Need a Great Plus Sized Women's Suit
I need a really nice suit for work. Unfortunately I can't find a really nice suit in my size. I'm a 14-16 with a large bust, back and waist. The jackets in the women's department typically won't button and lay nicely. But the jackets in the big girl department are shapeless boxes with 3 extra inches of fabric at the waist. Plus they're ugly and made out of cheap material. I know that I need to lose weight but it would be nice to look my best while I'm working on that.
I made an appointment with a personal shopper at Nordstrom and was very disappointed by the experience. Even though I had booked the appointment in advance and spent a good 15 minutes on the phone with the person, nothing was done to prepare for my appointment. I expected there to be several suits and blouses ready for me to try on when I got there but nothing had been gathered for me. I was there for hours while the personal shopper wandered around the store trying to find larger sizes. I really thought that they would plan ahead and have things delivered from other stores before my appointment. It was a huge disappointment. She eventually ordered me a size 14W Sejours (Nordstrom brand) suit that I could button. But there's a ton of extra cheap fabric in the waist area and it's not what I want. I feel like I'm wearing a bag.
I'm looking for recommendations for either a store that might have high quality big girl suits or to someone who can make one for me. I'm willing to pay real money for something that's cut to flatter my figure, in a classic style, made out of really nice fabric with great stitching. But I'm terrified to commit to something like this without a very strong recommendation as I really don't want to waste my money on something ugly. I'd really prefer to buy something that I can try on first if possible.
Any advice for me? It's really sad to be able to afford to buy nice clothes finally and not be able to find anything that fits.
Thanks
Parent Replies
Try "In Full Swing" on College Avenue in Rockridge. Beautiful large size clothing, on the expensive side. I don't remember whether they have suits, but they do have two-piece and three-piece outfits.
Unfortunately I can't help with your specific question, because it's outside my area of expertise. But, I worked with Megan at canvasstyling (http://www.canvasstyling.com/) and I had a great experience. I started off by sending her an email (much like what you wrote up above), then she and I had a phone call consult where I asked some questions about costs, etc. I needed a larger wardrobe, so I had her come to my house for a full consult & then she pre-shopped for me, and then shopped with me. It's bascially all of the preparation you wished had happened for you.
It did cost some $, but she was very up front about the costs for her time, and I was up front about what I was willing to spend. Anyway, I don't know if it's more help than you're looking for, but I was really really happy with my experience with her.
hi there! i used to be in the same position you were in when I had to wear nice clothes for my corporate job. I find that Macy's has a much larger selection of great plus size clothes than Nordstrom's does. I would have much better luck finding a non-boxy suits there but I often had to have a little bit of tailoring time to get a proper fit. Always had to have the waist taken in on my pants and I searched for blazers that would fit my bust line without being too straight. Macy's in SF has a great women's dept. good luck!
Talbots. I order in the store (red phone) after figuring out what I want (online or catalog). It ships for free. If it doesn't fit, return to the store. I am in same boat, but I wear a 12W Petite (NO ONE HAS THAT SIZE ANYWHERE...except Talbots. Sometimes a 14 WP, depends on the item). Suits are great, plain, but that's fine for work. I order more than I need in different styles, then return what is not that good. I read the reviews online about fit and quality. The stores will have versions of the clothes in misses (to see the quality of the item as well). Some stores carry women's sizes , but rarely the suits, and never the Petite Women's items. Nordstrom's in SF used to have a great women's dept, but not anymore. I do a mix of Talbots and JJill for work clothes. I also get a few items from Lands End (sweaters, shells for work). Hope this helps! It took a few years to figure this all out. :-)
Hi there,
I totally hear ya. I'm a size 16 top, 14 bottom, and while I don't really wear or have need for suits, I want to look fantastic and not cheapo, like you. I'm thinking of a few ideas.
First, order "style evolution" by Kendall farr on amazon. It's out of print but easy to order a used copy. And while it's getting a bit older, the in depth u Der standing of how to dress one's body type--whether plus or "straight" sized--is timeless. There's also a ton of expert discussion of brands and websites that are still accurate and relevant today. The book seriously helped me dress better, and more flatteringly, even if on a budget (or if not on a tight budget, you go girl, with more options in sight!)
If you haven't already--take your measurements and memorize them. Are there any brands or types of items you already love? Use these as a guide!
Also create a "true fit" account. By entering your measurements and specifics about your current wardrobe favorites, True Fit will build a custom profile for you--free. Many online retailers utilize/synch up to true fit, so when you're logged into them, you can often view your true fit "score" on a given item's page. (Feature not available on everything, but sometimes I'll encounter an "excellent" score for an it I like, and I feel very confident in purchasing then.
That said, here are some brands and retailers you might want to look at (albeit, you might not find a good wool suit, but can probably still find suiting separates or professional dresses here):
Try searching Nordstrom online periodically. Their search filters are great. Say you want to simply find wide leg trousers, you're sure to yield lots of results. I like to cherry pick and look for specific item features on their site, like "tiered" or "shift" etc.
Talbots offers plus sizes for many, many professional items and that might be just the thing you're looking for.
Other brands that cut generously for straight sizes &/or offer plus include Ellen Tracy, Lands End and Tahari I believe.
Saks and Nieman Marcus have a limited, but still top notch plus selections --online only I believe.
Last, if you want a perfect wool auit, you might just see a well recommended tailor, talk about their work and options you can choose, and go from there. I would make sure the person cares about what I want and wants me to be happy with it. I wouldn't want to feel out of place as a woman in their shop, as if I'm trying to get highlights from a barber. Know what I mean?
Good luck, have fun, and I hope you find some great stuff!
I wear a 14/16 too. Eileen Fisher makes a LOT of flattering business clothes for women in these sizes and above. She knows how to make us look good. You should check out the Eileen Fisher outlet in San Leandro (across the parking lot from Nordstrom Rack.) They have a good selection of all different types of work wear, from conservative suit jackets, slacks, and skirts, to more creative separates for work. I visit a couple times a year and there are often pretty amazing markdowns too, or at least lower than retail prices. Macy's usually has a great selection of Eileen Fisher also, especially the SF store. My other favorite place is In Full Swing in Rockridge. I don't think I've seen traditional blazer-type jackets there, but they have a lot of different kinds of dress-up clothes from various makers, some pricy like Eileen Fisher, others less expensive. And remember: if you find something you like, but it doesn't quite fit the way you want, you can always get it altered!