I’m A 38H, & I Finally Found A Wireless Bra That Actually Works

The hunt for the most comfortable bra is officially over. Yep. You heard that right. True & Co, famous for its super-soft fabrics and completely wireless bras, managed the impossible. And for someone like me —who’s cursed with a 38H cup size — a comfortable and supportive bra with no wires was seemingly impossible. I need to wear a bra even when I’m home and not planning to go anywhere, if only for my back’s sake. Relatable? That’s why I decided to test the hypothesis myself and try out the highly-rated bras for a month. While I already spoiled the experiment’s conclusion in the first sentence, keep on reading to see why you need these actually comfy bras in your life — trust me, your boobies will thank you.

True Body Scoop Neck Bralette $49

The bras run from sizes XS-XL, or up to a 42DDD/F, and, per Nordstrom’s size charts, aren’t technically designed to fit a G or H cup. Because of the stretchy and soft fabric, however, many of the bras fit bigger sizes than stated in its size guide. I decided to try an XL and hope for the best, but I was skeptical. I lived in too-small Aerie bralettes for years before committing to a larger size. So, right off the bat… I thought they weren’t going to work for me. I was both right and wrong. If you have a bigger cup size like I do, stick to the scoop-neck bras instead of the v-neck ones. These offer more coverage and you won’t be spilling on the sides (like I was in the v-neck).

They’re not kidding when they say these bras are soft. They’re ultra-buttery, soft soft. I forget I’m wearing a bra — and I cannot emphasize enough how impossible that is when you’re my size. They’re the perfect stay-at-home bra, but they’re also supportive enough to wear outside. It’s the best of both worlds.

True & Co bra under outfit

As you can see by my outfit, they’re not supportive in the same way a wired bra would be (duh). I took out the pads, but you can leave them on if you want that extra support. That’s not what I want when I wear a bralette like this. Sometimes they have a minimizing effect, which is great if you’ve been looking for some binder alternatives that aren’t sports bras. They also wash and dry very well; obviously, they suggest handwashing but I just put them in a mesh bag on the gentle cycle and left it to air dry. They dry very quickly because of how thin the material is — not thin enough that you can see your nipples through your shirt but if you’re worried about that, that’s where the pad inserts come in handy.

And have I mentioned how soft they are? I’ve been screaming about how impossibly soft these are since I first put one on. Obsessed.

At Refinery29, we’re here to help you navigate this overwhelming world of stuff. All of our market picks are independently selected and curated by the editorial team. All product details reflect the price and availability at the time of publication. If you buy or click on something we link to on our site, Refinery29 may earn commission.

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Peekaboo Bras Are The New — Surprisingly Wearable — Naked Dressing Trend

The summer fashion trends of the past few years have made visible underwear as common as a white tank top. From the naked dress look to whale tails and peeking boxers, the options to flash your intimates are endless. This season, designers have offered yet another underwear-as-outerwear trend: peeking bras. 

If you’re thinking of Carrie Bradshaw’s early 2000s outfits, it’s not as simple as showing off your bra straps. Nor does it require scissors, a la Mean Girls’ Regina George. This look actually consists of layered neckline details that just give the illusion of a peeking undergarment.

For reference, check out the Versace fall 2022 collection, which included bustier dresses with embroidered bra-like detailing; the Valentino fall 2022 lineup that featured a black flowy dress with a neckline resembling brassiere pads; and Giambattista Valli spring 2022 runway that sent out strapless dresses that revealed a bralette-like neck. 

This trend has made its way to the red carpet, too: Vanessa Hudgens wore a scarf top with bra cup detailing at the 2022 MTV Movie Awards, while The L Word’s Sarah Shahi sported a Nensi Dojaka black dress with a layered bra neckline. Meanwhile, Kylie Minogue wore a black Versace dress with a corset top that revealed a bedazzled bra underneath at the 2022 Cannes Film Festival.

With the Y2K fashion revival (which also gave permission for the comeback of thong pants) the sartorial protagonist of 2022, it’s only natural that “naked dressing” continues to evolve. Unlike the whale tail though, the trend has grown up with the rest of us. Instead of visible bra straps and questionable DIY cut-outs, designers are elevating the peeking underwear trend to a look that’s actually wearable outside of the house. It’s also more comfortable than an exposed thong flossing your backside.

If you’ve been waiting for a way to sport visible underwear, consider this new version a foolproof and party-ready way to do it. Hot Girl Summer calls.

