The lovely people at Racked NY asked me to show them the best plus size shopping in NYC. Little did I know I’d find three pairs of shoes in my size and Eileen Fisher harem pants at 93% off.
Even in a city as large as NYC, there are very few plus size store options for shopping, much less last-minute occasion wear. In other words, if you need an outfit for tomorrow you’re quite possibly screwed. I wore a beaded sweatshirt by ELOQUII (already sold out) and the Studio Midi Skirt (now available in sizes 26 & 28), my studded Docs (a Nordstrom Rack find) and my Gorjana ear crawlers (already sold out).
Ready to get your shop on? These are my happy places.
Photos by Driely S. for Racked NY
Rent The Runway (Flatiron)
When you book an appointment at RTR, your stylist will pull pieces in your size for the occasion that you’re shopping for. The inventory in the store is always changing because of this, so you never know what you might find if you stop in to browse. They carry sizes up to 22.
Rigby & Peller (5th Avenue)
I’ve visited a lot of “bra fit specialists” in NYC, and for the most part, my appointments have ended poorly. Rigby & Peller has been one of the few places where I’ve consistently had great experiences, and where I know I can find my two favorite brands – Elomi and Panache. The 5th Avenue store was calm, organized, and well-stocked.
Space NK (SoHo)
If I could only shop at one beauty store for the rest of my life, Space NK would be it. They carry a great assortment of well-known brands and indie up & comers, with knowledgeable salespeople to assist or let you browse at your leisure. Racked’s photographer, Driely S. got way too many happy shots of me as I frolicked through the store.
Nordstrom Rack (Brooklyn)
When the Racked team organized our schedule for the day, I assumed that we were going to the Union Square. When they told me about the Fulton Street location in Brooklyn, I was surprised but assumed it was like almost every other Nordstrom Rack – ie, not devoting any floor space to plus. Was I wrong! After stocking up in the shoe section (all of those size 12’s – WOW), the manager led us to the plus size department. Since we visited between seasons, the assortment wasn’t spectacular, but the clearance racks were abundant. That’s where I found a pair of Eileen Fisher harem pants for 93% off. All in all, I purchased three pairs of shoes and a pair of pants for under $160. #crushedit
Lord & Taylor
I love, love, love shopping at Lord & Taylor. The salespeople are so nice, the options endless, and the clearance section is nothing short of epic. I’ve visited other Lord & Taylor locations, but no location holds a candle to the NYC store. The plus size section on the 6th floor carries department store regulars like Calvin Klein, Michael Kors, Vince Camuto, DKNY, Jessica Simpson, Ralph Lauren & more. If you haven’t been adding this store to your shopping rotation, well…..more for me. ?
