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Updated: Oct 26, 2023 81 Comments · by

The Best Workwear For Size 16 (and 18, and 16P, and 16WP, and 14W…)

Shopping· Special Sizes | · ·

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midsize young professional woman talking on phone; she wears a gray sweater with a blouse with a bow

We haven’t talked explicitly about the best workwear for cusp sizes in far too long — if you’re a size 16 or 18, what are your favorite stores and brands? Given the fact that the average American woman is now a size 16 and 5’4″, this is particularly a difficult question, because with those stats you may fit in regular sizes (e.g., 12, 14, 16, 18), plus sizes (e.g., 10W, 12W, 14W, or 16W), petite regular sizes (e.g., 14P, 16P, 18P) or that rare bird, petite plus sizes (e.g., 12WP, 14WP, or 16WP). This is why women in this size range are called “inbetweeners!”

But a lot of “regular” stores only carry sizes up to size 12, and a lot of “plus” stores only start at 18W. Add to that the fact that most stores carry very few of those sizes on the shelves, and you may be stuck in a never-ending cycle of online shopping and returning stuff, as several readers noted in our post on how to return items bought online.

{related: 100+ great shops for plus-size work clothes}

SO. Let’s discuss, readers: What’s the best workwear if you’re a size 16? If you’re an “average” size and right on the cusp of plus sizes, which brands or stores have you found to be the best for you? What styles of clothes work best for your body type? Which brands run small; which run big?

If you are interested in plus-size workwear, please sign up for our newsletter CorporettePlus! Signing up helps us gauge interest in the project, and we promise not to blast your email more than once a week at most. (Right now it’s more like once a month.) In keeping with our Privacy Policy, we’ll never sell your email address.

This post contains affiliate links and Corporette® may earn commissions for purchases made through links in this post. For more details see here. Thank you so much for your support!

(Psst: we’ve sprinkled some of our favorite plus-size basics throughout this post — note that most also come in sizes 14-16.)

collage of five women wearing plus-size sweater jackets 2024
Hunting for the best sweater jackets for plus sizes? Some of our favorites of 2023 include: navy / black / brown / gray / burgundy (not pictured but also)

Some of the brands I know of include:

“Regular” Workwear Brands in Sizes 16-18 (aka “Misses” Sizes)

(I realize “regular brands” is a flawed term, but I mean to distinguish a size 16 from a 16W — if anyone has any suggestions for something other than “regular” or “misses” sizes I’ll take it.)

These are the best brands for work clothes offering cusp sizes… Also check out our roundup of the what to buy at Amazon for work outfits — many of those come up to “size 3X” that is more like XXXL than a true plus-size 3X.) We’ve bolded the stores with reliable suiting options.

collage of 4 women wearing dress shirts that fit larger bust sizes
As of 2023, some great dress shirts for women with large breasts: mustard / white / white / white

Independent Brands With XXL-3X Sizes

It can be hard to make the cross into the “X” sizing, but if you’re looking for something to wear you should consider these stores.

As of January 2023, some of the smaller, independent brands with sizes bigger than a 10/12 include these stores:

(Also check the inclusive sizing sections at Shopbop, and at Revolve (XXS-4X).)

Made to Measure Work Clothes

Hunting for the best made-to-measure work clothes? As of March 2023, the best options we know of are Brooks Brothers, Sumissura, Etsy sellers Heart My Closet, VigilanteLabs, and CelesteLilou, as well as smaller brands like Loud Bodies, Sharpe Suiting, IGIGI, and Rita Phil (pencil skirts only), plus eShakti.

Some of our favorite stores that offer free alterations for members include Nordstrom, J.Crew, Banana Republic, and Uniqlo (select styles). If you’re crafty, you may also want to check out our roundup of sewing patterns for workwear outfits.

Petite Workwear in Sizes 14P, 16P, 18P

As of Jan. 2023, this is where you can find petite sizes above a size 12…

collage of 5 women wearing plus-size work dresses
Some of the best plus-size dresses for work as of 2023: 1) Karen Kane 2) Lands’ End 3) CeCe 4) Calvin Klein 5) Talbots (not pictured but these also)

Workwear for Plus-Size Petites (12WP-44WP)

As of January 2023, this is where you can find plus-size petites… spots with suiting options are in bold.

