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A Plus Size Prom- Dress Ideas and Where to Shop
Can we talk about plus size prom dresses and what we did to make it work? I remember my prom. I had my dress made.
Everything I wanted was not in my size or looked to grown. Mind you this was 1998. I had in mind what I wanted, so I sketched it out and had my close family friend make it work! Royal blue strapless with a sheer coat…
You could NOT tell me anything, I was CRUTE. I think at this time, I was a size 16-ish? Maybe, maybe a 14…
LOL, ahhhhh to be young and naïve! THANK goodness for Nanna, who made all of that magic work behind the scenes to ensure I had some options! Cause, she made sure (as a size 16/18 herself, while I was a child growing up) she knew how to dress and never missed a beat for church!
Go Nanna!
Anywho, PROM and being plus size. While it is a blur to me, I do know that I felt grown, and probably looked it too.
But nowadays, not everyone has the patience nor the resources to rock out a dress the way I did. Although if you can, DO IT!
So, what I have done is picked out a few places where I go to for dramatic evening dresses- and these places have prom dresses too!
Online, in store, there are a FEW places that you can choose from, depending on your style and tastes! Plus size dresses are getting better in style and function! Take a peek at a few of my faves!
Sydney’s Closet
Igigi
Nordstrom
Prom Girl
David’s Bridal
Okay, now that I have shared with you some of my favorites, make sure you bookmark this page and share with your plus size girlfriends!
There are quite a few more places to shop, but the reason why I chose these ones were:
- Variety of sizes
- Huge range of styles and colors
- Sophistication and Sassy options
- Quality of fit, shapes, and brands
Some places you can shop in store and some are online only, however they all offer nice return policies!
BUT, make sure you are aware of them, as some exchange for credit.
Being that this is a special occasion piece, many guard against buying, wearing, and returning (mmhmmm it happens).
I think visiting a David’s Bridal will help you get an idea of quite a few of the fits, as they carry a variety of the brands, designers, and retailers featured as well… so that shopping online is an easier feat!
So what do you think? How did you make your high school prom dress work?
Did you go the same route as me? Having it made? Or did you go in store to shop the options?
Let us know in the comments, sharing is caring!
About the Author
Marie Denee
I am the Editor in Chic of The Curvy Fashionista. Often goofy. Forever emo. Always a Virgo. You can find me somewhere grooving to 90s R&B.
Thinking about what I wore to my school formal is a source of shame for me because I ended up looking very “mother of the bride”. I’ll probably write a blog post about it soon so that I can process it all a bit better. My main issue was having no confidence to go sleeveless. I couldn’t find a prom dress with sleeves and that was a huge source of stress for me! I go sleeveless without shame these days, but back then it was out of the question, and boleros/shrugs weren’t easy to come by. But like you said – there’s more options for girls now!
Awwwwww!!! You know, I had a little jacket too!!!! It was sheer, but it helped me rock out! 🙂 Thank you for your share!!!
Deb has trendy styles in extended sizes that are fairly affordable for formal wear. I’d look there first.
Deb Plus? is this what you mean??? I havent seen that store in years!!! I often forget about them!
My prom was way back in 1992. I had my dress made for me, as one of my mom’s good friends was a super seamstress. I was somewhere around a size 22/24 back then. My semi-formal dress (which was 3 months before the prom) was also made for me. As was one other formal gown that I needed that year (which was white and ultimately served as my wedding dress 5 years later LOL). And while my dresses were simple, they looked better than what most of the other “normal” sized girls wore. (not to mention cheaper!). My oldest did not qualify as “plus” sized when she went to prom, and as of right now my 15 y/o does not either, so I did not have nor do I foresee any frantic searches for dresses that fit. However, I am ALWAYS happy to see that there are MANY more choices available these days because you never know when you might need a formal dress for…something! (and, while smaller than my HS days, I am still a “big girl” at a size 16.) Or heck, ANY nice dress that does not look like a tent or potato sack!!
Right?! Having to have had mines made, it was fun and sad too… Not finding what I wanted, but being able to have the resources to sketch mine!
thank you so much for making this list it;s my senior year and homecoming is coming up soon and I plan to go and i’m around a 24-ish size so now I know where to begin looking because before that I had no clue. my favorite wardrobe pieces are a t-shirt and jeans. lol
Ohhh honey! I am happy that you found a place to start with! There are quite a few options and I hope you find one!
I’m a junior this year (eleventh grade, you know? So I get to go to prom this year, which is super exciting lol, what’s not exciting is the fact that I’m the only one in my group of friends who’s a double digit size, and I’m a 22-__- so it sucks because I can’t even find a dress to fit me in the same stores where they’re getting they’re gowns… this really kinda blows
Trendy styles in
various colors and sizes that are fairly affordable for
party dresses
Maybe you can visit the site shesprom, all of they dresses are handmade according to your size. Just like.
Hi I’m a senior in high school and I’m a size 18/20. I dont know what to do. I’ve been thinking about getting my dress made. I have been feeling a bit disappointed because I feel like all the dresses are only fit for those with thinner body types. It’s already march so I think getting the dress made is to late to consider.
Hey if anyone is looking for plus sized custom dresses (whether it be for prom, children, bat mitzvah, sweet 16, quinceniera, etc.) Designing Dreams in Mineola is AMAZING!!!! They also have a large selection of off the rack dresses with a bunch of different designers (jovani, dave and johnny, la femme, etc.) that can be ordered in any size that you need. Def check them out if you’re in the market for a dress!! They helped out my cousin (around a size 20) and did beautiful alterations to make the dress fit PERFECT!!
Many brides are definitely more than happy to wear a vintage wedding gown with a fitted bodice plus a flowing, fluid skirt. They look beautiful, but there will be no big surprise with the guests as she floats the aisle.
For those who wish to make more of a fashion statement on the big day, there are a number of tricks to setting yourself separated. With the right gown, you could be the bride in that fabulous gown your guests long remember.
Many brides are definitely more than happy to wear a vintage wedding gown with a fitted bodice plus a flowing, fluid skirt. You must buy the right gown for your wedding. They look beautiful, but there will be no big surprise with the guests as she floats the aisle.
For those who wish to make more of a fashion statement on the big day, there are a number of tricks to setting yourself separated. With the right gown, you could be the bride in that fabulous gown your guests long remember. The gown should be attracting and classy.