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Self Love, Part 3: Inclusive Shopping

Photo from eloquii.com


You should never feel forced to wear clothes that are baggy, ugly or too tight. Your wardrobe should encourage you to express yourself to the fullest extent of who you are and all that you want to be.

In the last Self Love series post, I talked about Average Emily and her quest to find clothes that fit the body of the average American woman…and that fit her style, too. With the help of Whitney McGruder of witandtravesty.com, I’ve put together a list of some of the most size-inclusive stores you can shop at.

It’s easy enough to search the web for the best plus size stores, but what do those listicles really tell you? I don’t know about you, but seeing one cute shirt isn’t quite enough for me. Instead of that, I’ll be going in depth to see what these stores have to say about their sizing and purpose. I’ll do a price comparison of basic items and see just how inclusive these stores really are. With all of this information, maybe this list will become your new way to shop – because having to buy all of your clothes from Amazon just doesn’t cut it.

Notes on this list:
  • In terms of layout, this post starts with the heavy hitters: stats. I created these charts based on my findings across the stores listed. If you want more detail, keep scrolling!
  • Under each subsequent heading, you'll find stores, their size ranges, prices of a typical garment (with links to those items) and mission statements from the brand.
  • Some of the mission statements are not listed on company websites. For those, I contacted the companies directly. So if you can't find those words on a particular site, that's why.
  • When searching for clothing prices, I tried to do the same item across brands. Obviously that’s not entirely possible. In general, I looked for a straight-leg, plain (not cut up or cropped) jean, and a plain t-shirt (or the cheapest available).
  • Prices listed are often the "starting price" - there are more expensive shirts and jeans at almost all of these stores.
  • None of these retailers sponsor this blog. This information is all based on research and personal experience.
  • There are several other stores that were recommended to me for this list, but their styles seemed outlandish, or their variety was so slim that I didn't think they warranted a mention here. If you know of other stores that you love shopping at, though, comment below! I'd be happy to revise this post to include your favorites!

Findings

Size Offerings

Clearly, Universal Standard is the most size-inclusive. The big name stores like Torrid and Lane Bryant are surprisingly low on the list, but that's because they cater specifically to bigger sizes, not to everyone. Even so, their sizes only go to about 30 whereas some of these other stores are closer to size 40.


Pricing

In looking at the price ranges below, Kiyonna is clearly the most expensive for jeans, while eShakti is priciest for tops. I can't explain for Kiyonna, but the reason eShakti's tops are so expensive is that 1) they don't sell standard tees, so the item in question is more like a sweater; 2) all of their items are customizable, including the top listed. 

Overall, the average price you can expect for jeans is about $66, while for a tee you can expect to pay $27. I find it interesting that the stores that offer fewer sizes (on the left of this chart, the bottom of the previous chart) tend to have more expensive jeans, while, aside from Universal Standard, the top five stores (on the right of this chart) with the widest size inclusion all fall below the average price.


General Clothing Stores

Universal Standard
Sizes 00 to 40
Price of a tee: $35 
Price of jeans: $90 

In their words...
We lived in a world in which access was limited. We couldn’t shop together; one of us could hardly shop at all. It felt unfair, but moreover, it made no sense. If 67% of women in the U.S. wear a size 14 or above, why were their options so dismal? It was clear that all women weren’t given the same level of style, quality, or even respect. We wanted a size 26 to shop in the same way as a size 6 – using style as her only filter.

We thought about how a number on a label had so much influence on our lives and triggered internal bullies that told us we’re not worth it, so we took size out of the equation with Fit Liberty and let you shop without anxiety, fear, or regret.

When your size changes, we change with you. If a piece from our core collection no longer fits you within a year of purchase, due to size fluctuation, we’ll replace it with your new size - for free. No more shopping anxiety, no more delayed gratification. We’re making shopping fun again.
We’re not done – not even close – and we promise we won’t stop until we bring fashion for all women up to a Universal Standard.

eShakti

Sizes 0 to 36W, XS to 6X
Price of a tee: $59.95 
Price of a dress: $64.95 

In their words...
It is not enough that clothes look good on mannequins. They need to look good on you – this is our philosophy. We make clothes just for you, not to just fit well, but also to have the neckline, sleeve and length work for you. We also make every garment to your exact height. At eShakti, you can, of course, also buy clothes as shown in the standard sizes from 0-36W - or you can have them customized to your specific size with your selection of neckline, sleeve and length. It is your choice and it is easy, fast and affordable.

We like to think of eShakti as liberation from the size tag. eShakti is about empowerment. (Shakti in Sanskrit means "power.")

Personal note: For every garment, you can insert your exact measurements at 10 different places on your body to get an outfit custom made for your size (not just a size on a label).

Ashley Stewart

Sizes 10 to 32
Price of a tee: $29.50 (currently on sale for $17.70) 
Price of jeans: $49.50 (currently on sale for $29.70) 

In their words...
Dedicated to women who love their curves. 

