Why Are Plus Size Vintage Clothes So Hard To Find?

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Latest Hand-Picked Plus Size Vintage Frocks From All Over the Web

There is a wealth of gorgeous dresses out there - perfect for the Christmas party season if you get your skates on... Some of them might be best if you are going to enjoy a Californian Christmas rather than a snowy one though!  Or get someone you love to gift you one of these dresses for when the weather is fairer in the new year.

Lovely feminine vintage dress with peplum detail in extra large.

Classic black 1950s plus-size dress to flatter those curves.  Black lace overlay, XXL ladies size.

1960s mod-style dress in delightful peach. XXL size, available on ebay.

Fifties / sixties navy ruffle plus-size dress with swing skirt, in XXL

Pan Am Vintage and Retro Flight Bags

I have wanted a Pan Am flight bag since I saw one similar to this (currently sold out on retrojet.com, with similar bags sold out on modcloth.com and pinupgirlclothing.com too) in the world's longest shopping arcade in Kobe, Japan, about 8 years ago.  It was a genuine vintage bag and at the time I couldn't afford the price tag *sad face*.  I forgot all about it until the launch of the new ABC series Pan Am, which, by the way, is a downright feast of vintage gorgeousness and stewardess style.  (I was sad to hear it is being cancelled - I will miss the vintage fashions, if not the blah story lines!) And as bags are not in the least size-ist and 'fit' plus size and non plus size vintage clothes fans alike, I thought it would be no harm to round up a few examples of vintage and retro Pan Am bags and accessories currently available online.

Faux leather Pan Am wash bag - a bargain at just €10 / $14.

A Pan Am retro record bag!  I would have eaten this up in my DJ-ing days!

Totally unusual Pan Am "Mini" bag - I love this interesting shape! 

Pan Am retro Hat Bag - well I suppose you could put other things in it too!

And for you vintage accessory purists, there are original 60s and 70s Pan Am bags on ebay with starting prices from $10...

Plus-Size Mad Men Style in This Week's Vintage Ebay Picks

Ebay is currently awash with fabulous bargain vintage clothes in generous plus sizes to give you that sexy curvy look made even more popular by Mad Men.  Feast your eyes on these beauties...

Classy taupe knitted 'sweater suit' in large, said to be from the 1930s or 1940s

Canary yellow vintage Edith Martin shift dress in a very generous extra-large size

Vintage 1950s full-skirted plus-size dress with waist detailing and unusual organza overlay.  Blue floral print is very 'of its time'.  Size large

Silk plus size dress from 1950s in unusual sunburst floral pattern.  XL ladies' size

Super nautical themed 60s shift dress in general plus-size XXL.  Fab vintage day look.

Get A Perfect Plus-Size Fit With a Vintage Pattern

Hard as it is to find larger sizes in vintage clothes, there is always the option of using a vintage sewing pattern to get a custom-fit vintage style outfit.  Advantages include the fact that the garment will be a perfect fit, in great condition and you can choose your own fabric.  Sticklers for authentic vintage clothing can even seek out original vintage materials and fabric so that the look will be true to the era. Or, conversely, you could adapt the pattern with a modern twist if you so wish.  Here is a helpful video from MsPsychoSue showing you how to adapt a vintage sewing pattern so that it fits your plus-size physique!

Plus Size Vintage Dresses From Turn of the Century to Maxi

From a 1970s maxi dress to an unusual Edwardian shift dress, Ebay currently has some really choice plus-size vintage dresses for your delectation.  

I am mad about this 1970s maxi-dress with large sleeves - very Asian feel to it.  Roughly UK size 16.

Stunning and highly unusual Edwardian plus-size cotton dress with Pink Ribbon tie.  So femine. Generously sized.

UK size 16 1950s shift dress and bolero.  Stunning reversible vintage plus size outfit which will be sure to get many outings.

1970s plus-size floral day dress to fit up to US size 14.

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Oktoberfest! Vintage Dirndls for the Larger Lady.

I absolutely love dirndls and would wear them on any occasion that calls for a dress!  For those less into everyday dirndl wearing, now is the perfect time of year to don your dirndl - Oktoberfest!  The good news is these germanic dresses are super flattering for full-figured and plus-size ladies.  Here are my picks from ebay.com.

US Size 16 blue vintage dirndl with white embroidery and apron.

