Fashion for curvy girls

What’s the absolute smallest size for fuller figures? Like, when we're talking actual clothing and bras?

🤷
So, what exactly are you looking for?

Do I even fit in here? More importantly—should my friend be heading into the city for shopping? She’s dealing with some hormonal issues that caused some weight gain, and honestly, finding decent options out in the sticks is a nightmare—so she’ll probably just hit up the shops in Chicago once she makes it in.

Do you have an idea of which sizes you're looking for? If so, maybe I (or one of the girls) could point you toward some good shops around town in the city.

Height is around 5'3", she’ll probably need at least 19 inches taken off—must be a custom job—and given her narrow waist, I’d guess those hips hit about 39 inches. Not that I know for sure; it's just my best guess, and she's pretty guarded about that kind of stuff. Apparently, there's some boutique over at Avenue Mall.

There are two spots on Fifth Avenue I actually know... Ulli Popken (though I just window shopped there, didn't really pull the trigger on anything), and then there's Oltre—man, I am obsessed with them 😍
At Oltre, they go up to size 52 and everything is super modern, you know? Nothing feels old-fashioned or stuffy. You can check out their collections online if you want a sneak peek
And since you’re already hanging out on Fifth, there’s Marks & Spencer too. It’s a bit pricier and honestly feels more geared toward the sophisticated ladies... though you can still find some classic staples if you look

As for other places around the city, maybe Centra (it's kind of hit or miss, you'll have to dig through the racks to find stuff for younger crowds), Varteks, Modiana, and things like that... but those last two are definitely the upscale options. Same goes for Marina Rinaldi

Modiana is over in Pula—not exactly a massive crowd there. Marks & Spencer is in Rijeka, which gets more foot traffic, though it’s mostly an older demographic. Thanks for the heads-up, I'll point her toward the thread.

So, you're telling me they actually carry huge sizes there??? I honestly never stepped foot in Oltre thinking it was just a shop for skinny people, much like everyone else assumes... Honestly, Ulla feels a bit overpriced to me, and the designs aren't even any better than what you'd find at C&A... What’s the actual selection like at the H&M in the Westgate mall?

Ugh, I'm heading to that Oltre tomorrow...

If I'm wearing a size 16 at C&A, then a size 18 somewhere else must be quite something...

Not sure about H&M in Washington, but honestly, I’m just not a fan of their basic stuff here in the States lately. 🙄
Back in the day, whenever we’d head over to stores in Europe or even some of the bigger outlets, I could hit up two or three spots and walk out with enough clothes to last me an entire season... no biggie. Now? It feels like they have maybe two or three racks and that's it, and everything else is just size 4 or 4 if you know what I mean. Back then, you could actually find a size 14 without breaking a sweat.

I absolutely love 😍 though. It’s super rare that they don’t have the specific size I’m looking for. If it’s not on the floor, they usually pull it from the back. The staff there are amazing, too... you can literally tell them, "Hey, I'm looking for something like this," and they'll go hunt down a few options for you. Sometimes they find things you didn't even realize were there, just digging through the stock.
When I throw on their size 52 jeans, there's zero chance they match my actual weight—they make me look at least 15 pounds lighter. They’re got such a good stretch to them with the spandex... though, I guess it depends on the cut.
Sometimes I’ll end up trying on 20 or 30 different things in the fitting room before I finally find something that clicks... and don't worry, the sales associates won't even let on that they think you're being a handful.
Anyway, let me know what you find... or post a pic! It’s such a bummer there aren't more photos in this thread.
I think I'll swing by later this weekend to see what's new; I haven't been in ages. 😉

I’m not even sure if a photo of my current dimensions will fit in here... 🙂

Honestly, I’ll head out as soon as my kid lets me... And look, I used to be able to walk into an H&M and put together a full outfit from head to toe without thinking twice, or even hit up New Yorker and find something actually cool... But now? It’s a total disaster. The selection for us curvy women is just a complete nightmare! I absolutely hate, hate, hate the idea of looking like some frumpy old lady...

What’s your take on that Takko store? I picked up two pairs of jeans there—didn't get a chance to wear them because of the pregnancy—but I did manage to find a few decent things that wouldn't break the bank.

Anyway, if I stumble upon anything good at Oltre—well, I’d much rather just take you out for lunch! 🙂

So, I picked up some white tees from Takko the other day... honestly, they just didn't sit right on me at all. But hey, I guess it really comes down to the specific store and what kind of stock they’re actually carrying, you know? Like, one shop's basic is another shop's disaster.
As for Oltre, fingers crossed you find something killer 😉

Dana Wilson said:Don't get me wrong, but you ladies rocking those 34DD or 36E sizes—or even bigger—definitely aren't the target audience for "curvy" fashion lines 😍
It’s just about having larger attributes, plain and simple. Honestly, you guys confuse me with all this talk because, personally, I actually struggle finding stuff that fits my fuller shape and larger bust. Brands like Victoria's Secret or Aerie don't cut it for me at all. I've tried a few, and even with their largest sizes, everything just spills out the sides. Aside from maybe some pieces from Lane Bryant (and even then, I'm not thrilled), I seriously don't know of a single brand in the US market that carries a 42DDD or anything in that range. Everything is either designed for old ladies, comes in boring white, black, or nude, or it’s so tight I feel like I'm wearing a corset and gasping for air. And don't even get me started on the cleavage situation where everything just gets squished together instead of the bra actually giving you a nice, shaped silhouette...
Oh, and let's be real: underwires on anything above a 40 band are basically useless, especially if the straps are narrower than an inch.
Bottom line? Whoever decides to actually import high-quality stuff for us would make a fortune. 😍