{related: the best plus-size women’s workwear – wardrobe essentials!}

collage of 4 plus-size women wearing interview suits
Some of our favorite plus-size suits for interviews as of 2023: Calvin Klein / Eloquii / Universal Standard / Talbots (not pictured but also J.Crew)

Smaller Plus-Sized Work Clothes (10W-16W or 0X)

Plus-size clothes tend to be cut a bit wider than regular clothes — a size 16W will be bigger than a size 16, for example.

{related: 100+ great shops for plus-size work clothes}

As of January 2023, these are the plus-size work clothes that start at relatively “small plus sizes…”

collage of plus-size wrap dresses for work
Above, some of our favorite plus-size wrap dresses: one / two / three / four / five (not pictured but also check out this Etsy seller)

Picture via Fotolia / Syda Productions. 

collage of 4 women wearing plus-sized maternity clothes for work
Hunting for where to buy the best plus-size maternity clothes for work? Some of our favorite retailers as of 2023 include Motherhood Maternity / Pink Blush / Target / Ulla Popken –– not pictured but Express also has maternity clothes up to XXL, and Seraphine has a limited selection up to size 22

Admin note: This post was originally written in January 2017 but has been updated as indicated above.

Updated stock photo via Deposit Photos / CandyBoxImages.

About Kat

Kat Griffin is the founder, publisher, and editor-in-chief of Corporette. You can read more about her here.

Comments

  1. Sydney Bristow

    I’m hovering between a 16 and 18 right now. Boden is my favorite, although sometimes more than I want to spend.

    I stick with Calvin Klein pencil skirts. Most of my cardigans are Eddie Bauer or Halogen (goes up to XXL or separately has plus size options). Tops come from a variety of sources including Boden, NY&Company, Modamix, and Old Navy.

    I think I’m going to reach out to Nordstrom about their search function. They have some items up to an 18 in regular sizes and you can filter results by size, but they combine 16-18 (XL-XXL) in one category. Then I always get a lot of responses that include brands that run really small and the description says that size XL = size 12. It’s not very helpful and would be more useful to me to be able to see size 18 or XXL on its own since most brands that include that size don’t run really small.

  2. Anon

    I’m surprised you didn’t mention Eileen Fisher. Her misses sizes run generous so I as a 16W-18W can fit her XL or even L size just fine.

    Environmentally conscious, easy to mix and match, all hand washable, investment dressing. What’s not to like?

    • HSAL

      I’d heard of Eileen Fisher, but never checked out what she made. Do you really wear it to work? It all looks very comfy, but few pieces I would actually consider “workwear.” Maybe the styling just makes it seem more casual than it actually is?

      • Anon

        Yes, I wear almost exclusively EF for work. I’m a senior executive in a traditional finance firm.

        The way the EF website models the clothing is very oversized but if you buy smaller you get a more standard fit. I wear her ponte skirts almost daily, along with one of her sleeveless tops, topped with one of her more structured cardigans or soft jackets, which I have collected over time. This winter I have been obsessed with her wool crepe separates, part of what she calls the Icon collection. I wear the Icon shell with the Icon skirt more than once a week (no one notices) with different jackets or toppers.

    • Anonymous

      I really wanted to switch to EF as post-maternity wear but was really concerned that it would look like pajamas / loungewear.

      In my mind, when I am semi-retired in Phoenix or Miami but teach a law class as an adjunct, I wear this to teach and then go to a gallery after.

      I do think that it requires fabulous jewelry to make it not pajamas.

    • mamiejane

      For the price, I have to say I have found the sizing on EF to be a little bit inconsistent. I have one long cardigan that I love and was looking for a second one but found the sleeves to be weirdly narrow.

    • Parfait

      I have a wool eileen fisher dress that I got at a thrift shop, and I love it, but it’s super short on me so I can’t really wear it to work. Boo.

