Over the past few weeks, I have added new pages and new clothes just for plus size gals. I know how hard it can be to find the perfect vintage style dress in your size. Whether you need a flapper dress for a 1920s costume party or a swing dress for the next 1950s sock hop, there are many great choices for you. Sizes vary by merchant with some using XL-4XL sizing while others go by numbered sizing. Before buying a vintage style plus size dress online, be sure to check the merchant’s size charts as well as user reviews to get the best fit.
Shops Plus Size Dresses by Decade:
- Victorian /Edwardian – 1850 to 1919
- 1920s Plus Size Dresses
- 1930s Plus Size Dresses
- 1940s Plus Size Dresses
- 1950s Plus Size Dresses
- 1960s -1970s Plus Sizes Dress, Clothing
- Wide Shoes
Vintage Plus Size Reproduction and Inspired Brands –Jump to the list here.
Plus Size Vintage Clothing Brands
Want even more plus size vintage clothing? So do we. We are searched high and low for vintage and retro brands who cater to the plus size woman. Here are some of our favorite brands:
Unique Vintage – Has a wonderful selection of plus sizes clothing (dresses, pants, swimsuits, tops) in the 1920s to 1970s styles.
Modcloth – Most clothing (vintage inspired and modern vintage) now comes in sizes up to 4XL. Independently owned again!
SongBird Fashions – 1930s to 1960s handmade in the USA dresses, pants, blouses, and skirts. Great for swing dancers. Plus sizes and custom sizes welcome.
Wardrobe Shop – Romantic vintage inspired dresses ideally for Victorian, 1910s, 1920s, and 1930s. 1920s flapper dresses too. Dresses up to 3XL
Retrolicious (Amazon Shop) – I really like the fun patterns on their ’50 and ’60s inspired short dresses. Plus size selection of dresses, skirts & tops range from sizes 1X to 4X.
eShakti – Semi custom dresses, tops and skirts in all sizes, made to order. Customize a dress with a choice of sleeves or skirt lengths, collar types and other details. Shop the Amazon store too.
Swak Designs – Plus size (14-36) contemporary and vintage inspired dresses, tops, and bottoms. The vintage line is small but adorable.
Hell Bunny – Most of their 40s and 50s dress are available in plus sizes and they actually fit well. Full line at Hell Bunny (UK) site
Chic Star – Cheap and trendy retro style dresses, pants, skirts up to plus size 28. Shop them at ModeMundo (my sister in law’s company).
Torrid – Plus size clothing for all day to day styles with a small retro line called “retro chic.”
Glitz Glam and Rebellion – Affordable pinup clothes up to 6X sorted by size. Nice!
Bernie Dexter – 1950s dresses made of a heavy weight cotton and very full skirts. They will last a lifetime.
Hilda’s Haven Plus Size Group – A Facebook group to buy and sell plus size genuine vintage clothing.
Emmy Design (SE) – Very high-quality clothing in the 1930-1960 decades. The knitwear is amazing and very warm.
Heyday! (UK) – 1940s to 1950s clothing. Some items can work for curvy figures.
VooDoo Vixen (UK) – A fabulous full line of dresses, sweaters/jumpers, skirts, pants, tops bags and accessories. Plus Sizes too. Shop USA store on Amazon.
Dolly and Dotty (Amazon Shop) (UK) – Dolly and Dotty is a new brand of 1950s and 1960s vintage inspired dresses in some plus sizes. Very reasonable prices too. International shipping available.
Lady Vintage (UK) – A lovely full line of 50s inspired plus size dresses.
Karina Dresses – Stretchy knit dresses modeled on non-models makes these a dream to shop and wear. Many vintage styles with puff sleeves.
Miss Candyfloss (SE) – 1940s and 1950s dresses, jackets, coats, shirts, skirts, pants and shorts made in small batches in Europe. Classic vintage styles!
Vivian of Halloway (UK) – Carries many 1950s dresses up to 3XL. 1940s and 1950s trousers, skirts, tops and more. Plus sizes too.
Retro Peaches – XS to 4XL 1950s pin up curated collection by an owner who understands the needs of plus size gals.
Banned (UK)- Several great choices for 1950s and rockabilly pants, cardigans, tops, and purses.
Cherry Velvet (CA) – 1940s and 1950s plus size dress line that’s sure to unleash your inner bombshell!
