Shopping can sometimes be rough for curvy women. A majority of the fashionable designs seem to cater for smaller size physiques, which often leave those who hunt for plus sized outfits to settle for something less stylish. Of course, if you have the time and money to custom make your clothes, this will not be a problem for you.

But, thankfully, many fashion labels are starting to cater to women with curves. Although Malaysia still has room for improvement in this aspect (considering that Western countries seem to provide more choices for full-figured women), the efforts being carried out here is obvious. We are now beginning to see more and more stores catering to fashionable, plus-sized fashion. Here are five places we think  offer fashionable (in our opinion) clothes for plus-sized women.

1. Ms Read

Ms. Read is one of the pioneers of plus-sized fashion in Malaysia. This fashion outlet opened its first boutique in Malaysia in 1997. There’s been a positive growth in the business since then, with the brand expanding its business to Singapore. Realizing the plight of the full-figured woman, Helen Read, the owner of Ms Read, specially formulated this brand which only focuses on larger sized clothing for women. Ranging from size 12 to 24, the clothes here are not only comfortable, but well-suited to the current trends.

Some of the options available here include jackets, suits, jeans, tops, dresses and even accessories such as belts.  The casual outfits here are full of colour and prints. The outlet also offers a line of clothes called “My Everyday Shirt” which comes in six different silhouettes to cater to various body shapes. The shirts are said to be versatile, as they can be used for work and also for casual occasions.

Prices may be a little expensive for some (a dress could cost about RM159), but when there’s a sale on, prices can drop to as low as RM20! Ms Read outlets can be found at many major shopping malls in Malaysia including 1Utama (first outlet), Bangsar Village 2, Midvalley Megamall, Pavillion KL and The Mines. Ms. Read is also located in various malls in Johor, Melaka, Penang, Sarawak and Sabah.

2. Flow

With its punchy tagline “You got curves?” it is without a doubt that Flow (introduced by the Valiram Group) celebrates women with curvier figures. Clothes here are guaranteed to be stylish and trendy to cater to full-figured consumers who are fashion-conscious.

Clothes available here range from basics and career wear to contemporary and evening wear. Sizes start from US8 (UK10/12) to US18 (UK20/22). The store also offers a collection of accessories that can be matched with any of their apparel.

Flow brand outlets can be found at Suria KLCC, Pavillion, 1Utama and Johor Premium Outlets. The Flow clothing brand can also be found amidst other popular clothing brands at the Metrojaya department store located within Midvalley Megamall. Flow-branded apparel is considered to be affordable with prices ranging from RM69 and above to RM200 and above.

3. Dorothy Perkins

The Dorothy Perkins store is another fashion outlet frequented by curvier women in Malaysia. The brand caters to women of all sizes though. A very well-established UK brand, the store has expanded internationally through the opening of 50 international outlets. Dorothy Perkins in Malaysia can be found in many major shopping malls such as 1Utama, The Curve, Pavillion and Sunway Pyramid, just to name a few.

Offering chic and feminine clothing that flaunts a woman’s curves in all the right places, this brand has become a saviour for plus-sized women in Malaysia ever since it was introduced to the Malaysian retail scene. Most of their clothing lines come in UK size 6 to 22. All sorts of women’s wear can be found here such as dresses, jeans, knitwear and tops. Apart from clothing, this leading UK brand also sells shoes and accessories.

The pricing for the clothes ranges from cheap to expensive. They can go from as low as RM25 (especially for tops) to as high as RM520 (for their dresses). However, during the store’s sale period, clothes can be purchased at very attractive deals.

4. Blook

Bangsar has turned into a hotspot for stylish and trendy boutique fashion. One of the boutiques that can be found here goes by the name “Blook” which is short for “be looked at”. Indeed, the clothes here are highly fashionable and eye-catching, attracting a loyal customer base. The boutique is especially well-known for its fun and flirty casual wear.

In addition to the usual “blook” label which ranges from extra small (XS) to large (L) sizes, the boutique also has a plus-sized label called “blook+”. The label has sizes that go up to XXXXL.

Under the range of casual wear, Blook offers retro wear, summer dresses, and jeans and screen-print t-shirts. The boutique also has a decent collection of career wear ranging from dresses and print blouses to cropped cardigans and blazers. The pricing of the clothes are reasonable ranging from RM80 to above RM100. What’s more, the store is said to hold regular promotions where customers can enjoy additional savings from the already low prices offered. Apart from its flagship outlet located along Jalan Telawi Lima in Bangsar, Blook also has outlets at Subang Parada, Giza @ Kota Damansara & Aman Suria.

5. Isetan

Due to the high demand for plus-sized clothing, department stores around Malaysia have also been including plus-sized ranges into their collection. Isetan, a Japanese department store, has quite a well-known in-house brand called Total Women. The store has been offering plus-sized clothes for women ever since it opened in Kuala Lumpur in 1990.

Total Women offers stylish, up-to-date career wear and casual wear that come in four sizes, beginning with a waistline of 96.5cm. Apart from their in-house brand, Isetan also offers other plus-sized consignment brands such as Exotico. Isetan departmental stores can be found at Lot 10, the Gardens, MidValley Megamall and Suria KLCC (flagship store).

These are the five stores we think are worth mentioning. Did we miss out on any good stores? Let us know by commenting below.

Last updated: November 2016

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