Shop Smart

Fashion Fix: Plus-size clothing comes out of the closet

• Posted By: Judy R.

Shopping Bag Judy R. shares her running list of clothing stores that celebrate women’s curves: "I’ve been size 14+ for most of my adult life. Now in my late 30’s, I am a happy and confident “curvy girl”, though at times I’ve struggled to find clothes that make me feel as good on the outside as I do on the inside..."

When I do find a good store, I like to spread the word because I know a lot of curvy girls in the same situation.

So here’s my list of plus-size clothing stores and the experiences I’ve had shopping at them, both in person and online.

CANADA - NATIONAL STORES

In Canada, there are a few national stores that carry decent and somewhat stylish, plus-sized clothing.

   The Bay

The “women” section at The Bay can be a maze of frump and dump, but keep your eyes open for the in-house label Style & Co. I’ve had some luck finding a few good staples. (But remember to keep your frump filter on. Just because it fits, doesn’t mean it looks good.)

The Bay carries designer labels in plus sizes too, including Liz Claiborne, Jones New York, London Fog, INC, Calvin Klein, Ellen Tracey, and more.

They also have really good late-season markdowns, but they typically shove all the sale clothes onto a few circular racks (not just in the plus section), forcing you to really dig to find the gems. Be careful to check the item thoroughly if you pull it off a sale rack. Things get really wrecked on there. Especially watch out for holes in shoulders of sweaters that have been hung up and stretched out.

• Style grade: I give The Bay about a B-. Some seasons are better than others, so if you don’t have much luck one month, try again a couple months later.

• Website: www.HBC.ca Check website for locations. No online product catalogue or shopping available at this time.

   Sears Canada

I’ve ordered a few things from the plus section of Sears.ca online and have been happy with some of them, but not others. The quality of the clothing seems a bit on the cheap.

Note: if you buy a size 16 from the “regular” section (rather than from the plus section), expect it to be on the small side. For a roomier fit, make sure you're shopping in the plus section.

I haven’t shopped much at Sears in person and I will probably keep an eye on their online selection, but it's not a store I will go back to regularly to update my wardrobe.

• Style Grade: I give Sears a C+ because the clothing quality is lacking, and the style selection is not very exciting. If they started to carry more designer items, their selection would improve.

• Website: www.sears.ca 
  

   Reitmans

In recent years, Reitmans has upped their style quotient along with their brand marketing (you’ve seen those commercials: Reitmans - 1, haute couture - zero) and are now producing some pretty classic staples every season. They're not always that fashion-forward, but they do produce consistent staples, and I definitely include Reitmans in my seasonal shopping sprees (which occur more than once per season!)

I love the scooters (or skorts, aka skirts with built-in shorts) that they carry every summer. I hardly wear regular shorts anymore. Get the ones with a bit of spandex in the cotton blend, especially if you plan to wear them for activities like gardening or canoeing or hiking, like I do. They’re so comfortable, and they're also quite flattering because they look feminine, camouflage your bum and hips, and still give you the confidence to run around and not worry about your hemline.

Bargain Note: Try not to buy things at regular price because they get marked down pretty quickly at Reitmans. And at the end of the season you can often pick up some good cotton t-shirts, tank tops and other staples for super cheap, $6-15.

Reitmans usually uses cotton or cotton blends for most of their casual clothes. They also carry a few business casual items and sneak the viscose, polyesters and other synthetic fabrics in that I personally find uncomfortable.

And the Reitman ("Contrast" label) jeans fit me fantastically! I have an hourglass shape (big butt, smaller waist) and Reitmans jeans are the only ones I’ve tried in a long time that don’t gape at the waist and still fit my butt without cutting off the circulation to my legs. Reitmans also carries a couple of different denim weights: thicker (more like traditional jeans) for winter, thinner for summer. Both fabric weights also have just the perfect touch of lycra, though some of the dressier jeans may also have a synthetic fabric blend.

• Style Grade: I give Reitmans an A-, though some seasons that may drop to a B+ or B. They don’t always come up with exciting new styles, but I can depend on them for classic, staple items.

• Website: www.Reitmans.com. They have their catalogue online every season, but they don’t have online shopping at the moment. 

    Addition Elle, Penningtons, and MXM

I have a like-dislike relationship with both Addition Elle and Penningtons. (By the way, Reitmans, Addition Elle, and Penningtons are all owned by the same company, Reitmans (Canada) Ltd.)