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Why You Should Wear Mismatched Shoes, The Unexpected Style Hack

There’s an episode in season 4 of Gossip Girl, in which the show’s resident “evil dictator of taste,” Blair Waldorf, is unraveling as she tries to balance a full-time job at W Magazine and a hefty course load at Columbia University. So much so that she shows up at a birthday party wearing two different Roger Vivier shoes, a sign for everyone around her that she’s about to implode her life if she doesn’t take a break. But what if Waldorf was making, dare I say, a statement? 

While I’ve always been against the idea of mismatched shoes, Gucci’s Resort 2023 collection made me reconsider Waldorf’s mishap. Creative director Alessandro Michele unveiled a look that not only put mismatched shoes on the runway, but celebrated the controversial styling, by way of a two-tone black-and-white blouse-and-pants combo, paired with non-matching shoes. 

Michele might be doing this on the runway, but the deliberate mismatching took me back to Sex and the City’s season 3, when Carrie and her crew fly to Los Angeles to escape the monotony of their New York lives. So much so that Carrie forgoes all styling rules and dons different color shoes in metallic hues for their first night out. The statement — probably concocted by the show’s costume designer Patricia Field — signaled that one of the best ways to spice up your life is to break all the rules, even if you look like you rushed out of the house without looking in a mirror. 

After Gucci’s show, I set out to try the trick on my own. While fashion brands like Sarah Jessica Parker’s SJP Collection and Charlotte Stone have offered different color shoes for some time now, I figured the best (and frankly most affordable) way to try it for myself was to literally wear two mismatched shoes in one outfit. I first analyzed the references in front of me: I could go all out with contrasting, metallic colors à la Bradshaw, or I could take a tip from Waldorf’s mishap and wear two different shoes that were quite similar to one another. 

As a fan of neutral dressing, I went with the latter because, well, baby steps. I also made sure to choose two pairs of shoes that were the same height because this experiment could not end up with me limping, or worse, a broken hip. I figured a white slip-on sandal with zigzag strings in front could go well with a beige sandal that featured wavy straps. As long as we were going for mismatched, I figured the asymmetry between the two pairs was justified. 

Then, came the styling, which was easier than I imagined. I paired a white tank top — one of the season’s top trends — with a denim jacket and high-waisted shorts, a relatively blank canvas for the weirdness going on with my feet. I added a beige shoulder bag and white sunglasses. If you follow the colors there, you can see the formula: Pair each of your shoes to something in your outfit to make them fit in with the look, just like at Gucci. And it worked: no one — not even my boyfriend, who I went out with wearing the outfit — noticed I was wearing two different shoes (or at least, they were polite enough not to stare).

While this may be a quirky styling tool, much like with Bradshaw, it works wonders when your closet — or even your life — is feeling stagnant. And even when you’re feeling in shambles, accidentally wearing two different shoes by mistake, go with it. It’s a statement.

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So, How Is It Really? Wearing A Butterfly Top To The Beach

Welcome to Refinery29’s So, How Is It Really? where we take a look at all of the topics that have the internet talking. In studying them up close, we answer the question of what it’s really like to try out a trend like a butterfly top, a viral product, or an unexpected TikTok hack.

When the Blumarine spring 2022 collection first debuted, I was hesitant about the Y2K fashion comeback. Here was a collection completely devoted to bringing back low-rise jeans, denim-on-denim looks, and butterflies in full swing. The latter in particular seemed to urge shoppers to undergo a metamorphosis out of the sweatpants and Nap dresses that marked the lockdown era and into midriff-revealing butterfly-shaped tops for Hot Girl Summer.

I instantly had flashbacks of Mariah Carey at the VH1 Divas Live Concert in 2000, wearing a pink-and-green bedazzled butterfly top with low-rise jeans and wondered for a second if I had just traveled back in time. 

But then, today’s It girls started wearing the going-out top en masse: Olivia Rodrigo wore a blue-and-green sequin butterfly style on Instagram; Anitta wore a deep green iteration from her Shein collaboration; and Dua Lipa sported the Blumarine denim halter. While I could see the appeal of wearing a butterfly on a baby tee, I had a hard time imagining myself — a fan of neutral colors, capsule wardrobes, and crisp white shirts — wearing a bedazzled, floss-string top out of the house. 

Yet, like many millennial-Gen Z cuspers that were too young to take in the more risque Y2K fashion trends of the AOL era, I had to give my inner child closure. So I set to try three butterfly top styles.

