Plus Size Vintage

[Ccc]

Most flattering plus size vintage styles?

Short, 5'2" and a size 16-18, depending on the cut.

What has worked for you, and what do you avoid like the plague?

Favorite vintage plus size resources?

Thanks for the info!

Ccc

 

[Kitty_Sheridan]

Ok,
I've been in this hobby (WW2 living history) for 11 years now. I started off about a size 12-14 (UK) and am now an 18-20 (but losing thanks to getting off my ass!)
Women were not smaller. I hear the myth perpetuated soooo often.
I have one of each Womens Service Uniforms (WRNS, ATS, WAAF, ATA....) and they are original.
That is they were made in 39-45 and worn by women in service. with the advent of rationing some readily available foods were potatoes and bread. Hardly going to make you skinny! I have underwear that is too big for me and shoes too.
The stuff is out there. Keep looking and don't let anyone tell you that you can't look great.
K

 

[RueBea]

Glad to see that there are options for us curvier girls.

 

[Miss Brill]

What has worked for you, and what do you avoid like the plague?

I'm not a plus, but I'm not skinny either. I'm an hourglass and I think the 50s styles with the nipped waists make me look bigger. Textures can also be unflattering--so I try to stick with smooth/thin ones & make sure clothes fit snugly.

 

[Miss 1929]

I'm getting there...

Started collecting vintage as a size 2, and now I'm a 14 Sure, I hope to be smaller someday! But in the meantime, I so feel the pain of not finding vintage in a good size! I am able to fake it and sew and all that, but it's not the same as a beautiful old garment with history.

 

[RetroMom]

I just got these pant's from Roaman's, in chocolate, dark green and navy.

http://www.roamans.com/clothing/Kni...=11247&producttypeid=1&pref=ps&PurchaseType=G

I love the wide leg cut, but I'm not sure what to wear on top, maybe a beaded cardigan or twin set? For now, I just wear a white blouse with a scarf.

 

[Myn]

Etsy sites of interest for plus size vintage

Miss Brache sells 50s style swimsuits and woman's clothing. She'll make clothes based on your measurements. http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5140247

Jane Bon Bon--high quality dresses and skirts that look vintage inspired. Will make any dress in any size. http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5315387

LuckyKat--Rockabilly clothes. Largest woman's size is 42 bust, 34 waist, and 45 hip. http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=59182&section_id=5258348

and here's a beautiful spot called Dulcet--hand dyed vintage slips, flasks, and jewelry
http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=55220

 

[Myn]

Navy blue lace and Silk Taffeta Wiggle Dress

Measurements are: 42 inch bust, 35 inch waist, 45 inch hip

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=9078959


Hmm, I don't consider a 42 inch bust to be plus size, but the seller did, so I'll post it here anyway.

 

[Idledame]

There is a simple reason that large sizes are so rare in all vintage clothes: unless you were wealthy, you might take your outfits apart and re-use the material for your younger sisters or your children or you handed down your outfits to someone your size or smaller. Even wealthy people would hand down clothes to their maids or less well off relatives. If you look at old photos there were lots of big older women, though young women were usually thinner (3 meals a day, no sodas, no junk food-walking alot, scrubbing floors on your hands and knees, etc.). Even when I was young in the 50's I recall my mom darning holes in socks (you did not just run out and buy new socks! you used a wooden darning "egg" and it was difficult to make it smooth not lumpy). Also when she did get rid of an old dress she would salvage the buttons, zippers and anything else that might be useful. My mom also told me that at one time during the depression she had one dress, navy blue. Then she had different collars to change the look. She even had a collar made of netting covered in navy blue sequins to dress it up. So she wore the same dress to work every day and then at night also. When she wanted a totally new look she would trade dresses with her sister for a while. Especially in big families, a dress was never saved, just reused until it became a dusting rag. We're lucky any of the clothes survived!

 

[Snookie]

I just got these pant's from Roaman's, in chocolate, dark green and navy.

http://www.roamans.com/clothing/Kni...=11247&producttypeid=1&pref=ps&PurchaseType=G

I love the wide leg cut, but I'm not sure what to wear on top, maybe a beaded cardigan or twin set? For now, I just wear a white blouse with a scarf.

I don't get this site -- some nice clothes, but those models aren't plus size! They're like a 4, maybe a 6. But I think a 4. So where did they get the clothes to put on the model, if the smallest size they produce is a 14???

But I like those pants. I'd like a pair, and I'm jealous they don't come in my size!

 

[Miss Brill]

Laredoute has some pretty vintage-inspired things & they have plus sizes.

 

[pretty faythe]

I don't get this site -- some nice clothes, but those models aren't plus size! They're like a 4, maybe a 6. But I think a 4. So where did they get the clothes to put on the model, if the smallest size they produce is a 14???

