The US market for plus-size apparel has increased since 2016, going from $20.5 billion to $24 billion in 2020. Changing attitudes within the fashion industry has led to more acceptance of the plus-size apparel market by top retailers, however, there’s still more to be done.
That’s not to say industry leaders don’t offer plus-size women’s clothing. Many do, including the likes of JCPenney and Walmart, which is a far cry from when Lane Bryant was the only well-known company to tailor products to this market.
Retailers will continue to sell products for plus-size women in 2022, but we’re likely to see some changes. In particular, plus-size trends will focus more on fitting curvy women and highlighting their natural features.
Plus-Size Fashion Trends To Come
Mix (Patterns) and Match (Solids) Is Coming Back
At some point in fashion history, prints went out of style. But recently, like with neon-soaked outfits in 2019, prints have started to make a comeback. Now that they are, we suspect they’re going to be even bigger in 2022, especially in the plus-size clothing market. Why? Because not only can prints take your plain-Jane outfit from an eight to a ten, but when you have a plus-size body type, prints can also help give your body a slimmer look. Particularly for women who are less confident in their skin, prints are a fabulous yet subtle aid to highlighting assets and disguising insecurities.
In 2022, we’re likely to see vertical stripes dominate the plus-size fashion market, especially when paired with solid colours. Mixing vertical prints with solid colours can help create a flattering look for curvier bodies, and one of the best ways to hide areas you don’t want to highlight is to wear a printed T-shirt that steals the attention with solid bottoms.
Interestingly, we’ve started to see this trend already in plus size bathing suit tops, where printed tops are paired with solid bottoms, such as navy blue or black skirts and capris. Many of these bathing suit tops also have floral patterns, which brings us to the next fashion trend we’re likely to see a lot of in 2022: florals.
Florals Will Spring In January
No, you don’t have to wait until spring to wear floral patterns. That’s even more true when it comes to plus-size apparel, as floral prints are alluring, and they give an effortless look to your outfit. However, keep in mind, a good rule of thumb is to make sure you’re choosing small flowers.
Jumpsuits Will Be As Popular As Fit And Flare Dresses
Over the years, there have been many plus-size apparel trends that have come and gone. However, fit/flare dresses have always remained in fashion for curvy women. These dresses flare from the waist to the hem, which helps compliment the waistline and curvy figures.
Yet while these dresses remain in fashion next year, we suspect another option is going to become just as popular: jumpsuits. After all, both jumpsuits and fit and flare dresses exude confidence and comfort. Jumpsuits help elongate the body and fashion a slim figure. They also give a lively look to any outfit.
There are many other plus-size apparel trends we’re likely to see in 2022, including more focus on picking the correct fabrics for the right body types. For instance, polyester is a more flattering choice for plus-size women. For now, we suspect mix and matching, florals, and jumpsuits will take precedence in the market for the first couple of months of 2022.
