Please, please don’t let this degenerate into a fat versus thin thread. First, off I would like to declare I am a large woman myself (size 20-22 depending on the cut), so I am well acquainted with Lane Bryant, Torrid, Talbot’s Macy’s Women’s Department, etc. The thing is I have noticed these stores usually don’t carry anything beyond size 24 or occasionally size 28. However I see women that are much bigger than this wearing nice clothes, especially jeans, that are obviously not hand-sewn. So I am wondering are there some not highly advertised places that cater to the size 30 and above woman?
There have been mail order companies catering to larger sizes for quite some time. I want to say at least 25 years, if not longer. They’re not necessarily the most attractive clothes, but they do sell them. Lately there’s also been a boom in nicer online boutiques carrying up to at least a 32. A couple of companies serve as central online shops for several brands. And aside from the online-only places, some brick and mortar stores carry extended sizes online. Old Navy, for one, goes up to a 30 online.
I don’t think these places are the best at advertising, but they’re easy enough to find if you poke around a bit online.
Try here
Lane Bryant and Torrid carry tons of stuff at 28. So does Wal Mart.
For larger sizes than that - yeah Woman Within is a big one online. I think the Lane Bryant catalog - which was different than the store and had an older audience - had a lot of larger stuff. Before she passed, my aunt was a larger woman who didn’t shop online and she did a LOT of catalog shopping.
During the 80s, I worked in a women’s dress shop, and we sold sizes 16-32. Now, a lot of styles only went up to a size 24, some to a 26, and only a few went to size 32. The buyer would purchase the largest sizes available, and we were a destination shop…that is, women would come into town just to shop in our store. So even back then, there were brick and mortar stores that specialized in carrying super sized clothing. And we did hear a lot of women say that they did a lot of catalog shopping, specifically Lane Bryant and Roaman’s.
About 20 years ago there was some scamming tycoon who went bust and was jailed, and his wife spent many, many thousands at this now defunct store.
I mostly shop online at Junonia, Silhouettes, etc. Also, if you don’t mind taking a chance, you can shop on Ebay for women getting rid of their wardrobes if they lose weight. I just filter for my size and usually lots of choices pop up. I can even save quite a bit of money this way. Hope this helps.
Plenty of stuff on eBay
Plenty of stuff on eBay - and ad at bottom of page is for designer plus size clothing
Lane Bryant has Catherine’s stores that carry larger sizes than the Lane Bryant branded stores. There’s also a store called Ulla Popken that carries up to size 38.
I can’t picture that that means. Just as an estimate of how big a size 38 women would be, what is the weight range a woman who was say 5’7" to 5’10" and size 38 fall into. Are we talking 300 lb people or 500 lb people.
Probably closer to the 500 lb mark, if not larger. I was unaware t of the Catherine’s / Lane Bryant connection. I know that Catherine’s sizes tend to top out larger than LB’s and that they are marketed toward an older demographic (more like the LB catalogue). LB / Cacique stores are aimed toward the under 60, casual and casual business crowd.
Scroll towards the bottom of this sizing chart…
A friend who (I estimate) is in the 300-350 lb range buys a lot of her clothes through *makingitbig.com * and the “we be bop” stuff on ebay.
She’s got some nice things, although she complains about how expensive they are. An added benefit is that they aren’t those unflattering skin-tight stretchy knit monstrosities that you see so many large women wearing.
While growing up, I was told they went to Omar-the-Tent-Maker but I’m not sure because he never advertises.
I’m curious, with people getting bigger over the years, have these businesses grown (no pun intended). With obseity affecting so many people these days, I am surprised these businesses are still ‘specialty’ stores. I’m guessing there are more women in the US that are size 24 vs size 0, but its weird that there are more stores that cater to thinner women.
I think it’s a matter of the thinner women enjoying having closets full of clothes and going out shopping. Not that there aren’t large women who look great and have lots of great clothes.
Do remember though that the specialty stores are only a “must” for like size 28 and up. I’ve been a size 28 most of my adult life and don’t have any problem finding clothes at KMart and Wal Mart. There’s also Fashion Bug and Dots. If I want something better I go to Lane Bryant or their outlet, or go online to Torrid (although they do have brick and mortar shops) or a slew of other stores I’m sure I’m forgetting because I’m not much of a shopper.
I highly doubt that the 30% of Americans that are obese means that 15% of Americans (obese women) are now size 32. Or even 24. Depending on your height you can be obese from size 12 on up.
People seem to be under the impression that obesity means humongous. It can mean that or it can mean a 5’0" woman who wears a L instead of a S. I’m guessing that as America gets larger, clothes are shifting more from 0-8 to 8-18, not more into the 24 and up range.
Am I reading this wrong, or does it say that a 30 inch waist is a size 12? That sounds wrong to me.
The Old Navy size chart has 30" at 12. Land’s End has a 30" waist as a size 10. Champion sports apparel has 30" at size 12.
Huh. Thanks for those stats. I took a look at the sizing chart of the last place I bought pants from, The Limited, and it appears I was confusing low waist with natural waist.