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As someone who has a large bust, a round rear, and a soft belly, I understand how hard it can be to buy suiting. I wanted to share my tips on where to find the best suiting for curvy women.
For years, I struggled to find suiting to accommodate my soft curves. I am 5'3″ with an F-cup bust and in the past decade I have been between a size 12-16. For a long while, I found it impossible to find suiting that worked with my curves; even if I was willing to pay for tailoring I still struggled to get a good fit.
Luckily, in the past few years, brands have caught on to the need to have different fits for curvy bodies. In addition, suiting has become a popular trend for women, increasing styles, selection, and fit at even more fashion retailers.
Below I share my favorite places to shop for suiting for curves along with some photos of me in suiting from the retailers I have shopped from. The other retailers I recommend in this article come from feedback from multiple Wardrobe Oxygen readers.
This post was updated for 2024 to include new retailers I recommend and remove those that reduced their suiting offerings or shuttered.
Where to Shop for the Best Suiting for Curvy Women
Below in alphabetical order, I share what I find to be the best places to find well-fitting suiting for curvy bodies. I will share the size range they offer so you can better tailor your shopping experience.
Ann Taylor
In the past few years, Ann Taylor has become my go-to for suiting that fits my curves as well as my height. Offering sizes 00-18 in regular and and up to size 16, Ann Taylor also offers a "Curvy Fit" in most of the suiting trousers as well as work-friendly dresses and skirts.
I appreciate that Ann Taylor offers conservative and classic suiting separates, but also on-trend colors and silhouettes and suiting that is dressy, like the matte satin pantsuit I am wearing in the photo above.
Banana Republic
Banana Republic has gone through some changes in fit and style over the recent years, but I still find Banana Republic suiting to be a good fit over my curves. Sometimes the sleeves can feel a bit snug, but I always find room for my bust and rear as well as my solid legs.
While the photo above shows me in hot pink and orange from Banana Republic, this season, you're more likely to find high-quality textiles in classic colors of black, navy, gray, and brown. Banana Republic offers suiting in Misses 0-20 and petites up to 14.
Kirrin Finch
If you desire menswear-inspired fashion that fits the curves of a female or nonbinary body, you must check out Kirrin Finch. The suiting collection is excellent, but the company also carries separates like trousers, sweaters, blazers, shirts, and coats.
I greatly appreciate the Kirrin Finch customers who provide detailed reviews, often with photos, discussing the fit over curves.The Kirrin Finch site is also super helpful with tips about fabric, fit, and seeing pieces on models in a range of heights, sizes, and shapes.
Marina Rinaldi
If you are looking for elevated suiting that works with, not against curves, head to Marina Rinaldi. One of the few labels that carries luxury plus size apparel appropriate for the workplace, Marina Rinaldi offer sophisticated and contemporary suiting separates in sizes 4-24.
I have not personally shopped Marina Rinaldi, but I have tried on the brand and found it curve-friendly and very high-end textiles and finishings.
M.M.LaFleur
is an excellent destination for comfortable workwear. The brand's suiting often has stretch, can be machine washed, and has a silhouette that works with curves.
While I wish M.M.LaFleur carried petites, I do recommend M.M.LaFleur for well-made, stylish, yet not trendy suiting and work separates in sizes 00-20. Yes, for those saddened by M.M.LaFleur reducing their size range, they have extended it again!
M&S/Marks & Spencer
Marks & Spencer is a well-known British department store but it also ships quickly to the U.S. and returns are easy. I find M&S to make wallet-friendly yet polished and it's a great place for suits that aren't your basic color or silhouette.
Available in U.S. sizes 2-20 with most trousers available in short and long lengths, I find Marks & Spencer to be a roomy fit and very accommodating of curves, especially the bust and rear.
Spanx
We all know Spanx for its shapewear, but Spanx also has a pretty extensive apparel line with an entire workwear collection that offers separates as well as some suiting. And I find the entire collection to be curve-friendly.
A lot of Spanx workwear is machine washable and offers stretch. In sizes XS-3X with petite and tall options, Spanx is a great destination for travel-friendly suiting.
Sumissura
There is no better fit for one's curves than a custom-made suit. And Sumissura has an extensive collection of women's suiting you can choose from (and most of the suits are under $500).
From wool to linen, velvet to corduroy, you likely will find a suit at Sumissura that fits your tastes and with the ability to customize lapels, vents, button placement, pant or skirt silhouette and details it really is a bespoke experience that many in the Wardrobe Oxygen community have had success shopping.
Talbots
Talbots is one of the few retailers that carries high-quality suiting not just in Misses (2-18) and (0-16), but also (14-24) and Plus Petite (14-22). And I can pretty much buy Talbots suiting off the rack because it is so curve friendly.
Shaped blazers with comfortably sized sleeves and room in the trousers for bums and bellies, Talbots makes classic suiting you will wear for years. Check them out late October to December for their occasionwear, which always includes at least one dressy pantsuit or .
Universal Standard
Universal Standard is a unique apparel brand that offers its entire collection in sizes 00-40. The clothing is designed to work with, not against a woman's body and you will find it to be very curve-friendly with both room and coverage for a bust, darts and design for hips and rear, and roomy sleeves that still look professional.
Universal Standard has been amping up its workwear collection in recent seasons, with elegant, edgy, and versatile pieces in black, neutrals, as well as seasonal colors (the berry shade this fall is gorgeous!).
Another unique thing about Universal Standard is the Fit Liberty program. Several pieces in the collection (including these workwear items) can be exchanged within a year for a different size, no questions asked.
Tips for Curvy Women Buying Suiting
- Size up, tailor down. To make sure there is room for your curves, purchase a size up. Ensure the sleeves are roomy enough for your upper arms and shoulders, even when wearing a blouse, that your bust doesn't cause the jacket to pull, that you can sit comfortably in the trousers. A tailor is your secret weapon in making any suit look twice its pricetag and give you twice the confidence and air of success.
- Consider a single-breasted, one-button style. A one-button style creates an hourglass shape, working with a curvy frame. It also looks more current and looks good when left unbuttoned.
- Consider a "column of color". If you wish to minimize your curves, creating a column of color with your blouse and pants the same color will elongate the frame. If the color is dark, it will recess under the blazer making your figure less of the focus. No need to have it black with a light-colored blazer; other dark colors will work and the blazer doesn't have to be high contrast to achieve the effect.
While this list is not exhaustive, these retailers are known to carry curve-friendly suiting season after season. If you are reading this article and know of another retailer that regularly offers stylish suiting for curvy women, do share it in the comments!