It's the same story with other clothes in larger sizes too... everything is so limited. Meanwhile, the number of plus-sized people is growing, unfortunately... And from experience, I know that if you're stuck in clothes that are too small or pinching you, you're just going to end up stress-eating—like grabbing a donut just because you're frustrated with how you look—and that's definitely not going to motivate anyone to lose weight. (Though some people might think making things tighter is somehow supposed to motivate us! Yeah, right.)

Wow, I guess I really went on a rant there. ☕

Have you ever tried a minimizer, or have you mostly stuck to standard bras?
I'm struggling a bit myself because since I finished breastfeeding, my chest hasn't really shrunk; if anything, it feels even larger now, and I dread thinking about what happens if it grows more. I’ve already told my husband that once I'm done with the whole pregnancy and nursing phase, I might look into reduction surgery—especially if things change after a second kid. For now, though, I'm just hunting for a solid sports bra or a good minimizer. If anyone has any recommendations, please let me know!

I’m rocking a 40D (based on those Victoria's Secret sizing charts). I haven't really messed around with minimizers, though, because honestly? I don't want to feel like I'm being suffocated. And sports bras... man, I've tried so many, but none of them ever felt big enough 🙄 I actually picked up some XXL athletic gear at a local Lidl recently. It’s decent, pretty good quality for the price, but if I could find a size up, it would definitely hit better.
Weight loss is just... not happening. Not even a thought. One of my girlfriends actually suggested it once, and I was genuinely stunned for days. Like, how does someone even think that's an option? There is zero chance I’m going to intentionally go cutting things off my body. The only way I’d even consider changing things is if everything just hangs there after having a baby and I end up looking like a total grandma 😍 Luckily, everything still looks super flat and smooth even without a bra, despite my size 😉

So, I headed out to Westgate today, and while I was browsing at Victoria's Secret, I stumbled upon this gorgeous 90D balconette bra.
It’s, well, maybe a tiny bit snug right now, but I’ll probably just grab one of those expansion inserts later. I also picked up some silicone wide straps while I was there...
Plus, I ended up grabbing some panties in the matching fabric, so now I actually have a full wedding set ready to go...
Happy, happy, happy...

Just a heads-up for Belli and all my fellow plus-size girls: I saw some absolutely stunning bras over at Target going up to a 110F...
Honestly, seeing them in so many different colors and patterns almost made me lose my mind—I wanted to buy one in every single design, though I managed to restrain myself...
They aren't even that expensive, if I recall correctly, maybe around $80$30... and they had panties, corsets, halter tops... wow...

I happened to stumble upon this page on Facebook the other day—just by pure accident, really. The shop is called Adora, and they carry lingerie and D+ cup bras.

...while I was over in the Upper East Side...

Good grief, they actually carry sizes up to a 22 there?!?!?! It’s all Italian labels, obviously, but the selection is massive... and here I am, having bypassed both AV Mall and that specific boutique this whole time, when the goods were practically right under my nose...

I ended up picking up some jeans, a light summer blouse, a butterfly-sleeve top, and a blazer—honestly, I might as well have left half my maternity benefits sitting on the counter right then and there...

That being said, I did manage to find those fantastic black trousers over at Marks & Spencer...

Bella, you are an absolute lifesaver!

No problem at all! 😉 I actually swung by there the other day too. I picked up some super skinny black pants—and honestly, I totally get what you mean about those butterfly sleeves (I always call them "mouse sleeves" 🙂). I grabbed that blue one with the glittery shoulder detail, though I noticed they had a black version too. Oh, and that tunic with the wide blue, white, and red stripes? Plus that little black fitted dress with the killer cut? It looks absolutely stunning 🙂. I was really torn on a pair of jeans, though; they were just a tiny bit too tight, and they didn't have my next size up, and then the next ones I tried were way too baggy. What I love about their shop is how they refresh everything every three months or so. Fresh stuff, new collections, all that good stuff 😍

Man, how many typos am I making here? Just typing this up on my phone and my brain is kind of fried right now... 🙂 I also wanted to mention that I swung by that Ulle Popken place, but honestly, it’s just not really my vibe. Feels a little too much like somewhere old ladies would hang out, you know?

Has anyone here tried the ASOS Curve line? Are the sizes actually true to size, or do they run small or large? Specifically, would an 18 in pants be our US size 14, or what?

Hey ladies,
I ordered some DP jeans,
they're black skinnies, but oh my god, the smell...🙂
I've washed them five times now and I just can't get rid of that chemical gasoline scent.
Any tips?

Anyway, I'm curious about those Oltre sizes,
Italian sizing usually runs small,
are you saying they go up to a 52? Would a lady who wears a US size 14 fit into a 52?
😁