Shopping, for most women, is a relaxing and fun experience; something to look forward to greatly. However, shopping during the Christmas holiday season can be far from relaxing.

The people infested malls and stores might turn around the relaxing shopping spree altogether, make you feel uncomfortable and more stressed! The added pressure of needing to buy so many things in a short period of time definitely does not help and continue to add to the pressure.

During the Holidays, shopping around would be so much easier if everyone knew exactly where to go and which shop to visit, to find items needed. Going into a store with the assurance that the item you are looking for will surely be found, would make any stressed out shopper so much more relieved. How many hassles and headaches would be avoided!

In this article I attempt to relieve some of that tension, by guiding curvy women to the right plus size clothing stores. For easier reference, I have separated the suggested plus size clothing stores by type of person targeted and area of specialization.

Curvy Teen

• Torrid - Torrid has quickly, and rightly so, become one of the favorite plus size fashion stores among teens and the young at heart. Specializing in sizes 12 to 26, Torrid offer a very wide variety of fashion items, including accessories and footwear, which would appeal to any plus size teen who is looking for something fun, stylish and colorful. Here you can find clothing to suit any time of the day, from career wear, formal wear and casual items.

• Alight - Carrying plus size clothes in sizes 14 to 28, Alight is often termed as an online plus size shopping mall, and for a good reason too! Alight features a very extensive collection of fashion for full-figured ladies from a handful of different clothing lines and designers. This extensive choice ensures that teens will find what they need at Alight.
• Sydney’s Closet – I have said this before, and I still think that Sydney’s Closet is a plus size teen girl’s dream come true! Teens who are looking for a formal dress or ball gown for a special occasion, especially with the Holidays on the way, will find a wide variety of options at Sydney’s Closet.

Plus Size Career Woman

• Avenue - Avenue is without a doubt a familiar and dear name with all plus size ladies. A name that crops up in any plus size fashion search, Avenue offers great options for the busy curvy career women who always need to look their best. Whether it is shirts, skirts, blouses or suits that you are looking for Avenue is indeed a place to check out. Catering to sizes 14 to 32, Avenue also carries the CloudWalkers footwear line.

• Jessica London – Catering to sizes 14W to 32W Jessica London should become another go to spot for career women looking to update their wardrobe. Again Jessica London offers women a wide variety of options, including suits, skirts, blouses, jackets and even footwear. With prices to suit all pockets, and promotions going on frequently to help you save some dollars, Jessica London is another option which should not be overlooked.
• Lane Bryant – Another name which is very familiar with plus size women, Lane Bryant, is a great place to go to for formal and career wear. Quality, as well as reasonable prices, reigns highly at Lane Bryant, where the area of specialization is sizes 14 to 28.

Sophisticated Cat

• IGIGI - Any plus size woman who wants quality and stylish fashion, created to make her stand out from the crowd will fall in love with IGIGI. Catering to women who wear size 14 to 32 IGIGI carries a wide variety of items, all of which scream out style, and most of all class. If you’re looking for dresses, or skirts, or tops, or pants, check out IGIGI.

• Kiyonna – Sophisticated plus size fashions in sizes 12 and up are all you will find at Kiyonna, that is their area of specialization, and they pull it off well! Again, Kiyonna carry a wide variety of items which will help any curvy woman complete her wardrobe in style.
• Monif C – If you are looking for something classy, sophisticated and one of a kind, definitely check out the clothing offered by booming plus size fashion designer Monif C. Her items scream out style, are very colorful, and make the most of a woman’s curves.

Full Figured and Mature

• Catherine’s – Catering to sizes 16W to 34W Catherine’s is a sure winner for mature plus size ladies. Mature women are able to find at Catherine’s a multitude of clothing items available in plus sizes, including intimates and swim wear. Classic styles and impeccable quality will put Catherine’s in every mature woman’s good books.

• Ulla Popken – The clothes found at Ulla Popken epitomize quality and style for the mature plus size woman. An all rounded store which will help women fill up their wardrobe! The styles and designs offered will surely appeal to mature women who are looking for something special to wear.
• Zaftique - Zaftique offers a variety of quality plus size items in sizes 12 to 38. Again, Zaftique features a wide variety of items, including accessories and swim wear which appeal to the mature plus size woman.

The stores detailed above give you a very good round up of the best places to turn to during your Christmas holiday shopping spree. Knowing where to look, will help you greatly save time and find the items you need.

Fear not if you are finding yourself in a dilemma, not knowing where to shop or what to wear for the upcoming Holiday season! Our contributing writer, and plus size fashionista, Janna Lutz brings us a very informative article entitled Lock and Load: Holiday Must Haves.

In this article Janna goes over the latest trends in the plus size fashion scene, giving us tips and recommendations on what to wear. Here’s a snippet of the article:

It is time to wave good-bye to ghost, goblins, and too much candy corn. The holiday season is fast approaching, and your closet needs to be spruced up for the coming festivities. Autumn is getting into her full swing, and she is not waiting around for you to decide if last year’s twin set will make it through another round. You need new clothes. Don’t try and fight the urge. You also need shoes, jewelry, accessories…the whole shebang. Nowadays, we plus size lovelies have many options of where to shop. There are also great online stores that offer top labels at not so top prices. If you want to try on your picks before purchasing, there are some amazing stores in your area that you can find flattering tops and bottoms to look your best this year.