H&M Open-Back Butterfly Top

For the first look, I chose a glistening black top from H&M. For my debut night out of the warm-weather season, I paired the style with pinstripe wide-leg pants and a pair of glittery platform sandals. While the look bared more skin than I would have usually liked, it provided just the right amount of glamour to motivate me to march to a cocktail bar, dance the night away with friends, and stay up past my usual Cinderella-style curfew. 

Maybe it was the child in me unleashed, or the fact that I wore my uniform of all-black, but somehow my initial shock of seeing butterfly tops come back in style seemed absurd: What was I so afraid of? Having fun?

Lovers and Friends Butterfly Love Top

For the second look, I wanted to take the Lovers and Friends crochet butterfly top to a beach day. But first I had to get into it, a feat that I’m still surprised I managed to accomplish. As someone who appreciates the simplicity of buttons and zippers, adjustable strings are my worst nightmare. I spent about 15 minutes tugging and pulling the straps, adjusting them to fit my chest without losing its butterfly shape.

Once I was tucked in perfectly, I paired the pastel look with linen pants, slides, and a straw hat, and enjoyed the breeziness of the crochet that made it feel like I had nothing on. Still, the bad tan lines were not worth it; I should’ve stuck to a more appropriate setting — let’s say, brunch or a day at the park under a shady tree — to avoid the sunburn disaster that ensued. 

Edikted Studded Butterfly Top

For my next look, I decided to opt for a non-traditional way to sport the butterfly top. As I mentioned before, I have a soft spot for white shirts which has transformed into a love for shirt dresses this season — a style that I’ve regularly styled with harnesses to provide a bit of structure to the otherwise flowy silhouette. So why not think of the butterfly top as a type of harness? The Edikted studded butterfly top provided just the right amount of detail to glam up the shirt dress and made the straight-out-of-2003 style look modern and dinner-appropriate, rather than club-ready. 

Throughout this experiment, I learned that the key to participating in trends is to make them your own. While on TikTok, butterfly tops appear in a never-ending loop of outfits styled with other Y2K contemporaries like low-rise jeans and platform heels, there are ways to opt out of the early aughts revival. Styling a butterfly top with a work-appropriate dress for a dinner date gave my younger self peace of mind: I had developed my personal style enough to know just how to partake in popular trends outside my comfort zone without letting go of myself. 

And isn’t that what metamorphosis is? Growing out of the chrysalis into the unknown, blooming into your most authentic self. 

At Refinery29, we’re here to help you navigate this overwhelming world of stuff. All of our market picks are independently selected and curated by the editorial team. If you buy something we link to on our site, Refinery29 may earn commission.

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Lingerie Brands Are Challenging The Binary, One Collection At A Time

When Louis Dorantes moved to Brooklyn in the late 2010s, the Parsons-trained designer began making going-out looks for the queer parties he attended. “It wasn’t just casually going to the neighborhood bar,” he says of his reasoning for creating his own designs. “These were very curated spaces with a lot of very talented people.” In 2020, inspired by the creative spirit of this nightclub scene, Dorantes launched Leak NYC, a genderless lingerie brand. 

Dorantes’ clothes are a celebration of freedom and self-expression. Think: mesh bodysuits, neon colors, unexpected cut-outs, and sportswear-inspired corsets, a range of styles that have traditionally been marketed toward women but, under Leak NYC, are encouraged to be worn by all. “I grew up in the Midwest, and it was very conservative,” he says. “I always felt like I had my hands tied behind my back with how to dress, how to be male-presenting, so it was so liberating to run with it, finally being able to just let all that go and challenge the binary.”

While brands like TomboyX and Aisle have disrupted the industry by offering boxer-style underwear catered to women and non-binary people, the industry has been slower in offering genderless underwear in traditionally femme styles. Now, though, as conversations about genderless fashion are becoming commonplace, more mainstream brands are following in the footsteps of people like Dorantes and TomboyX and starting to offer gender-affirming underwear options. 

“From the early 2000s up to now, when [brands] talked about genderless fashion, they were marketing men’s clothes for women,” says Roman Sipe, creative director for popular lingerie brand Cosabella. “For the longest time, [the lingerie category] has been reserved for elegant women’s underwear, so to have that offering for everyone and have it be seen is great.”

