Big, Tall and Plus Sized Clothing

As a big and/or tall person, we find special challenges in finding clothing. The closer you are to 3XL or 3XLT the luckier you might get in finding something at a local retailer. However, if you are bigger than that, specialty stores are where you are going to find what you are looking for and if your sizes run really large, the internet may be your only hope.

Determining Your Size for Big and Tall Men

First, how do you know if you are considered tall? The answer is simple. If you are 6' 2" (188 cm) or taller and your waist measures less than your chest, you should order tall. If you are under 6' 2" (188 cm) and your waist measures the same or larger than your chest, then you should order big. But even knowing this, you still need to know how to determine sizing for your body contours. To help, use the following as a guide:

Neck Size - Use a dress shirt with a collar that fits you well. Lay the collar flat and measure from the center of the collar button to the end of the button hole.
Chest Size - Measure around the fullest part of the chest, just under the arm and across your shoulder blades.
Sleeve Length - Bend your elbow and measure from the center of your neck (backside) to your elbow and down to your wrist.
Waist Size - Measure around your waist, over a shirt (but not pants), at the height you normally wear your pants.
Inseam Length - Take a pair of pants that fit you well and measure from crotch to the bottom of the leg.

Once you have these measurements, use the sizing chart that the store provides. Keep in mind that sizing can vary widely between manufacturers.

Determining Your Size for Plus-Sized Women

Sizing for women can be a very frustrating process. But we have listed some guidelines below to assist you in this endeavor.

To start, use a measuring tape and hold it comfortably loose and stand as you normally would.

Chest Size - Measure around your body, under your arms and over the fullest part of your chest.
Waist Size - Measure around your natural waistline. For a relaxed fit, add 2"-4" to your waist size or measure around your abdomen where you want your pants to sit.
Hip Size - Measure around the fullest part of your hips (about 8" below your waist).
Inseam Length - Find a pair of pants that fit you well. Measure them from the crotch seam down the inside seam to the cuff.
Dress Size - Determine whether your top half or your bottom half is larger. Use the larger measurements for your dress size. You can always alter a dress to fit the smaller half of your body, if needed.
Belt Size - Measure the top of your hips. This is approximately 2" below the waist. If you like your pants to sit lower, measure around your abdomen where you want your belt to fit.
Bra Size - Wrap measuring tape snugly (but not tightly) around your ribcage and right under your chest. If that number is odd, round up to the next even number. This is the band size. Ex: measurement is 37", round up to 38". Then, measure around your body, under your arms and over the fullest part of your chest. Subtract your band size from this number.

Difference	Cup Size
1	A
2	B
3	C
4	D
5	DD
6	DDD
7	F

Example: if your band size is 44 and your chest measurement is 48 then 48-44=4=D. You are a 44D.

The Internet and Clothes Shopping

The internet has helped immensely in the big and tall haberdashery business to provide a diverse pool of choices for us. However, the drawback is (as most of you have found) there are issues with size continuity. A size 6x for one company may be a 4x for another. Or one company's size 26 is a size 32 with another. And this becomes particularly frustrating when you find items that are on clearance or require hemming, thus making the item unreturnable. So what should we do?

Well first, check the available size chart. Lots of sites have a definition of what 6x (or any other "x") is (chest size, waist, hips, etc). This is your first defense in understanding what you are about to order.

Second, check the return policy. Is the $11.99 that you will pay for that shirt on clearance worth the aggravation of being stuck with if you can't return it versus the $19.99 new version of the shirt that is also available? If so, order it. If not, and you want the security involved with being able to return an item, then by all means pay the extra 8 bucks.

Third, don't customize. These services that are offered by stores make you order permanent. And as much as you would like it to be, there may be issues with sizes that cannot be foreseen on the internet. Get the product first, then if you need it hemmed or embroidered, etc then take it to a tailor. You can get hemming done as cheaply or cheaper if you wait the extra day or two after you get it. Plus, the tailor can get exact lengths, thus ending another point of possible frustration.

Fourth, if you have a company you know and a brand that works, stick with it. The sizes generally stay the same within the same brand (just be aware that I am saying brand and not company---i.e. if you order Levi's from Joe Bob's Big and Tall, and they fit, keep ordering Levi's and not Wranglers that Joe Bob also offers, because they may fit differently).

Fifth, order bigger. Bigger clothes can be taken in (if they are casual, you may not care).

Finally, ask questions. These sites provide toll free numbers, emails, and even chats to make ordering and life easier for you. Take advantage of it. The way they handle the call can be indicative of the level of service you receive if you have a problem as well, so it can give you an idea if you want to do business with the company.

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