On one hand, some of their clothes are pretty frumpy and made out of uncomfortable, synthetic fabrics in un-hip patterns. (Acetate?!) Definitely not stuff I'd expect from a specialty plus-size clothing shop.

And in the summer, many of their cute, light, flowy-looking sun dresses are almost all made out of polyester and rayon. Where's the summer cotton?

On the other hand, I’ve gotten some awesome bathing suits from both stores, specifically the tankini, which is a two-piece number with a tank top instead of a bra top, and shorts or mini-skirt bottoms instead of underwear-like bottoms. A very flattering style on us curvy girls. 

I’ve also found some amazing gems (skirts, jackets, blouses) at both stores that really hit it out of the park. That’s why I keep going back, even though I'm often disheartened by what I see on the racks.

Buyer Beware Note: Beware of any sweaters from these stores (including Reitmans and many others) made with acrylic "wool". It is terrible at pilling (worse than wool) and also does this weird spider-webby thing. It looks great on the shelf, but after you've washed it once or twice, it'll look like an old thrift store sweater. Don't be fooled. Don't waste your money.

And then there’s the teen-oriented clothing line MXM. I’ve gotten a few good cargo pants and crop summer pants in this section, but most of the time the items aren’t really to my taste. (But I'm not a teenager.)

• Style Grade: I give both Penningtons and Addition Elle a B- grade. In the summer months, they may get a B or B+ for for their decent selection of bathing suits. (Buy early, however, because the good ones go fast.) I give MXM a B+ for trying to keep up with the teen style trends.

• Websites:
• Penningtons.com
• AdditionElle.com
• MXM.com
  

   Winners

When Winners first came on the scene a few years ago, I couldn’t get enough of it. They had some amazing designer brands like Liz Claiborne, Jones New York, Anne Klein, Bill Blass, and even Levis jeans, all in my size. I nearly went bankrupt shopping there! Thank goodness they were discounted prices.

Nowadays, however, I’ve been pretty disappointed every time I go to Winners. Either it’s supremely picked over before I get there and I just have bad timing, or they’re just not getting in as good stuff as they used to. I still do find a gem there once in a while, but instead of coming out with 5 or 6 items like I used to (still only spending about $100), I now only come out with 1 or 2. I’ve even left empty-handed a few times recently. Quite heartbreaking!

• Style Grade: 5 years ago I would have given Winners a A. Now it earns a C- because I haven't seen anything good there in a long, long time.

• Website: www.winners.ca No online shopping or catalog, but good for finding locations and getting deal alerts.

Vancouver Area Independent Shops

Since I live in the Vancouver area, I frequent a few local shops that also cater to the plus-size market:

    bodacious

Located on Main St. at 28th, and also in Gibsons at Molly’s Lane Market. They carry a lot of unique clothes from local designers. I love to support them, even though the prices are more expensive compared to the bigger chains like Reitmans. Understandably it's because the clothes are small production runs and often hand-made by the designers themselves.

I usually save my Bodacious visits for when I’m looking for something special, like a dress to wear to a wedding, job interview, or party. I recently bought a t-shirt there (while on the hunt for a September wedding frock) that had a scoop neck, and a stitched on collar made from satin, with pintucked stripes down the centre. I totally love it. It's casual, like a regular t-shirt, but with fantastic and unique details that totally punch it up to fabulous.

It's these kinds of unique pieces that the ladies at bodacious really have an eye for.

• Style Grade: bodacious gets a A. I don't always find something when I go to bodacious because they seem to sell out of my size quickly (obviously I don't go often enough!), but when I do find something, I really, really love it. 

• Website: www.bodacious.ca No online shopping, but there's usually a selection of seasonal items shown.

   Rubenesque

On West Broadway near Cambie, Rubenesque carries some new and also second-hand clothing. They also try to carry second-hand items that are high-quality, designer brands, rather than just anything. I go there if I just feel like looking around, but not necessarily if I’m looking for something in particular, since the variety in the store ranges greatly from month to month.

• Style grade: This is a tough one to grade because they mostly carry used items and it changes all the time. I'm going to give it a B for now.

• (No website that I know of.)
  

