Plus-sized dresses

[charolastra00.livejournal.com]

I have a tv interview tomorrow with Channel 5 to talk about the challenges facing young adult cancer survivors and it just occurred to me that I literally have nothing to wear. I gained about 40 pounds during chemo and haven't been able to get it off yet (oh cancer - the gift that keeps giving). I'd like something classy to wear and tend to think I look better in A line dresses than in pants, so I need to find something that will fit my now size 20ish body but also make me look like the stylish 24 year old that I am.

Back in the day, I'd go to Torrid but the closest one to Boston makes me want to cry from the traffic. I work in Waltham and live in Medford - anything around those areas or in Davis itself that I might have luck at? I never really go into Buffalo Exchange because I assume they won't have my size. I hate going into places where their plus sized section is about 5 dresses, all in loud prints or unflattering cuts. Where would you go in a pinch?

Note- my budget ideally wouldn't be any higher than $100 for the dress.

Comments

[opn.livejournal.com]

Have you tried the Avenue in Medford? I was just in over the weekend and they had a ton of dresses. (A lot on sale, too!)

Also, you might ask on the Fatshionista LJ community! They might have some more options!

[charolastra00.livejournal.com]

I've been holding Avenue (and Lane Bryant) in my back pocket because neither is really particularly my style though I'd probably find *something*. If I had been thinking of it rather than going through a relapse scare, I probably would have ordered something off of Modcloth or one of the 40s/50s style online retailers.

[enveri.livejournal.com]

There's not a whole heckuva lot of Fatshionista's in Boston (although I have noticed a few!) Although I do highly recommend the community.

People have already offered pretty much everything I would have suggested. Old Navy has some really cute skirts, but I'm not sure what the upper limit in-store is. (I just order off the website, which due to your time constraints won't work)

Good luck! Worst case, somewhere like Buffalo Exchange might have some nice accessories you can use to dress something up. :)

[elements.livejournal.com]

There are a bunch of Fatshionistas in Boston! There are clothing swaps at least once a year. Major major one coming up in May - The Big Thrify, basically Boston's answer to the Fat Girl Flea. I do think the LJ comm for Fatshionista has lost a lot of its local posters though. https://www.facebook.com/TheBigThrifty

My housemate runs a Meetup group for various fat outings, including group clothes shopping. Hasn't been active since the holidays but we're likely to do something before long.
http://www.meetup.com/The-Boston-Metro-Area-Fattitudes/

[enveri.livejournal.com]

Ah sweet! I knew about the Big Thrifty, but not about the meetup group! signed up! :D

[cerridwynn.livejournal.com]

It may be a bit far, but both Cold Water Creek and Lane Bryant have stores in Burlington (Wayside Commons).

(I particularly like that Cold Water Creek displays their large sizes with all their other sizes, rather than in a cordoned off little section in the back!)

[badseed1980.livejournal.com]

It really sucks that the one guaranteed place where you could find a decent selection of plus sized clothes (Lane Bryant) is no longer close by. You have to go to Saugus or Burlington to find one, I think.

Macy's at the Galleria might be one place to look. Their website has some cute stuff in plus-size dresses, though it's hard to easily tell what's available in-store. I will also give a shout out to some of the lovely plus-sized ladies in the area who I know, and see if they have any better suggestions.

[rufinia.livejournal.com]

No, Macy's in the Cambridgeside Galleria doesn't carry much in plus sized. last time I went there, I basically got laughed out of the store. The Macy's in Downtown Crossing reportedly has a larger selection.

[badseed1980.livejournal.com]

Damn, too bad. But good thinking about the other location. That whole "but they had it on the website" thing is a problem I've encountered way too often. *grumble*

[charolastra00.livejournal.com]

The website at least gives me an indicator of whether they have things that fit my style, so that's a plus!

[miss-chance.livejournal.com]

My suspicious mind tells me that stores that sell plus-sizes on line, but not in their physical stores don't want the skinny-clique to catch them sitting at the proverbial lunch-table with us fat kids. ;-)

[rufinia.livejournal.com]

I KNOW RIGHT? Ugh.

[thespian.livejournal.com]

I actually recommend people go to the one in Braintree at South Shore. it is larger and I feel better stocked than Burlington, and a 10 minute bus ride on the 236/238 from the red line, drops you off right at the mall. Burlington is closer by car, but there is a lot of crap in getting there, while you can just read on the 35 minutes from Davis to Braintree.

the target in that mall also carries up to 5x in the target brands (size 28/30), which is something that none of the other targets in the area do (I suspect it is a pilot program; Target officially does not guarantee more than 3x in stores, though I have bought 4x at McGrath).

[lillibet.livejournal.com]

You've got some good suggestions, but I'll add the Dress Barn Woman at The Valley of Things (I think it's technically the Gateway Center or something like that) in Everett, near Wellington Circle.

[eclecticavatar.livejournal.com]

Dress Barn, definitely! They tend to have some things that are a little funkier, sometimes, and LOTS of options.

