My favorite question is: "Hey, do you want to go shopping this weekend?" Now, it is a no brainer question and takes me about 10 seconds to answer, but as a child, I cringed at the word "shopping." Being a plus size girl made it difficult to find clothes as a child. I would see something in the store, try it on and it just didn't fit my curves the way I wanted it to. Taking me "Back to School" shopping was an adventure for me and my mom that led to crying, frustration, and low self-esteem.
Let's just be honest for a second, sometimes when you go and look at plus size clothing they are not appealing and can be super ugly. I was tired of wearing dresses to church and looking like the 72 year old lady sitting 4 rows behind me. I simply just wanted to dress like everyone else. As I got older I started to shop around in stores and online and discovered the stores that carried my size, and how the clothes suited my preference. I am not a person to spend a lot of money on clothes either, so finding stores that carried plus size clothes for cheap was a deal for me. My hunt to find cute clothes became ten times easier, and my confidence sky-rocketed Here are some of my favorite clothing stores that are have reasonable prices and carry a variety cute clothing for all you plus size girls.
1. rue21
Rue 21 caters to young adults and teenagers. You can find one in many malls and shopping areas and the store has a sale going on all the time. On top of its awesome sales and clearance racks, rue21 is rarely cheap considering my college student budget. rue21 just recently launched its plus size line, and it is in one of my top favorites. From dresses to skirts, shorts to leggings, and sweaters to crop tops rue 21 has it all for you. Its sizes are flexible, clothing feels amazing and has outfits for any occasion. Like many retail stores starting a plus size collection, shoppers have resort to online, but rue21 is expanding its plus size collection in many retail stores. So if you are a curvy girl that needs a little black dress for your next cocktail party then rue21 is definitely the store to checkout.
2. Ross
What do department stores do with their left over clothes that could not sale? They send them to Ross, Dress for Less, or Ross for short, and it is basically just one big clearance store. I mean who doesn't want to dress for less? From prom dresses to joggers, the store has an abundance of clothing items and caters to the plus size community. Discovering this store a few years ago, I immediately feel in love. The prices are great, dresses are cute, and accessories are to die for. For all you plus size women who can not fit into the cutest Victoria Secret boy-short panties, it is okay because Ross has your back. If you're looking to fill up your closest with cute sun dresses then Ross is the place for you. Remember sometimes less is more, and for this shopping experience it is definitely more.
3. Rainbow
Shorts for $5.99, tops capping at $25, and lingerie as low as $2.99, yes these prices are real and you can find them at a plus size clothing store called Rainbow. This place has some of the cutest clothes out there, and everything is cheap and stylish. It has an array of outfits to choose from, so you should never leave empty handed. When money is tight, and school is right around the corner hit up your nearest Rainbow shop. It is worth the shopping trip. You will not be disappointed when going into this store because the first thing that will catch your eye is how cute all of its clothes are. Its plus size collection stays in tuned with the constant change of fashion trends. No more worrying about how crochet shorts came out six months ago and you're waiting for it to come out in your size. It is not just clothes that this store sells cheap either, lingerie can be found here at very low prices. So go back to school with the newest style and more money in your pocket.
4. Old Navy
When some think of Old Navy the first thing that pops in their head is the American flag, fourth of July themed shirts. Most families rocked their Old Navy shirts on the fourth, having all their kids dressed alike. When I think of Old Navy, I think of all the great styles and deals that I can get from there. Old Navy's plus size clothes are very comfortable and can be a go to on any day. From yoga pants to cute cardigans Old Navy is a store for bargain shopping, and for all your plus size college girls wanted to save some extra cash this is the store for you. Boyfriend t-shirts are very popular at Old Navy and the great thing about it is that its plus size clothing line has almost the same clothes like on the regular racks. For those of you curvaceous young women that like to shop out of season, Old Navy's clearance rack is here to save the day. In mid November you can find summer tank tops for as low as $1.99 and what's better is that with just a $15 cardigan you can be rocking that tank top in December.
5. Charlotte Russe
For all you plus size women that like to stay in the trend of fashion, keep it classy, and make a sassy statement when needed, Charlotte Russe can make a change in your wardrobe. Browsing through the internet for shoes one day and stumbling across Charlotte Russe was great. Its shoes are to die for, but what caught my eye was the plus size section. Although its plus size collection is not as big as it needs to be, it is growing. This store is more definite the store to update your summer closet.
6. Forever21
Are you a hipster who wants to show off those curves? If crop tops and high wasted shorts that make you fall you in love then check out Forever21. This store will fill out the empty spaces in your closets. It is one of those stores where you can go in with bags galore without maxing out your credit card. Sales are endless at Forever21, and it is not just out of season sales either. Swimsuits in the beginning of warm weather start of at $5.00, and jeans there are reasonably priced all year long. If you are the young women who wants to show off your body, there is not shame because Forever21 has exactly what your looking for. Likewise, if you are the modest curvy girl who want to keep it cute and covered there are also many options to choose from. While Forever21 has a decent collection of plus size clothing, its clothing store is expanding and making shopping there addicting. If you want to be forever looking cute all year long then check out Forever21 online.
7. Debs Shops
The first online clothing store I discovered was Debs Shops, Debs for short, and it completely changed my life. I went from wearing sweatpants and t-shirts everyday to school to coming back after Christmas break with my newest pair of skinny jeans. Debs is my go to store when I know I need some clothes to boost my confidence. After closing down for a little over a year, Debs has made a comeback with cuter clothes than before. For all you plus sizes girls struggling with find clothes to fit your body the way you want I suggest debs. Not only does this clothing store cater to curvy girls, it realizes that not every plus size girl in the world is 5'7 and wearing a size 18. If you are short and tired of rolling up your legs, the options of pant length is available. So, if you are 5'2 and a size 22, go get yourself a new pair of skinny jeans from Deb Shops.
8.maurices
Last, but not least one of the stores that has supplied most of my special event dresses is maurices. From my graduation dress to my recent spring formal dress, maurices continues to satisfy my clothing taste. This store has the ability to make you look classy at any professional meeting and comfortable during those late girls night out. Its jackets and outerwear are must haves and no one can go wrong with its select plus size pants collection. As a college girl, maurices has never failed me. When needing a professional blazer, to a cute Spring dress to wear, maurices continues to save the day. Although maurices is not the cheapest store to shop at, it has an expansion of plus size clothing. Shopping at maurices is a must, and the close there is worth every penny.
Hopefully these eight stores can make shopping more easy for all my plus size beauty queens out there. Being a size where shopping can be a nightmare is the farthest thing from easy, but with this small list your wardrobe can be changed in a matter of 10 minutes. So stop paying ridiculous amounts of money on cute outfits and check out these stores in the mall or online.
