Good evening y’all! I am writing to you from my favoriteeeeee Starbucks (shoutout to this free wifi, lol) with another plus size must-know “how to”.  So, I was recently speaking with a customer at work and she was pissed about the price variance between plus size items and standard size items: “Why the fuck do we have to pay almost $3 more for the same apparel basics, this shit is ridiculous!”

I couldn’t do anything but agree.

As a visual merchandiser, I consistently see (what I have so boldly named) apparel discrimination; plus size clothing pieces that are the exact same as standard size pieces costing significantly more. So how can a plus size girl  stay fly without a constant brutal attack on my wallet? Simple, I shop standard sizes!

Say whaaaaaaaa!?

That’s right! There are quite a few times I am able to fit my size 14/16 body into standard size apparel, using the following tips and tricks; grab your pen and paper and get ready for the lesson of a lifetime!

(SN: these tips will not work for every piece of clothing!)

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Fabrication:

A key part of getting into standard sizes (or even just fitting into that “one size smaller than you usually wear”) is the fabrication of the item. Simplest way to put it: some material is going to have more “give”/stretch than others. On top of that, the materials that do stretch will vary in the amount of stretch they have (optionsss). The more stretch a fabric has, the easier it is to to work with differing body sizes. Key fabrics to look for are: spandex, vinyl, velvet, “soft denim”, cotton and polyester.

Cut:

The cut of an item can also allow for it to be a little bigger, sometimes by up to a size and a half. “A-line” dresses and skirts, “boxy” tops, and pieces that are meant to be “grungy” all make for great, shoppable standard pieces. A-line cuts flare out creating space and also a short, flowy, flirty look. “Boxy” tops are tops that don’t have a definite shape to them, they are pretty much un-fitted with a square shape. This cut requires more fabric to make and more fabric = more space for you. “Grung” cuts are made to be baggy or oversized, so again more fabric = more space!

 

 

Brand:

It is soooo important to know the brands at your favorite store and how they run. If you go to a store that serves plus and standard, chances are they have some pieces that are featured in the store and those brands may vary in size. Forever 21, one of my favorite stores, has a brand called Contemporary in their stores and the clothes in that brand can run up to a size larger than marked. If you aren’t sure about a brand ask a sales associate!

Altering/DIY

Last (and one of my favorite tricks) is altering or “DIY”ing an item. If an item doesn’t fit, there are ways to make it. Start by getting the largest available size and then with the help of YouTube, you can create some dope pieces!

Alright you guys, that’s it for this time. Hope this helps you save a few bucks on your next shopping excursion!

Peace. Ife Michelle.