Comments on: Hidden Plus Sizes on Etsy

By: Safron

Safron — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 20:07:03 +0000

I am very late to the party but I needed to post. I saw this thread and about died of happiness. It is so hard to find great clothes in my size. In particular, finding quality conservative business suits is the absolute worst thing ever. I have been struggling with this for months as my school’s interview season approaches. So after reading this post I looked on etsy for tailored suits and found a shop called Vigilante Labs: http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5651674. They are plus size friendly and make custom suits!

I would love to hear more about etsy, it is such a fantastic clothing option.

By: Cecilia

Cecilia — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 17:03:57 +0000

Oh, the sticky-out butt. I haz it. My little sister’s fat-fuel tank is in her stomach; She has what we call a ‘tucked under butt,” or tuckbutt for short. Yay etsy!

By: Ro

Ro — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 03:26:02 +0000

HI,

I’m glad all these great Etsy shops are being mentioned. I, too, have an Etsy shop and I am constantly amazed with the talent found there.

I use plus size models for my swimsuits. They are my friends and they love to model. I’m lucky in that regard. I usually barter with them. They get to pick whatever swimsuit they want!

I wil be adding more items for the fall season. Have a great summer season. :)
http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=6148943

By: volcanista

volcanista — Sun, 12 Jul 2009 22:09:16 +0000

But if you factor in the environmental and ethical costs of clothing made overseas under dubious labor conditions and shipped across the world, and the eventual cost of quality differences, THEN it makes a lot more sense to buy directly from the person who designed and made the garment.

I mean, this is a nice thought in principle, but it doesn’t actually help people who really can’t afford it.

I do want to point out Kate’s point above – sometimes with custom-made garments, you might still need to get them tailored for them to fit perfectly. Your measurements will help a lot to make sure the garment is much closer to your size than clothes off the rack, so it’s less likely, but it still happens.

By: Meems

Meems — Sun, 12 Jul 2009 22:08:36 +0000

I also love this dress: http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=21367486

But look at the sizing chart! According to this seller I wear between a size 16 and 18, when, in fact, I typically wear more like a 10-12. So when she says that she carries up to a size 20, she means that she actually carries up to a size 16 maybe. *sigh*

By: Meems

Meems — Sun, 12 Jul 2009 20:49:23 +0000

As an Etsy seller (www.miribelladesigns.etsy.com), I can vouch for using either yourself or one friend as a model. Admittedly, I make/sell jewelry, so size isn’t an issue in the same way (and I gave up on using human models a while ago), but most of us are very small businesses and can’t afford to hire models in a variety of shapes and sizes.

By: CassandraSays

CassandraSays — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 00:43:23 +0000

Also to add to the last few points about cost, for those who often have to get clothes tailored because inseams and sleeves are too long, waists need to be taken in because they’re very curvy, etc, if you factor in the fact that you won’t need to do that on a custom made garment the price can come out more reasonable than you’d think. I’m actually considering a few of these partly because some of the vendors are willing to customise length on dresses at no cost, and for me just above the knee is more flattering than just below, which is where things often hit because i’m short.

My only complaint about etsy so far is that I’d like to see more stuff that’s really tailored, in less stretchy fabrics. I see lots of pencil skirts, for example, but they’re mostly in soft stretchy fabrics, which actually aren’t ideal for a pencil skirt.

By: pennylrichardsca

pennylrichardsca — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 00:07:39 +0000

Handmade clothes are generally going to have steeper price tags than mass-produced clothes–it’s pretty hard to avoid the basic economics of the situation. But if you factor in the environmental and ethical costs of clothing made overseas under dubious labor conditions and shipped across the world, and the eventual cost of quality differences, THEN it makes a lot more sense to buy directly from the person who designed and made the garment.

There’s also a way to search Etsy for local crafters–”shop local” under the buy option–to avoid unnecessary shipping waste, and its attendant costs. You can save a little money, and maybe make a valuable local contact. There’s also an instant gratification aspect of buying something on Etsy, and having it the same day by meeting the seller at a convenient coffeeshop or library.

By: m

Fri, 10 Jul 2009 05:31:33 +0000

http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5097725

holly stadler, i wrote asking if she would do a larger size, she did and i’m pleased with the results.

By: volcanista

volcanista — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 02:57:19 +0000

internet! Brenda Shaw, I see what you're saying about expense, but a lot of custom-made clothes from etsy are cheaper than what you might be able to get from a tailor in person. So some people might consider it worth the risk.