Vivacious Vixen Apparel (Canada ) – Mixed brands and house brand vintage inspired dresses and clothing.
1920s Plus Size Dresses
Stunning 1920s Style Dresses at Unique Vintage
1920s style dresses are coming into vogue this season. Beaded flapper dresses with layers of fringe, strands of glistening beads, and feather trim are all walking the runways. Tiered dresses are another 1920s inspired design that are coming out in a variety of colors and materials from stretch cotton for simple day dresses to sheer chiffon for summer garden parties.
Details like pleated skirts and handkerchief hem skirts and dresses (pictured left) are other elements of 1920s fashion making its way into your modern wardrobe.
While most 1920s dresses were sleeveless, a large number 1920s inspired dresses are coming with cute long sleeve jackets. The addition of a jacket adds to the overall vintage style and comfort of these dresses. Learn more about the history of plus size fashion in the 1920s.
Find your 1920s plus size dress here.
1930s Plus Size Dresses
1930s Plus Size Dresses
1930s style bias cut dresses have not had a major revival since the early 1990s. However, floral dresses are in (especially in the UK) and many of these patterned dresses embrace elements of 1930s fashion. For example, the handkerchief hem, mid shin length, Georgette material, and flutter sleeves are all details that can add 1930s style to a modern floral dress.
While I don’t have enough plus size 1930s dresses to call for a big separate shop page, I have made sure to highlight dresses available in plus sizes on the 1930s plus dresses page.
1940s Plus Size Dresses
1940’s Plus Size Dresses (new) for sale. Click to Shop.
The nice thing about the 1940s was that dresses didn’t need a lot of special cuts and trims to make them special. The 1940s decade was home to the “less is more” mentality and that means simple A-line dresses were the rule. Most summer dresses are A-line cut with wrap or shirtwaist tops, mid arm length sleeves, and nipped-in waist bands. These are classic and timeless. The ones with the most ’40s appeal are those of solid colors of green, blue, and grey or fun vertical stripes and small all-over summer prints of flowers. The shirtwaist dress, which closed down the front with a long row of buttons, was most popular in the 1940s and stayed around even through today. The shirtdress has changed very little over time, making them an instant ’40s look. Learn more about plus size fashions in the 1940s here.
Now for you 1940s pin ups and bombshells, there are many amazing plus sizes dresses for you. It’s no surprise that these snug fitting, hourglass loving dresses are made for plus size gals. Va va voom! Go knock ’em dead showing off your curves in one of these ’40s style dresses at your next event.
See the selection on the 1940s Plus Size Dresses page.
1950s Plus Size Dresses
Plus Size Swing Dresses in the 40s and 50s Styles
Previously, I wrote about finding a 1950s dress for your body shape. The retro 50s look is so flattering on a figure with full hips and large busts. With the slimming effect around the waist, its no wonder I see more women choosing the 1950s fashion over any other decade.
The popularity of the large circle skirt dresses and slenderizing sheath dresses have continued this year. Now even more designers are jumping on the 1950s bandwagon and giving you more style, more colors, and more retro designs to choose from.
See all the new additions on the 1950s plus size dresses page.
1960s Plus Size Dresses
60s Plus Size Dresses, Mod Dresses, Mid-Century Dresses
The 1960s revival is what is driving trendy modern fashions today. Shift dresses, short skirts, body hugging bodycon dresses – yes! these are all part of 1960s fashion. This make it very easy to find 1960s style dresses in plus sizes, like these.
1970s Plus Size Clothing
70s plus size clothes- disco dresses, hippie maxi dresses, bell bottoms, short dresses
The 70s are back! The disco glam look is rocking evening and partywear, while casual boho inspired hippie looks are making day to day fashion comfortable. Shop both of these styles in plus sizes here.
Read More
- 1920s Plus Size Fashion in the Jazz Age
- 1940s Plus Size Women’s Clothing History
- 1940s Plus Size Style Advice for Women
- 1950s Plus Size Fashion for Your Body Type
Debbie Sessions has been teaching fashion history and helping people dress for vintage themed events since 2009. She has turned a hobby into VintageDancer.com with hundreds of well researched articles and hand picked links to vintage inspired clothing online. She aims to make dressing accurately (or not) an affordable option for all. Oh, and she dances too.
