Professional, Sustainable, Ethical, and Plus Size - YouLookFab Forum

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Outfits Ensembles Trends Advice

Professional, Sustainable, Ethical, and Plus Size

chewyspaghetti

Veteran

So, it looks like I will probably be joining the management team at work soon (yay!)
In light of that, I am trying to make sure that my wardrobe purchaes are a little more managerial looking. I've given up fast fashion, and am only purchasing items made from sustainable resources, in ethical manufacturing practices, and I need a US size 20.
I can find 2 or 3 of these at a time, it seems, but rarely all 4 (professional, sustainable, ethical, size 20).
Anyone know of any resources? Pants have been particularly difficult for me.

Shopping

31 replies

Latest reply was from Zaeobi

JAileen

Veteran

Congratulations! Does Eileen Fisher meet your requirements? I just looked on the EF website and it looks like it meets your size requirement, and I know they talk about sustainability. But is the EF look a professional look?

rachylou

Veteran

Nice! Wish I had some brilliant suggestions… I’m here really to find out tho…

Anonymous

Congrats! Have you looked at Karen Kane?

nuancedream

Veteran

Congratulations! You may want to take a look at Pari Passu, which Angie featured previously in a blog post, and Hours New York, a NYC-based brand.

Indigoprint

Veteran

Wow! well done.
I like Cut loose but not sure if it aligns with what you are looking for.

Jaime

(website)

Veteran

I thought of Universal Standard but not sure about their sustainability policies.

Kathie

Veteran

Jenn maintains a list of brands that meet most/all of your requirements. Her latest update is in this post, https://youlookfab.com/welookf.....brand-list.

Elizabeth Suzann’s offerings are a bit limited right now, but I wear her Georgia dress to work. Her pieces have simple lines in gorgeous fabrics, so many can be accessorized for work or casual.

kkards

Veteran

Congratulations!

I 2nd Eileen fisher, especially as they are, and continue to be a women run brand. It’s expensive, but if your patient you can find pieces on sale at the end of season.
https://www.cnn.com/2020/01/06.....index.html

Anonymous

Congrats! Pants shopping is The Worst, but with your climate you should be able to wear skirts and dresses most of the year (if you enjoy wearing them-of course). Personally I find it really hard to make pants outfits dressy enough for even normal work days.

cat2

Veteran

For professional gear, I like Lafayette 148, bought on massive sale at a place like Off Fifth. The fabric is excellent quality and sustainably sourced so the pieces last forever and the sizing is inclusive. A couple of pairs of their tailored pants might be just what you need to turn casual pieces more business like.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Congratulations, Khris! What a wonderful year you are having

These small business brands get my vote (written posts about all of them):

Pari Passu

Wildfang

Cover Story

Everybody & Everyone

Alice Alexander

Wray

HOURS

Evolverie

These larger businesses get my vote:

Boden

G-Star

Universal Standard (watch the quality)

Sanctuary

Karen Kane

Eileen Fisher

Ralph Lauren

Poetry

Miz Mooz

There are many more, but this is what I could come up with after one cuppa

ETA: Lots of retailers have more sustainably & ethically options if you search for them on their site. The industry has thankfully come a long way!

Jonesy

Veteran

I have nothing to add beyond the great list you have so far, but wanted to say congrats on the promotion!

chewyspaghetti

Veteran

Thanks so much on the congratulations- and all of the recommendations. Most of these are already familiar to me, but I will be working my way through them all.
Eileen Fisher I love, even though it's pricey. There are a few items here and there that will workfor me, but overall it isn't the professional vibe I'm going for.

Karen Kane doesn't come close to my size

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Khris, Karen Kane straight sizes tend to run big first of all, and second they offer sizes up to 3XL. They have a great plus size department:

https://www.karenkane.com/coll.....s-view-all

https://www.karenkane.com/coll.....376w-black

chewyspaghetti

Veteran

cat2- Lafayette 148 is gorgeous, and not something I could ever afford new. I'll try looking on ebay for that.

nuancedream

Veteran

I get my Lafayette 148 pieces from eBay, Poshmark and The Real Real for a fraction of their eye watering retail prices.

Minaminu

Veteran

congratulations Chewyspaghetti!

I think NuanceDream makes a very interesting suggestion - the preloved market could be a good option for professional/smart clothing. I have a list of high premium brands which I am following on different platforms. It's also kinder to the environment, not sure if it would meet all your ethical values.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Congratulations! This is wonderful news. I can't add to the great list but wanted to chime in and can't wait to see some new outfits!

