30 Women Brands that offer Extended Sizes

What I’m Wearing – Blazer: Madewell | Blouse: J.Crew | Denim: J.Crew Factory | Necklace: Lace & Pearls Jewelry | Bracelet: Lace & Pearls Jewelry | Ring: J.Crew (old) | Bag: Cuyana Saddle Bag (gifted) | Shoes: M.M. LaFleur (gifted) | Lipstick: BeautyCounter Color Intense Lipstick in color 9 to 5

Today’s post is inspired by those of you who wear extended sizes (14 and up). I know it can be incredibly frustrating to not be able to find clothes that fit and flatter your body. I used to think that brands intentionally excluded certain sizes because they didn’t feel that a curvier woman represented their brand, but after some research I’ve found that’s not entirely the case.

One of the things I became acutely aware of while doing my inclusivity challenge last Spring was that creating plus size clothing is different; you need a certain level of expertise – you can’t just make everything bigger across all dimensions. There’s definitely a science to it and a lot of brands are realizing that they need a partner to help them expand their size range. Source

What’s also crazy is the average size of an American woman is a size 16 to 18. So extended sizes are necessary and should be easily accessible.

My Personal Struggle with Weight and Sizing

Before we dive in, I want to touch on my own struggles with weight. When I started blogging, back in 2014 I was much smaller. I remembering losing weight just so I wouldn’t look terrible on camera. Since that time I have put on 35 pounds. Unfortunately for me, I am someone who has to diet in order to stay small.

When I got married in my late 20s, it became increasingly difficult to maintain a smaller size. Throughout the years, I have also struggled with digestive issues that derailed my maintenance. Now that I’m in my late 30s, I’m no longer obsess with losing weight as much as I used to. I do however need to slim down for health reasons. So this is something I am working on in addition to portion control. I tend to overeat, even when the foods are healthy. Read more about my health and fitness journey here.

Inclusive Sizing

I am in between straight and extended sizing. I wear a 16 or XL on top. A lot of brands that I like don’t offer sizes past 10 or 12. Another thing that is difficult to finds is bras. The last time I went bra shopping at Nordstrom, they only had two options that fit me. My chest is on the larger side.

Extended Sizing

The majority of extended sizing is only offered online. As a result, a person will have to order multiple sizes in the same item to find something that works. The other drawback is that a lot of size-inclusive brands are expensive! I’m talking hundreds of dollars. I did manage to find some affordable brands that carry items under $100.

Everyone should be able to look cute and not have to break the bank. I hope as the demand increases that more retailers carry extended sizes in store and at a more affordable price point.

What I’m Wearing

The blazer featured in today’s post is from Madewell. Madewell now offers extended sizes. I don’t know when that happenedm but I was excited to see it. J.Crew, their sister store, also carries extended sizing and both can be shopped online. My blouse and jeans are from J.Crew, my favorite store. 🙂

Size-Inclusive Brands and Retailers

• Anthropologie
• American Eagle (denim sizes from 00 to 24)
• Asos
• Coediton (cute and affordable!)
• Cov.er.sto.ry (sizes 10-28)
• Dear Kate (underwear)
• Eileen Fisher (high end)
• Eloquii (highly recommend)
• Fabletics (super cute workout clothes)
• J.Crew (sizes are within the product page, they don’t have a separate plus-size section)
• J.Jill (all clothing sizes are within one product page. Click on the item of interest and you’ll see they have three size offerings: Misses, Petite, and Women’s (plus-size/extended)
• Karina Dresses
• Lane Bryant
• Loft
• Madewell
• Mara Hoffman (designer)
• Maurices (cute and affordable!)
• Modcloth
• Norstrom
• Old Navy
• Ori
• Reformation 
• Stitch Fix
• Smart Glamour 
• Swim Suits for All 
• Talbots
• Tanya Taylor  (designer)
• Target
• Third Love (highly recommend for bras)
• Universal Standards (highly recommend)

Body Positive Fashion Bloggers to Follow

• Musings of a Curvy Lady
• Curvily
• Its Me Kellie B
• Katie Sturino
• Stylish Curves
• I Am Beauticurve
• Olivia Muenter
• Essie Golden

Rally for Extended Sizes even if you don’t wear them

Even if you don’t wear extended sizes it’s incredibly important for us as women to come together and help with getting the fashion industry to be more inclusive. We can’t just have women of this size rallying for themselves, we too have can lend our voice to help be the change. I’ll leave you with this quote from Grace Atwood’s blog The Stripe.

THERE ARE SO FEW GOOD OPTIONS for women who wear a size above 12. I don’t know that we’re going to get anywhere with only those women complaining about it… Also, I think we ALL need to complain, regardless of what size we wear. So yeah, maybe you are lucky and can usually find something when you go shopping but if so, let’s recognize the fact that it is an enormous privilege. Source 

Shop the Post:

Blazer: Madewell | Blouse: J.Crew | Denim: J.Crew Factory | Necklace: Lace & Pearls Jewelry | Bracelet: Lace & Pearls Jewelry | Ring: J.Crew (old) | Bag: Cuyana Saddle Bag (gifted) | Shoes: M.M. LaFleur (gifted) | Lipstick: BeautyCounter Color Intense Lipstick in color 9 to 5

Photography by Studio Salty