Fashion for curvy girls

.. so, where are we all getting our clothes? 😁

.. pants aren't really my issue—I can handle those.. but tops? A total nightmare. Everything I find looks like something my grandmother would wear (and I’m, uh.. turning 23 soon) .. basically, "normal" clothing only seems to exist in plus sizes. Has anyone discovered a shop in downtown Chicago where this is actually possible?

.. I pick up a fair amount at Macy's, but aside from pants, most tops are just okay pieces—not really something you'd wear every day 😬

.. I checked out Nordstrom and that Gjurlo XL women's line, but once again, the tops are completely tacky 🙄

Go look up "Ulla Popken" online. They have really modern, stylish clothes specifically designed for women aged 42 and up—it’s actually quite nice. I'm not sure if they've opened a location in Chicago yet, but they're in almost every major European city. My sister deals with the exact same struggle you're facing, and honestly? She's absolutely thrilled with what she found at Ulla...

Just headed out toward the outskirts near Chicago!
Even H&M has some pretty decent numbers these days.
You can actually find some stylish stuff at C&A too—it’s definitely moved past those old-fashioned, outdated vibes. Plus, if you're a size 46 here, you'll be rocking a 42 there, which is such a win because you feel so much smaller!
The prices are super reasonable, too.

.. Honestly, I’m not feeling it—I am not driving all the way to Chicago just for a single t-shirt or a pair of pants, and I’m certainly not risking my data with some sketchy site.. shrug, thanks anyway 🙂

We aren't exactly the same size, so I apologize in advance if I miss the mark. That said, I know some of my girlfriends manage to score decent finds at Marks & Spencer and X-Nation.

There’s a Vartex department store located right in the heart of the city square, and they actually carry an entire collection specifically curated for younger crowds called "Focus."
It might be worth your while to head over there and take a look.

Well, Focus doesn't really deal with huge numbers.

If you head from the Chase building toward the Lady XXL lot near Cherry Hill—it’s alright, I guess—but honestly, you can find even cheaper options than Poker!

I know there’s this Elena Miro line in Italy that does all those numbers above 46, and they always have such trendy little things. I think I read somewhere recently that they opened—or maybe they're about to open?—a shop in NYC... If anyone from the city knows anything, let me know.

😍 http://www.torrid.com😍

Yeah, I think Elena has one in downtown Chicago. You should probably check around the Loop or maybe somewhere near Michigan Avenue. I remember seeing her set up over on State Street a while back, but I have a feeling she might have moved things over to Wacker Drive or somewhere closer to the river recently.
So, I was thinking about that Ulla Popken place—you know, that shop specifically for people 46 and up? Honestly, it’s where I used to go back when I was dealing with some extra weight, and they seriously have everything. Like, they aren't just stuck in one lane; they’ve got sporty stuff, really elegant pieces, things for younger vibes, older vibes... you name it, and the prices are actually pretty reasonable too, which is a huge plus. We don't have one here in the city yet, but if you're ever out in Graz, just head right into the center. It’s super easy to find, right near the H&M.

Austin Grant10 said:We aren't exactly the same size, so I wanted to apologize in advance if I totally miss the mark, but I know some of my girlfriends have managed to find stuff they like at Marks & Spencer and X-Nation.

I actually spotted some 46s and 48s over at X-Nation, so maybe give it a shot there.👍

restlessmarlin6 said:I saw sizes 46 and 48 over at X-nation, so you might want to check there.👍

Assuming those aren't European sizing, which would mean they're about four sizes smaller than what we use here in the States,😬

crtica said:If they weren't Italian, that would mean there are about four fewer in our own local count. 😬

No way, as far as I know, X-nation is our company. 👍 When I take 42, man, it’s actually 42. No games, no fluff—just straight up 42. 🙂
They’ve got some seriously great stuff. Honestly, I’d much rather pick up my gear from them than head over to an Esprit or a Benetton, for instance. 🙂

restlessmarlin6 said:Not quite; from what I gather, X-nation is actually our own domestic brand 👍
They have some great pieces, and you often find something worth picking up there rather than heading over to Esprit or Benetton, for instance. 🙂

The designs might look decent enough on the surface, but the actual quality is absolutely abysmal. When clothes start bleeding dye all over everything—regardless of any freak weather patterns or laundry mishaps—you aren't looking at a reputable label; you're looking at cheap junk manufactured in China that masquerades as a legitimate brand.😁

.. So, I went on a hunt for some pants today.. just basic black ones, really—I’m not exactly high maintenance.. after several hours of pure frustration, I gave up and went back to my reliable old friend at Old Navy and grabbed $167 because they actually fit me right..

.. As for tops? Honestly, I think I'm calling it quits.. I found some size 14s and 16s that fit everywhere except the chest—apparently, I need a weird combo of a size 18 up top and a size 14 on the bottom 😠

Chloe Garcia98 said:Everything looks fine visually, but the quality is just abysmal. Color bleeding all over your clothes—regardless of whether there’s a storm outside or not—is exactly what I’d expect from some cheap junk from overseas, not from an actual "brand."😁

I actually bought a really great raincoat from them👍 Honestly, I’m almost sad that it’s starting to get too warm out😢.
Mine doesn't bleed color at all.😁

Jonathan Perez88 said:.. so today I went on this whole mission to find some pants.. just basic black ones, I wasn't even being picky .. after wasting a few hours just getting totally frustrated, I ended up heading back to my reliable old go-to at Old Navy and grabbed $167 pants that actually fit me right ..

.. and shirts? honestly, I think I'm just giving up on that too.. I found size 14 and 16 tops that fit everywhere except for my chest, so I guess I probably need some weird combo where a size 18 fits my bust but a 14 works for everything else😠

Ugh, well, if they're tight in the chest, I mean, that's actually a good thing, right? 😍
If only I could brag about having a similar figure, I’d definitely be showing it off to everyone 🙂

.. mhm, no this isn't narrow... it's more... hm, sexualized against the body.. not pretty 😢

Chloe Garcia98 said:Everything looks fine visually, but the quality is absolute trash. Color bleeding all over the clothes—completely unrelated to any weather issues—is exactly what I expect from cheap junk from overseas, not from some supposed "brand."😁

I gotta disagree here, at least when it comes to their denim. Honestly, the quality of their pants is unmatched, and even my lady at the dry cleaners agrees. Like, they’re legit durable, wash them all you want. You can't beat them, I love them.
As for the rest of the stuff, I don't really know because I basically only ever hit up this shop for pants since I know they actually have my size. I guess I tried something else once and... maybe I just wasn't feeling how it fit, so I passed... who knows?😬
but the pants, man, the pants are killer.👍

They’ve got plenty of basic tees in larger sizes too—you can find their shop right on Main Street, tucked into that little walkway on the left side if you're heading toward the British Consulate. They also have a spot in the mall.
The shirts are decent—they aren't pure cotton, though; they’ve got some viscose or lycra mixed in. They go for about fifteen or twenty bucks.