Fashion for curvy girls

I guess the U.S. military might just break off here and there, if you ask me.

Does anyone have an idea, or has anyone seen one of those strapless dresses—you know, the classic "party girl" style 😬 where the back is basically bare and it hits almost to the floor—maybe in a size 50 or something?

Man, I would love to buy something like that, but I have zero clue where to look. *Sigh*.

Dorothy Perkins—they’re black, they’re green, but let’s be real: they’re basically transparent since they’re marketed as "beach wear."

brightrider95 said:Dorothy Perkins—they’re black, they’re green, but let’s be real: they’re basically transparent since they’re marketed as "beach wear."

That sounds great. Thanks!

Did you see those at the Magma over in the East Side or at CC1?

It happened at CC1 too, though I know the incident on Broadway was about six weeks back—CC1 was much more recent.
Mind you, if you’re rocking a deeper neckline, don't get your hopes up; those frogs look pretty ridiculous in that cut...😢

Thanks a lot. I snagged the green one yesterday at the fog-heavy Žitnjak area. It was the last one, on sale, plus an extra 5% off—can't complain. 😬It’s not exactly what I was hunting for, but it’s close enough.

Honestly, I'm just thrilled 😍
Yesterday, all I caught was some giraffe-like thing over at the mall, but I didn't manage to call it in 😁

My mom heard there’s a boutique in Cleveland specifically catering to plus-sized women... does anyone actually know anything about this? She told me I should look into it.

Huge churches, seriously, why are people even buying into that? It’s my literal nightmare. Honestly, I’d move all the way to Canada if I had to just to get away from it...

I'm not from NYC and I've never been to a downtown cathedral, so what are their actual numbers like? Is 48 actually big, like 48, or are we talking smaller scales here? And do they have a buddy system or anything? Can you find info on this online somewhere?

Man, so many questions.😁

Hey there!

Does anyone know a good, affordable tailor in Chicago, Columbus, Indianapolis, or anywhere nearby? If you have a recommendation, please let me know.

I'm looking to get a few pairs of pants made, and maybe a couple of other pieces too.

Thanks!

I usually find myself settling for a size 46 or 48. To be perfectly honest, you can still find those sizes relatively easily, though finding anything larger becomes a genuine struggle. Up until lately, my wardrobe was mostly built from places like Peek or Dorothy for trousers... but ever since C&A opened up at the local mall, I've basically become a regular there. I haven't really run into any major issues sourcing clothes so far. Granted, I can completely forget about hitting the big sales, but C&A is genuinely affordable... for instance, neither now nor in the past have I ever spent more than $67 on a pair of pants or a sweater. Or maybe $33 for a simple T-shirt. Of course, I don't even bother glancing at other shops anymore; once you stumble upon the one place that actually works for you, life gets a lot simpler. The one thing I am constantly, endlessly, perpetually struggling with, though, is bras. Good grief.

Nathan Baker said:I usually find myself settling for a size 46 or 48. To be perfectly honest, you can still find those sizes relatively easily, though finding anything larger becomes a genuine struggle. Up until lately, my wardrobe was mostly built from places like Peek or Dorothy for trousers... but ever since C&A opened up at the local mall, I've basically become a regular there. I haven't really run into any major issues sourcing clothes so far. Granted, I can completely forget about hitting the big sales, but C&A is genuinely affordable... for instance, neither now nor in the past have I ever spent more than $67 on a pair of pants or a sweater. Or maybe $33 for a simple T-shirt. Of course, I don't even bother glancing at other shops anymore; once you stumble upon the one place that actually works for you, life gets a lot simpler. The one thing I am constantly, endlessly, perpetually struggling with, though, is bras. Good grief.

Does anyone happen to know where I can find size 14 pants in the city? I'm not actually from around here, but I'm heading into town this weekend because I seriously cannot find anything anywhere else... Thanks!

northernscout99 said:Does anyone happen to know where I can find size 14 pants in the city? I'm not actually from around here, but I'm heading into town this weekend because I seriously cannot find anything anywhere else... Thanks!

you mean skinny legs...
maybe check out Dorothy Perkins... they have stuff in the shopping district or maybe at C&A

Jason Moore63 said:you mean skinny legs...
maybe check out Dorothy Perkins... they have stuff in the shopping district or maybe at C&A

Yes, I definitely meant skinny legs! Oh my gosh, thank you so much, you just made my day! 🤣

northernscout99 said:Yes, I definitely meant skinny legs! Oh my gosh, thank you so much, you just made my day! 🤣

Well, you’ve already gotten your answer. Though, if I’m being honest, my experience with Dorothy Perkins has been pretty disappointing lately when it comes to denim; it’s like they don’t even carry the good stuff anymore. Everything seems to be geared toward little girls now—all glitter and butterflies—or else it's those weird flared cuts or that overly washed-out look that just doesn't sit right. These days, whenever I need a solid pair of black chinos, I still find myself heading there, but for actual jeans? C&A has definitely become my go-to.
Generally speaking, you should head over to the CC1; you’ll almost certainly find them there. And whatever you do, don't let anyone talk you into thinking they carry them at those other shopping centers—they absolutely don't. Personally, I’ve never had any luck finding a decent pair of pants at the Avenue Mall, King Cross, or even the Garden Mall... it's just never happened.