      Being a TALL 16-18 is difficult. I rely heavily on Boden.

      • Anon

        I don’t know if you will see this, but can you wear it with opaque tights? Can you layer a slim pencil skirt under it?

        I’m also tall and these are a couple of my techniques.

  3. Anon

    Another line is Marina Rinaldi, the larger sized Max Mara line. Sizing runs from about US 10 – US 20.

    Beautiful fabrics, well made, and her sheath dresses often have sleeves. I stalk them on sale.

    There’s no stand-alone US website yet, but Saks, Bloomingdale’s and Neiman Marcus carry it.

  4. anon

    thank you for compiling this list all in one spot, kat! As a 18WP, I appreciate having all these retailers in one spot and see a few I didn’t know about.

  5. Anonymous

    Looking for advice on outsourcing cleaning help. My S.O. and I are thinking of hiring a cleaning lady, and we have zero experience with this. We both are very busy at work and don’t have the energy to maintain order in our 1BR condo. By midweek its a total disaster and it really affects both of our moods. It could definitely use a good cleaning, but I think the bigger issue is clutter/general messiness- things everywhere that need to be put away, sink full of dirty dishes, etc. Does anyone have experience with hiring a cleaning lady for a little apartment, and do you think one would actually help in this scenario?

    • Anonymous

      I think you have to change the way you deal with clutter. I never put things away away so I used baskets, bins, and bowls everywhere. Know yourself!

    • anon

      A regular house cleaner will help you keep your surfaces sparkling, but you need to get a hold on your clutter issues first. Also keep in mind that if your cleaning person is spending a good deal of time picking up, that’s less time spent on the actual cleaning.

      What are your biggest trouble spots? My biggest tip is just getting into the habit of putting crap away. Have a place for everything. Don’t pile coats and clothes on your chairs; hang them up right away. Find your biggest trouble spots and address those first. (For the longest time, it was the amount of mail and paper coming into the house. Keeping a trash can by the door to throw away junk mail before it ever hits the main living areas helped a bunch.)

    • B

      A cleaning service could help with the dishes, but would be less effective with paper/clothes clutter. They aren’t going to know what’s clean or dirty, what needs to be read, reviewed, or trashed. The best they can do there is compile it all in one place for you to go through. I read a post from a blogger once who said she has a rule that she never leaves a room without taking something with her (i.e. something that doesn’t belong in that room and needs to be put away or trashed). When I employ the ‘rule,’ it definitely makes a difference at my house. My husband and I are really messy, especially with paperwork and mail.

  6. mamiejane

    Talbots is my go-t0 although sometimes I find things at Nordstrom and in the summer, I wear JJill dresses. Also, JJill tunics and ponte pants have been a go-to on casual days this winter. It’s so critical to find good petite plus sizes because regular plus sizes often have enormous arm-holes that make the clothing unwearable. I find that to be the case with Old Navy in particular.

    • Anon

      Jill has a nice looking ponte knit pencil skirt that is unfortunately too short for me, but shorter ladies should check it out. No hemming!

      • Great skirt

        I have to order the J Jill ponte pencil skirt in Tall — wish they carried Talls in the store!

    • Anonymous

      My SIL is <5-4 and plus and wears by Talbots women's petites. They also have outlets (all sizes), which can help with the price.

    • anon

      I’m a tall-ish woman and Old Navy is a freaking nightmare. Shirts are simultaneously too short, yet have enormous arm holes.

    • mamiejane

      I have the ponte skirt in black and it’s a go-to with long cardigans and interesting shells.

  7. Bam

    (regular commenter – anon for this)
    I weighed myself this morning and came to the realization that in 10 years, I have gained 100 lbs (age range of that decade – early 20s to early 30s). I’m…. terrified. Realistically I’ve gone from a size 6 to a 12/14, which scares me a little less (as prior to being a 6, I was a 12), but still. I’m at a loss. I’ve tried WW, Diet To Go, no carb, etc. Nothing either works and/or lasts. I can come up with excuses – biglaw job for many years, moving to a new place, using food as comfort for life changes, but I don’t want excuses anymore. I need help. Please, please offer me helpful advice.

