Let's face it: being plus sized and a lover of vintage fashion is tough. Finding any pre-1970s garments in thrift stores is becoming more and more of a challenge in and of itself. Throw into the mix trying to find anything with a bust of 36 or more and you're asking way too much. For one reason or another, finding vintage garments that are any larger that a modern size 12 is quite the task. Being a modern size 14 myself, it's taken me years to collect the few truly flattering clothing items I have in my personal wardrobe. In fact, one of the reasons I started dealing vintage is because I often find adorable pieces that are too small for my own frame. I'm far too enamoured with them to not purchase, but they just end up sitting in my closet, often admired, but never being used to their full potential.
Alas, there is hope for volumptuous vintage ladies.
Thrift Early, Thrift Often
This is a good tip for any thrifter, and probably a tactic you already employ. The only way to find the good vintage is to beat the crowd. If you wear a size 12 or larger, you're in a competition! You're not only competing with other women of these sizes, but vintage dealers that know these sizes sell with ease. Find out when your favorite thrift store restocks, and make a plan to be there when they do.
Spend More on Fewer Pieces
Good quality vintage boutiques and online shops are everywhere. These are your best bets if you want ease of purchase, without the constant strain and disapointment thrift store shopping can lead to. The law of supply and demand applies, though. Fewer pieces in in-demand sizes equals higher prices. This is definitely worth the extra investment, however. Let somebody else do the grunt work of finding, cleaning, and mending vintage items. Meanwhile, you can focus on sculpting a closet consisting of several key pieces that you'll wear time and again. You spend less effort on acquiring beautiful vintage pieces while also supporting the hard work of independent vintage dealers.
Buy "New" Vintage
New, vintage-inspired clothing is relatively easy to find in a myriad of sizes. Pin-Up Girl Clothing and Bettie Page Clothing are two of my favorite places to acquire '50s-style dresses. They are well made and I never have a problem finding something I love in my size. The prices are bit steep, but I have no qualms with splurging every now and then, especially since I generally spend so little on the rest of my thrifted wardrobe.
Keep an eye out for vintage-inspired pieces and other classics at places like Target and department stores. Some things, like silk camisoles, cashmere cardigans, and leather ballet flats, are eternally in style. One of my absolute favorite "vintage" dresses is actually a thrifted Isaac Mizrahi for Target dress. It blends so seamlessly with the rest of my wardrobe, nobody has ever even questioned me as to whether it is actually old or not. You can pair your newer pieces with plenty of vintage accessories to really complete the look.
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