The 21 Must-Have Pieces From Our 6 Favorite Brands With Extended Sizing
Finally it’s not just pastel-striped tents anymore.
by The Candidly Team
If you went to high school in an era when J.Crew seemed like the staple for snooty New England moms, and Abercrombie was just a place for your mom to grimace while you walked by its hideously perfumed entrance in the mall, then you may be surprised to see just how much has changed over the years.
J.Crew is making exceptionally cute stuff that somehow manages to be both classic and on trend. Abercrombie has ageless, well-fitting denim that doesn’t just embrace curves but accentuates them in just the right ways.
And many other brands that deliver fashion we actually want to wear have mindfully broadened their shapes and sizes to reflect how women look and how clothes truly fit them.
Digging through the digital bins to find the stores making the best stuff can be a task, so we’ve done the legwork for you.
So, without further ado, here’s our list of the most flattering, well-fitting, female-form-celebrating brands that are making the curve-friendly clothes we WANT filling our closet.
1. Universal Standard
There is so much to love about Universal Standard, which manages to capitalize on comfort, while creating some of the most flattering fits out there. They make those pieces that are hard to not put on every day in a size range that runs from 00-40.
• Danube Jersey Skirt: There is no hot take in the statement that all women look reeeaaally good in a well-made pencil skirt, and this one is THE one we recommend. We love its length, the soft, thick, and smoothing jersey material, and its resulting versatility.
• Tee Rex: Many try to claim to the title of the “perfect tee” but this one takes the cake when it comes specifically to lasting softness. It’s a simple staple piece done right.
• Kelsey Denim Jacket: You don’t need to be a child of the 80s to know the limitless necessity of a decent denim jacket. This one is the ideal length and holds just the right amount of boxy structure.
• Minimalist Moro Pocket Signature Ponte Pants: What won us over about this particular style is that it hits that sweet spot just between fitted pant and cozy legging. It holds the precise amount of stretch required to still show some shape underneath and can easily be dressed up or down.
2. Abercrombie & Fitch
When it comes to embracing and celebrating a woman’s body, no brand needed a 180 more than Abercrombie, plain and simple. As much as it surprises us to say it, they delivered. Their efforts to rebrand have resulted in an extended size line that countless women are loving to wear. Several of their plus-size denim looks are hard to top.
• Curve Love Ultra High Rise Ankle Straight Jean: These are the jeans we want to wear every day. They fit comfortably and get great marks from all angles, as any excellent pair of jeans should.
• Curve Love High-Rise 4 Inch Mom Shorts: Shorts tend to be a touchy subject for women who don’t like their legs... which can sadly be most women. But we’re advocating for the no-shorts policy to be a thing of the past. And this particular pair makes that sell a lot easier. These are the shorts that look good on everyone and that we truly believe you’ll want to wear once you try them on.
• Curve Love High Rise Skinny Jean: As much as I’m inclined to reach for a loose fit whenever possible, an extra fitted ankle jean is still an arguably essential part of the mix. This pair has an exceptional way of adhering to curves, while still managing to feel smooth and flexible. We recommend a dark pair for dressing up.
3. J. Crew
It dawned on us, after perusing their enormous selection of excellent staples online, that J. Crew is actually good, (like reeaally good)…again! The caveat is that 1. While their online store is overflowing with things we immediately add to cart, their physical storefronts tend to be lacking, and 2. Though their size range is indeed incredible, they don’t reflect that enough in their models, which is a big missed opportunity. That said, there are treasures to be found, especially in swimsuits and daywear staples. Here’s a sampling.
• Ruched V-Neck One-Piece: Nothing is more complementary to curves than a deep v-neck and ruching round the midsection. The fact that this swimsuit also entirely covers our bum and comes in long torso is just icing on the cake.
• Devon Blazer in Bi-Stretch Cotton Blend: J. Crew is making our favorite blazers for one reason and one reason only: the bit of stretch that makes them an actual pleasure to move around in.
• Gwyneth Slip Skirt In Linen: Sometimes the easiest answer to what to wear when we’re tired of everything is a pretty midi skirt. This one is light and lovely. The ideal skirt to throw on with a jean jacket and head out to a weekend brunch or an afternoon picnic.
4. Good American
Good American is masterful at producing cuts that complement curves. Their jeans are sculpting without being restrictive (or flat out invasive). Their construction is thoughtful, leading their pieces to genuinely feel as good as they fit, and they fit really well.
• Always Fits Good Legs Skinny Jeans: The genius behind these jeans is that they’re designed to fit you over a size range of 4 sizes, so they’ll keep fitting comfortably and smoothly through small fluctuations. They have a rise that hits at the exact right spot and a stretch that maintains structure. Trust us, this is about as close as you’ll get to a legging level of wearability in denim.
• Micro Rib Crew Neck Tank: For us, the defining elements of a perfect tank are the correct neckline, a shape that’s not lost after the first wear, and softness that’s not lost after the first wash. This one is 3 out of 3.
• Scrunchie Midi Dress: A sculpting (slightly 80s) midi dress that flatters curves to no end and feels supremely comfy to wear.
• Fit For Success Jumpsuit: There’s little more satisfying than a one-and-done look. This jumpsuit is playful and pocketed without being heavy or boxy. Its fit is honestly one of the best we’ve seen.
5. Reformation
Sometimes we just want to wear something feminine and flowy that still holds some shape and sophistication. Reformation has always been very good at striking this balance. Their plus size line is full of stunning pieces. These are some of our favorites.
• Twilight Dress Es: The classic romantic shape of a fitted bodice and swirly skirt. This is one of those dresses that gets lit up with compliments as it moves through a room.
• Layla Silk Skirt Es: Quite possibly the prettiest, most perfect-fitting, swoopy yet slinky silk skirt!
• Billy Knit Dress Es: When you want something slinky and striking that feels like loungewear, this is your best bet. The fabric is thick enough to run smooth with just a touch of ruching to accentuate shape.
• Mason Pant Es: We know we said “dresses,” but Reformation is doing pants too well to ignore. We know this relaxed fit runs a bit pricy, but we swear you’ll want to wear them at least twice as often as any other pair.
6. Beyond Yoga
We’ve pretty much been shouting from the rooftops that the hunt is over, and we’ve officially found the perfect legging. Lately, the term “buttery” gets thrown around a little too often to be taken seriously, but Beyond Yoga has absolutely earned that description. Their leggings feel like a second skin, yet they secure, smooth, and refine like no other.
• Spacedye Out Of Pocket High Waisted Midi Legging: No notes. These are simply the best.
• Spacedye Slim Racerback Crop Tank: The absolute ideal length tank. One of our favorites, because it pairs solid support with the lightest, most breathable wear imaginable.
• Spacedye Icon Midi Dress: We’re usually a little skeptical about a fitness brand making non-fitness fashion items, but listen, Beyond Yoga did a thing, and we actually approve. The reason: this dress checks all the boxes of a perfectly fitting midi paired with a fabric we want to live in 24/7.
7. BONUS
We sort of assume you know many of the following brands that are either exclusively plus-size, or so commonly known that it’s not worth writing a full article about, but we’re still including many of our favorites here.
• Henning
• Wray
• Torrid
• Eloquii
• Old Navy
• Skims
• ModCloth
• Athleta
• Madewell
• ASOS
• Ava & Viv (at Target!)
• Mango
At The Candidly, we try a lot of stuff so you don’t have to. We only recommend things we truly love, and that we think you’ll love, too. All products are chosen independently by our creative team, and all details reflect the price and availability of products at the time of publication. If you buy something we link to, The Candidly may earn a commission.
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