    • anon

      Saying you’re “terrified” to be a size 12/14 on a thread specifically geared towards cusp/plus sized, and petite cusp/plus sized women is pretty insensitive. I understand why you’re upset, that is a big change, but a “I want to lose weight to get out of the sizes that you women for this thread are already bigger than” is really, really not the message for this particular thread. Repost in coffee break, sure.

      • Bam

        Really sorry that came out wrong, and re-reading it – it definitely came out wrong. I’m terrified I gained 100 lbs and don’t know how to stop gaining weight.

        • Anon for this

          For what it’s worth, it was clear to me you were terrified about gaining 100 pounds, not that you care so much about your size.

      • Idea

        This. I just found this page today after Kat re-posted it. Can this thread be removed, please? It is incredibly offensive to be here on this page for finding clothes to flatter a size 16 body that someone is “terrified” about her current weight and size and advice for that. Corpor&tt& and the hive here promote a body-positive image and this thread and this poster does not seem to understand what that means.

      • Trish

        So, the terrifying part, for me, was realizing how hard it was to find clothes in petite sizes larger than 10. It is demoralizing and terrifying to learn that JCrew and Banana Republic DO NOT want us shorter chubbier ladies to wear their clothes. It makes me angry. I gained a lot of weight after I quit smoking and I felt so much healthier even if I am overweight.

        • Trish

          Well, it was good enough reason for me to lose ten pounds so I could keep shopping at regular stores. And OP posted this in 2017.

    • Anonymous

      I get it. It’s like you’re not in control of what is happening to you (and it should be something you can control, not like other things that go wrong, like hereditary kidney disease).

      I had something where I thought I was going crazy (like I gained a size in a month). I think it was just slipping towards menopause and my hormones going crazy. It happened a couple of times, so I was fine but my vanity was bruised (and my wallet — you can take clothes in but not easily let them out). And I had developed a serious gut, so not just larger, but a shape not to my liking.

      Hang in there! If you want to make changes, maybe try something new? For me, it was roller derby — gets out some frustrations, and my larger size is a feature (not a bug). And it’s FUN! It’s a new year — time for a new adventure.

      Totally agree that biglaw and delicious food to take the edge off do not help.

    • Anonymous

      anytime that i have needed to drop weight, I limit my calories to 1200 and track my food. Make sure to keep your calories mostly protein and veggies. When you eat carbs try to eat fruits and limit cracker, chips, etc.

      I also exercise (walk) for 1 hour a day and drink at least 6 glasses of water.

      If you do that for a month straight, you WILL see progress. Tracking your weight daily is very motivating. Also take measurements because you will reduce in size without the scale moving sometimes.

      also, look for healthy living and weight loss motivation daily. I really like the skinny rules by bob harper, http://www.diet-blog.com/12/bob-harpers-skinny-rules.php

    • Stati

      I am a woman who has always struggled with her weight and also happen to be a physician. I claim not to be an expert in weight loss but have some suggestions that have helped me lose 150 lbs. I am a happy size 16w.

      1) practice some self care. Get outside into nature. Yoga. Take a bath and appreciate your toes, knees, hands. Your body is an amazing thing – realize what it does for you every day, regardless of your size. Too often we are so critical of ourselves and our bodies until we see true illness and disability.

      2) write down everything you eat. Every sip, bite, munch, etc. people often complain this takes too long or is a problem with their high pressure lifestyle and job/family commitments. Being honest and non jusgemental with yourself about what you are putting into your body is a great place to start. With the right app, it takes literally seconds.

      3) journal for three days, maybe a week. Look for patterns. My pattern is that every day at 3pm I get tired and want sugar. I pack a pear, some blue cheese, and a few wheat thins to “treat” myself and get me through that time. Worst case, I get a granola bar from the dr’s lounge and make a note of it. No big deal. I can make a different choice tomorrow.

