As a plus size woman, I know it’s almost impossible to find cute, trendy and affordable clothing because, unfortunately, it is common practice to charge more for extended sizes than for “standard” sizes. I’m a college student, so I’m on a limited budget, but I want to look fly no matter what size I am! I’ve spent more time than I want to admit looking for bargains when it comes to clothing and shoes, and I’ve found there are five stores that go above and beyond when giving plus-size ladies an affordable, trendy clothing.

Rue 21

I’ve shopped at http://www.rue21.com/store/Rue 21 since I was in high school (before I was considered “plus size”), and I’ve never been disappointed. Their clothing runs true to size, and while they don’t have a huge variety of plus-size sizes (1x, 2x, 3x), they have a lot of variety if you fall in those three sizes. Not only do they have plus-size clothing, they have wide width and extended sizing in shoes, so you can truly get an entire outfit from Rue 21. When items from Rue 21 go on sale, honey, they go on sale! I’ve purchased tops for under $5 when on sale. The newer brick-and-mortar Rue 21 locations have plus sizes in store, but if your store is an older location, you can purchase online and have them shipped to your local store. That way you pay $3 for shipping instead of $6.

Charlotte Russe

Charlotte Russe hasn’t had plus sizes in their inventory for very long, but it already has more extensive sizes than Rue 21. They carry sizes up to 4x. In my experience, Charlotte Russe runs a little small. Sizing up on things is probably a good idea, but their quality is astounding. Charlotte Russe is the only store I will purchase jeans from because they’re the only company I’ve found that can accommodate my extremely tall frame; their jeans are just top quality, especially for the price.

Wet Seal

Wet Seal is another company that has AMAZING sales. I’ve bought tops for $3 when they were 80 percent off. The biggest complaint I have with Wet Seal is that it takes awhile for their items to make it to me (I’m on the east coast). But when my package arrives, I’m never disappointed with its contents. Wet Seal has a lot of boho chic dresses, tops and jewelry, so that really sets them apart from their competitors that focus mainly on other trendy styles.

Boohoo

Boohoo, an online boutique, is a hidden gem that many people don’t know about but should. I have the Boohoo app downloaded to my phone and receive notifications almost daily about their sales. It's usually a 60 percent off sale (yes, 60 percent off almost every day!). If you’re lucky, they may offer a free shipping code, and the discounts are stackable *you can use them together.* Boohoo is a UK-based company. Shipping takes a little while, but it’s SO worth it. They also include coupons from the UK, which is a neat souvenir.

Torrid

Torrid is the most expensive option I’ll include on this list, but the quality and variety they have is incredible. Torrid’s sizing is the most inclusive I’ve seen from any store; their sizes range from 00 to a 6, which is equivalent to a size medium to a 6x in other brands. While Torrid may be expensive, they have sales called “Haute Cash,” where you take coupon codes and apply them to your order. One example of a Haute Cash coupon is a $25 off of a $50 purchase. If you can wait until Haute Cash time to place orders, you can save a great deal of money, which is what I usually try to do. Another great thing about Torrid is their customer service is tops. Their customer service representatives are really willing to help you out with whatever you need, which is really rare.

All you need is this list of my five favorite stores to really amp your wardrobe up for this coming year!