I’m actually not all that opposed to big box retailers, it’s that big box retailers just don’t suit my needs or tastes very well. While for a very brief while both Wal-Mart and Target had plus size clothing offerings of the gorgeous and borderline miraculous, those lines were rolled back before most plus customers ever knew they were there – it seems to be a growing bugaboo that mainstream lines won’t advertise their plus offerings out of some misplaced sense of embarrassment. Bothersome since I see both companies regularly run adds for tampons, Depends and mueslix – which is far more embarrassing to me than my size 28 body. 1
Kohl’s, like the bigger of the big boxes, doesn’t promote its plus size clothing. They do, however, still promote it based on brand – nevermind that aside from Venezia, there is no household name brand for plus size clothing and even Venezia doesn’t have immediate public recognition. There clothing is what I’d term “suburban.” Lots of polo shirts, a nod or two to current fashion, but designed for women who are working mothers who don’t really want to fuss too much about their outfits while managing their homes. Sizing goes up to a conservative 24. Pricing is moderate – a bit high, but sales are frequent and easy to find if you sign up for their mailing list.
Not my first choice to hunt for fashion finds. But there are a few items here and there worth visiting.
This is a mock-layer top, probably a small fashion holdover from the layering look back in fall of 2006. The pebble patterning gives it a visual interest I enjoy.
Yes, this was actually made for plus sizes. I like the satin and the gathering down the center, though I’d much prefer to see it on a plus size model.
This was the piece I consider the standout. While I’m not wild about excess belting, here, it works, along with the widened textured stripes. It’s a fun, funky office piece that allows a small pop of personality in context with the more conservative skirt or suit-pants layers.
Kohl’s are reasonably common in the midwest. Their natural habitats are as satellites to strip malls; you may have wandered into one looking for towels.
- It is not possible to look at a big person and not know s/he is big. It is possible NOT to know about their diarrhea. [↩]