      4) set a realistic weight goal for yourself based on your age, current calorie intake, and activity level.

      Be kind to yourself and be healthy.

      • ponte python's flying circus

        +1 this is wonderful advice! Self-care, followed by data.

    • Anon

      Wow, I’ve also gone from a 6 to 12 in the last few years… but that size change was based on only gaining 25 lbs. This is why it sucks to be short! Or maybe I just gain weight in weird places? Either way, it’s wreaking havoc on my clothing budget and losing weight becomes less appealing when it means I’ll just have to replace even more clothing.

      • Anon

        I don’t think this is a height thing. I’m 5’11” and 25 pounds on me is also about three dress sizes, i.e. 6 to 12. I can’t imagine 100 pounds only being three sizes.

        • Anon

          I hear you. I have gone from a 6 to a 12 with 15 lbs of weight gain. It all depends upon how you gain weight. ALL of my weight goes to my A$$ – I am an extreme pear. So it is really just my butt + little bit of tummy that gets bigger. I wish I gained some weight uniformly in legs/arms/b00bs.

          This is why you should never focus on your size. They are so different from brand to brand, and size changes with brands over time / vanity sizing makes it all crazy.

    • Nudibranch

      Get your thyroid checked. Ask your doctor about insulin resistance.

      Also, the Myfitnesspal app worked well for me.

      • Anon

        +1

        And if there are thyroid symptoms, test antibodies and not just TSH.

        And if there are metabolic symptoms, do a glucose tolerance test, not just an A1C (along with any tests of reproductive hormone that may be relevant).

        Gastric dysmotility was the last factor for me, and I didn’t realize at the time what a good PCP I had to even refer me to gastroenterology in the first place!

    • B

      Think about what motivates you and incorporate that into your fitness plan. For me, that is (1) money and (2) people. I hate to waste money so I register for pilates classes at a place that charges you if you cancel less than 2 hours in advance or are a no show. When it’s 30 minutes before class and I really don’t feel like going, the fact that I’m losing money is enough of a motivation to go. On the other hand, the pay once for unlimited classes at a gym isn’t an immediate enough consequence, so I won’t go. I also won’t exercise alone because it is so stinking boring. I make plans to run with a friend in advance (when I’m feeling all motivated) and then when the day rolls around and I really don’t want to go, I feel too bad to cancel on the friend. Even if you don’t see weight loss, there’s something to be said for maintaining your weight and being healthier in general.

    • Anon

      This applies if you’ve ruled out medical issues:
      Most people actually have zero idea what a portion size is. Our ability to eyeball 1/2 vs. 1 cup of rice, 4 oz vs. 6 oz of meat, 8 vs 12 oz of orange juice, etc. is usually way off. So, even if you’re diligently logging your food on MyFitnessPal or SparkPeople, you could be completely off as to what you’re actually consuming. Food scales and measuring cups can be extremely useful.

      For me personally, the only way to cut weight is the replace 1-2 meals with high-protein, high-fiber, low-carb, low-sugar shakes I make myself. I measure everything that goes in, guaranteeing my calorie estimates are 100% correct for those 1-2 meals/day. I then try to eat real, whole, food for the other meal(s).

      I’ve been considering getting a DEXA scan to determine my actual calorie requirements. I suspect mine may be rather low compared to the average for my age group. Might be something for you to consider.

      And, strength train. Muscle at rest burns more calories and helps your overall shape.

      • anonjustfor today

        Eight years ago, I had weight loss surgery. It’s not for everyone, but I have never regretted it for a single second. I paid out of pocket, because I didn’t meet the insurance qualifications (not 100 lbs overweight, yet, and no co-morbidities, yet). I was so sick of obsessing and struggling and yo-yo dieting. I understand there are risks, but my surgery went incredibly smoothly and I missed less than a week of work. I have to eat very carefully now. Call it the “easy way out,” as many do, but it was the best thing I ever did for myself.

    • AlexisFaye

      Look up muscle for life. http://www.muscleforlife.com Get a gym membership. Lift very heavy weights 3 to 5 times a week.