Read the rest of the article here.

I have a feeling IGIGI will be a favorite store amoung plus size women all over the world this Christmas holiday season. The dress selection is a great one, and as noted previously in our Top 5 Plus Size Christmas Holiday Dresses – The Preview List, they already offer great dresses that full figured women can wear on special occasions this coming holiday season.

Continuing to widen our choices, IGIGI has added hot new dresses great for the holidays; dresses which will make any plus size woman feel glamorous and sexy.

Two new dresses I recommend taking a closer look at are the Tessa Velvet Gown and the Novella Gown (pictured on the right).

• Fit for a Queen the Tessa Velvet gown features seductive bare shoulders, which are adorned with bra-friendly straps (so convenient!). The highlight of this down is the neckline which showcases a unique hand-made crystal ornament… Simply beautiful! This dress is currently available in sizes 14 to 32.

• Taking a look now at the Novella Gown, what a gorgeous evening gown! A dress perfect to wear at a formal holiday event or party, to make a lasting impression! This plus size dress features asymmetrically draped bodice ruches at the side seam to conceal the tummy… What more could a girl want? Again IGIGI add elegance and sparkle to the dress with a sparkling removable pin. This dress is also currently available in sizes 14 to 32.

Take a look at these gowns, and many more, today at IGIGI.

With Christmas soon on the way I couldn’t help but already start shopping around to see what holiday styles have already been made available at my favorite plus size clothing stores. I have been shopping around particularly for a formal dress, one to use during the Christmas season, to wear at parties and gatherings. Many beautiful styles and outfits are available already, so I decided to draw up a list of the top 5 plus size dresses which I think are perfect for plus size women during the Christmas holiday season. I am calling this my ‘preview list’ because I am sure within the coming months plus size clothing stores will bring out and reveal new dresses and styles made especially for the upcoming holiday season.

So take a look at the preview list of top plus size dresses which I recommend full figured women take a look at. This top 5 list will be updated (and also expanded) next month, including newer styles and options.

1. Fiorella Lace Gown with Shrug in Red from IGIGI
A true winner from IGIGI., this is my top choice! A beautiful gown, which screams out “Wear me for the Christmas holiday season!” The red color is perfect for the season and the lace make is look chic and warm at the same time. This unique gown created especially by IGIGI creates a feeling of mystery and romance, what wonderful elements to bring to your romantic Christmas Eve dinner. Beautiful stretch lace has an iridescent effect due to a contrasting lining. Details include a skirt that is flared from the knee due to a number of the sheer chiffon godets; empire waist is trimmed with a velvet panel. I love this dress because if also comes with a velvet shrug. I love buying gown that some with simple accessories, as this makes them feel complete, and also save you the added hassle of finding matching shawls and shrugs. IGIGI has taken care of this for us! This dress is currently available in sizes 14 to 32.

2. Dangerous Beauty Gown in Cobalt from IGIGI
Another beautiful gown from IGIGI; one which I love because of its simplicity and detail which, elicit a sense of sophisticated glamour. A top position contended in out plus size Christmas dresses list, this gown evoked the essence of a seductive Courtesan of the 17th century French Court. Bare shoulders are adorned with the rows of dazzling rhinestone bands in a bra-friendly style, while provocatively plunging neckline showcases hand-made crystal ornament. The rhinestone detail gives this gown that extra special touch and make is stand out from other gowns in its category. Women looking for a special dress for the Christmas holiday season should definitely give this gown from IGIGI a look or two, as it is perfect for both Christmas and New Year’s Eve. Sizes currently available are 14 to 32.

3. “Nikki” Little Red Dress from Monif C
We have included this dress in our top list of recommendations for all those plus size women who want to make an impact and a statement this Christmas. Be sexy! Be daring! Knock them dead in this sexy little number from Monif C. The little red dress comes in the most comfortable rayon jersey fabric, which is ruched to enhance and maximise your womanly curves. Monif C added a dusty purple silk to outline the full figured body and make the most of it. You will look sexy and sophisticated all at once this Christmas if you go for this original and one of a kind outfit. Currently this dress is available in sizes 14 to 24.

4. Black Sequin And Flower Print Satin Halter Dress from Torrid
I must say I am not a big fan of the color black myself, I love vibrant colors, however I couldn’t help but fall in love with this black satin halter dress available from Torrid. It looks beautiful, feels lovely and fits like heaven. Wear this dress this Christmas season to vamp it up with a femme fatal look in this long black satin dress. It has a gorgeous pale flower print, sequins and ruching, giving is sophisticated details. With an elastic back, it is made for curvy comfort. At the moment this dress is available in sizes 14 to 26.

5. Velvet Dress with Brooch from Silhouettes
A classic piece indeed. Beautiful, sultry and feels wonderful to touch. This gorgeous stretch velvet dress from Silhouettes comes with a double v-neck that’s shirred in front. In my opinion, the highlight of this dress, besides the beautiful flowing fabric, is the vintage-style brooch which is placed at the lowest point of the v-neck. It adds that touch of class, completing a great dress made to be worn on very special ocassions. Currently, this dress is available in size 12 to 26.

I hope this list gives you a good heads up, as to what is available to plus size women at the moment. Keep a look out at the scoop, as next month the list will be updated and expanded further, to reveal the final list of plus size Christmas holidays dresses recommended!