This page was last updated January 2023 except where otherwise noted.
We haven’t talked explicitly about the best workwear for cusp sizes in far too long, ladies — if you’re a size 16 or 18, what are your favorite stores and brands? Given the fact that the average American woman is now a size 16 and 5’4″, this is particularly a difficult question because with those stats you may fit in regular sizes (e.g., 12, 14, 16, 18), plus sizes (e.g., 10W, 12W, 14W, or 16W), petite regular sizes (such as 14P, 16P, 18P) or that rare bird, petite plus sizes (12WP, 14WP, or 16WP) — this is why women in this size range are called “inbetweeners!”
But a lot of “regular” stores only carry sizes up to size 12 — and a lot of “plus” stores only start at 18W. Add to that the fact that most stores carry very few of those sizes on the shelves, and you may be stuck in a never-ending cycle of online shopping and returning stuff, as several readers noted in our post on how to return items bought online.
{related: 100+ great shops for plus-size work clothes}
SO. Let’s discuss, ladies: What’s the best workwear if you’re a size 16? If you’re an “average” size and right on the cusp of plus sizes, which brands or stores have you found to be the best for you? What styles of clothes work best for your body type? What brands run small; which run big?
If you are interested in plus-size workwear, please sign up for CorporettePlus, our newsletter! Signing up helps us gauge interest in the project, and we promise not to blast your email more than once a week at most. (Right now it’s more like once a month.) In keeping with our Privacy Policy, we’ll never sell your email address.
This post contains affiliate links and Corporette® may earn commissions for purchases made through links in this post. For more details see here. Thank you so much for your support!
(Note that we’ve sprinkled some of our favorite plus-size basics throughout this post – note that most also come in sizes 14-16.)
Some of the brands I know of include:
“Regular” Workwear Brands in Sizes 16-18 (aka “Misses” Sizes)
(I realize “regular” brands is a flawed term, but I mean to distinguish a size 16 vs a 16W — if anyone has any suggestions for something other than “regular” or “misses” sizes I’ll take it.)
These are the best brands for work clothes offering cusp sizes… Also check out our roundup of the what to buy at Amazon for work outfits – many of those come up to “size 3X” that is more like XXXL than a true plus-size 3X.)
- Nordstrom (00-18) (especially check out affordable workwear brands like Vince Camuto, Open Edit, and 1.State, fancier workwear brands Boss, L’Agence, Eileen Fisher, Theory, and Lafayette 148 New York, as well as pants from Kut from the Kloth, Liverpool, Nic & Zoe)
- Abercrombie & Fitch (XXL in short lengths, and XLP)
- Ann Taylor (00-18)
- Anthropologie (14-18 and XXL)
- Amazon
- Banana Republic (0-18)
- Boden (2-22)
- Bloomingdale’s (00-18)
- Brooks Brothers (0-16)
- Dressbarn (2-16)
- Express (regular, short and long sizes 0-18)
- J.Crew (000-20)
- J.Crew Factory (00-24)
- Gap (00-20)
- Lands’ End (2-18)
- Loft (00-18)
- Macy’s (00-20)
- Madewell
- M.M.LaFleur (0-18)
- New York & Company (000-20)
- Nora Gardner (independent workwear brand with sizes 00-16)
- Old Navy (0-20)
- Pendleton (02-18)
- Talbots (2-20)
- Target (00-16)
- Uniqlo (limited options up to XXL)
- White House | Black Market (00-18, regular, short, and long)
Independent Brands With XXL-3X Sizes
It can be hard to make the cross into the “X” sizing — but if you’re looking for something to wear you should consider these stores.
(Also check the inclusive sizing sections at Shopbop, and at Revolve (XXS-4X).)
Made to Measure Work Clothes
Hunting for the best made-to-measure work clothes? As of 2023, the best options we know of are Brooks Brothers, Sumissura, Etsy sellers Heart My Closet, VigilanteLabs, and CelesteLilou, as well as smaller brands like Loud Bodies, Sharpe Suiting, IGIGI, eShakti, and Rita Phil (pencil skirts only). Some of our favorite stores that offer free alterations for members include Nordstrom, J.Crew, Banana Republic, and Uniqlo (select styles). If you’re crafty, you may also want to check out our roundup of sewing patterns for workwear outfits.
Petite Workwear in Sizes 14P, 16P, 18P
As of Jan. 2023, this is where you can find petite sizes above a size 12…
- Nordstrom (14P-18P) (especially business casual pants from Liverpool, Wit & Wisdom, Kut from the Kloth)
- Abercrombie & Fitch (XXL in short lengths, and XLP)
- Ann Taylor (14P-16P; also curvy cuts)
- Amazon (14P, 16P)
- Anthropologie (up to 16P/XLP)
- Bloomingdale’s (0P-18P)
- Bloomingdale’s (14P-18P)
- Betabrand (XL-petite and XXL-petite)
- Dressbarn (14P, 16P only)
- Eileen Fisher (14P-20P)
- Eloquii
- Express (regular, short and long sizes 0-18, also curvy cuts)
- eShakti (up to 6X/36W/custom; they ask your height on every order)
- Girl With Curves / QVC (0XP-5XP)
- Hours (14-28)
- J.Jill (14P-20P)
- Lands’ End (14P-18P)
- Lane Bryant (12WP-26WP)
- Lafayette 148 New York (up to size 16P)
- Loft (14P-16P; also curvy cuts)
- Madewell (limited options in 16P; also 33P)
- Neiman Marcus (14P-18P)
- New York & Company (14P-18P)
- Nic & Zoe (14P)
- NYDJ (up to 18P)
- Old Navy (0P-20P)
- Rita Phil Custom Fashion (custom skirts)
- Spanx! (XSP-3XP)
- Talbots (14P-18P)
- Tapata (Amazon seller with options up to XXLP)
- Ulla Popken (short sizes 12S-38S)
- White House | Black Market (00-18, regular, short, and long, also curvy cuts)
Workwear for Plus-Size Petites (12WP-44WP)
As of Jan. 2023, this is where you can find plus-size petites…
Smaller Plus-Sized Work Clothes (10W-16W or 0X)
Plus-size clothes tend to be cut a bit wider than regular clothes — a size 16W will be bigger than a size 16, for example.
Above, some of our favorite plus-size wrap dresses for work: one / two / three / four / five (not pictured but also check out this Etsy seller)
Picture via Fotolia / Syda Productions.
Admin note: This post was originally written in January 2017, but has been updated as indicated above.
Updated stock photo via Deposit Photos / CandyBoxImages.
Kat
Source link