In 2021, Cosabella debuted a gender- and size-inclusive collection, titled “For People,” which offers the brand’s signature lace and mesh lingerie in over 100 colors. Around the same time, Savage x Fenty and Fleur Du Mal have introduced silky boxers, luxurious robes, and lacy underwear targeted toward men and non-binary people. (In the swimwear department, Chromat has long pushed the boundaries of swimwear with the brand’s newest collection dedicated to trans, non-binary, and queer folks.)

According to TomboyX’s CEO, Leslie Garrard, mainstream fashion’s embrace of genderless underwear is propelled by a consumer-backed push to erase the gender norms, focusing on comfort and fit. “It starts with, ‘How do you want to flow in the world?” Garrard says. “Women’s bodies, non-binary bodies, come in all different shapes, sizes, curves, depending on the day. I would want to have the most comfortable underwear imaginable in a wide range of cuts.” That’s exactly what TomboyX has done over the past decade, providing styles that are meant to “discard the old idea of shopping by men’s or women’s and just democratize underwear,” from boardshorts and adaptable bras to comfy period underwear and boxer briefs. The success of trailblazing brands like TomboyX has certainly provided a blueprint for the lingerie industry to market traditionally femme styles to all bodies. 

“We are flipping from just marketing women’s underwear for men to marketing everything for everybody,” says Sipe who, before joining Cosabella, was the designer and the founder of Menagerie Intimates, a lingerie brand focused on male-identifying bodies. Take, for example, the company’s lacy thongs and jockstraps that were launched under the brand’s “Never Say Never” category, which Guido Campello, the managing director of Cosabella, says is the first of more inclusive collections to come: “We’re already working on the second generation, which is really, what are the products that should cross over?” As Cosabella is venturing into marketing lingerie staples like bikinis and thongs for men, Campello says that the market is still catching up to what consumers have been demanding for a long time: “The idea that anyone could have elegance…  that’s really missing.” 

From his personal experience with creating Leak NYC, Dorantes sees the benefits of genderless underwear and customers easing into their bodies and self-confidence. “One thing that always really touches me is people who have never been comfortable with their bodies or have always wanted to try lingerie, being completely overwhelmed with the idea of it being so flattering,” says Dorantes. 

This should be the ultimate mission for brands, according to Garrard: “[When] people are able to go out, see products that are gender-affirming, that are body-affirming, that really makes them feel like their best selves.”

The jury is in. Brands, time to make your move.

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A Guide To Plus-Size Brands & Retailers That Do It Right

As a big gal, I have a keen interest in inclusive fashion and fat access to popular trends. But full disclosure: My relationship with fashion wasn't always a positive one; it has resembled a roller coaster full of high highs and low lows. Back when I was a kid, I reveled in the pages of teen magazines while happily experimenting with my personal style. In college, I passionately entrenched myself in a fashion minor. But, as I grew older, it became harder and harder to find trendy pieces that fit my larger body and feet.

During this time, Forever 21 Plus was one of the few retailers with inclusively sized styles that I could rely on — everything else was just out of reach. I started to feel apathy for the labels with limited-size collections I once found aspirational: Why should I care about them when they don't care about people like me? A couple of years ago I decided to unfollow brands that don't offer inclusive-size options and seek out those that actually cater to my body. And in doing so, I discovered a vibrant community of plus retailers and brands that make me feel seen and supported in the fashion space — and I've lined up each of those right here. From retro-inspired garb to sustainable fabrics and small-business excellence, I've got something for every fat person out there! So keep on scrolling to enter plus-fashion heaven.

I'll continue to update this list, so be sure to check back as often as you'd like — or, better yet, share your favorite plus places to shop in the comments below.

At Refinery29, we’re here to help you navigate this overwhelming world of stuff. All of our market picks are independently selected and curated by the editorial team. If you buy something we link to on our site, Refinery29 may earn commission.

Universal Standard

Best For: Elevated Basics     
Size Range: 4-40

Although it's amazing when a brand has plus sizes, they more often than not only go up to 24/26. US is different and has the widest size range I've seen from any retailer. Its elevated basics are unique in construction and meant to be worn into the ground. You must try the brand's Fit Liberty collection. Anything you buy from this line that you grow out of, the brand will replace for free.

Customer Take: "I found these pants at Universal Standard. I ordered via the Try Now option. The quality is far better than I expected. The customer support was terrific. I highly recommend the company."