Nathan Baker said:Well, you’ve already gotten your answer. Though, if I’m being honest, my experience with Dorothy Perkins has been pretty disappointing lately when it comes to denim; it’s like they don’t even carry the good stuff anymore. Everything seems to be geared toward little girls now—all glitter and butterflies—or else it's those weird flared cuts or that overly washed-out look that just doesn't sit right. These days, whenever I need a solid pair of black chinos, I still find myself heading there, but for actual jeans? C&A has definitely become my go-to.
Generally speaking, you should head over to the CC1; you’ll almost certainly find them there. And whatever you do, don't let anyone talk you into thinking they carry them at those other shopping centers—they absolutely don't. Personally, I’ve never had any luck finding a decent pair of pants at the Avenue Mall, King Cross, or even the Garden Mall... it's just never happened.

Wow, thank you so much, I am absolutely going there! 🙏 Thank you, oh my gosh!!! 😁

Ladies, don't let the mediocre selection at your local mall get you down. There are some incredible online shops out there with endless styles and sizes up to 5XL. Sites like eBay, ASOS, Evans, and Yours Clothing have amazing deals when they run sales—everything from your everyday basics to those fancy outfits for a night out 😍

Charles Kern28 said:Ladies, don't let the mediocre selection at your local mall get you down. There are some incredible online shops out there with endless styles and sizes up to 5XL. Sites like eBay, ASOS, Evans, and Yours Clothing have amazing deals when they run sales—everything from your everyday basics to those fancy outfits for a night out 😍

Personally, I find online clothes shopping to be a far worse, and ultimately probably more expensive, alternative to anyone here having to drive all the way into a major hub like Chicago just to find plus-size options if their hometown lacks them. For starters, you never truly know what’s going to show up at your door or how much those polished photos lie about the actual garment, and even if you follow the measurements to a T, there is still that nagging uncertainty about whether it will actually fit your shape. And even if the sizing works out perfectly, what happens if you put it on and it just looks terrible on you? Then you're stuck with the headache of returns, shipping fees, and endless back-and-forth... I tried it once, and honestly, I'm never doing it again. Just a total waste of money.

Nathan Baker said:Personally, I find online clothes shopping to be a far worse, and ultimately probably more expensive, alternative to anyone here having to drive all the way into a major hub like Chicago just to find plus-size options if their hometown lacks them. For starters, you never truly know what’s going to show up at your door or how much those polished photos lie about the actual garment, and even if you follow the measurements to a T, there is still that nagging uncertainty about whether it will actually fit your shape. And even if the sizing works out perfectly, what happens if you put it on and it just looks terrible on you? Then you're stuck with the headache of returns, shipping fees, and endless back-and-forth... I tried it once, and honestly, I'm never doing it again. Just a total waste of money.

well, then you just sell it on the forum 😂
I've never been disappointed by anything I've bought online🤷 especially stuff from ASOS... all the shops (except eBay) that Charles Kern28 listed have great reviews and wouldn't dream of selling junk. Plus, the sales are way better than what you'd find in downtown Chicago (like, ASOS has dresses for 5 or 6 bucks, whereas I could never find anything like that in the States)... I actually just ordered a gorgeous little black dress for going out from ASOS for 8 bucks 🤣 plus 6 bucks for shipping... I'll never find something like that in the US for $40

Nathan Baker said:Personally, I find online clothes shopping to be a far worse, and ultimately probably more expensive, alternative to anyone here having to drive all the way into a major hub like Chicago just to find plus-size options if their hometown lacks them. For starters, you never truly know what’s going to show up at your door or how much those polished photos lie about the actual garment, and even if you follow the measurements to a T, there is still that nagging uncertainty about whether it will actually fit your shape. And even if the sizing works out perfectly, what happens if you put it on and it just looks terrible on you? Then you're stuck with the headache of returns, shipping fees, and endless back-and-forth... I tried it once, and honestly, I'm never doing it again. Just a total waste of money.

Fair enough, that’s just how it went for you. It’s a bummer you gave up after just one try, though! I’ve ordered about ten times now and everything has been spot on (I've done everything from jackets and blazers to tops and swimwear). Sure, there might be a time in the future where I fall in love with something that doesn't quite fit right, but that happens to me even when I'm shopping at the mall... Sometimes I love a piece so much I just ignore the fact that the fit isn't perfect 😬
Plus, you just have to learn the ropes of online shopping. For example, don't order a massive haul all at once so you don't get hit with unexpected customs fees, always double-check size charts, read reviews if they're available, stick to reputable sites, and obviously buy cuts you already know look good on you. If it's something totally new, I usually try to find it in a store first to see how it sits on my body. You also have to keep an eye on certain sites—sometimes you can snag absolute gems for basically pocket change.
As for driving all the way to a big city like Chicago to shop, it might make sense if you're already passing through, but for me, it’s definitely not worth it for a few reasons:
1. I don't go on shopping sprees twice a year; I just buy stuff when I need it, and if I can't find it then, I'm not going to drive hours just to hunt it down. That would mean making at least 2-3 trips a season.
2. A round-trip ticket from a place like St. Louis is almost $67, and for some people, it's even pricier, which adds up fast when you factor in multiple trips.
3. It's way easier to order from my couch than to spend the whole day sprinting between malls and boutiques—especially since most shops only carry specific sizes—all while racing against the clock to catch my bus or train back home. 😁
4. Online, I have access to a much better selection of wearable styles, and I don't feel forced into buying something just because it's the only thing available in my size. I want to choose what I wear,
not settle. 5. I save both time AND MONEY, because most things I grab online are things I couldn't find for that price anywhere else in the States (even with shipping), assuming I can even find what I'm looking for at all.

All in all, I think online shopping has way more pros than cons! 😍