 US size 16/18 embroidered vintage plus size dirdnl - looks to be a lovely authentic piece.

Very pretty detail on this black vintage dirndl with generous plus-size 35" waist.

Lovely simple pink plus-size dirndl in US size 14

Plus Size Vintage Store Of The Week - Violetville Vintage on Etsy.com

Superb range of top-quality plus-size vintage gear available at Violetville Vintage - I thoroughly recommend you check it out.

 

Fab forties sexy-secretary black dress to fit up to US size 20! Deeply beautiful monochrome collar and cuff detail.

Forties/fifties belted dress in a rich silk-look gun metal grey.  Large white buttons and slouchy pockets make this dress.  A generous UK size 18.

Early 1970s accordion pleat dress in bright coral, size large.

 

Super plus-size 1940s vintage black dress with rose-shaped buttons.  So stylish and timeless, and very generously sized: Bust 50", Waist 41", Hips 54.

US size 18 forties silk pin-up dress, in great condition and with button & pocket detailing.  Sexy chic & kind of sailor/military "wartime" style. Really beautiful.

Hard to believe these are from the 1930s.  Vintage satin-rayon harem pants in peachy-gold tone.  Waist 32".

Some More Current Plus-Size Favourites on Etsy.com

Simple seventies wrap dress, size large, in vibrant coral pink.

US size 16 white "romper" day dress from the 1970s.

 

Pretty pink eighties dress with pleat/ruffle collar detail in large.

Psychedelic paisley mod dress with pleat skirt.  Perfect for sixties devotees. Size UK 18.

More Stand-Out Plus-Size Vintage Picks

Relaxed style turquoise mexican dress in XXL. Hippy-ish but not too much so.

Adorable eighties-does-fifties colour-block sundress in a generous size to fit UK size 18 and larger!

Fab gaberdine look a-line skirt with gold sailor style buttons in UK 16, my guess would be late 70s/early 80s.

 Light blue denim original mod dress in US 14

1960s fitted leaf-pattern day dress with box pleats - one of my favorite features! Looks to be great quality and fabric. US 16.

Plus-Vintage Store Of The Week - Fab Gabs on Etsy.com

Plenty of vintage XL frocks available at Fab Gabs, ladylike and sexy, ooh la la.

Timeless black button-front dress in XXL, enhanced with great accessories, and its on sale too!

Super-plus-size 1940s style sheer vintage dress, also on sale.

Adorable 1960s Leopard print shift approximately US 14/16.

Navy 1940s-style day dress in US size 20.  Again discounted :)

Reluctant to post this one cause someone else will buy it!  1940s Jack Herzog lace gown in US size 18

Another super-super plus-size forties/fifties day dress in adorable patterned cotton.

Unique Plus-size Vintage Fashions!

Looking for something a bit different?  These vintage pieces might fit the bill!

 

Evening wear or nightwear? I'm quite not sure but I know I like it!  Loose ruffle jumpsuit in fabulous electric purple, estimated to be from the 1940s-1960s.  Roughly US size 16. 

Ladies size US 16 1940s play-suit style shorts with suspenders/braces (depending on what you call them). Brand new vintage dead-stock.  Super-cute!

Super stylish 1970s palazzo-pant, halter-neck jumpsuit in the most fabulous canary yellow satin.  If you can pull this off people will presume its modern designer wear! US 16.

I'm in love with this one! Multi-colored halter-neck a-line dress with 34" waist.  I would guess its from the wonderful seventies.

Original eighties Oscar De La Renta gown with feature cowl neck.  Stunning colour, US size 16. 

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Plus-Size Vintage Flares & Bell-Bottoms

I don't know about you but I'm obsessed with flared trousers of all kinds: timeless, flattering and oh-so forties and seventies (my favourite style decades).  These plus-size picks are all available now on etsy.

These fan-dabby indigo flares could do with an ironing but look to be in great vintage condition and are a generous plus-size 36" waist.

Another pair of original indigo flares from the 70s, and these look like possibly the perfect pair!  Maverick brand with a large 33.5" waist.

Peach! Such a cool colour for these US size 14 flares.

These are utterly FAB! Listing says they are from the 1930s, but they sure are timeless! Extra-large vintage palazzo pants.

Authentic plus-size vintage US Navy 'utility' flared trousers in a 32" waist.