Plus size fashion is evolving so rapidly — especially online! There are a ton of fabulous etailers and indie designers featuring on-trend style at a variety of price points, for an increasing range of sizes. It is a beautiful thing. To stay on top of the plus size style scene, allow me to introduce a new contributor — Natalie Craig, AKA Natalie in the City.
I first met Natalie when I came to speak in her journalism class at Columbia College. She impressed me with her zeal for writing and her passion for plus size fashion. Since graduation she has gone on to great success with her own personal style blog. I knew she’d be a great choice to highlight new talent and emerging trends. Take it away, Natalie!
After years of having slim pickings for fashion-forward plus size clothing, I don’t feel limited in the stores I can shop at or the silhouettes I can rock. Emerging plus size brands like Eloquii are pushing the boundaries and raising the bar for mainstay brands like Avenue and Lane Bryant. This year is all about the curvy figure and it seems like more than ever, brands are rushing to cater to us. Here’s to a fashion-forward 2017!
In my opinion, plus size fashion has a reputation for missing the mark with bold distasteful patterns and layers of extra fabric. But Eloquii gets it just right. This brand boasts staple pieces that enhance any look for the chic woman on the go. Since Eloquii’s return in 2014—the brand closed after its first unsuccessful year of business—the taste and options have been elevated year after year. This is the brand to watch—and bookmark—in 2017.
www.nakimuli.com
If you are all about bold prints and bright colors, Nakimuli is right up your alley. While Nakimuli does sell straight sizes, it sells up to a 3x, too. The daring silhouettes and patterns will inspire you to sport trends you never thought you’d try. Nakimuli’s brand mission is, “a love of self at any size, inspire sisterhood, individuality, comfort, and lots of fierceness,” and who can’t get behind that? I hope this brand continues to grow this year so we can keep seeing amazing things from it.
www.fashiontofigure.com
Fashion To Figure is like Eloquii’s younger sister that lives for the nightlife. Even the brand’s blazers sport sequins, velvet, and see-through mesh panels for the glam girl who’s always down to party—after work. Like the other brands on this list, Fashion To Figure is adding in everything we have been missing over the past couple of years. Have you seen this faux suede fringe skirt? Hello curvy girl magic!
U.K.-based plus size retailer ELVI is every curvy fashion editor’s dream come true. If your outfit motto is “all black everything,” and you swim through a pile of black clothes every morning to find that one black blouse you own, look no further, ELVI is your new fashion Mecca. While the brand doesn’t only sell black clothing, its minimalist color scheme and modern edge will bring life to your monochromatic wardrobe. The occasional blush tone fringe skirt and lavender-colored, velvet blazer has me falling for this brand over and over again.
Remember the days when you couldn’t find a bra that was sexy, let alone comfortable? Well, those days are over thanks to Curvy Couture. While a velvet blazer—ok, I’m obsessed—is something you’ll wear once a week, bras and panties are an integral part of our every day ensembles, and us plus size women have gotten the sort end of the stick when it comes to intimates. Although Curvy Couture has been around since 2012, the brand has grown with plus size fashion to offer sexier bras, a better fit, and a variety of sizes. I only see more amazing things coming from the brand in 2017.
There are plenty of brands that have a plus size offering online, but I love having options, not just one section of a website with two pages of clothing to peruse. Which is why City Chic is my go-to. A curvy girl can easily find something from this brand that elevates her wardrobe with hundreds of fashion-forward clothing options. My only hope for City Chic in 2017 is that they liven up the swimwear section!
We have had Addition Elle on our radar for quite some time, and it has been interesting watching how retailers like Addition Elle, Eloquii, and Fashion to Figure differentiate themselves in the plus size market. I cannot wait to see which fashion blogger this brand will work with next in 2017. The blogger collections always bring a new edge to Addition Elle, and I appreciate that the brand is willing to step outside its signature pieces to cater to everyone.
Wonderful to know more about online plus size sites that have appealing options in clothing.
Thanks for this.
Looks like City Chic has some lovely stuff.