Main Street Brands We Love
Finding Big & Tall retailers with extended sizes (beyond 2xl) is a real challenge; believe me I know. That is why we make a concerted effort here at BWM to feature clothing makers that service this size range whenever possible. I love all the smaller, boutique brands we’ve featured here, but sometimes you just want a one stop shopping experience. That’s where these main street brands come into the picture.
DXL Big & Tall
If you are in the USA and need big & tall sizing, chances are you’ve shopped at DXL (since they still have brick and mortar stores in addition to their website). They carry anything you might need for career and casual wear with an impressive size range: Big 1XL- 8XL; Tall 1XLT-8XLT; waist sizes 38-70, and shoe sizes up to 18. They carry a number of designer brands including Calvin Klein, Ralph Lauren Polo and Tommy Bahama in addition to their own private labels of Harbor Bay and True Nation. Of particular note are their jeans.
The True Nation Athletic Fit jean is made from a 98% cotton, 2% elastane blend. Don’t let the mere 2% elastane fool you either, it provides quite a lot of stretch which is great for bigger guys with respect to comfort and mobility. The jeans are very forgiving and can stretch up to a full pant size if needed. It’s perfect for accommodating those hibernation weight gains. They sit low on the waist and have a fuller fit through the hip and thigh with a slightly tapered leg.
Kingsize
Kingsize is a web only brand with a size range going up to 9XL for tops, 72-inch waist for bottoms and up to 18EWW for shoes. They mostly sell private label items but also offer an assortment of products from brands like Levi’s and Nautica.
This brand is good for the budget conscious as they put out a lot of deals to customers on their mailing list. The brand focuses mainly on basics with a true emphasis on fit and comfort.
Johnny Bigg
“Established in Sydney Australia 2014, Johnny Bigg was created with the big and tall guy in mind. Recognizing our guys’ desire to be well dressed and comfortable, Johnny Bigg is all about feeling good from the inside out whilst making it easy by providing a one stop shop focusing on everyday affordable, relevant fashion and footwear whilst never compromising on quality, style or fit.”
For big sizes they cover from XL to 10XL in tops, 34” to 54” in pants, 42” – 58” in suit jackets and shoes from sizes 9 – 16 UK. As for the tall range, they service LT-6XLT for tops and waist sizes 34L-48L for pants. It is important to note that these are European sizes, which run smaller to what we are accustomed to in the USA. Have no fear though, Johnny Bigg has taken the guesswork out of the equation by supplying a very detailed size conversion chart so you can shop with peace of mind.
Duluth Trading Co.
This outdoorsy lifestyle brand has entered into the plus size market offering tops in sizes up to 4XL and pants up to size 50. Known for their craftmanship and durability, Duluth is perfect for the more adventurous among us or those that like a more rugged look.
The brand is really strong on basics, layering pieces and plaids, but shine especially when it comes to their outerwear pieces. With options in fleece, flannel, slickers and puffers they have you covered no matter which season it is. Check them out HERE.
Asos
Asos offers lots of trendy styles in big and tall sizes (up to 4XL in big and 3XL for tall); whereas most brands only offer extended sizes in basics. Not only do they offer their own private label designs, but they have items from French Connection, River Island and ellesse, among others. Fashion forward fabrics, bold prints, tie dyes and sequin tops abound at Asos which is fantastic for the flashier shopper. They also have you covered for basics so no worries there, but I cannot tell you how awesome it is to have the option to buy pieces that are in style NOW.
According to their site, they have done some adjustments on their extended sizing so that the fit is more in line with what you’d expect here in the USA. Previously their sizes ran a bit small to what was expected which is why I encourage you to use their custom “Fit Assistant” to determine the correct alpha-size you should order, even with their recent adjustments. Its always better to be safe than sorry!
