Screw Old Navy...Five Ways to Rethink Fashion for Plus Sizes
So I need to be right up front because I have shopped at Old Navy over the years. They actually used to be my favorite store. The fashion there is affordable, which makes it seem like a good option if you are shopping on a budget. But the truth is if you are Plus Size, Old Navy is not your friend! I am on a mission to stop buying fast fashion. Every time I do, it feels dirty somehow…because I know that those clothes are harmful to the people that make them and the environment.
It can be so tough to shop responsibly when you are on a budget. Plus sizes really have a tough go of it, and even seamstresses often struggle to find sewing patterns in their size. One thing you can be absolutely sure of though is that if a piece of clothing is offered for $5, brand new…that item was made in a sweat shop environment! It is a lot of work to sew a piece of clothing. If you shop on Etsy, you will see that handmade clothing is usually really expensive. That is because it takes a ton of work to produce an article of clothing. There is the material that goes into the item, and then hours to sew it.
Five ways to rethink your fast fashion…
Look into the stores you shop at to see how the clothing is manufactured. Some stores stand by a code of ethics, and some don’t. Do a bit of research before you settle on a store. Buy second hand if you are comfortable with it, because you can often find items on the cheap. It is always more ethical to purchase second hand vs. brand new. It is better for the wallet and the environment. A lot of people only wear clothes a few times before they get donated, so something that didn’t work for them can be brand new to you! Look on Poshmark or ThredUp if you want to shop from home. I prefer Poshmark because it directly helps individuals, where ThredUp is a corporation and the clothes that come from there are often falling apart and in bad shape.
If you just love buying brand new, be choosy and pick clothes that will last. If you buy a shirt and it only lasts a few washes before seams start coming apart, you can be sure that the brand makes clothes in a subpar way. Look for brands that stand up to the test of time. The clothes that last the longest for me typically come from Torrid. If you read about Torrid production ethics, they state that their clothes are made responsibly and not in sweat shops. I’ve had really bad luck with stuff from Macy’s and Old Navy. Lane Bryant offers fashion at a higher price point, but the clothes are made to last! The fabrics that Lane Bryant uses are often thicker than other stores. Lane Bryant t shirts are a bit subpar…some of them are really wrinkly out of the wash and aren’t the most flattering.
If you buy clothes from a store over and over and are constantly disappointed in the fit of the clothing you buy, reconsider that store and shop elsewhere. Instead of throwing those pieces away, alter them so they work for you. Add fabric to a hem to lengthen a top or turn it into a dress, hem pants that are too long. Old Navy has sizing that is all over the place. I bought a pair of jeans in my size and another a size smaller. The smaller pair fit and the larger pair was too small! Another thing that really grinds my gears is when plus size tops are too short! Not many plus size women want to show their midrif, and I feel like it is total oversight to just keep the length of tops the same regardless of size. So if you have sizing and fit issues at a store…it might be best to shop somewhere else.
When you upcycle clothing, it is important to consider whether the new items you are bringing in are created from fabric you can use to upcycle. Some fabrics, like dry clean only articles and super sheer fabrics can be a challenge to work into projects later on. I love sewing with t shirt material so over the summer I made a point to stop buying blouses and tops in sheer fabrics. Now I buy sweatshirt materials and t shirts that I know I can turn into something else.
Material matters! A lot of clothes today have Polyester in them, and especially for Plus Sizes it is almost unavoidable. Polyester is a kind of plastic, and truly a disaster for the Environment. Be aware of the fabric content of the clothes you buy, and consider sewing your own clothes to have more control over the fabric that goes into the item. I have yet to find a single store out there with eco friendly fashion for Plus Sizes, that I can actually afford. The Plus Size market is growing but it still has room for improvement.
6. Upcycling and sewing your own clothes is challenging, but so worth it! Throughout history, women have often sewn their own clothing instead of buying from stores. Go on Facebook and get into some plus size sewing groups for inspiration! I’m currently learning how to resize patterns so that I can make clothes from scratch. Once you get the hang of sewing from patterns, it can be so easy to make your own wardrobe. You can even upcycle old clothes into new items with sewing patterns! You will have a wardrobe that is as unique as you are, made of the fabrics you choose. Sewing is my dharma and my goal is to make handmade over buying new things. It isn’t always the quick easy option, but when I do sit down at the sewing machine it feels really good!
I hope this post gives you some things to ponder! Fast fashion doesn’t have to get you down…you can save money and still look really amazing. The name of the game is no shame…you are so worth having a wardrobe that makes you feel really good. If you can’t afford higher priced items for yourself and your family, you surely are not alone! Even big box stores have options for the conscious consumer. Be choosy and have fun expressing your style!
