wool, cotton, and silk), at much lower price points than you’d expect given the quality and materials. This is a brand to watch in the upcoming seasons to see what else they offer the plus size market.
Ralph Lauren has most of his brands on the same site, so you’ll be able to find a wide range of offerings. He does have an extensive “women’s” collection in classic, traditional style. The quality is exceptional across all the brands so you know you’re going to get great value for money.
Reformation does not have everything available in plus size but they do a pretty decent selection. They offer a lot of different styles up to a size 24 that suit a lot of different types. From their really sexy and beautiful dresses to a pair of trousers for work, you can find some really lovely pieces here.
Talbots is a recent rediscovery that offers pretty much all of their selections in a truly size inclusive way - plus and petite plus sizing. However, you should proceed with caution here because they also carry pieces that can age you. My best advice here is to stick to the classics, the basics, and avoid anything with a pattern as they create nondescript patterns that don’t do a whole lot for a modern, classic vibe.
Walmart is included only because they have Free Assembly, a line that offers really well made pieces in better than Walmart average fabrics. It’s tempting because the price points here are so low but you could fall into the trap of buying quantity over quality. That said, proceed with caution and be extremely selective when shopping here.
Watch on YouTube to see all of my thoughts on these brands.
Where do you enjoy shopping for plus size clothing?