But I like those pants. I'd like a pair, and I'm jealous they don't come in my size!

I've written to them about that a few years ago. Their answer was that even though they are a plus size clothers, most of the people who buy it dont want to see the clothing on the real sized women, so they get the smaller "plused" sized women if they used them at at all... I for one, want to see plus size clothing on a woman who is my size, I am currently in a size 16, and when I has wrote to then was in a 20, and would like to see the clothing modeled on a person similar to my type so I can get an idea of what they are going to look like on me. [huh] Call me crazy. I think who ever they had in their surveys were nuts.

 

[Snookie]

I'm not actually surprised that they're using the smallest models they can - any sensible consumer would want to see the real thing, but I'm sure they sell more this way. I'm just confused about where the clothes come from -- if their smallest size is a 14, where do they find the size 4 samples for the photo shoot? Unless they have a "sister" company, or something. [huh]

 

[Josephine]

I'm not actually surprised that they're using the smallest models they can - any sensible consumer would want to see the real thing, but I'm sure they sell more this way. I'm just confused about where the clothes come from -- if their smallest size is a 14, where do they find the size 4 samples for the photo shoot? Unless they have a "sister" company, or something. [huh]

They make them up special for the shoot.

 

[~*Red*~]

I've written to them about that a few years ago. Their answer was that even though they are a plus size clothers, most of the people who buy it dont want to see the clothing on the real sized women, so they get the smaller "plused" sized women if they used them at at all... I for one, want to see plus size clothing on a woman who is my size, I am currently in a size 16, and when I has wrote to then was in a 20, and would like to see the clothing modeled on a person similar to my type so I can get an idea of what they are going to look like on me. [huh] Call me crazy. I think who ever they had in their surveys were nuts.

I'm with ya.. because while that pair of pants looks great on that girl, that size.. those same pants in my size would make me look like a short fat midget. I'm not saying that's what I am, but you know, sometimes, clothes made for thinner people do not look the same on bigger people. That's why I always liked Torrid. They make cool clothes, and show how they really look. Not all of it looks good, but at least you *know* what you are getting.

And one other gripe...Why are the majority of plus size clothes made for giants? Seriously... I know my legs are shorter than normalbut not by that much! When I go to get capris, they are literally PANTS on me. :eusa_doh:

 

[pretty faythe]

Oh I know, I used to be able to buy size what what ever average and they'd be perfect, now it seems everything is made in a long. So now I always have to roll my jeans up, petites are to short. Its insanity. If I could just hurry up and drop the rest of the weight, yeah right, I'd have no prob lol

 

[deadpandiva]

I've written to them about that a few years ago. Their answer was that even though they are a plus size clothers, most of the people who buy it dont want to see the clothing on the real sized women, so they get the smaller "plused" sized women if they used them at at all... I for one, want to see plus size clothing on a woman who is my size, I am currently in a size 16, and when I has wrote to then was in a 20, and would like to see the clothing modeled on a person similar to my type so I can get an idea of what they are going to look like on me. [huh] Call me crazy. I think who ever they had in their surveys were nuts.

I feel the same way. I hate when they have swimsuits that are supposed to make you look slim and they put them on size 4 models. Of course a size 4 model looks slim but that doesn't mean it will work on me.

 

[deadpandiva]

I just got these pant's from Roaman's, in chocolate, dark green and navy.

http://www.roamans.com/clothing/Kni...=11247&producttypeid=1&pref=ps&PurchaseType=G

I love the wide leg cut, but I'm not sure what to wear on top, maybe a beaded cardigan or twin set? For now, I just wear a white blouse with a scarf.

Those pants look comfy.

 

[Myn]

Although this link to isn't directly vintage inspired, I'll add it anyway since it will make it easier to find vintage-inspired clothes. It's for all companies with websites that have plus-size sections (clothing, lingerie, sportwears, swimsuits). There is also an eyeglass section if you want cat's eye glasses that fit a wider face.

http://community.livejournal.com/fatshionista/2123888.html


And now for my real woe. I need help figuring out plus-size garter belts. You'd think it would be easy, but the sites I saw on the Girdles and Corsets thread were too small for me. My measurements are 49.5, 43, 51 inches. I saw Secrets and Lace mentioned, but 38" appears to be their largest waist size.

Editing to say--no low confidence moments! My body rocks and does what it needs to do and I'm lucky to have it! Any recommendations would be great and greatly appreciated.

 

[pretty faythe]

tarantula clothing co!!!!
Here is a link to there sight, through another site which offers free shipping domestic for purchases over 150. I saw them while working the MAGIC show (have today off). What caught my eye, besides th repro vintage, was that they had a bigger gal as a model!!!! YAY!!!!!
http://www.pinupgirlclothing.com/tarantula-clothing-company.html