Shopping Thrift Stores for Plus Size Fashions

Shopping Thrift Stores for Plus Size Fashions, by Charity Agomuo

As long as I can remember I have been a big girl.  When I was younger, my mother would by my clothes out of the JCPENNY’s Catalog, which at that time had a great line of clothing for “husky”  little boys and girls. I remember flipping through the JCPenny’s Catalog every summer and picking out my school clothes for the following year.  It was rare when we actually went to the stores and purchased something off the rack. In time I grew out of the JCPenny’s huskies catalog and began to care more about fashionable clothing, and began to shop for the plus size woman. I quickly learned that being plus size and curvy would not be easy to find clothing that fit the eclectic and creative person that I was becoming.

The stores that catered to plus size women sold the jeans that gapped in the crotch area tapering at the ankle, and the shirts that minimized all the shape of my upper body. Even though I was a larger size, I did not carry a lot of weight in my stomach, which at that time most jeans for plus size women were geared to accommodate the tummy pouch. Since I did not have the tummy pouch I spent a lot of time rolling down and pulling up my pants and placing safety pins in them to stop the gapping. Quickly and painfully, I learned that I should not place a safety pin on the part of my garment that frequently was in motion …ouch!!!

In time I eventually realized that I could find the items that were fashionable and of quality at consignment/thrift stores, for way cheaper than buying ill fitting and unstylish items at mall department stores. Yes, I gave up and began to go to second hand stores. My thrifty career began in California at Goodwill and AMVETS.  At this time my style of dress was more bohemian or ethnic, and I began to find dresses, shirts, pants, shoes, etc that fit my dressing style. In the beginning stages of my second hand store search my greatest find was a beautiful green floral dress that reminded me of Polynesian raiment. It was great and unique and I was in love. At the time I also was inspired by the singer and songwriter Jill Scott, who had the confident well dressed plus size woman image down pat. She is Fierce!!

Blazer-4.99 Tan pumps-9.99 Green Travel Bag-6.99 Floral Tank 1.99, Blue Jeans $5.99 Total: $29.95

Black Top - $3.99 Jean Pencil Skirt-5.99 Earrings $0.50 Belt and shoes already in closet Total $10.48

Today, my process of looking for a thrift store is quite simple; I search for a store on Google.  I try to go to all the closest stores in my results and figure out which ones have the items at the quality I prefer. Anytime I come across a thrift store in my travels I will go in and take a gander. “Thrifting” has provided me an outlet to find clothing at great prices and help me save money while creating stylish outfits.    Also, it keeps my creative juices flowing as I explore becoming “fashionista”.  In closing, I’ve found such joy in finding great clothing, shoes, and accessories that I created an online store to share my finds with others. Yes my website, http://www.navahscloset.com/ was created to sell some of the great items I come across to other plus size women!!!

Hello, My Name is Charity and I am a California native, residing in New Jersey.  In addition to being the owner of Navahsloset.com, a plus size online thrift store, I currently work in higher education. When I am not thrifitng, I am repurposing other items such as furniture and dabbling in hand crafts. I enjoy watching movies and have recently become obsessed with ZUMBA… I am wild for ZUMBA!!!! I spend a lot of time contemplating the issues of the world while watching HGTV.

Want more? Check out LA Language’s Lindsey Adams’ Video: Plus Size Style on a Thrift Store Budget