Where to buy stylish plus-size work clothes, according to an expert on inclusive fashion

Best overall: Universal Standard

Sharp staples in sizes 00-40, with an innovative program that allows you to exchange for free if your size changes

One of the most size-inclusive brands on the market, Universal Standard offers well-made staples created with realistic bodies in mind. For example, their medium is based on the actual median size in the United States, an 18. And they understand that bodies fluctuate.

One huge benefit of shopping at Universal Standard is that they have a ton of styles available through their Fit Liberty program, which allows no-fee size swaps within a year of purchase. Fit Liberty isn’t available for everything, though, so if you want the option, just make sure to check for the "Fit Liberty eligible" marker on the product page.

The brand also offers an extensive style selection, with options for everything from business casual to more buttoned-up workplaces. Universal Standard’s designs are meant to be classic and timeless, so you can wear them for years to come. As someone who still has (and wears) pieces from their 2015 launch, I can personally attest to their longevity.

I wore a coordinating vest and blazer from their Power of Style collection to speak at a conference recently, and felt sharp and pulled together thanks to thoughtful fit details like hidden snaps between the buttons to prevent gapping.

Most innovative: Laws of Motion

With thousands of "microsizes" in the 00-40 range, this truly size-inclusive label uses its patented technology to offer a near-custom fit

Laws of Motion is one of the best workwear labels on the market, with sharp suiting and sleek pieces that look tailor-made. Founded by CEO Carly Bigi to bring the shift towards personalized, inclusive shopping to fashion, Laws of Motion’s unique "precision sizing" system lets shoppers get a custom fit with just a 60-second quiz or a simple body scan you can do from your phone.

With a resume that includes a stint at Deloitte, Bigi knows the corporate dress code personally, and the Laws of Motion assortment reflects that, with office-ready styles for women of all sizes — and I do mean all: There are over 1,200 precision sizes in their 00-40 range! I also appreciate that their pieces work together beautifully, so if you want a capsule workwear wardrobe you can mix and match, this is a great place to start.

The styles feel modern and powerful — I always feel ready to take on the world in Laws of Motion. I also really appreciate the thoughtful details they incorporate in their designs, like the longer ribbon on the Legend’s zipper pull, making it easier to zip up yourself (even if you have short arms like me!)

Best affordable option: H&M

As their recent size expansion starts to hit the market, this affordable label’s plus-size workwear options are getting better and better.

If you are trying to build up a workwear wardrobe on a budget, H&M is a great place to start. But it is important to know how to shop when it comes to the best finds in plus sizes. If you just go to their Plus Size section on the site, you might be a little underwhelmed. The selection there is mostly neutral basics (great for the office, but not the most exciting).

Fortunately, thanks to the size expansion they announced in 2023, H&M’s core collection is now available in sizes up to 4XL in many styles. Given how fast some of their pieces sell out, I always recommend filtering by your size to get the best picture of what is available for you when shopping on their site.

Doing so is how I found some excellent deals for the office, including these slacks and a seasonless lightweight knit tee (pictured above), each under $20 at full price! This statement knit is a fun take on the lady jacket trend that works beautifully for work and is less than half the price I’ve seen similar versions elsewhere.

Best investment: Pari Passu

For cool, fashion-forward workwear that is designed specifically with plus size bodies in mind

When I worked in a strict corporate attire career, finding chic, well-made workwear was the bane of my existence as someone above a size 12. I longed for the type of cool, polished pieces my coworkers could shop across the street at Saks, and would have given my left arm for a brand like Pari Passu. This New York designer label gives the type of modern tailoring Bottega vibes that are otherwise almost impossible to find in plus, but I don’t just love them for their excellent aesthetics.

Knowing how important the correct fit is for fashion, Pari Passu put in the work to make sure they got it right from the outset, formulating their three signature body type fits after 3D scanning over 7,500 women’s bodies before they even launched. The result is a patented fit system that lets them create styles that address the diverse ways real women carry their weight.