[thespian.livejournal.com]

I lust after a lot of dress barn things, but find everything in the plus side part of the store is more conservative.

and flowered.

[closetalker11.livejournal.com]

I also love Dress Barn, despite the silly store name. I have found great stuff there.

[badseed1980.livejournal.com]

OK, someone I know just suggested Kohl's. Now that I think of it, my young, stylish, plus-sized sister shops at Kohl's. Sounds reasonable to me! There's one in Medford.

[charolastra00.livejournal.com]

Oh, I never think about Kohl's. Good suggestion! There's a Marshall's in that mall too. Oh, how I miss Filene's though. :(

[ionicaq.livejournal.com]

Kohl's is a good idea, I've gotten some nice plus-sized dresses in there! If you have a Marshall's anywhere around check them out, it's very hit or miss, but you might luck out.

[ifotismeni]

Kohl's and (not sure if they carry dresses but) Target even. I used to have lots of luck with Filene's Basement, alas. I have absolutely no idea where I'm going to shop now that they're gone, they were the only place that had plus-sized clothes that I liked.

[genevra-mcneil.livejournal.com]

J.Jill used to carry plus sized clothes. I think there's one in the Burlington Mall. But J.Jill is kinda so NOT40s/50s style.

You can also *sometimes* find plus sizes at the Eddie Bauer outlet in Downtown Crossing. It's very very hit or miss.

And, if hell come to high water, I've got a cute surplice top/big a-line skirt/sash waisted/sorta 50s black dress in a size 20 you can borrow. I wear it with pearls.

[miss-chance.livejournal.com]

J. Jill tends not to carry their plus sized clothes in the stores, only on line. >:(

[koloratur.livejournal.com]

The Macy's in Burlington has a decent sized plus section; I have had tremendous luck and terrible luck finding clothes there, but here's hoping that you'd be going at the right time of year to snag something pretty ;)

[prioritieslee.livejournal.com]

First of all..good luck tomorrow..and do you have an 'Avenue' near you? We have them here..others I know of are online...so that won't help you now..try all of the large chain department stores ..they usually have plus size depts and Burlington Coat Factory? Not sure what you have near you..best of luck to you..take good care...Lee

[thespian.livejournal.com]

also I want to say I am a size 28, and I found clothes that fit me at the new discount megastore thingy that replaced the old discount megastore thingy that moved into the spot where that other megastore thingy was, down next to the Target at McGrath.

I should probably bother to learn the names, but in the last 6 years it has been three stores. The last two did not carry anything above an 16, but the new one has a lot that are actually plus size.

[ron_newman]

that's called CW Price; it replaced AJ Wright.

[koshmom.livejournal.com]

Yes, Avenue in that mall next to Wellington actually has some nice stuff. For more inexpensive (but still impressively nice) stuff, try the KMart in Assembly Square mall. They really have a decent selection of very nice plus-sized clothing.

[miss-chance.livejournal.com]

I'm in your size range, too. Here's my 2cents on the ones mentioned; I, too, have found that Buffalo Exchange seems to have no interest in plus-sized clothes (they never have them, and they wouldn't take any of mine when I was culling). Goodwill can be great... or not. certainly too frustrating if I'm in need right away.:

Lane Bryant- meh, wickedly biased toward empire waist (not my thing). Nothing for people for whom A-line is attractive. I don't get their obsession with out-lining the boobs on like 90% of their shirts.

Avenue - quality has gone *way* down. Nasty fabrics, single-stitched seams, generally poorly made.

Sears - does surprisingly well, though the Galleria Mall one can be so-so.

Macy's - does a bit better, but you have to go to the 'burbs, and spend a little more money than Sears. Burlington Mall has done well by me, since there are a few options there.

Kohls - can have surprisingly good finds, but it's a gamble if you're low on time. Not always more fashion forward than, say, Avenue, but usually better made.

Cold Water Creek - nice, but I always feel ...old... in their stuff. It's always a little too suburban for me.

I haven't tried Dress Barn, but lillibet has good taste, so I'd take that as a good lead.

[charolastra00.livejournal.com]

Thanks everyone! I ended up finding a dress and cardigan at the Ann Taylor Factory Store in Watertown (I figured between Ann Taylor, Old Navy, Marshalls, Target, and the Avenue right there, I was bound to find something). Not ENTIRELY my style, but throw on a red belt to cinch the waist and anything is doable.

Thanks for all of your advice! It's such a pain to find stylish clothes - especially when your body type isn't standard (and even worse - I'm a plus size apple shape... I need a lot of flare to even me out).

I'll let you know when my spot is showing!

[toricosta.livejournal.com]

For future reference, Talbots on Boylston has an awesome plus-size section. Very fashionable clothing. Pricey, but if you want to invest in a good piece, I would go there in a heartbeat. They also have great sales.

The Macy's in DTC has a pretty good plus size section too.