Shop Universal Standard

Universal Standard Stephanie Wide Leg Stripe Pants, $, available at Universal Standard

Loud Bodies

Best For: Affordable Slow Fashion Professional Pieces
Size Range: XXS-10XL

Loud Bodies snuck up on me in the best way possible. It has one of the most impressive sizing options available, and the garments are made to order, which any sustainable fashion lover can appreciate.

Loud Bodies stocks a wide variety of clothes, from athleisure to show-stopping party dresses. But I especially love it as a place to stock up on office-appropriate attire that still feels unique.

Shop Loud Bodies

Loud Bodies “Harriet” Dungaree Black Organic Cotton, $, available at LoudBodies

ModCloth

Best For Retro-Inspired Pieces
Size Range: 00-28, XXS-4X

If you are like me and love the drama that is ~existence~, you revel in your various phases. ModCloth is all about making your day-to-day the period piece of your dreams. Whether you want to take it all the way back to the big skirts of the '50s or throw up a cute peace sign with the feels of the '60s, ModCloth's got you covered.

In particular, I really appreciate the authentic sensibilities it keeps in mind when bringing to life a vibe from the past. From cool plaids to flare overalls to slick green faux-leather pants, this retailer offers a range. ModCloth is the garb-adorned love shack where we can get our fashion life together.

Shop ModCloth

ModCloth Overall Winner Jumper, $, available at ModCloth

Warp + Weft

Best For Sustainable Denim & Pants 
Size Range: 00-24, XS-3XL

When I discovered Warp + Weft, I might have shed a few tears. It's a cool sustainable denim startup that offered plus sizes at the start of its brand. For fat folk that love the look of Everlane denim but can't fit into its incredibly limited sizes, Warp + Weft is for you.

Each garment created has a sustainability report breakdown, which further explains what resources and thoughtfulness went into creating each piece.  I own a different jumpsuit than the one linked here, but I can personally attest to the quality and comfiness that WW offers!

Shop Warp + Weft

Warp + Weft DTW PLUS - STRAIGHT LEG JUMPSUIT, $, available at Warp + Weft

Asos

Best For Discounted Trendy Styles  
Size Range: 00-30

Asos is the ultimate aggregator of all things fashionable and trendy. It keeps you at the forefront and allows plus people the range and space to experiment at a similar level to our straight-size counterparts.

If there is some cool fashion movement or trendy silhouette that you can't find anywhere else, then I'd check here. 

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ASOS EDITION Curve pants in buttermilk, $, available at ASOS

Wray

Best For High-Quality Artsy Pieces
Size Range: XS-5XL

If there was one designer that you should know about, it's Wray. I hate to pick favorites, but Wray makes it hard not to fangirl every piece in its catalog. Bonus: Just about every garment is made in every size offered. What a novel concept!  This brand focuses on the artistic and structural integrity of a garment. Each of Wray's lovely hand-painted prints comes to life in every release without fail. It's truly like donning wearable art.

Plus-size people want to wear the exact same things as everyone else, and Wray makes that possible. I'm not crying you are!

Shop Wray

Wray Juliette Dress, $, available at Wray

Rebdolls

Best For: Body-Con Pieces & Swimsuits
Size Range: S-5XL

This Black-owned retailer focuses on killer sets and swimsuits that are to die for. It's kind of like Fashion Nova and PrettyLittleThing if they had a more inclusive-size baby. If you are all about the super-femme, sexy looks, this is the place for you.  

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Rebdolls Like It Hot Snake Print String Bikini Top, $, available at Rebdolls

K.S. Garner

Best For: Made-to-Order Gems 
Size Range: XXS-4XX (Other Sizes By Request)

K.S. Garner was my entrance into the made-to-order retail space. From following Kelsey Garner's brand on Instagram, I quickly fell in love with her simple yet whimsical designs and the one-of-a-kind fabrics that she builds her creations with.

Although K.S. Garner has a set size chart that goes up to a 4XX, the brand will willingly cater to everyone doing custom-size orders as well. It does take five weeks to get your goods because each one is cut specially for you. The Luna Set is the most popular item and comes in over 10 different colorways –– I own the Luna set in teal!

Shop K.S. Garner

K.S. Garner Lavender Luna Bottoms, $, available at K.S. Garner

K.S. Garner Lavender Luna Top, $, available at K.S. Garner

Tradlands

Best For: Ethical Fabrics & Flowy Silhouettes
Size Range: XXS-5X

Tradlands new extended sizing is done right with lots of care put into its development. Although this brand has not always been on top of things plus-size fashion-wise. It's definitely made a big comeback and has won over the hearts of the sustainable fat folk on the interwebs.

