The 10 Best Plus Size Clothing Brands That Are Top Quality, Stylists Say
by Dana Schulz for BestLife
Whether you’re tall, petite, curvy, or thin, you likely have your favorite brands that work best for your figure. However, when it comes to plus-size clothing, many retailers have long neglected their customers. “Not only has selection been limited, the product that is available often fails on fundamentals like silhouette, proportion, and fit,” says Elizabeth Kosich, certified image stylist and founder of Elizabeth Kosich Styling.
In recent years, however, the tides have turned and we’ve seen an abundance of body-positive plus-size brands. “Quality has gotten an upgrade too, from more trend-forward styles to better fabric technology to A-list designer collabs,” says Kosich. To find out who’s doing it best, keep reading to hear from Kosich and other stylists about the best plus-size clothing brands.
Universal Standard
Every clothing item at Universal Standard is sold in sizes 00 to 40, or 4XS to 4XL. “We thought that conventional sizing seemed a little skewed, so we decided to shift the spotlight to reflect the real bell curve,” the brand explains on its website. “If the average woman wears a size 18, then that should be called a Medium, right?”And when it comes to basics — like “perfect fitting jeans and their super cozy loungewear” — Sabrina Forscutt, founder and lead stylist at Sabrina Forscutt Styling, says you can’t go wrong. ”For a plus size cashmere sweater, you can’t beat the amazing deal you will get at $98.”
Julie Ramhold, consumer analyst with DealNews.com, also notes that the prices do not change based on size, as can often be the case with plus sizes.
ELOQUII
Kosich considers ELOQUII, which sells sizes 14-28, the most fashion-forward plus-sized brand. “Bright colors, daring silhouettes, and ‘look at me’ designs, the styles deliver on both form and function,” she says. “Their collab with Missoni nearly broke the internet.”Forscutt agrees. “From swimsuits to regular suits, they are one of my favorite places to shop as a plus-size woman and a professional stylist. In addition to amazing everyday and work ensembles, they have a new bridal line that is simply stunning!”
Forscutt also notes that this brand regularly has amazing sales. In fact, at the time of publication, ELOQUII was having a mid-week sale with “hundreds of styles $25 to $45.” A $100 dress was marked down to $35, and a $70 blouse was listed for $25.
WRAY
New York City-based WRAY carries sizes XXS-6XL. They might not be the most affordable brand on this list — denim starts at $185 and dresses around $225 — but their clothes are “made for the artistic, sculptural, and design-heavy customer,” notes Forscutt. “With gorgeous pieces that are truly works of art, they focus on being an ethical and sustainable fashion brand.” She says she currently loves their acid floral pattern and the pistachio lizard jacket and shorts.Another big seller from WRAY is their selection of knee-high boots “that accommodate women who struggle to find wide-calf boots that fit their body shape,” shares Jeanel Alvarado, retail expert at RETAILBOSS. “The boots are made in Italy and feature elastic goring on both sides to provide stretch and ease of movement.”
Lane Bryant
If you’ve every walked through a U.S. shopping mall, we’re guessing this brand rings a bell. Lane Bryant has been around since 1904, offering sizes 10-40.“They’ve been at this the longest and it shows — broad range of product, impeccable fits, and great design, all of which validates their keen understanding of the plus-size woman,” says Kosich. The prices are also right, with jeans averaging around $80 (many were on sales for $50 at the time of publication) and sweaters starting at $60.
She also shares Lane Bryant now has many brands within brands, like Cacique for intimates and Livi for activewear. And she advises shoppers to watch out for collaborations with designers and influencers, such as Prabal Gurung in 2017 and Girl with Curves in 2018.
Yitty
Yitty is a size-inclusive shapewear brand (sizes range from XS to 6X) created for Fabletics by Grammy Award-winning singer LIZZO. At the launch of the collection in ealry 2022, she told the New York Times in an interview: “I’m selling a mentality that ‘I can do what I want with my body, wear what I want and feel good while doing it.’”Since that time, Yitty has begun offering so much more than just shapewear, from bodysuits and bras to underwear and sleepwear. The prices are afforable — $70 for high-waist leggings or shaping shorts — and at the time of publication, they were offering 60 percent off site-wide.
“I personally love their bralettes and leggings for everything from running to the store to hiking,” says Forscutt, adding that their loungewear is some of the softest she’s ever felt.
Madewell
If you look at a list of the “best denim brands,” you’re likely to find Madewell, known for their flattering fits, high-quality construction, and range of trendy styles.In recent years, they expanded their size range to now carry up to a US 28,” shares Forscutt. “And at a price range from $80 to $130, they are on the moderate to high end for a quality pair of jeans.”
Loud Bodies
Loud Bodies was founded in 2018 by Patricia Luiza Blaj, a Romanian influencer who wanted to create a size-inclusive clothing line that was fashionable, ethically made, and offered fun, trendy pieces.In an interview with U.K. publication The Breakdown, Blaj explained that all of the brand’s clothing is made in-house by her team of six.” All my employees are paid at least twice the minimum wage in our country [and] we offer great working conditions. Our fabrics are purchased exclusively from the providers who have certificates that attest to both the sustainability of the [fibers] and the ethical treatment of the supply chain involved.”
For these reasons, Loud Bodies’ clothing items “aren’t going to be fast fashion with super cheap price tags, but they are made to last and have bright colors, fun patterns, and more that plus-size clothing often lacks,” says Ramhold.
The clothing is available in sizes XXS to 10XL (0-42), and if you need it, they’ll do custom orders free of charge. “This applies both to sizing up/down what we currently offer and [customizing] in case you are in between sizing,” Loud Bodies explains on their website.
Modcloth
Online retailer ModCloth makes affordable vintage-inspired clothing, from swing dresses in colorful patterns (starting around $129) to retro polka dot swimsuits (starting at $89). You can even filter by decade while shopping on the site.“True vintage pieces don’t often come in larger sizes and for someone who loves the styles and pieces of the 1950s to the 1990s, ModCloth offers those designs in sizes up to US 28,” shares Forscutt.
The EveryBody Wrap®
Kosich founded this body-positive, shape-diverse, and size-inclusive brand herself, so she admits she’s a bit biased. “Seeing a void in the marketplace for clothing that promoted body-acceptance, self-confidence, and self-love, I launched The EveryBody Wrap® in 2018 to empower women from the inside out.”One thing that’s interesting about the brand is that it only sells two items — a $169 dress and a $139 swimsuit — and they each only come in three, one-size-fits-all options. The idea is that the wrap design is a “simple dressing system” that “accentuates, balances and camouflages to showcase your best shape, while the performance fabrics lift, contour, and sculpt so you feel secure,” the website explains. The pieces are machine washable, won’t wrinkle, and come in a travel-ready pouch, so they’re perfect for packing in your suitcase.
Gwynnie Bee
Not all clothing rental services are size-inclusive, but Gwynnie Bee offers sizes 0-32. The pricing depends on how many items you’ll be renting at a time; monthly subscription plans start at $49 for one item and go up to $199 for 10 items.“Perks like free shipping, free dry cleaning, and unlimited exchanges make it easy to never wear the same thing twice, especially with exclusive access to custom-designed capsules from A-list designers like Tracy Reese,” Kosich says.
See published article on BestLifeOnline.com here.