Ashley Stewart started in local neighborhoods across the country. As an iconic women’s fashion brand, we’ve always stood for fashion forward, on-trend clothing at an affordable price. Now with 89 stores across the country, one of the most socially engaged online communities, and a leading eCommerce business, Ashley Stewart is your neighborhood brand gone global!

Rebdolls

Sizes 0 to 32
Price of a tee: $14.50 (currently on sale for $12.33) 
Price of jeans: $39.99 (currently on sale for $33.99) 

In their words...
For us it's about fashion; not size.
Rebdolls is a missy and plus size fashion retailer that stays on the pulse of trendy fashion. The company provides unapologetic fashion to women sizes 0 to 32. Rebdolls is a minority and woman owned brand. It's goal is to make great quality and well fitting clothes for women of all sizes.  Rebdolls remains true to its fan base through trendy new arrivals and a  “girls kick ass” mentality. In May 2016 the brand adopted its slogan #SEXYFORALL to bring about size diversity awareness in the fashion industry. Join the movement, let's bring forth more fashion to all. 

ModCloth

Sizes 00 to 30
Price of a tee: $25 
Price of jeans: $65 (currently on sale for $39.99) 

In their words...
Fashion for Every Body
At ModCloth, we believe measurements are numbers, not judgments. That’s why we offer a variety of plus-size clothing—in sizes up to 4X.

Kiyonna

Sizes 10 to 32
Price of a tee: $44 
Price of jeans: $98 

In their words...
We’re in business still, after all these years, because we’ve always sold a feeling, not a product. I’ve always believed in the idea that curvy women deserved to look and feel stylish and amazing. Why not?

Navabi

Sizes 10 to 32
Price of a tee: $18 (currently on sale for $12) 
Price of jeans: $60 (currently on sale for $41) 

In their words...
We started navabi because we believe that premium fashion shouldn’t stop at size 16. We were the first global retailer that believed every woman should be able to find the style she wants in a size that fits her, every day, around the world. We know the struggle plus size women go through to find trend-led pieces that fit well. Which is why out buyers take plus size women along with them to try on every piece before they place an order. Making sure to ask them how it feels and if there’s anything they wish were different. Not finding the clothes you want to wear is frustrating. But we’re here to change that.

Dress Barn

Sizes 2 to 24
Price of a tee: $21.99 (on sale for $13.19)
Price of jeans $44.95 for standard sizes and $49.95 for plus size

In their words...
For over 50 years, dressbarn has evolved to meet the needs of modern women – offering them options that have surpassed just dressing for work. Today, we dress them for life.

Simply Be

Sizes 8 to 28
Price of a tee: $14.49 
Price of jeans: $32.99 (now on sale for $28.99) 

In their words:
We are not one size fits all. And we are not a fad. Curve is not a trend or a hot topic. It's not an add-on or an afterthought. It's at the heart of everything we do. It's why we exist. We've been here since day one. And we're still leading the way. We demand style. We demand fit. And we hate compromise. We are Simply Be. We are curves.

On-trend style without limits? Of course. And fit? It might get left behind by some in this fast-fashion world, but we won’t compromise when it comes to curves. You deserve it all.

Roman’s

Shirt sizes S to 4X, pant sizes 12P to 32W (and tall sizes)
Price of a tee: $16.90 (currently on sale for $9.99) 
Price of jeans: $69.99

In their words... 
Fit Is Everything
If it fits great, you’ll wear it on repeat. That’s our goal for every piece we create. We work with experienced design experts to translate every trend into a tailor-made, curve-flattering fit that creates a gorgeous silhouette.

Quality Counts Too
We use only the best fabrics: the softest cotton in our tees, premier stretch denim in our jeans. As a direct-to-consumer business only, we’re able to bring you quality pieces at ultra-reasonable prices. Always.

Right Place, Right Outfit
You’ve got places to go, you want to dress for them. That’s why we offer amazing styles for any occasion—work, weekend, everyday, vacay, nights out, fancy events. You’ll find everything from right-now denim to entrance-making dresses, as well as the lingerie, shoes and accessories to complete your look. P.S. Our shoe sizing goes up to 13WW; our bras to size 56J.

Torrid

Sizes 10 to 30
Price of a tee: $26.90 (currently on sale for $20.17) 
Price of jeans: $64.90 (currently on sale for $48.67) 

In their words...
A real fit is life changing.
One size does not fit all. That's why we don't size up from zero or fit on mannequins. We take all of our measurements on actual women like you and me (Liz Munoz, CEO).

Torrid fits you and all your curves.
We celebrate every shape, every size and every curve of our customer.
We're committed to creating fits that perfectly enhance a figure. That's why our clothes fits you best. That's why we are First At Fit™.

One size does not fit all.
That's why we measure again and again on real women, like you, until every hand-picked style drapes, flatters and accentuates your curves perfectly.

Lane Bryant

Sizes 10 to 28 in regular and petite
Price of a tee: $19.95 
Price of jeans: $69.95 

In their words...
Lane Bryant is the most recognized name in plus-size clothing, and our emphasis on fashion and fit - not merely size - makes us a style leader.

