Tara Jane Style

I think back to growing up during peak heroine chic culture in the 90s and how I thought at 5’8 and 205lbs, squeezing myself into a size 14 jeans (the largest size we could find in most stores for teenagers) and hiding the inevitable muffin top in oversized sweatshirts, that I was ugly, unloveable, and that my life was never going to have meaning until my body looked like the these undernourished women who were revered for surviving (somehow) on diet coke, saltines and cigarettes.

When the body positivity and inclusion movement of the 2010s started it felt like I was able to breathe. Finally, I could find clothes from the same stores my friends were shopping – albeit online only, since these stores still didn’t actually carry them in-store 🙄.

Fast forward to now and, somehow, we’re back in the bad times and again brands have stopped offering plus sizes and we’re being told that we should be doing anything we possibly can to prioritize being small. The irony of being told by people who refused vaccinations that everyone should be injecting themselves with weight loss shots, regardless of if it is deemed necessary by their health care providers or not, is also not lost on me. While I, 100%, will never tell anyone else what to do with their body, I find the hypocrisy really hard to stomach, and speaking of stomachs, did you know that a possible side effect of ozempic is gastroparesis? Your stomach can literally become paralyzed and having watched a close friend of mine fighting, suffering, and almost dying (multiple times) from this, I can assure you that unlike what that toxic human being Kate Moss said, many things taste better than skinny feels.

Due to this regression in size inclusivity, I see so many plus sized women asking for advice on where to find clothes for xyz and that’s why I’ll keep being vocal about where I shop. Look, I get the aversion many have to fast fashion, but speaking my truth – as a plus sized woman who wants to dress classy, trendy AND sexy, realistically fast fashion is it and while I’d love to shop local, the options for anything over a size 16 is rare and even rarer to be anything but a tired basic.

So, here are the current 15 brands I’m shopping for casual dresses, event dresses, swimsuits, and everyday basics. For reference, I’m generally a US 16/18 up top (XL/1X) and an 18/20 (XXL/2X) bottom. I’m 5’10 with a 40B chest so I’m what would be considered a pear shaped body.

Some tips of mine when shopping:

• Know your measurements
• Don’t buy something just because it fits – you have a right to dress for your taste, not your body
• Don’t buy something just because it is on trend – you don’t have to have something “new” to be “in style” and you don’t want a closet full of stuff that you won’t actually wear
• Fuck “flattering” wear whatever the hell you want

15 Best Plus Size Clothing Brands

1. Gap Brands (Gap, Old Navy & Athleta) | Sizes XS – 4X | Save AND Splurge

Old Navy is the most size inclusive and affordable of the Gap brands and they are my go-to for all leggings/work out outfits due to the fit and price. However, I do have some quality athleta joggers and I recently found some cute olive trousers from Gap. This year I was most excited about the event wear line Old Navy released. So good and affordable! They also really stepped it up over the summer with some trendy swimwear.

2. SHEIN Curve | Sizes 12 – 34| Save

There isn’t a brand that is more affordable than SHEIN, period. The price point does mean that some of the items can be hit or miss, though. Over time I’ve learned what fabrics to try to avoid and what silhouettes I like best on my body so 9 times out of 10 I’m very happy. The most important part about SHEIN is that if you see something you like somewhere else that isn’t available in plus sizes, rest assured that you can find something very similar on SHEIN.

Full disclosure, I am a SHEIN partner (find my current discount code here) but I stay their partner because I fully believe what I wrote.

3. Amazon Fashion | Save

Amazon is on speed dial in this house. We moved at the end of 2025 so in addition to being the go to for finding all the organization/home necessities, they are one of my go-tos for finding cute, affordable, and quality clothes.

This is another brand I know is considered problematic and my reasons for why that doesn’t matter to me are the same as above. Simply put – when it comes to shopping plus sizes, this is somewhere I shop because I can find what I’m looking for in my size.

I am part of the Amazon affiliate program so you can find links to all my personal favorite items here.

4. ELOQUII | Sizes 14 – 32 | Splurge

Eloquii is where I get my plus sized work tops and blazers. I do also like a lot of their dresses and skirts, but I tend to go back during the times of years that they have sales to see what I can find since they are, for me, on the higher end of what I’d normally spend.

5. Andie Swim| Sizes XS – XXXL | Splurge

These are my investment swimsuits. I also use these swimsuits as defacto bodysuits during the summer.