   Babs

On Granville near 8th is the store-front for a local designer who creates beautiful, flowy outfits from silk, linens and cotton, in styles inspired by the Far East. Her clothes are on the expensive side as well, but she uses good quality fabrics and very unique styles. Not really everyday wear, but worth a look nonetheless, especially if you want a unique jacket or skirt to build an outfit around and make a splash at a special occasion. She also does custom orders.

• Style grade: Babs gets a B. Her clothes are a unique style so they appeal to only a small market, but they're really top quality. She also supports other designers by selling a range of locally-made items in her shop.

• Website: www.babs.ca (Includes a few images from recent collections. The site isn't updated very often so it's best to go into the store.)
  

   Bon Bon Style

Not a store, but a local Vancouver designer who goes by the name Jane Bon Bon. She hand makes the cutest 40’s and 50’s bombshell style and pin-up girl dresses, custom made to your measurements. If you live in the Vancouver area, she may invite you out to her studio in White Rock (Boundary Bay area) to look at her stock or to get a custom fitting.

She sells her stuff on Etsy mainly and takes custom orders through there too. I’ve also seen her dresses at Bodacious and at Bab's. On her Etsy page at the moment it says her stuff can also be found at Planet Claire on Main St.

• Style grade: Bon Bon gets an A-. The bombshell look may not be for everyone, but don't knock it 'til you try it. Slip one of these flirty dresses on and you might surprise yourself. They're so flattering that just about anyone can rock this style.

• Website: Bon Bon Style on Etsy.com
  

Toronto Area Independent Shops

I’m sure there are more out there but I’ve only come across two so far in my online travels:

   Maximum Woman

I've purchased items from the online shop, but not in person from the store. They seem similar to Bodacious in Vancouver in that they carry clothing lines by independent designers, which means it's unique stuff, though usually on the pricier side.

The one thing I don’t like about their online store is that they don’t often tell you what the fabric is, which is a big thing for me (I try to stay away from synthetics).

Not all of the clothes here are to my personal taste, but I'm sure they appeal to a wide range of customers.

• Style grade: Maximum Woman gets a B+. 

• Website: www.maximumwoman.com

   Lola & Gigi

Based in Toronto, the contact page says you can make an appointment to visit their showroom, but they aren't an actual storefront.

Looking through the products available, I see some familiar items. This store carries IGIGI products as does Maximum Woman above, and now also Bodacious, but at slightly different prices. MW has a blouse at $59.99 regular price, whereas Lola & Gigi has the same blouse on sale at $42.99 (down from $85). Makes you wonder, but if you've ever worked in retail, you probably know that wholesale prices vary depending on how much your store can purchase (the more you buy, the better deal you get.) I'm sure this is the case for the price difference.

• Style grade: I ordered two items recently and they arrived quickly and in a lovely box, with a bonus L&G branded measuring tape! A fantastic touch. L&G gets a B mainly because the prices (to be expected with designer stuff) and the selection is good but not huge.

• Website: www.lolaandgigi.com (ships to Canada and around the world.)

USA

The internet is a great place to find new stores to shop at! Unfortunately, if you live in Canada and you shop at American stores online, be prepared to pay extra. A LOT extra. Not just the exchange on the dollar, but also duty, and some pretty steep shipping charges.

That said, there are some good stores to check out if you’re willing to pay the extra fees. All of these stores below ship to Canada.

     Sealed With A Kiss Designs

My new favourite US store, SWAK Designs, had me at "Free Shipping to Worldwide". Yes, that means CANADA! Woohoo! I still can't believe it.

Then I got hooked for life on their really fabulous dresses and outfits at jaw-droppingly good prices. And with the Canadian dollar doing well, there are some really great buys to be had, especially when things go on sale.

I ordered 3 dresses from SWAK when I discovered them (March 23, 2010) and they arrived today (April 1). All of them are keepers. and they're very flattering for curvy ladies, with waist-defining details and comfortable fabrics.

The selection is not huge, but the quality is there. They also have customer reviews, which is fantastic for when you want to find out how something actually fits. I'll be adding my two cents to the reviews for the items I bought.

One thing to note is that you really should pay attention to the size charts (it's different for each) because I got my normal size in one dress, and went up a size in two other dresses. One of the bigger-sized dresses is a bit too roomy while the other is snug (but good). May have to get them tailored a bit, but nothing is ever perfect, no matter where you buy it.

