I wear a size 16, approximately, and like plain colors, unpatterned, fitted clothing (usually pants and shirts) made with natural fibers (maybe 5% or 10% spandex for stretch). ( Further details! )
I'm also a size 16 and while I get to wear jeans and hoodies to work, I do have a little bit of "grownup" clothes in my wardrobe...I'm very petite though, barely five feet tall, and struggle with dresses and skirts....
I like The Avenue for dress pants. Their shirts are ok but tend to be patterned and I'm a solids kinda girl. I hate that "plus size" seems to also mean "fuscia, teal and yellow" and "great big giant flowers"
I also do a lot of shopping at Old Navy. Their sizes run a little bit big so if I get the pants with some stretch in them I can get away with a 14 which is a boost to my ego, as well as their clothes being comfy.
I find that Lane Bryant often has business type pants in black and khaki that are acceptable and last. You have to splurge, but at least they will wear for a long time. I have a pair that's 10 years old and still look great. Also they have petite sizes.
I'm definitely a fan of their pants! I find most of their shirts are these hugely bright, attention-getting prints that work for those who are fond of them, but I'm not so much.
Ooh, they probably have business jackets that would fit me too. I'll have to look into those.
Yeah, I'm not a huge fan of their prints. However, I went in there the other day and they had some fairly tame (for them) prints on some spring cotton shirts. I also find that if I want a plain t-shirt that might give a sweater or cardigan some pop of color, they are good for those as well.
I forgot to add that Nordstom's sometimes run good sales on plus sized work suitable clothing. I have a long skirt from them that is my go to "nice look" skirt. It's black of course.
I did just get a simple camisole to wear under a suit jacket from them. Though I irked the hell out of the sales person when she started trying to tell me that I could get $10 off a pair of pants if I tried on any pair of pants in the store. I told her I wasn't there to buy pants, and she said, "But you can get ten dollars off any pants if you just try a pair on." She didn't seem too happy when I told her that, no, I wasn't going to be buying pants so I didn't want the sales pitch twice.
(I realize they have to give the sales pitch. But when I turn them down, I want them to stop trying to convince me already.)
some of the stuff at llbean (dot com) isn't crazy expensive and not everything is outdoorsy sport stuff. there's a good selection of work casual pants, tops, etc. and they're solid looking pieces -- no frills and nutty things.
I didn't know that! I thought it was all outdoorsy stuff, which never works for an office environment. Thanks! I really like their look, so I'll check them out.
Have you checked out New York & Company? They've got a lot of work-appropriate shirts, and while there is a section of prints and ruffles, there's also some basic fitted shirts in decent colors. It looks like most of their clothing selections go up to a size 18/XL as well.
I haven't, but I think I should! Basic fitted shirts are seriously my favorite thing to wear to work. (I like really cleavage-revealing and shoulder-baring tank tops, but I don't consider those to be especially work appropriate. Though I do wear them under some thinner tops, because, well. Work.)
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I like The Avenue for dress pants. Their shirts are ok but tend to be patterned and I'm a solids kinda girl. I hate that "plus size" seems to also mean "fuscia, teal and yellow" and "great big giant flowers"
I also do a lot of shopping at Old Navy. Their sizes run a little bit big so if I get the pants with some stretch in them I can get away with a 14 which is a boost to my ego, as well as their clothes being comfy.
Good luck with the shopping!
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Oh, thank you for the reminder on Old Navy! I love their khakis. Ooh, and they're on sale today too.
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Ooh, they probably have business jackets that would fit me too. I'll have to look into those.
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I forgot to add that Nordstom's sometimes run good sales on plus sized work suitable clothing. I have a long skirt from them that is my go to "nice look" skirt. It's black of course.
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(I realize they have to give the sales pitch. But when I turn them down, I want them to stop trying to convince me already.)
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