Best for trousers: Abercrombie & Fitch

You might not think of Abercrombie for workwear, but their trousers are some of the best on the market, and are available in a variety of fits and lengths.

This storied mall brand has moved beyond its preppy teen origins. When it was the Abercrombie known for its shirtless male models and exclusionary sizing, I never anticipated shopping there as an adult, let alone becoming a big fan. But after seeing so many of my plus fashion peers raving over their denim a few years ago, I had to try it myself. I was so impressed by the fit and quality that I tried their Curve Love fit in their popular Sloane trousers too, and I immediately fell in love.

These pants fit beautifully, with a cut that is modern and versatile enough to wear casually as well. I really appreciate that they are available in a variety of lengths and body fits. I personally prefer the Curve Love fit (which has a more pronounced waist-to-hip ratio), and I’ve heard great things about the classic fit from friends with a less curvy build. At 5’4" and a half, the short length of the Sloane pants is perfect for wearing with flats, and the regular length is my go-to if I’m wearing heels or a platform.

One thing to note is that Abercrombie hasn’t yet fully extended its sizing in tops and blazers, with only a handful of tops in size XXXL at this time. However, they do have some great sweaters and stretch tops that fit me comfortably as a size 20 in their XXL (including their bestselling Paloma top, which is perfect for office layering), so it is worth trying if you see something you love.

Best for built-in shapewear that doesn’t squeeze: Lyssé

If you want office-ready pants that feel like leggings, this brand should be on your radar

If comfort is key for your workwear, you need to know about Lyssé . The NYC label started out primarily as a leggings brand but has since expanded its offerings to include chic trousers, faux leather pants, stretch jeans that look like true denim, and even shirts and suiting separates. Their core tenet of comfort is evident throughout, with pieces that look pulled together without feeling restrictive — and that even includes those with shapewear features built-in!

As someone who used to feel like I had to wear shapewear to the office (and gave myself bad acid reflux from having my internal organs squished for 12 hours a day), I’m always a bit wary when I see shapewear built into fashion. Thankfully, I can personally attest that Lyssé garments are nothing like the wearable torture chambers I used to inflict upon myself. These sleek denim trousers are a great example: The internal panels smooth without squeezing, and the effect is polished and sharp enough for anything but the strictest business formal dress codes.

Best trendy: Eloquii

This trend-forward brand offers of-the-moment suiting and office-ready dresses and separates

Eloquii has come a long way since it first launched as a plus-size sister label to The Limited in 2011. A couple of acquisitions later, it is now a plus-size fashionista favorite, with runway-fresh trends and styles, all cut specifically for plus-size bodies. Head of Design Yesenia Torres has her finger on the pulse when it comes to what is current in fashion and translates it into well-fitting designs made with plus-size bodies in mind.

I find their fit to be relatively consistent and true to size, which is important for workwear favorites: If you find a pair of pants or a blazer you love, you can buy it in multiple colors without having to worry about the fit being wonky. They are also a great option if you are looking for affordable workwear, as they have excellent sales on a pretty regular basis.

Best for work-ready separates: Lane Bryant

This plus-size pioneer has its fit down to a science when it comes to button-downs, blazers, and pants

When it comes to plus-size fit, Lane Bryant knows its stuff. This legacy brand (which has existed for over a century!) has long been a plus-size go-to. And even with more plus-size options on the market than ever, I still find myself shopping them frequently, particularly for their well-fitting separates like button-down shirts, wide-leg trousers, and sharp blazers.

Thoughtful fit details like hidden closures between buttons to prevent gapping on shirts are also rare at this price point, and Lane Bryant has frequent sales, so it is a great place to shop if you are looking for good value in workwear. I personally love their linen button-downs for warmer months, and I buy them in multiple colors when they go on sale. Their pants also fit wonderfully, as they are cut for the plus-size body and don’t squeeze at the stomach.

