Issue 47. Are there any minimalist high-fashion options for plus-size women??
Join me as I look for high-fashion options for larger bodies
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I’m drawn to the drama of refined pieces that make a statement through silhouette rather than print.
And also, refined, minimalist garments can be hard to find if you’re shopping for a larger body.
Brands we associate with high-fashion minimalism (i.e. The Row, Toteme, COS, Theory, Tibi) don’t cater to larger bodies.1 Plus, many of the brands that do cater to larger bodies feature vibrant, colorful styles over “quiet luxury.” I’m almost positive that the reasons behind all of this are fat-phobic, but I’m not here to wax poetic about that.
Instead, we’re going on a mission to see what brands offer visually-minimal, interesting pieces in larger sizes.
What are we looking for?
The types of basics a high-fashion stylist like Angie Uh or Allison Bornstein would recommend. Think: high-quality materials, attention-to-detail, great cuts and colors.
Nuanced colors, like olive green, rust, purpley-blue, and shades of taupe and camel. Can we find anything that’s not black, white, or primary colors?
Interesting shapes and silhouettes, such as volume, sinching, cut-outs, cool necklines, extra-long sleeves and maxi-lengths.
Below, you’ll find my imperfect round-up of brands offering designer-inspired pieces in a wider range of sizes than those often available from the labels I mentioned before.
I can’t guarantee that anything here will fit you or fall within your budget, but I hope this guide can make you feel a little more visible in a world that caters towards smaller-bodies.
Shop the round-up on my ShopMy page, some affiliate links are included.
WRAY
This is such a cool brand. I haven’t purchased anything myself yet, but if I decide that I need any new elevated basics this year, I’ll start here. In particular, the pintucking on the Studio pants are GIVING, and their shirting appears to have great attention to detail. Plus, I like the minimal styling: you can tell the clothing actually fits the models well.
Check out the whole WRAY range.
La Ligne
La Ligne leans more “French girl-next-door” than high-fashion or androgenous, as evidenced by their imagery. However, their offering of high-quality, natural fiber knits does stand out in a plus-size fashion world that skews towards synthetic fibers.
If I were to buy anything from La Ligne, I’d probably go for the Solid Mini-Marin sweater in cream to wear on its own, or tied around as a scarf over another thick knit, like this:
Check out La Ligne’s extended sizing range.
Similar to La Ligne, Reformation doesn’t offer their full line in Extended sizing. Unlike La Ligne, Reformation has dedicated extended size pages (with at least four images per item!) which means that the experience of shopping plus online feels luxe. I appreciate the minimal styling and can envision how their pieces would complement my wardrobe. These are really basics that are well-made and well-tailored.
That being said, I think Ref’s pieces come in three distinct styles: 1) French girl 2) 90s minimal and 3) cottage-core. The pieces I’ve included above all fit more within the 90s minimalism style, rather than the more cutting-edge, high fashion featured by a brand like Toteme. (Exception being the short wool coat, which I do want and may buy!) If you are going for a high-fashion look, I’d think a few Reformation basics, like their linen skirts and simple tops would work as nice options alongside funkier pieces from WRAY, for example. Also, I’m tempted by their gorgeous silk pants, which come in at least two non-neutral-neutral colors.
Universal Standard
If I’m totally honest, I don’t think of Universal Standard as particularly high-fashion, despite their relatively high prices. I find their styling to generally be lack-luster; it’s seems to me they’re prioritizing relatability over aspiration, which is totally valid.
That being said, Universal Standard acquired the brand Henning, and the US X Henning pieces look incredible, specifically the Madison shirt. Plus, I’ve had good experience with their denim. I recently placed an order for their split-hem denim which is fun to find in a larger size. If I needed to be in an office again, I’d consider one of their shirtdresses which could easily be elevated with a great handbag and boots.
Eloquii
Plus-size brands get a ton of flack for being unstylish. However, as I’ve started to size out of brands I used to enjoy, browsing plus-size shops has been fun. I see myself more in the images on plus-size brands than I ever did with straight-size brands.
I probably won’t buy any of these items, since I don’t actively need any them, but its good to know that Eloquii has some print-free options with interesting silhouettes. Check out these cargo pants in a great color, vest top and structured blazer. Again, I think these more statement garments would be great paired with the natural-fiber basics from Reformation.
Eileen Fisher
Last but certainly not least, Eileen Fisher was well-ahead of her time when she started her brand in the 1980s. Still today, the brand focuses on natural-fibers in breezy mix-n-match silhouettes. Not every piece is particularly exciting these days, but I greatly enjoy this chartreuse sweater, this mock-neck would be welcome in my closet, and this pleated skirt brings such great texture. Plus, something about this tee gives me Tibi vibes.
Check out the Eileen Fisher extended size range.
Is minimal not your style? Way more comprehensive plus-size shopping guide by Jessica Torres here. Sushmita of Ethical Fat Fashion also has a brand guide, behind a paywall.
You’ve made it to the end, thanks for reading!
Let me know in the comments, are there any fashion styles that are hard to find in your size? Or, any brands you’d recommend that DO offer great plus-size high-fashion options?
I specify “cater to” because although some of these high-end brands run “oversized,” I’m looking for brands that have specific plus-size or extended-size ranges featuring interesting or high-fashion garments.
Maureen, I saw you teasing this post on notes and I was so excited!! I’m bookmarking for future use in newsletters because our sizing system is so broken. This is the content the people need!!
Great recs! I’d also recommend Elizabeth Suzann, Revelle, & Connally Goods.