For decades, the fashion industry’s dirty little secret has been its neglect of the special-sized customer. Not only has selection been limited, the product that is available often fails on fundamentals like silhouette, proportion and fit. Tim Gunn said it best when he famously proclaimed “The fashion industry at large has been the worst public relations vehicle for larger women and petite women. They are both maligned and neglected. And I honestly do believe it’s getting better.” More prescient than he could have ever imagined (2016), my-oh-my how the tides have turned — especially for the plus-sized customer.

Welcome to the era of body positivity. Not only is there finally an abundance of plus brands everywhere, their clothes are cuuute. Quality has gotten an upgrade big time, from more trend-forward styles to better fabric technology to A-list designer collabs. Here are today’s top 5 best quality brands to shop for fashionable, fabulous and fierce plus-sized pieces:

1. Lane Bryant
   Industry trailblazer Lane Bryant has been around since 1904 and, subsequently, remains the #1 retail resource for many plus-sized women. 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 woman. Brands-within-brands Cacique (intimates) and Livi (activewear) round out their offering perfectly, making Lane Bryant the ultimate one-stop-shop resource. And watch for amazing collabs with designers and influencers alike — e.g., Prabal Gurung (2017) and Girl with Curves (2018).

2. ELOQUII
   Perhaps the most fashion forward, ELOQUII designs for the fashion-forward plus-sized woman who wants to make a statement. Bright colors, daring silhouettes and “look at me” designs, the styles deliver on both form and function. It’s easy to treasure hunt with their something-for-everyone aesthetic that ranges from prints to solids, matte to sheen, short to long and tight to loose. Their collab with Missoni nearly broke the internet, so watch this space.

3. Torrid
   Chances are you’ll find a Torrid storefront at your local mall, making them one of the most ubiquitous (and popular!) plus-sized brands. They have great product, great selection and great prices which lure the customer back time and time again for seasonal wardrobe refreshes. This makes Torrid the preferred go-to fast fashion resource for many plus shoppers, especially with their too-good-to-be-true promos.

4. Gwynnie Bee
   As shoppers continue to embrace sustainability, services like Gwynnie Bee keep growing in popularity. The first plus-sized subscription-based rental clothing company, Gwynnie Bee lets customers build their own wardrobes from its deep and diverse inventory then wear, return and repeat monthly. Perks like free shipping, free dry cleaning and unlimited exchanges make it easy to never wear the same outfit twice, especially with exclusive access to custom-designed capsules from A-list designers like Tracy Reese.

5. The EveryBody Wrap®
   As founder of The EveryBody Wrap®, of course I’m biased and so have to include! A body positive, shape diverse and size inclusive women’s apparel brand, The EveryBody Wrap® is a simple dressing system that flatters every body shape, size and age. 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. Its miracle-working design enhances a woman’s best shape while the technical fabrics lift, mold and hold to boost confidence. Its endless versatility can transform any look — or attitude — on-demand, empowering women to self-express, reinvent and do more with less. Three-sizes-that-fit-all, machine washable, wrinkle-free and packaged in a travel-ready pouch, it’s the perfect wardrobe staple!

See BestLifeOnline.com press feature here.