      I am “skinny” but realized last week I’m really “skinny fat.” 4-6 cardio sessions a week wasn’t doing it for me. There’s nothing wrong with wanting better health, and I’m really a fan of this guy’s writing, detailed workout plans, etc. I don’t have to think about it.

    • Anon

      Maybe take a completely different approach.

      Get a good health check up, just to see how your blood sugar is doing, your cholesterol, and make sure you don’t have a thyroid disorder or anything else obvious that could be contributing to your weight. Also, is it perimenopausal time for you, and are you having symptoms with that? Talk with your doctor about that and make sure you are managing things well.

      And maybe…. think about trying some sort of counseling/CBT to try to learn how to channel your stress reduction/management/comfort needs into ways that help you feel good about yourself so that you have options other than easy comforting foods. And if you think you are having some issues with mood/depression/anxiety, getting those treated can sometimes help.

      Keep the focus off of food for a bit. Good, regular sleep, and a tiny bit of walking daily in the sun is a simple start.

  8. Tetra

    Thanks for this post, Kat! I’m a 16/18 and have been wearing Ann Taylor suits a lot, but recently I went back to LOFT after a long time of not being into their stuff, and I really like some of their tops and dresses (size 18 or XL usually works but sometimes is weirdly cut). Also, try J Crew Factory! Their wool skirts go up to size 20 and are great for a more casual day at the office. Warning though, their suit is very low-quality.

  9. Anon

    I am having so much trouble figuring out how to approach plus size clothing. I am new to it needing it and can’t find a niche between 16-18, plus, and plus petite. I have a tummy, so it seems I need plus size pants, but then they are disproportionately large through my legs and look sloppy. I’m an attorney and need to look put together, especially for court, depositions, and marketing. How do you know whether to go for 16-18; plus, or plus petite?

    • Tetra

      It’s really tough, and you just have to keep trying tons of things on until you find a cut that works for you. For example, I can’t wear Talbots at all, because their regular 16 is too tight but their 16W is cut too big, and their 14W is still cut too weird for me even though it pulls in the chest. Bizarrely, their 14W petite fits me well, except the arms are too short. Ann Taylor size 18 (or 16 on lighter days) fits me really well in cut and length, so that’s my go-to.

      • Anonymous

        FYI – Talbots has a size 18 misses, but never has that size in stores – which is infuriating. Try ordering a few different pieces in that size online and see if that works

    • Kelly G.

      I agree with Tetra that simple trial and error is a big part of finding what fits, but also, a lot of plus size women — myself included — rely heavily on tailoring. I’m pear-shaped, so if I want a great court-appropriate shift dress that will fit my hips and derriere, I need to get the top taken in significantly in the waist, bust, and arm holes. Also, for whatever it’s worth, I don’t trust brands to stick with reliable across the board sizing. If ordering online I just order big, figure I’ll need to have it tailored, and am pleasantly surprised if it works without tailoring. Good luck to you, Anon.

    • ChiLaw

      I’ve come to peace with dressing my body also after a lot of trial and error… though I’ve basically given up on trying to look professional in certain items: pants, pencil skirts, flowy open sweaters – they just don’t work for me.

      What I did was make a rule that I wouldn’t keep anything (new) that wasn’t perfect. By which I mean, if I tried something on and thought “well maybe with different underwear” or “i guess a cardigan would cover…” NOPE, it’s out. This means a ton of returning things. I’m also pretty cheap and I hate paying for shipping/returns, so I find myself doing a lot of Amazon Prime or Macys/Nordstrom/whatever online + returning to the store. I’ve found some silhouettes that work for me (while I can’t wear pencil skirts, I love a sheath dress) and some brands that I can almost guarantee will flatter me. And I stalk those for sales.

      • Amy

        I’ve gotten to the point where I’ll just order as many sizes as I think I need to get what I want. So sometimes I’ll order a straight-size 16, a 16w and a 16wp, and then also order a 14w and a straight-size 18 for good measure. I return a TON of stuff. If retailers don’t like it, they should standardize sizing and construction.

