The average American woman might be a size 14, but we “above average” ladies know that much of the fashion industry has yet to embrace this fact. Many trendy fashion labels don’t carry plus sizes. Shopping as a plus-size woman has often meant choosing between the limited designs at the local Torrid and Lane Bryant or doing the best you can with the funky floral blazers and drapey granny dresses in the “women’s” section of a department store.
Thankfully, all of that is changing. Curvy millennials — many of them women of color — have noticed the need for more youthful, bolder plus options and are changing the game. Bloggers such as Chastity Garner of GarnerStyle have successfully lobbied the likes of Target to provide better plus options. And designers such as Courtney Noelle are setting the plus trends themselves. Below are five online options for affordable and chic plus styles:
Courtney Smith burst onto the scene in 2014-15 with her Rum + Coke line, which made headlines for using only plus size models of color. Today she designs under her brand Courtney Noelle and her tagline is “death to the mumu,” described as “a call to be fiercely in love with yourself and be bold in your life. It’s a call to stop hiding your body, step into your life and ultimately be yourself.” You can peep her designs in the February issue of Essence!
Carmakoma is a Danish designer of trendy clothing for sizes 12-24. Their minimalist aesthetic makes them a great place to find wardrobe staples with a bit of edge.
Based in Sydney, Australia, City Chic brands itself as the “global plus-size fashion destination in sizes 14+” and has stateside operations catering to the U.S. and Canada. They are always running sales and I’m constantly ready to hand them my money.
eShakti offers made-to-order, custom clothing in sizes 0 to 36W. I’ve yet to give them a try, but I’m eyeing this London-inspired piece.
Aside from selling my favorite jeans, New York-based Fashion to Figure specializes in fast fashion for sizes 12-26, including clothing, jewelry and accessories. This is a great place to start for both trendsetters and women on a budget.
What are your favorite places to shop online for curvy clothing? Let me know in the comments below and stay tuned for more online options in “Death to the Mumu” part two!