Customer Take: "I own the Nico dress in two colorways now; it is the perfect dress for any occasion! Depending on how you accessorize it, it could be a casual dress for a lunch date with friends or a dress for a fancy occasion. It is flattering without being too boxy or large yet the loose fit means it is beyond comfortable. The fabric is clearly high quality and the colors are vivid and beautiful. I highly recommend everyone get a Nico dress!"

Shop Tradlands


Tradlands Brianna Nico Dress, $, available at Tradlands

Selkie

Best For Garden Party Frocks
Size Range: XS-5X

Selkie is what you'd get if you stepped into a well-dressed Alice in Wonderland dream world. The beautiful, ethereal gowns are magical and modern at the same time.

Whether you are in need of a killer birthday outfit, a garden party-approved frock, or a fun alternative wedding dress, Selkie's got you covered.

Shop Selkie

Selkie The Cindy Plaid French Puff Dress, $, available at Selkie

Tanya Taylor

Best For: Eclectic Prints
Size Range: XS-3X

If we are talking about the exclusion of fat folks in fashion, high-end designers are the No. 1 culprits. However, Tanya Taylor is on the right side of the industry –– offering up plus goods to a 3X. The designer's love of vibrant patterns and eclectic prints is definitely the main selling point.

Shop Tanya Taylor

Tanya Taylor Josephina Dress, $, available at Tanya Taylor

Berriez

Best For: Plus-Size Vintage Finds  & Indie Brands Collabs
Size Range: M-4X
Although plus-size fashion options are on the rise, larger vintage clothing that doesn't look lifeless is difficult to come by — until now. Emma Zack of Berriez has revolutionized the second-hand marketplace by primarily catering to larger-size bodies. I've bought more than a couple of pieces from Berriez, and I plan to for as long as it'll have me.

Zack releases new collections of unique curated goods regularly. Follow Berriez on Instagram for random story drops, but check out the website full of vintage goodies.

Shop Berriez

Shop Journal x Berriez Tie Dye Drama Tights, $, available at Berriez

Mate The Label

Best For: Loungewear Pieces
Size Range: XS-3X

Mate is the go-to destination for thoughtfully designed loungewear. The brand uses organic cotton to create all its comfy pieces while focusing on simple yet stylish design.

Customer Take: "I’ve been working towards upgrading my loungewear since I spend so much time at home in sweat pants these days! These are a dream. The fit is a bit bigger than anticipated, but they are so soft and so well made. I can’t wait to get the matching sweatshirt."

Shop Mate the Label

Mate The Label Organic Terry Raglan Sweatshirt, $, available at Mate the Label

Eloquii

Best For: Sophisticated Trendy Fashion 
Size Range: 14-28

Eloquii is a trend-forward fast-fashion retailer with clothing that's actually good quality. It's regularly having sales on all product categories, and it's really a good place for fashion-lovers of all ages to take part in the fun of getting dressed. This piece reminds me of the popular housedress trend from this past summer!

Customer Take: "This dress is Beautiful! The quality is very high, the style is unique and the color is gorgeous. It fits very well. I’m eager to have an occasion to wear it out."

Shop Eloquii

Eloquii Printed Wide Leg Pant, $, available at Eloquii

Anthropologie

Best For: Cottage Core Meets Boho Chic
Size Range: 00-26

Anthropologie is good for embracing your inner hippie and prairie dweller alike. It's great for fun patterned dresses and unique jumpsuits. Jump to its offerings if you have a wedding to attend or you're in need of an updated date-night outfit.

Shop Anthropologie

Amadi Amadi Pleated Wide-Leg Pants, $, available at Anthropologie

Madewell

Best For: Wardrobe Staples
Size Range: XXS-3X, 00-24W

Madewell is a tried-and-true staple for many of us in the plus community. It's hard to beat all-American denim retailers. I have many simple pieces, like tees and sweaters, from the brand that get lots of wear. I own too many Madewell pieces to count. There's a reason I can't resist coming back to it over and over again.

Customer Take: "I am now a loyal buyer of this jean style. The other styles just don't seem to live up--this particular pair has less stretch but doesn't sacrifice comfort. The pair I bought doesn't have the fading in the legs and around the butt as these photos do, it's more of a consistent color of light denim, which I prefer. So cute and comfortable! Madewell, why did I have to get hooked to your jeans?!"