• Style Grade: A+

• Website: SWAKDesigns.com

    Torrid

Torrid has some great fashion-forward and trendy items for low prices. I’ve purchased about 4 tops from Torrid in the last couple of months and I love all of them. The styles are pretty funky and fresh, though some lean a little bit toward risqué, and a few are a little too "out there" for my moderately conservative taste. (Check out the thigh-high patent leather boots and dominatrix-style stilettos!)

The one thing that killed me with my Torrid purchases (as with all of my US purchases) is the shipping fee. For both of my shipments, I paid nearly $30 each in shipping. On one of them I also had to pay duty, but the other one made it through without getting tagged at customs. (I think it’s just luck in those cases.)

That said, I love all of the things I’ve purchased at Torrid, and since it’s autumn, I want to recommend two of my purchases specifically:

1. A purple cowl-neck sweater, which is in a thin knit fabric and very flattering. (Currently on sale)

2. A cranberry hooded cardigan (other colours available) in this fabric they call “Yummy Yarn”. It’s so soft! Surprizingly, however, it’s also a polyester/nylon blend, so I might have to rethink all my complaining about synthetic fabric! They definitely made it feel soft and comfortable.

• Style Grade: A- (I have to dock them points for the crazy shipping charges, unfortunately.) 

• Website: Torrid.com. They also have real stores in a few US cities. Check the website for locations.
  

   Alight

I found Alight around the same time I found Torrid and thought I’d died and gone to heaven with both. I was extremely excited about Alight because a lot of their clothing is 100% cotton. They carry lines from a few different designers so it’s very important to read the measurement information they provide in each item's description.

I ordered a bunch of things from Alight. Unfortunately, I didn’t pay much attention to the size measurements they provided and nothing I ordered worked out for me at all! (And always remember: if it's on sale, it's usually for a reason!) The items I purchased were either too huge, too small, or just not my style.

I was very disappointed, and surprised, that I had such bad luck with the items I purchased from Alight since I’d had such good luck with Torrid. The difference, I realize now, is that Torrid uses actual models to display their clothes in the online catalogue, so you get a really good idea of what the items will look like on the body. At Alight, however, they have all the clothes laid out flat on a white background or on a non-plus mannequin torso, so it’s really hard to get a good idea of shape and fit.

I will try Alight again, just to give them another chance. I think the issues with the clothes I ordered was partly my fault for not paying attention to measurements provided.

• Style Grade: for now, a C+. This might change if I have better luck with my next order.

• Website: alight.com. They also have real stores in a few cities.

 

   Unique Vintage

I just came across this site and am TOTALLY DROOLING. It's full of vintage-style dresses and gowns that are utterly gorgeous! Many of these beautiful dresses are available in 14-16, and some even go up to 6x. There is even a small selection of lovely, classic-looking wedding dresses too.

Whether you want to channel Veronica Lake, Marilyn Monroe, Betty Paige, Ingrid Bergman, or a curvaceous Audrey Hepburn, this is the store that can outfit your desires with a collection that'll surely make you feel movie star glamorous.

If you do order a dress from Unique Vintage, please read the measurements provided for each dress very carefully. I noticed that some dresses are cut so that a tag 3x is actually about a size 16, while others are 18 or 20.

• Style Grade: I have to give the site an A, even without having shopped here. Browsing through the site totally makes me wish I had somewhere to wear one (or a few) of these beautiful gowns. 

• Website: www.uniquevintage.com (Choose size from the top menu to see the items available in plus sizes.)

   Lane Bryant

Lane Bryant is a US store many people already know about. I’ve also heard it as the butt of a few jokes (most recently on Saturday Night Live).

The clothing in the online catalogue is pretty conservative and a little too mature for my taste, at least at the moment as I look at their fall 2009 line-up.

I haven’t ordered anything online from Lane Bryant because, to be honest, nothing really grabbed my attention. I will keep checking back and if I do purchase something, I’ll update this post. (I just checked out the lingerie section, however, and saw some surprisingly hot mama stuff!)

I do want to keep an eye on Lane Bryant, especially after learning about how they're working with Glamour Magazine to start a body image revolution. Some of LB's plus models are featured in the November 2009 issue. (Read more... )

• Style Grade: TBD (I have yet to try it)

• Website: www.lanebryant.com

    Always For Me

Mainly a swimwear site, Always For Me carries a lot of really pretty, classic-looking, curve-flattering bathing suits, as well as some active wear items and lingerie. The prices are about average for bathing suits. (No matter where I shop, bathing suits always seem to be $75+ for some reason, unless it's the end of the season.)