Eloquii

Sizes 14 to 28
Price of a tee: $19.95 
Price of jeans: $89.90 

In their words...
We Believe in the Transformational Power of Fashion
…and seek to unlock it one customer at a time. Together we are sparking a fashion revolution that is changing the way women shop—and the fashion industry at large. Because like you, we know fashion doesn't stop at size 12.

Fashion–and Lots of It:
We live for fashion and want to share our love of style with you. We add new runway-inspired styles to our site daily and feature our latest collections in our stores.

Fit-Obsessed:
The difference between like and love? The perfect fit. So we work hard to get ours right. Our technical fit team is just as big as our design team because both are equally important. After our clothes hit our site and stores, we read your reviews and keep working towards the best fit.

Addition Elle

Sizes 12 to 26
Price of a tee: $38 (currently on sale for $9.97 – though prices vary by color) 
Price of jeans: $69 

In their words...
Addition Elle champions a fashion democracy, where style isn't limited by size.
We promise to deliver modern, fashionable clothes; in an inspiring, world-class shopping experience in-store & online; to make the woman who wears our clothes feel confident, beautiful and included in the fashion world.

Created in Montreal in 1980 and acquired by Reitmans Canada Ltd. In 2001, Addition Elle has over 30 years experience catering to plus-size women searching for trendy, flattering, and fashionable clothing. The Addition Elle brand epitomizes the chic Montreal culture of effortless, cool, individual style, combined with femininity and a dash of rebellion.

City Chic

Sizes 14 to 24
Price of a tee: $29 
Price of jeans: $89 

In their words...
Nobody knows how to cut for your curves like City Chic does! Our styles help you conceal and reveal in all the right places.
With new stock arriving weekly, you’ll always be able to find the perfect outfit for any occasion.

A Few Extras

Lingerie and Swimsuits

Adore Me

Sizes XS to 4X, 30A-46DDD
Price of a bra set: $49.95 

In their words...
All bodies are equally beautiful, & equality is a beautiful thing.
Perfectly shaped, just like you.

A personal note: The struggle is real in trying to find a bra or swimsuit that’s both cute and able to cover up. You can have one or the other, but never both. Adore Me has cute bras and bathing suits for bigger sizes! 

Just My Size

Sizes 16W to 32W, 38C to 54DD
Price of a bra: $15 
Price of jeans: $48 (currently on sale for $24) 

In their words...
Since the first catalog 35 years ago, Just My Size has been dedicated to bringing you the best-fitting, most comfortable brands of hosiery, bras, panties, shapers and casual clothing – all designed to help you look and feel your best.

Athletic Gear

Girlfriend Collective

Sizes XXS to XXXL
Price of a tee: $28 
Price of leggings: $68 for all types

In their words...
We believe good things come to those who don't waste.
We believe in ethical manufacturing and recycled materials. Because old water bottles and fishing nets look better on you than they do clogging landfills and polluting oceans.
We believe health and wellness come in many shapes and sizes, and that representation matters.
We believe in being transparent, taking care of the people who make your clothes, and never putting our bottom line before what’s best for the planet.
We're Girlfriend Collective, and we're glad you're here.

Fabletics

Sizes 0 to 24
Price of a tee: $44.95 (without VIP subscription) 
Price of leggings: $79.95 (without VIP subscription) 

In their words...
At Fabletics, we create clothing that inspires you to stay active, whether that means competing in an iron(wo)man competition, sweating in the studio, or chasing after your kids. Our on-trend designs are high in quality at prices you’ll feel good about. This is where the inspiration starts. Beyond the clothing, we foster a community of people who embrace our mantra – “Live Your Passion” – every day.

Nerdy Clothes

Her Universe

Sizes S to 3X, and Plus Size 0 to 5; for pants: 0 to 11, Plus size 12 to 22
Price of a tee: standard size $25 (currently on sale for $11.99)  and plus size $28.90 (currently on sale for $14.99) 
Price of jeans: standard size $49.90 (currently on sale for $39.92); plus size $54.90 (currently on sale for  $43.92) 

In their words...
Ashley’s goal, from the beginning, was to build the company into a stand-alone entertainment and merchandise brand and, today, Her Universe is leading the way. Hoping to change the perception that science fiction and fantasy is just for boys, Her Universe has joined forces with some of the biggest names in the sci-fi/fantasy world to create fangirl apparel and accessories for such well-known names as Star Wars, Doctor Who, Star Trek and Marvel.

Jordandene

Sizes XS to 3X, 6X in some items
Price of a Tee: $30

In their words...
We care about making sure our clothes can be worn by and look good on real people and try to be as inclusive as possible with our photos and marketing.

Elhoffer

Sizes XS to 4XL
Price of a sweater: $65

In their words...
Elhoffer Design is a Geek-Bound apparel company focused on helping lady-nerds feel amazing and powerful, with the occasional unisex piece for those not as interested in feminine cuts. All our apparel is designed and manufactured in Los Angeles, California.
Also…Pockets.

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