Finding Inexpensive Plus Size Clothing

Many women who wear plus sizes have a difficult time finding clothing that is not expensive. Most department stores charge more for clothing in sizes 14 and up. Still many stores that cater to larger women are also quite expensive. That leaves many women searching for the best deals in plus size clothing.
Discount Clothing Close to Home



Women of all sizes who want to save money on clothing search in their own neighborhood. Many thrift stores sponsored by different charities have a good variety of clothing in all sizes. Most neighborhoods have Salvation Army thrift stores that regularly stock items and often get new merchandise from some stores. Some designer clothing can be found at incredible prices at thrift stores.

Consignment stores are also great places to find good deals on clothing. Some consignment stores cater to plus size women. Women can also make money by taking their clothing to the consignment stores to be sold. The stores give the sellers a part of the profit from the sale for good, clean used clothing.

Clearance sales at local department sales are also great ways to find bargains. Most of the clearance sales are seasonal and are an effort made by the stores to get rid of seasonal merchandise. Still, if you don't mind buying a year or a few months ahead, clearance sales are great ways to save money.

Online Shopping

Many women choose not to fight the crowds at department stores and malls and search online for great deals in plus size clothing. Most of the stores found in a mall have websites that sometimes offer clearance sales only to online customers. Many of these websites also feature online coupons.

There are some downsides to ordering online. What looks good on the models online may not look as good on you. Be sure to check the return policy before ordering online. Also sizing may differ from store to store. Most online stores offer a sizing chart so you can measure yourself and determine what size you need to order. Also beware that there is an additional cost for shipping and handling in most cases but some stores will waive it if the order is large.

Some of the most popular stores are:

Lane Bryant: This store is found in most major malls across the United States. The website offers merchandise found in the malls. The online store does not have a clearance section but does feature sale merchandise. Lane Bryant has a variety of accessories as well, including jewelry and socks. The website is www.lanebryant.com.

The Avenue: Featuring comfortable casual clothes and trendy business attire, The Avenue is one of the favorite stores for plus size women. The website features a clearance section where some items are as low as 50 percent off. The Avenue has a special shopping section for women who are sized 28 to 32. The website is www.theavenue.com.

Catherine's: Catherine's is also a popular store for plus sized women. Many of the clothes are made for older women and some will not appeal to women 35 and younger. Customers can also purchase a gift card online. The website features an outlet with items up to 60 percent off. The website is www.catherines.charmingshoppes.com.

Catering to a Younger Audience

In 2001, Hot Topic created a new store, Torrid, to cater to young women who are plus sized. While many malls have still not added the store, the online store features the same merchandise found in the stores. The store features most of the same trendy outfits and accessories available in the Hot Topics Store. Torrid also has an extensive clearance section, with some clearance items in season. The store also has shoes, jewelry and other accessories such as socks. The company caters to women sized 12 to 26. The company's best known model is American Idol Jordin Sparks, who modeled for them before she was on the talent show. The company conducts and annual model search. The website is www.torrid.com.

Other stores have also begun to cater to a younger clientele. Goody's, Wal-Mart and most recently K-Mart have featured larger sizes for juniors. Many of these items are also listed on the company's websites.