I bought one tankini bathing suit from here online this summer and it was fantastic quality. Unfortunately, the size was way off. The top was too big and the bottom was too small, even though they were a set and labelled as the same size.

I am probably going to see if I can get the top tailored because I really love it. I have something else I can wear on the bottom, which is why I love buying tankinis. As I said before, it’s a flattering style and you can also mix and match!

Unfortunately, bathing suits and lingerie are usually non-returnable, so you need to be very careful about buying these items online. Pay attention to the measurements provided.

• Style Grade: A. The selection is phenomenal and the styles are all very flattering.

• Website: AlwaysForMe.com
  

   Eddie Bauer

I put Eddie Bauer down here under the US merchants because their website is American and, though they have stores in Canada in some major city centres, when you shop online, you're shopping in US dollars and paying duty and international shipping fees. (They automatically calculate and charge you duty on your items when you click into the international shopping cart.)

Most people are familiar with the style and quality of Eddie Bauer clothing so I won't get into it too much. Their plus selection is pretty limited, but they've never really had a broad range of clothing overall anyway. I actually haven't been to a store in person in a long time so I'm not sure if they carry all of the plus items in Canada that they have on their website. 

• Style grade: Pretty consistent with their style - comfortable elegance - EB gets about a B. It's not young and hip, and sometimes it can border on old and frumpy (watch out for those high-waisted pants), but it's good, classic, consistent quality.

• Website: www.eddiebauer.com

   Old Navy and The Gap

If you’re on the smaller side of the plus range, I’ve noticed that Old Navy and the Gap are starting to get their sizes back to normal lately (after shrinking them to nothing during the size ZERO craze a few years ago). Now I can fit into most of their XL and XXL items again, even if only just tops.

Old Navy is good for buying cheap staples like tank tops and t-shirts to go under nicer sweaters and jackets. Once in a while I may find a nice sweater too. Same with The Gap.

(Note: Old Navy in the US has a plus size line that goes up to 4x. I don't know why they don't bring it up to Canada. The clothes aren't that exciting style-wise, but you can still get some good basics.)

I don’t have high expectations for finding nice clothes in my size when I visit these stores, but sometimes I am pleasantly surprised, so I keep checking back every so often.

• Style Grade: About a C. (They’d earn higher if they actually made their plus sizes available in Canada.)

• Websites: www.oldnavy.ca (no online shopping) and www.gap.com (US site, which also includes link to the US Old Navy site. Neither site accepts orders from Canada.)

   Curvy Girl Clothing

This website is a bit nuts, as are some of the clothes, but it’s worth browsing the site (make sure you’re feeling patient) if you’re looking for some unique pieces. They do carry some questionable, risqué (and some might say skanky) items too, like mesh mini dresses and patent leather onesies, but heck, if that’s your thing, you might like this store!

The site itself is a bit hard to figure out. The navigation in the lower left area is a bit confusing and the way they display some of the items in the catalogue is also odd. (They like to give each colour of the same item its own entry in the catalogue, and sometimes they give each size its own entry as well.)

I assume this is just the way the website was built and they’re probably doing the best they can with it, but just be aware that it’s kind of confusing when you’re shopping. If you buy something, make sure in your shopping cart that you’ve got the right colour and size that you want.

I’ve purchased a couple of summer dresses from here, both on clearance for under $15 each. When they arrived, I could see why they were on sale. One of them I ended up making into a top (it was a bright pattern that was just too much as a full dress). The other is sitting in my closet, waiting in line to go into the donation bin.

One thing that bugs me about this site is that some of the images they use for the section promos, the ones with the actual models running around in the grass, have lovely dresses and clothes, but none of that stuff is available on the site (that I can find).

• Style Grade: C+ (Worth a look, but may not be for everyone.)

• Website: www.curvygirlclothing.com

   IGIGI

Recently I came across IGIGI, which appears to be a clothing line designed by one woman, Yuliya Raquel. The website is full of fancy dresses in flattering styles and I’m in love with quite a few of them. I’ve also noticed that MaximumWoman.com and LoloandGigi.com carry some of the items too, so if you’re in Canada, you might do better ordering from them instead to save on shipping and duty charges.

