The Tamesis
Let’s be honest, as a fat person, shopping sustainably is often very, very difficult. While pop-up plus-size markets like Thick Thrift in Los Angeles and Pretty Girl Markets in Texas are popular for vintage and flea markets, the old saying “people just used to be smaller!” can still be hard to get over when you’re shopping for vintage and second-hand clothing in sizes 12+. Considering this difficulty, Fashion A guide to the 10 best plus-size vintage items in the United States.
Sure, there are plenty of amazing size-inclusive items online, like Bad Moon Vintage and Goldies Vintage (as well as in-person stores like Flower Child in Columbus, Ohio, and Moody Goose in San Francisco that have dedicated plus-size sections), but for this list, we stuck with stores where all or most of their items are plus-size and where you can try them on in person.
Have fun (vintage) shopping!
Artemis Plus Size Thrift is just steps away from Portland’s historic Casco Bay Bridge, one of the best places on the East Coast to unearth antique and thrift treasures. In keeping with Portland’s low-key vibe, Artemis’ prices are generally more reasonable, but there are some real vintage gems hiding among the cool beach tees and denim shorts.
Size range: XL to 5X+
Address: 96 Ocean Street, South Portland, ME 04106
Berlitz (Brooklyn, NY)
We’ve written before about the unparalleled excellence of Emma Zack’s Bed-Stuy vintage shop, but in a world of rapidly dwindling sustainable plus-size options, it’s a consistent joy to be able to walk in (or, ideally, go on a cute little date) and find something that truly suits you and excites you.
Size range: L to 4X
Address: 544 Park Avenue, Suite 510, Brooklyn, New York 11205
