That is a really good question! I do find them, though not as often as I want to find them. You're right that stuff did get cut down, and people used to be smaller on average, but the clothes are out there. I find plus-size 50s day dresses fairly often, and 60s/70s more; 20s/30s is pretty rare but it's hard to find that stuff in wearable condition at any size. We have had it at the shop, though. I once even found an Edwardian bodice that was about a 22 in modern sizes!
Useful things to know when vintage shopping: Your measurements (saves a lot of trying on if you can just measure the dress-- I rarely bother trying on anymore), and the styles that suit your shape. Because I know I look good in full-skirted, high-waisted shirtdresses, I can usually buy them with confidence if the measurements are right. That's because I have narrow shoulders, a relatively small waist, and big hips-- so the 50s/early 60s look great, but I look like a sack of potatoes in shifts or drop waists.
If you don't want to learn to sew, which I TOTALLY understand, Modcloth and eShakti both do really cute vintage-style stuff in plus size. The last time I checked Modcloth's clearance section it was wall-to-wall cute skirts with only plus sizes left! They both focus on the narrow waist/full skirt 50s silhouette, so if that suits you it's a good place to start.
If you have local vintage stores, it might be worth contacting them to ask if they stock plus size. We do, whenever we can find it, but I know some stores are snobbier. It might also depend on your region-- here in DC I have a tougher time, but one of the Big Flea vendors I know comes from Ohio and they always have plenty of cute plus-size stuff.
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timeasmymeasure
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Date: 2014-11-10 04:20 pm (UTC)Useful things to know when vintage shopping: Your measurements (saves a lot of trying on if you can just measure the dress-- I rarely bother trying on anymore), and the styles that suit your shape. Because I know I look good in full-skirted, high-waisted shirtdresses, I can usually buy them with confidence if the measurements are right. That's because I have narrow shoulders, a relatively small waist, and big hips-- so the 50s/early 60s look great, but I look like a sack of potatoes in shifts or drop waists.
If you don't want to learn to sew, which I TOTALLY understand, Modcloth and eShakti both do really cute vintage-style stuff in plus size. The last time I checked Modcloth's clearance section it was wall-to-wall cute skirts with only plus sizes left! They both focus on the narrow waist/full skirt 50s silhouette, so if that suits you it's a good place to start.
If you have local vintage stores, it might be worth contacting them to ask if they stock plus size. We do, whenever we can find it, but I know some stores are snobbier. It might also depend on your region-- here in DC I have a tougher time, but one of the Big Flea vendors I know comes from Ohio and they always have plenty of cute plus-size stuff.