Since most of the items on the IGIGI site are pretty dressy, I probably won’t be shopping there much. I’m a casual dresser and I work in a casual field so I only need to dress up once in a while.

But that’s not to say I don’t have my eye on some of the items! (In fact, they’ve got the Annette dress I saw at MaximumWoman.com on sale for $49.95 USD, while at MW, it’s $149 CAD. Where’s my calculator?! Add up exchange rate, shipping, duty…)

One thing I really like about this website is the “Shape Stylist”. Click into one of the product detail pages and look at the box on the right side of the product description. You can choose your body shape (diamond, hourglass, triangle, etc.) and the site will filter outfit suggestions to suit you! If you don’t know your shape, you can click “calculate my shape” to find out.

• Style Grade: TBD (I have yet to try it)

• Website:www.igigi.com

   Land’s End

At the other end of the spectrum from IGIGI is Land’s End. It’s all about comfort and tradition, and less about fashion-forward style. The clothing products they carry are pretty “preppy” (is that still a term used these days?) but it's a style that is accessible for families and just about everyone.

They also carry CASHMERE sweaters! Unfortunately, most of them look like something my grandma would wear. Sigh.

I have purchased a few items from Land’s End and have been more or less happy with them. The sizes are usually right, but  some things turned out a bit snug. It's a bit of a gamble. I purchased a jacket recently one size too big because I like to layer, but it was way too big, even with a bulky sweater underneath. Sent it back. (Returning items is quite easy with Land's End.)

Make sure that you are browsing the “plus” section (X, 1X, 2X etc.), and not the regular section of the site, which also has sizes 14-18. Same thing here as with Sears.ca: the regular sizes 14-18 are definitely not roomy enough for curvy girls.

By the way, Sears and Land’s End are owned by the same company, but I find the Land’s End clothing to be much better quality than Sears.

The nice thing about shopping at Land's End is that if you enter the site through LandsEnd.ca instead of .com, they’ll add duty onto the purchase price in the cart so that you have a better idea of what you’ll be paying in total. (Unfortunately, this also means there’s no chance you’ll get a break on duty if the customs officer happens to be falling asleep when your package passes under his nose, which has happened to me a few times.)

Land’s End also seems to constantly be running promotions. Mostly it’s discounts, sometimes it’s free shipping. I get their sales alert emails and it seems like there’s one almost every day. Be aware that they will put you on their printed catalogue mailing list (as does Sears) so you may want to call them up and ask to be removed if you aren’t interested in them. (I received 3 different catalogues in one day a couple of weeks ago!)

• Style Grade: B+, but beware of items photographed on slim, young models that are actually frumpy clothing in disguise.

• Website: www.landsend.ca (Canadian shoppers) or www.landsend.com (US shoppers)

   Nordstrom

Nordstrom has a decent selection of plus size clothing, much of which includes designer labels like Hilary Radley, Jones New York, Juicy Couture, Kenneth Cole NY, Anne Klein, and more. This means that the prices are also designer prices, however.

The nice thing about their site is that you can choose to look at things in Canadian dollars, which helps a lot to avoid sticker shock when you get your credit card bill. Also, right now (mid-November 2009) they have free shipping to Canada on orders over $100, which is a real deal considering I've paid $30-40 (USD!) for shipping from other stores in this list.

I've shopped at Nordstroms in person (Seattle) and found lots of things that suit me. Online, it's a bit hard to tell. I don't like the way they mix non-plus photos into the plus size section, since you end up looking at very thin, straight-shaped models wearing something that apparently comes in a plus size. It's just too hard to imagine how some of the things are going to look filled out with womanly curves. 

I haven't shopped at Nordstroms online (yet) but from what I can see, I can give them a tentative grade.

• Style Grade: Tentative B. There are some things that are frumpy-suspects, and I see a lot of synthetic fibres. This grade may change if 

• Website: www.nordstrom.com

   US-only stores

I've also come across a few other sites/stores that don't ship to Canada. Some are well-known department stores, and others aren't. If you're in the US or making a trip, they may be worth checking out in person if they have stores where you are:

And Macys (www.macys.com)

 

That's the end of my list for now. If you know of any other plus size clothing stores, please share, or write your own review !