      • Stati

        This is a wonderful suggestion… now that I think about it, almost every time I buy something I think about the other piece of clothing I’ll also need to buy to go with it. Duh! Thank you :)

  10. rabumba

    Because I’m 5’10”, I’ve had trouble finding pants that were long enough and fit well. Since the birth of my son, my size has been hovering around a 16-18, and I’m having a terrible time finding pants that fit both my width and my length. Are there any resources for long length plus sizes? My husband commented the other day that my work pants look like they’ve seen better days, and as much as I dread the hunt for new ones, it’s definitely time to replace them. Any ideas where I can look for plus size pants that have at least a 34 inch inseam?

    • boutique option

      Not sure where you’re based, but if in NYC try Lee Lee’s Valise, a small Brooklyn store. My tall (also 5’10”) NY based sister has great luck there.

    • Squiggles

      Try Old Navy. They do have some basic dress pants in various colours and many have short, regular and tall options!

      I tend to head there because it is easier on my budget – pricewise especially if you can get extra discounts. As well, here they have free returns . Where I am, I only have a few options and my main one changed their “mission statement” and finding work wear is pretty much nil. But I am only in the office 3 days a week and am not client serving.

    • Sydney Bristow

      Not work pants, but I just tried Melissa McCarthy Seven7 jeans and they were way too long for 5’5″ me. The listing says that the inseam is 34″. They were at least 5″ too long on me. Perhaps some of her other items have long enough inseams for you.

    • Stati

      I’m the same size / height as you. I get most of my pants at the VanHeusen outlet. Not sure if this is dressy enough for your line of work, but their tall size fits me well – even with clogs (2.5″ heel). And they are cheap. They don’t wash as well as more expensive brands, but this hasn’t bothered me too much. I also like that the hem has about an inch and a half of extra fabric so if you need to let them out more it’s easily done. Well…. as easy as hemming pants gets, I guess.

  11. Kelly G.

    Ok, who has tried Universal Standard? I’m a 24W/3x, in court every day, and while a lot of Universal Standard’s clothes are probably too casual for work, a few pieces could certainly get mixed in. Also, you know, weekends are a thing (allegedly). Would love to hear some reviews from you ladies on their quality of construction, fit and materials.

    • Anon

      I ordered a jacket with an integrated vest and sent it back. They fit for a particular body shape and that’s not mine. It was a super cute idea though, and they were cool about returns. I don’t love all the polyester/spandex/rayon stuff that is widely available in plus size clothing, and US is definitely there, but a lot of people don’t mind it.

  12. Opal

    Jones New York has been my go to for suits and dress pans. I think I cried a little when Coldwater Creek went out of business. With my Jones dress pants and cardigan sets from CC I was pretty set for most days.

    • Coldwater Creek Former & Now Current Lover

      CC is back in business; their catalogues just started showing up in my mailbox. Look on line!

      Hopes this helps.

  13. Amy

    I honestly have no idea what size I really am because it varies so much between brands and even lines at brands. I’ll be swimming in one brand’s 16w and another brand’s 18w doesn’t get past my knees. Talbots is my go-to, because if it doesn’t fit in one size line it usually fits in another. I love how many options there are for “bridge” sizes. I also sometimes have luck at Lands End. P.S., I hardly ever have luck at Lane Bryant. I swear their size 16w is more like another brand’s straight-size 12.

    Sizing drives me crazy. I have clothes in sizes 12 to 22 in my closet – in petite lengths, regular lengths, long lengths, straight size, plus sizes, etc. I hold on to anything I find that really fits because it’s so tough. I have to try on probably 3x the amount of clothing my straight-size and true plus-size friends do. So, for all you other “in-betweeners” out there – I feel your pain.

  14. Sadie

    As an hourglass size 14 to 18 (wheee!) my super picks are:

    Talbots – knit tops, blouses (even button downs), curvy cut trousers.
    Pendleton – blazers and trousers (less curve-fitting than Talbots), occasional dresses.
    NYDJ for trousers/casual Friday jeans.
    6pm for discounted Pendleton and NYDJ.
    Occasional Land’s End and Banana Republic, when the style suits me.
    J. Jill ponte skirts are some kind of magic. I have three.