6. Abercrombie & Fitch | Sizes 23 – 37 in Pants, XS – XXL Tops | Splurge

Abercrombie & Fitch is my go-to for jeans (they offer everything in a tall which is needed for me), and I basically have all my trousers for work from here.

When it comes to their other items I can generally fit the XXL in their skirts, skorts and dresses, and XL in their bodysuits. They have quite a ways to go to be more inclusive, but seeing as this brand was one that used to torment me as a teen, I also feel like it is sort of healing to me to shop here – even if they are what my 16 year old niece refers to as “a mom store” now hahahaha.

7. SKIMS | Sizes XXS – 4X | Save

SKIMS is my go-to for bras and bodysuits. I prefer their “fits every body” line. As a size 40B chest finding a bra that fits me is so hard and I love that they carry it as a part of their normal size range.

I’m actually rating this a save brand, because for the quality $50 is normal.

8. Good American |Sizes 00 – 32 | Splurge

Good American is very size inclusive when it comes to their denim. I usually only shop them during their sales to get jeans under $100 and being transparent, I did not buy anything from them in the last 12 months, but I have 3 pairs of jeans from them that always make me feel snatched.

9. Universal Standard | Sizes 00 – 40 | Splurge

Universal Standard is the most size inclusive brand on the market. They also do their fits based on the actual shape of a woman at each size and invented their own sizing to reflect the average American woman. So for example a size 18 – the average size – is a M for them.

I do partner with them on occasion, which is truthfully the only reason I am able to afford having so many of their items, but I will say if you are looking for staples and ready to spend on an investment piece, this is it for you. Definitely also pay attention to their sales as 40% off happens a few times a year.

10. H&M | Sizes XS – 4X | Save

H&M is where I get all my basic t shirts mostly, but they are also a fantastic place to find a great blazer or camel coat.

11. Cider Curve | Sizes 12 – 26 | Save

Cider Curve has a lot of bangers. My biggest tip is to pay attention to the actual measurements of the items, though. I’m mostly a 2X, but depending on the item I’ve needed to size up. This dress is from them 3 years ago that is still one of my favorites and still available.

12. Berlook| Sizes 0 – 24 | Save

Berlook is a sustainable swimwear brand that has a plus size line that goes up to 24. There is a miss on their end that they don’t offer every swimsuit in the full size range and they don’t have their normal athleisure/resort wear available in plus sizes, but if you are looking for a more environment friendly option that is still affordable I recommend them.

I sporadically partner with them, so if I have any current discount codes they’d be here.

13. Anthropologie | XXS – 3X | Splurge

Anthropologie is not a normal place I shop because they have a very specific aesthetic that doesn’t always meet mine, but I have picked up a few things over the years and I know many people who swear by them. .

14. J.Crew Factory | XXS – 3X | Save

J.Crew Factory is the more affordable J. Crew. They have some good work finds for me and this faux suede skirt has been in my closet for a few years and still available.

15. Halara | Sizes XS – 4X | Save

Halara has been my go-to for tennis dresses, sports bras and work out skorts for a couple years.

Runner Up Brands

Below are some other plus size brands that I have shopped at and found some things, but they aren’t part of my normal rotation.

1. Baltic Born | Sizes XS – 4X | Splurge

Baltic Born is my go-to for wedding guest dresses mostly, but they have expanded their clothes to include up to a size 3X in some other items. Pay attention to the sizing chart. In the below dress I’m wearing the 1X, but I’ve also worn the XXXL in another of their dresses and in a sweater I was an XXL.

2. Fashion Nova Curve | Sizes S – 4X | Save

This is your go to for sexy looks, but also some affordable butt friendly jeans and I have the Stole Your Boyfriend hoodie & joggers in 3 different colors so clearly I think it is a winner lol.

3. TORRID | 10 – 30 | Save & Splurge

They have gotten really dated and matronly over the years, but in 2025 TORRID was definitely trying to be relevant again so I’d keep an eye on them in case they keep moving in the right direction!

4. Boohoo | Sizes 12 – 24 | Save

I’ve had hit or miss moments with Boohoo.

5. Maurices

I don’t usually shop here, but sometimes I find a winner. I also find it funny that they’ve finally realized their target audience isn’t teens and they’re using 30yr old+ models.

Let me know what you think and what brands you think are missing. You can read about my body positivity roadmap here and reminder that you can find all my current discount codes here.

XOXO, Tara