Any modern girl who loves vintage (and hasn't worn a girdle) can find it frustrating to shop for vintage. I mean, did they make women differently back then? While staring at the tiny waistline and full bust of a vintage dress, a girl's gotta wonder what they're putting in the water these days. Don't worry, it's not just you. Even though corsets had been tossed aside, and plastic surgery wasn't the norm, shapewear could still positively change the way a women's body was shaped back in the early 20th Century.
And if you're bigger than the average girl? The headaches can grow much worse. So, I've scoured the internet to find some great plus-sized vintage shops that provide a great selection of vintage clothes for bigger girls who don't wear girdles. Enjoy!
Cupcake & Cuddlebunny is probably my favorite plus-sized shop find, for its selection, and definitely its presentation. Not only are the items for sale photographed well, but they're actually on live, human bodies, and you can see how the dress might look on you. Bravo!
M A N D I ' S F A V O R I T E S : Stripes Forever | Minnie Bow Dress | Scarlet Fever
Monster Vintage also has a great selection of plus-sized vintage, though you won't find any real-life models displaying the clothes, and it looks like a lot of the items are pinned to mannequins. So, you might have to use your imagination a little bit more, but at least all of the measurements are listed out, so you can compare the dimensions to something from your own closet to ensure a proper fit!
M A N D I ' S F A V O R I T E S : Pink Velvet Couture | Garden Lounger | Flower Bloom
I appreciate Ballyhoo Vintage's clean site, easy navigation, and obvious attention to quality when selecting items for their shop. You'll find more of a 1940s and 1950s selection here, which are usually more difficult to find in plus-sizes- so, what a treat! It is dissapointing that the mannequins used are not plus-sized, and that the clothing appears to be pinned for display, but measurements are listed so you can tell exactly how each garment would fit.
M A N D I ' S F A V O R I T E S : 1960s Dress with Jacket | Silk Blouse | 1940s Polka Dot Dress
Mandi! Fantastic post!!This was such a sweet thing to do for your readers! As always I appreciate the honsesty of you and your readers. Thanks again!
Posted by: Rachel | April 12, 2012 at 01:24 PM
oh my gosh...thank you so much for pulling this list together...as a size 14 girl, I'm ALWAYS finding super cute vintage clothes only to discover a store's version of "XL" is really size 10/12 or the item doesn't come in my size. It's a constant struggle! Thanks so much for posting this!
Posted by: Rachel | April 12, 2012 at 03:08 PM
I have been stricken with the thought as well - was every woman just super tiny back then or what?? I can't believe the selection is so slim in the brick and mortar stores in my town
Posted by: Jessica | April 12, 2012 at 04:30 PM
Thanks so much for answering my question! I feel so honored to read this blog post :D
I can't even wait to buy these clothes! So many cute choices!!!
Posted by: Alex Marga | April 13, 2012 at 04:11 AM
Yay, thank you so much for sharing! I usually just wind up searching by keyword and then size on Etsy, but it's still a long slough through descriptions and measurements to find dresses that are truly plus size!
Posted by: Trude | April 13, 2012 at 05:32 PM
I really appreciate this post, yet I am so sick of having to pay up the wazoo for vintage that fits me. Those websites are a bit expensive, if you ask me!
Posted by: Morgan | April 14, 2012 at 04:58 PM
I have a handful of plus size vintage dresses in my shop! Check it out!
www.ThriftyVintageKitten.com
For instance:
https://www.etsy.com/listing/66550150/vintage-1960s-tie-waist-dress-baby-pink?listing_id=66550150&listing_slug=vintage-1960s-tie-waist-dress-baby-pink
Posted by: Thrifty Vintage Kitten | April 18, 2012 at 09:02 AM
This is such a great post! I'm always trying to find new places to shop that are less bag lady and more trendy. Thanks for sharing :)
Posted by: Amber | April 19, 2012 at 10:41 AM
Just stumbled upon your blog & saw this post about plus size vintage clothing. There is an amazing store in Portland, Oregon called FAT FANCY that I think your readers might like to know about. They hope to sell online soon-check it out! If you want to know more, talk to the co-owner Annie...very nice & knowledgeable :)
http://www.fatfancyfashions.com/
Posted by: Carla Drain | May 18, 2012 at 07:45 PM