Sal

Veteran

I am not an expert on US brands so will leave that to others. Well done on the promotion!

I know the professional ethical plus sizing combo is a difficult one. I think what professional means is quite different in different industries and cities. I went to a very conservative meeting last week in a male dominated members club in our capital. Whilst there were lots of males in dark suits there were a variety including a woman in a vibrant oversized dress with funky green flat shoes on. She looked marvellous and to me, also professional. It’s great that we don’t have to wear pencil skirts and heels to be professional though!

chewyspaghetti

Veteran

I should have looked closer at Karen Kane's sizing.
I don't see anything on Pari Passu's website about either sustainability or ethical manufacturing. Does anyone know about them?

Honestly, if both those things aren't part of their mission statements or very forward on their website, I usually just give them a pass.

April

Veteran

Hey Khris - congrats!

My sis and her wife and her Little Bestie's mom are all plus size professionals and I know they can wear Universal Standard and Tomboy (for undergarments and things like tees to go beneath a blazer). Also, of course, there is always Lane Bryant.

Jenn

(website)

Veteran

Kathie linked my brand list, but it does lean heavily toward a more casual vibe. I think I'd struggle to find things like tailored jackets at any of my regular sources, so I'm interested in what you come up with.

nuancedream

Veteran

CS, Angie's post will give you some more insight into Pari Passu. It's a bit disappointing that Par Passu's website doesn't address sustainability and ethical production/sourcing of fabrics.

https://youlookfab.com/2021/02.....ari-passu/

Sloper

Veteran

First - Congratulations!

I found this list - checked a few of the sites - some go to 16-18 (not plus 16-18 though).

https://www.thegoodtrade.com/f.....-for-women

Stagiaire Fash

Veteran

I read this out of interest, not expecting to make a contribution. The suggestions about secondhand jump out at me. I’m not one to talk, but it seems to me that you’re in a great spot to use them. You have a list of makers to search for, you know your sizes, and what you’re looking for is that combo of a clearly defined category but very flexible specifics that seems to be best for secondhand shopping. And you don’t have to tromp from store to store! As often as your work environments seem to change, I would think you’d want to keep prices low.

chewyspaghetti

Veteran

suntiger- I do like skirts and dresses and wear a lot of them, but even in summer the office is cold. I definitely need some professional looking pants. I ordered a pair of checked linen pants from etsy. I'm hoping this style and fabric works for me because they have several other fabric options that I like.

Kathie- I like Elizabeth Suzann, and there are afew pieces that wouldworkfor me. Most of it is too casual. I love that they have the section for outlet/used pieces.

Thanks for that link, nuancedream- I really appreciate it!

Jamie- I am on the fence with Universal Standard. They'd efficiently have pieces that could work for me and hit some of my requirements. I never end uphaving to make that decision, though,because of their color palette. It's black, gray, or some cool toned color that I don't wear. Rarely do they have a color I would wear. I'm not sure that I need a black blazer and pant suit, but if I decide that I do I will reevaluate them.

Angie- Alice Alexander looks like they may be going out of business?

annagybe

(website)

Veteran

I wish I could endorse the secondhand & used market, but for plus size, it’s honestly crap.
There’s a plus size consignment boutique in Seattle. Let me see if they have online shopping
ETA
They have online stuff
https://twobigblondes.com/

Also last time I visited in person (pre-pandemic) they also had a bit of new stuff from some local designers

chewyspaghetti

Veteran

Thanks for that website, Anna.
I have to agree about second hand plus sizes, and sizes are extremely difficult
to suss out, especially when they may not be able to be returned.
I was able to find a nice blazer at a local second hand store recently. I need to check there regularly since they have plus sizes in a separate section.

Honestly, most of the suggestions here don't work for me. I'm not ok with a company that is "making strides toward becoming more sustainable ", I want to support companies who already have a sustainable business model and are committed to ethical manufacturing practices and transparency. I don't wear synthetic fibers anymore unless it's a nominal amount or in swimwear/under garments/serious sportswear (both for ecological reasons and personal comfort). It's an impossible ask, and I realize that I am going to have to compromise somewhere. Second hand is a good option for me, even though it's a complicated process with high loss probability.
I appreciate all the information and support!

Staysfit

Veteran

Congratulations on your promotion! I wish you the best on your journey to shop more sustainably. I have no advice on where or how to go about shopping, since I have had many difficulties finding high quality construction, sustainably produced, single natural fiber, wardrobe items that fit and are in a style I prefer. It’s challenging and we have probably discussed this elsewhere on the forum.

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