Plus size formal gowns maybe a misnomer. Unfortunately, what we think of as plus sized is not what the clothes industry thinks is a plus size. Plus size actually fits most American women.
Images of Plus Sizes
When people hear plus size, they think of a size that is meant to fit larger than average women and they are very disheartened to find that they themselves fit nicely in plus sizes. What it comes down to is that the garment industry is not realistic about what sizes fit American women.
Typically, a plus size is a size that is larger than a size 16. Most gowns are not cut amply enough to fit across an average women’s bust, so they have to move into the plus sizes to find a gown to fit.
Styles
Just about any style gown is also available in plus sizes. They are stylish and very beautiful. They come in one-armed styles, strapless and all of the latest styles. Typically, formal gowns are long, sweeping affairs, but sometimes the hem line might actually be a bit shorter. Of course, these are not gowns in the strictest sense of the word, but instead are just another formal wear option. Unfortunately, plus sized formal gowns usually cost a bit more because of the extra material it takes to make them and the extra detail work that has to be done.
For large busted women, plus size formal gowns are perfect. Most of the smaller sizes do not leave ample room around the bust. They are tight and pinch and make the wearer look like they are stuffed into a garment that is too small.
Pluses of the Plus Sized Formal Gowns
When purchasing a formal gown, there is something that absolutely needs to be considered. If you buy a formal gown that is too tight, there are not a lot of options for tailoring the gown to fit. However f you buy a gown that is a bit larger, this leaves plenty of room for alterations so that the gown will fit like a glove.
Plus sized formal gowns are a great purchase if your body is a little heavier in one area than another area, because of the alteration possibilities.
Plus size formal gowns usually range in size from size 14 to 26 or higher. David's Bridal carries a large selection of plus sizes in formal gowns.
As with any article of clothing plus size formal gowns vary from brand to brand.
There are many designers which offer plus size formal gowns, that can be viewed online. Using a search engine, simply type in the words "plus size formal gowns" There are plus size designer gowns available to view online at plussize.lovetoknow.com/Designer_Plus_Size_Evening_Wear. They even have links to designers sites for plus size also.
You can find formal gowns in plus sizes at Torrid. They offer very fashionable clothing.
If you go to some of the local wedding dress shops, such as David's Bridal, you can find plus size formal gowns. You can also try the plus size section of Nordstrom or, for a more budget-friendly option, J.C. Penney.
Yes, David's Bridal sells plus size formal gowns. According to their website, they offer sizes from 16W to 24W. Sadly though, the prices are very very high.
There are several companies that offer plus size formal gowns. Some that I have seen include nordstrom.com and Roamans.com. Offline there are places like DEBS, which is a store that specializes in clothes for teens in both Jr. and Plus size.
Deb Shops are the best place to find Plus Size Formal Gowns. They have 2 locations near Milwaukee in Racine and Greendale. They also have a website where you can view or purchase their merchandise.
Torrid has a great selection of dresses for plus size women. They are very fashionable.
You can purchase plus sized formal gowns at many bridal stores like David's Bridal or Bridesmart, which are located in Houston. If you are looking for a used gown, try ebay.com or craigslist.com.
Lip Service on 130 S Anderson Street in Los Angeles is a very popular plus-size clothing store. Also check out Fashion Line and Bizzy B, as they also carry plus-size gowns and other clothing.
Here are a few designer names: Jovani, Alyce Designs, Interlude, Favana.