Plus Size Clothing Review: A+ by Anthropologie

Walking into an Anthropologie store has always been a treat. The store contains a wonderland of eclectic, boho chic clothing, home goods, and accessories. My mom and I love walking into the store together and dreaming of buying a beautiful wardrobe for a European adventure and decorating a tiny flat. Once in a while, we treat ourselves to a little trinket or coffee cup to live out our imaginary lives. For me, this adventure has been even more of a dream world because Anthropologie didn’t carry anything in my size.

That all changed in March of this year, when Anthropologie launched, A+ by Anthropologie. This new line of clothing features sizes 16W-26W and many of the designs are offered in the same styles as those in the straight size line. Currently the A+ collection is available online and in 11 physical locations across the country (along with a few holiday pop ups.) I have been excited to try on some things, but the line is not currently available in St. Louis.

To be clear, Anthropologie’s target market is considerably more affluent than a rural Midwest teacher would be considered. However, their target age and career demographic definitely fit who I am. So, I have been scouring their sales and hoping to score something great. During summer vacation, I found a lovely yellow dress at a fraction of the cost by catching the right sale.

During Thanksgiving week, I had the opportunity to finally review the A+ products in person while flying through Orlando. A+ by Anthropologie is carried in store at their location in Disney Springs. The store is a huge, two-story location with soaring ceilings and lots of windows that bring in the Florida sunshine. It’s easy to find, located just to the left of the Lime Parking Garage.

The A+ collection is featured, front and center in the Disney Springs store. It is beautifully decorated, spread out enough to shop comfortably, and feels quite welcoming. The store had a lot of different plus size merchandise available to try on, especially twinkly holiday pieces. I was able to find an armload of festive apparel to take into the fitting room.

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It should be noted that the fitting room is on the second floor. I hauled myself and an extra fifty pounds of clothing up the stairs … and then found out there was an elevator. It was pretty warm in the fitting room, so be prepared to sweat! However, the space in the room was quite accommodating, and while the lighting was a little low, they had large mirrors to see the clothing on. The fitting room attendant was helpful and offered to swap out sizes if I needed them. (Though I am pretty sure she would have told me I looked great in every single item.)

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I tried on two glitzy holiday dresses… the Starling Sequined Tunic and the Confetti Halter Midi Dress. I really liked the way both dresses caught the light. The bell sleeves on the rose gold sequined dress felt so festive and feminine. I just think it was a little bit shorter in length than I feel comfortable with. The dotted midi dress fit well, and I loved its shimmer. However, I would recommend being extremely delicate with it. A lot of jewelry will snag its mesh overlay.

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Something that I noticed about the A+ line is that the sizing is rather inconsistent. I grabbed every item in a 3X and a 22-24 like I wear in other stores. Some items were a perfect fit, while others ran rather small. Then there’s this dress… the Gillian Abstract Shirtdress, that was absolutely ginormous on me. The sleeves were super long, the waist was shapeless, and the front drooper so low that I would flash my classroom in an instant.

One of my favorite items was the Corey Lynn Calter Wonderland Skirt. It features a winter ski scene that looks just like a painting come to life. It is definitely a conversation piece that could be worn all winter long. I paired it with a cream sweater for the try on, but I think it needs something a bit more vibrant for the actual look.

I tried on one pair of denim. The Citizens of Humanity Rocket Ultra High Rise Skinny Jeans were a nice dark indigo that fit well enough, with a good amount of stretch. However, they didn’t really seem that revolutionary or different than my other jeans. (Especially not for a $188 price tag.)

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Then there were my two favorite items that I took home. First, the Margarita Tunic Sweater. I chose this beautiful oatmeal color that will pair well with jeans and can be dressed up or down depending on accessories. I love the buttons down the left side. It is comfortable and flattering. The other item I purchased was the Marie Sequined Blouse, in a shimmery copper color. The color is really something to behold in person, and the sequins catch the light so well. This top can also be extremely versatile, paired with dark denim, dress pants, a skirt, a blazer… the possibilities are endless. I really like it paired with the Remi Mini Tote, seen above.

Overall, I really love the A+ by Anthropologie collection. The clothes are feminine, unique, and well-made. I really enjoyed the opportunity to try them on and see them in person at Disney Springs too. Sometimes it is so hard to get a gauge on the quality and vibe of a collection online. Touching the fabric and feeling it on your own skin makes a big difference! I hope that Anthropologie finds the line to be profitable for them, and continues to roll it out in more locations soon.

The only bummer is that the prices at Anthropologie are steep. (Like REAL steep for the average bear.) My strategy? Dump everything I love into a virtual cart and then wait for great promos. Here’s lookin’ at you, seasonal clearance.