How To Find Affordable And Flattering Plus Sized Fashion

I do not pretend to be the most fashionable person around.  I certainly don’t follow all of the popular trends and you will often hear me mumbling when I see some of what I feel are dastardly colors and styles in stores these days.  With that said I know I am not alone in the struggle to find something attractive to wear as a plus sized woman.  So here are some simple tips on How To Find Affordable And Flattering Plus Sized Fashion that will help you rock out, look your best and be dressed to impress those you meet.  These tips are simple things I have found easy to implement into my tight budget over the course of a few months that help me feel beautiful and in style while not sacrificing my budget or my personal taste.  

HOW TO FIND AFFORDABLE AND FLATTERING PLUS SIZED FASHION

• SHOP THE MEN’S DEPARTMENT.  I have found routinely that solid pieces and staple items can be found in the men’s department in roomier or larger sizes for half the price similar pieces are found in the women’s section.  Jeans, Khaki Pants and dress shirts are all items I have found that fit and flattered me for a fraction of the cost.  Men’s dress shirts especially are great deals when you have a larger bust that is difficult to find the correct size for in women’s or plus sizes.  This doesn’t always work for every figure but it is a great place to start.  Try on various styles and see if you can find something that feels and looks good.  Sweaters and vests are another great investment in the men’s department.  Solid colors go well for daily wear and are easily accessorized.  I love end of winter clearance racks for great deals on sweaters and cardigans in the mens department.  They are cut much roomier than women’s and are still flattering.
• EMBRACE LEGGINGS.  I found this winter that I was not able to fit into my jeans like I wanted and thus leggings became my best friend.  Simple rule with leggings – you MUST wear a shirt or dress that is at least mid-thigh to pull this look off.  Leggings are NOT a substitute for pants.  They simply carry shorter summer dresses or longer blouses into winter nicely.  Remember a solid shift dress with a wide belt and leggings can take you from drab to fab in no time, and the cost is almost always under $10 a pair. 
• INVEST IN SOLID CAMIS OR TANKS.  Grab one in every color available – routinely on sale at big box retailers for under $5 each.  They are perfect for layering under that dress shirt you grabbed in the mens department or under a lower cut blouse or sweater.  tanks help add color, can often provide a little slimming action on your midsection (depending on style) and are overall one of the best and cheapest wardrobe investments you can make. 
• THRIFT SHOPS ARE YOUR FRIEND.  Check out the thrift shops near the higher class areas in your city.  They often have a ton of high quality and brand name plus sized fashions at reasonable prices.  You may pay $10-$15 for a brand name pair of jeans there versus the $50-$100 in stores or online.  These take time to sort through but once you find a location with good quality deals you will go back regularly. Goodwill and Salvation Army thrift shops are also great for hidden gems. 
• GO VINTAGE WITH MOD CLOTH.  I have an obsession with Vintage and Pinup styles and I struggle to not want to buy too many pieces.  One of my favorite sites to shop is Mod Cloth.  I admit that their prices initially can be way out of my budget, but their sales and clearance are excellent.  Today I found a beautiful sailor style dress for only $21.99. You pay a few dollars more for flattering cuts and great quality.  The styles are classic lines that will not go out of season any time soon and you can so easily build a great wardrobe with only 3-4 of their pieces and a few accessories. 
• BUY CLASSIC CUTS AND COLORS.  This is a truth no matter what size you are or what budget you have.  Plus sized doesn’t mean you can’t follow trends, but it does mean you should make your investment pieces something to carry through for years to come and allow your splurges to be trendy accessories, shoes or bags. 
• BUY INEXPENSIVE ACCESSORIES THAT ARE TRENDING.  Remember the year Titanic came out and butterflies were everywhere?  A year down the road they were out of style and not something you were wearing.  Apply the same thought to your wardrobe  Buy classics like mentioned above, especially when found on sale and add trends in your accessories.  Whether it be a hair clip, makeup style, ring, necklace, scarf or shoe you can add fun pops of color and fashion that will play up your good qualities and help you shine no matter how much you weigh or how little you paid.
• SHOP EBAY.  Ebay is a wonderful source of gently used and often new with tag clothing in all sizes.  The only problem with this is that you can’t try on or return items if they don’t fit.  I use Ebay for purchases of brands and styles I already own.  If I find a style of jeans that fit well and flatter me I will often go straight to Ebay and look for the exact same fit/size/style and grab if they are at a certain price point.  
• SIGN UP FOR STORE EMAIL CLUBS.  There are many plus sized retailers out there that offer special discounts when you sign up for their email club.  This also alerts you to special sales events that you may not know about otherwise.  I love Old Navy, Lane Bryant, Avenue, Catherine’s and One Stop Plus.  All of these sites offer reasonably priced nicer plus sized clothing that typically will be attractive and not make you feel like you are wearing a tent or something your grandma pulled out of her closet from the mid 80’s. 
• REPAIR AND REVIVE OLD PIECES.  Have something you love that has a hole, stain or even is just a bit too tight?  Repair or revive it.  Stains are easily covered by pins, necklaces or vests.  Holes or tears can be patched or covered with embellishments of various kinds.  Occasionally you may even want to simply take a dress or pair of pants to the tailors and see about having them let out enough to make them comfortable for wear.  
• SHOP THE MATERNITY SECTION.  Stores like Old Navy, Target and KMart often have nicer maternity clothing at reasonable prices.  Sometimes, especially if you are in the transition of losing weight, the pants, skirts and shorts in those departments are a great investment.  They can be adjusted easily for your current weight and still appear normal and classy. {Yes, I have shopped there in the past}. 

None of these are the perfect solution for everyone but many of them can help you get out of your yoga pant and t-shirt rut.  Just because you are a larger woman doesn’t mean you don’t have great beautiful trendy options to wear.  Start slowly and build your wardrobe with classic pieces to carry you through the years and add fun item on occasion when you find them on sale.  Take advantage of sales at your favorite stores and stock up when you find a great deal on a style that works well for your body type.