Best sustainable designer label: Baacal

This sustainable and ethically made label by CFDA Designer Cynthia Vincent makes investment-worthy pieces you will reach for constantly

As a plus fashion influencer and editor, I get to try a lot of clothing, and my little New York City apartment is packed to the gills with great pieces, but my Baacal items still get more wear than almost anything else. Designer Cynthia Vincent wears plus sizes too, and the combination of her renowned design skills and familiarity with the plus figure shines through in her garments. She makes clothing she would personally want to wear, and the results are incredible.

Vincent sustainably sources vintage and stock fabric for Baacal, with a focus on long lasting natural fibers like silk and wool, so it is a brand you can feel good about shopping. The price point is very reasonable, given the beautiful quality and construction of the pieces, and even more so when you consider the price per wear over time: My beloved lightweight wool car coat from the label is down to less than $6 a wear at this point, and I plan on wearing it for decades to come! This is definitely a brand to check out if you want to invest in cool, timeless designs you’ll want to wear forever.

Best classic: J.Crew

This classic American label has a great selection of beautiful suiting, separates, and dresses that are perfect for the office — and they also have surprisingly great sales!

J.Crew is having a cool girl resurgence like we haven’t seen since the Jenna Lyons era, thanks to the vision of their creative director Olympia Gayot, and the resulting selection is one of the best on the market. The designs are of the moment without feeling overly faddish, which is the sweet spot for someone who wants fashionable workwear that won’t look dated in seasons to come. The plus size options are exactly the same as the straight size ones, style-wise, which is something I always really appreciate (there’s nothing worse than a cute style being ruined by an unnecessary cap sleeve style or something similar that is only on the plus size version!), and their wool suiting is sophisticated enough for the strictest corporate dress codes.

Not every style offered is available in plus, but most are: Right now over half of the women’s clothing on the site is available up to a 3x. My biggest criticism of J.Crew’s plus sizes is that they are not readily available in stores, but thankfully their fit tends to be true to size. I have found the quality to be really good too, and if you catch one of their big sales, some true steals can be had: I recently got a cashmere blend tank top for $16 (!!!) during a particularly good clearance.

Best Italian luxury: Marina Rinaldi

If you are looking for true high-end luxury for your corner office, Max Mara’s sister brand has some gorgeous options.

There’s something inimitable about true Italian luxury when it comes to fashion, but most European designers stop far short of the average US size. Fortunately, Marina Rinaldi is the luxe exception to the rule. Part of the Max Mara family of brands, Marina Rinaldi brings that same high end vibe to plus sizes, ritzy Madison Avenue flagship and all. Their recent runway really encapsulated the rich fabrics and textures they are known for, particularly in their gorgeous coats and jackets.

The price point of the main Marina Rinaldi line reflects its luxury status, but its diffusion label Persona has a lower price range and a more fashion-forward aesthetic, so it is worth checking out the Marina Rinaldi site if you are looking to add some Italian design to your work wardrobe.

Best for natural fibers: Eileen Fisher

Eileen Fisher is our go-to for high-quality fabrics and pieces for creating a capsule wardrobe.

If natural fibers and eco-friendly practices are important to you, Eileen Fisher is a great option for workwear. Their linen and silk selection is particularly good, with trousers, blouses, blazers, and more. They also offer a lot of easy-care washable items, which is key for pieces that will be in regular rotation.

If you love the Eileen Fisher aesthetic but their prices are outside of your budget, I recommend checking out their smart Eileen Fisher Renew program, which resells gently used Eileen Fisher clothing for a fraction of the price. I’ve shopped their Renew selection in person and I am always impressed by the quality of the garments they offer. In fact, I didn’t even know I was looking at resale items the first time I stumbled across the section in their SoHo store because everything looked new!

Disclosure: Author Sarah Chiwaya is a plus size style expert and influencer who has worked with many plus and size inclusive labels over the years, including Laws of Motion, Marina Rinaldi, Lane Bryant, and Baacal. This does not drive our decision as to whether or not a product is featured or recommended.