Plus size fit
Plus size fit: what to look for in this range
The largest section in the catalog, and the one where a chart matters most. Which cuts hold up, which details do real work, and where the range still misses.
Thirty five listings sit in the plus size section, more than in any other part of this catalog. That is unusual for a label at this price, and the patterns are drafted for the size rather than graded up from a small, which shows in the armholes and the placement of the waist seam.
Why letter sizes are worse here
Straight size grading is fairly standardised between brands. Plus size grading is not. One label 1X assumes a bust of forty three inches, another assumes forty six, and both print the same letter on the label. The measurement chart in the listing images is the only number worth reading.
Measure at the fullest point of the bust and the widest point of the hip, then take the size that covers the larger of the two. On this brand that is more often the hip than people expect, because the flare in these patterns starts above the hip line.
Details that are doing work
Side ruching
The gathered seam down one side of a dress is not decoration. It gives horizontal room without adding width to the cut, and it moves with you when you sit. It also means the same garment fits a wider range of waist measurements than the chart suggests.
Cold shoulder and asymmetric necks
These break up the top line and put the eye where the fabric is not under tension. Practically, a cold shoulder cut also gives you a wider armhole than a set sleeve, which is where cheap plus size clothing usually pinches.
Split and stepped hems
A split thigh or a stepped hem stops a long panel of print from reading as one block, and it lets you take a full stride in a maxi. Worth checking how high the split starts, since a few in this range are cut higher than the photo suggests.
Tie backs and halters
Adjustable at the neck, which solves the most common problem with a halter: a strap length designed for a shorter torso.
What to be careful with
- Pale thin knits. They cling where they stretch most and show every seam underneath.
- Fixed waistbands with no elastic. One measurement has to be right and there is no adjustment.
- Two piece sets sold under a single size, which assumes your top and bottom halves match.
- Anything described as bodycon in a woven fabric, which is a contradiction that resolves badly.
Fabric weight over cut
A medium weight jersey holds a shape and skims. A thin one takes the shape of whatever is underneath. When two dresses in this section look the same in the photo, the difference between them is almost always the weight of the cloth, and the spec bullets will say if it is on the thin side.
What to wear underneath
Seamless underwear under anything light coloured or fine knit. A slip under a pale maxi. For the halter and backless styles, check the listing images for sewn in cups before assuming they are there, because on this brand they often are not, and adhesive cups are the fallback.
Where the range falls short
Sleeve options are thin. Most of the section is sleeveless or short sleeve, which is fine for summer and limits the rest of the year. Trouser choice is also narrow compared with dresses. If you want structured workwear in this size range, the catalog has very little of it.