Best Online Retailers for Plus-Size Women's Clothing

Some days I'm just not in the mood to hit the stores and try on clothes. But I do love to shop, so I often turn to my favorite women's plus-size online retailers. With a wide range of styles for every personality, age, and price range, you can easily shop to your heart's content...and then try on clothes in the comfort of your own home.

Lane Bryant is my favorite online shop for plus-size women's clothing: great quality ranging from career to casual, classic to trendy, with an emphasis on quality, fit, and style. With Everyday Perfect Price bargains, seasonal sales, and the Real Women Dollars rewards program, you can get great deals. Shipping is reasonable, and they offer a 90-day return policy. Target age range: 25-45 years, sizes 14-32.

Catherine's is part of the Charming Shoppes corporation that owns Lane Bryant and Fashion Bug, so you can expect the same great quality and seasonal sales. Targeted to women age 40-65, Catherine's carries classic career and casual clothing in plus, petite plus, and extended sizes 16W-34W. Online shopping at Fashion Bug was a long-time coming, but now you can shop for the newest trends, or comfortable casual and career basics. Less expensive than Lane Bryant, and targeted toward women 20-49, sizes 14-32.

The United Retail Group has several plus size women's stores under it's umbrella, and offers some of the widest ranges of plus-size shopping. Avenue specializes in wearable trends in sizes 14-32. Roaman's offers a impressive array of sizes, up to size 44W, bras to size 56J, and shoes to 14ww. Jessica Londoncarries sizes 14W-32W, plus petite and tall sizes. Their high-quality career and casual fashions are smart, reasonably priced, and well-suited for 20- and 30-somethings. They also sell shoes up to size 12 in wide widths, and wide-calf boots. Register online to receive special promotions.

Torrid is the perfect place to shop when you want to express your inner diva. You'll find a trendy mix of private label and brand-name clothing and lingerie in sizes 12-26, plus shoes and accessories.

Liz Claiborne has discontinued their renowned Elisabeth line, but they still carry high-quality classic clothing for sizes up to 3X.

CJ Banks specializes in plus-size women's clothing geared toward Baby Boomers. You'll find comfortable, quality career and casual clothing in sizes 14W-24W, plus online exclusives in sizes 26W & 28W.

These retailers aren't specialty plus-size stores, but they do carry plus-size lines:

Although Old Navy offers up to size 20 in it's retail stores, you can only get plus-sizes 16W-30W online. Their youthful, very reasonably-priced styles are perfect for teens and 20-somethings. Plus, they have one of best shipping deals out there: $7 flat rate and free returns.

Eddie Bauer and L.L. Bean both carry plus-sizes 16W-26W with a focus on the outdoor lifestyle. Land's End also carries a large selection of plus and petite plus. J.C. Penney carries a wide range of career and casual department store-quality clothing, plus special occasion, lingerie, and swimwear. All of these etailers usually have great end-of-season sales.

And when all else fails, Ebay is my go-to site for women's plus-size clothing. I can almost always find what I'm looking for, and it's a great year-round source for plus-size swimwear.