Shop Madewell

Madewell Plus Sophia Smocked Midi Dress in Windowpane, $, available at Madewell

Big Bud Press

Best For: Statement Pants
Size Range: XXS-7XL

Big Bud Press is what you'd get if a rainbow exploded on a beautifully structured, simple range of goods. The fun, bright, and over-the-top prints and designs make its clothes instantly identifiable no matter where you are. Its sizing is unisex in order for all genders to be represented, which sometimes can cause a little bit of sizing confusion, especially if you have curvy hips. I find that the Trouser is the No. 1 garment in its offerings that caters to the curviness that usually comes with a plus body. It's a little roomier in the hips than other styles.

Shop Big Bud Press

Big Bud Press Petite Trousers, $, available at Big Bud Press

Athleta

Best For: Giving Back 
Size Range: 00-26, XXS-3X

Athleta has recently expanded its size range, but on top of that, it is a certified B-corp, which is a designation that shows a business prioritizes community and the environment just as it does profit. In particular, Athleta strives to provide each woman in its factories with advanced educational opportunities and life-skills classes.

Although its products aren't made from completely recyclable materials, about 40% are, which is still pretty solid if you ask me.

Shop Athleta

Athleta Conscious Cut Out Crop D-DD, $, available at Athleta

Girlfriend Collective  

Best For: Sustainable Activewear
Size Range: XXS-6XL

Girlfriend has been inclusive since the beginning, and it is dominating the plus activewear space. Its cool colors and simple product line-up are strong suits for the brand. It also uses recycled materials to make its products and makes it possible for you to recycle the garments as well. I'm particularly obsessed with its unitards in its most recent colorways. Girlfriend tends to sell out quickly, so you have to be ready to jump on a piece that catches your eye.

Customer Take: "Like everyone else, I was skeptical that I would like this unitard. However, it truly is so flattering and so comfortable! It's the perfect layering piece and seems to go with everything. I'm so glad I took the leap!"

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Girlfriend Collective Lemonade Zip Front Dylan Tank Bra, $, available at Girlfriend Collective

Zelie For She

Best For Romantic Nomad Vibes
Size Range: 1X-3X

I discovered Zelie for She on Plus Instagram where I find most of my style inspiration. It's great for unique, high-quality pieces you won't find anywhere else. It's a small biz with everything made in Los Angeles. It's also Black-owned and has killer representation in its product photography. I definitely feel reflected in this brand.

Customer Take: "Zelieforshe is the best! Such an amazing designer and I was elated when I heard about this collection coming to Nordstrom."

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Zellie For She Shuri Cutout Waist Jersey Dress, $, available at Zellie For She

Abercrombie & Fitch

Best For: Curvy Rigid Denim
Sizes Range: XXS-XXXL

A little less than a year ago, I tried on a wide variety of Abercrombie & Fitch styles. As someone who never fit in the brand growing up, it was weird to think it's grown so much. At this point, I genuinely wear its clothes a few times a week without fail. The brand's jeans even won one of our 2021 MVP Awards earlier this year.

Customer Take: "I’ve always struggled with finding jeans for my body type. I’m short but curvy. I was hesitant to go to Abercrombie because growing up I could only wish for their clothes to fit me, but I built up the courage to do it and FELL IN LOVE. Their curvy line is just so good and the jean material is of great quality. 100% worth the money."

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Abercrombie & Fitch Curve Love Ultra High Rise 90s Straight Jean, $, available at Abercrombie & Fitch

Eddie Bauer

Best For: Plus-Size Outdoor Clothing
Size Range: XXS-3X

Eddie Bauer's lineup of killer outdoor clothing has helped make me feel reflected in the outdoor activity clothing space, which plus-size folks are so often excluded from. Whether you want to go on a backpacking adventure, hike the steepest mountain or try skiing for the first time, EB has really beefed up its fat-friendly offerings, so it's a great brand to keep in the back of your mind if you are "one with nature."

Customer Take: "This is a wonderful dress, surprisingly lightweight without being see-through or too flimsy. It is comfortable and breathable in hot weather, doesn't wrinkle, washes beautifully, and is perfect for travel. I reach for it constantly! It is so easy to wear with tennis shoes or flip flops, and will layer nicely w[ith] a cardigan and booties this fall."

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Eddie Bauer Aster Sleeveless Empire-Waist Dress, $, available at Eddie Bauer

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