7 Ways You Can Shop Better For Your Body Size

Normally when you think of tailoring a garment, you think to size it down—but you can also have something tailored up. On a recent trip to Dolce & Gabbana, I fell in love with a skirt but the largest size ended up being a smidgen too tight in the waist. As a solution, they offered to tailor the skirt up for me. Pardon?! This is a thing? After some research, I discovered that many other luxury retailers, such as Chanel, Etro, Gucci, Louis Vuitton, Saint Laurent, and occasionally Prada, offer the same service of letting garments out to make them bigger or adding fabric and elastic to accommodate the shopper's size. Don't be afraid to ask! Photo: Katie Sturino

Shopping in the men’s department has allowed me to access labels I haven’t been able to previously wear due to sizing. There are a lot of unisex-friendly options from brands like Ralph Lauren Polo (I live in my Teddy Bear Sweater), IRO, and BLK Denim (because every girl needs a leather jacket) that make similar styles for men and women. My latest purchase is a striped top from the brand Kule which fit me best in a men’s XL! Photo: Instagram

The boys pull through with shoes too! My big seasonal shoe purchase typically takes place in the mens department at Barneys. I have a size 12 wide foot and finding a strappy heel can be next to impossible most of the time. Luckily, I'm more of a sneakers gal and men's sneakers are having a moment these days. They're making all the bright and colorful women's sneakers for men, too, which often works better for my size needs. The same trick works for boots too, like these Saint Laurent ones. Photo: Instagram

Five years ago, there was only one brand making comfortable and stylish jeans for a woman larger than a 12. Now, we’re living in an era of seemingly endless jeans options for all sizes, so it's easier than ever to find a brand that best suits your body type. Some of my favorites are Good American (pro-tip: I size up in any of the styles for added stretch), Warp + Weft, AYR, NYDJ, and Marina Rinaldi. A Canadian tuxedo is made for all bodies! Photo: Instagram

Plus-size swimsuits are tricky because brands automatically assume that if you're not a size 2, you want to wear an all black suit (which I don’t) and that bikinis need to have high-waisted bottoms that go up to your neck. One of my favorite go-to swim picks is this Pucci string bikini that goes up to a size 14 but can be tied looser on a larger frame. Cynthia Rowley is making suits for Coedition, a new multi-brand plus retailer and I love the edgy collaborations that Ashley Graham and Gabi Gregg have done for Swimsuits for All. Photo: Getty

Allow modifications to make an accessory work for your body. I love my belt bags by Dear Drew and Gucci and had no shame when I had to modify them to fit my waist by DIY'ing an extra hole in the belt. Photo: Instagram

This one might sound obvious, but you can wear anything you want—mini skirts, crop tops, all white—no matter what your size, and that's the main message I try to communicate through my #SuperSizeTheLook series on Instagram. If you look in the mirror and can't see any sort of fashion on you, go to the celebs with the best stylists and designer clothes, and re-create it for yourself! You'll be surprised with how good you look! Photo: Instagram