    I’m super persnickety and pick based on what looks good on me, an hourglass – blazers and dresses with some waist definition, softer fabric blouses that drape over the curves.

    Boden’s quality can’t be beat. But their proportions are often off for petites (too long, v necklines VERY low) and their larger sizes are not available in petites – their petite range only goes up to 14. Their short sleeve and 3/4 sleeve tops work well and I often can’t resist their dresses.

  15. AOK

    The key thing is that you need to know your measurements. Because a BR size 16 does NOT equal a Talbots size 16, and so on.

  16. MM La Fleur

    I’m a cusp and have been thinking about getting a jardigen. I heard they were going to increase their range. Will that include the jardigans? If not, how are the supposed to fit? Do they allow for a large bust?

    • Anonymous

      I briefly had a black jardigan from MM. LaFleur in size XL. I am a 40DDD and the drape of the jardigan on my chest was really awful and made my entire upper body look boxy and heavy. It was super warm – I ended up re-selling it on eBay.

  18. Nancy

    Any suggestions for a chambray shirt…I am between an XL and an XXL…XL to tight to button all the way down but an XXL too “sloppy” looking…Have tried Old Navy, Talbots (didn’t like their fabric in a 16W or 1x..cannot remember…Gap strangely enough has not had basic chambray shirts in awhile. Any links/suggestions appreciated. Will also put in a good word for TeriJon for dresses…they carry plus size and the fabric/styles/craftsmanship are beautiful. Got a stunning dress there for our son’s wedding…it was pricey (to me) but I LOVED my dress.

  19. Jissa

    A couple more places you haven’t mentioned:

    Nordstrom Rack is a good place to find more discounted larger sizes, but it’s very hit or miss and you have to check it pretty regularly to find what you’ll need.

    Nordstrom–I love Nordstrom because if I’m in a rush I can order the same thing in a ton of sizes and if I don’t get around to returning the ones that don’t fit for a couple months, they don’t side-eye me or grump.

    White House/Black Market now has plus sizes online and they’re usually pretty good about having at least up to a 16 in all their straight sized clothes.

    TheRealReal–a great source for designer clothing up to size 20, but they only have a very limited amount at any one time.

  20. Anon

    Funny to see this post again with my own contributions. I was singing the praises of the Eileen Fisher Icon collection above (had forgotten it was called that) and here I am to tell you that it is 2023, I no longer wear ponte skirts, but I still wear my Eileen Fisher wool cardigans and shells. The Icon collection was their version of St. John – doubleknit merino separates. I wish they still made them because I’d buy a few more neutrals in them.

    I am still a 16/18 and have been doing a lot more shopping at Land’s End, Amazon, and LL Bean since starting to WFH. I notice when I donate items I’ve not been wearing, many of them have been from Target or Old Navy, so I’ve just had to stop shopping there. From Amazon, I like Levi brand, which comes in tall inseams and bigger sizes at the same time (with most other brand, it’s one or the other, which I find so frustrating) and I like the Amazon Essentials lines for very basic washable layering sweaters.

    Land’s End is higher quality and almost always on deep discount. LL Bean is higher quality still, but rarely discounted. I’m a fairly femme dresser, so it’s hard to find things that aren’t basically genderless at these two retailers, particularly LL Bean, but I can usually find a color I like there, and the size ranges are inclusive.

    I want to like Universal Standard, but the shaping just doesn’t do it for me.

    I still buy a lot secondhand, mostly my favorite Talbot’s pants that they don’t make any more (the bi-stretch trouser) and I can always find some new with tags. Eileen Fisher merino sweaters are my favorite. They take a 3 week trip to the freezer before I wear them, just in case of moths.

    In the summer, I wear a lot of tanks from Flax – I like size 1G, though I’m sure I could wear an XL. I am tall so need the length the larger size offers.

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