The Universal Standard aesthetic is sleek and minimalist. It looks to me like a great brand for wardrobe staples that you can dress up or down. (Image Credit: Instagram/universalstandard)
If you are a plus-size individual who shops for clothes designed for women, you have probably found yourself wishing there was more to choose from. By some estimates, plus-sized shoppers make up almost 70% of the potential market for women’s clothing, but somehow only 18% of purchases are of plus-sized clothes.
I’m no marketing genius, but I’ve always seen that as an opportunity just waiting for someone to seize it.
There has been a slow increase in the number of lines of cool women’s clothing sized 14 and up in recent years. One such example is a brand I read about today called Universal Standard. Co-founder Alexandra Waldman says she was inspired by her own misadventures in shopping for larger sizes, which resulted in “a hodgepodge look, without the ability to express your own style.”
She developed her line to combat that problem. The Universal Standard aesthetic is sleek and minimalist. It looks to me like a great brand for wardrobe staples that you can dress up or down. Lots of solid colors and clean lines, easy to accessorize, and appropriate for work or fun.
Waldman is determined that the fabrics be high quality, so the clothes should have some staying power, making them a good choice for staple wardrobe pieces. The prices are definitely not discount, however. Dresses run about $120 and jeans are priced around $90.
Now, here’s the best part: you don’t have to commit to any piece you buy. Waldman understands the psychology many shoppers contend with when they try on a garment and think, “I like this, but what if my weight changes? Is it worth spending this kind of money when this might not fit later?”
Her solution? You can exchange the pieces from her core collection for a different size for an entire year after your purchase them. Not only that, she’s committed to donating the returned pieces to local charities. So we have a woman-owned business, innovating in the market, and doing good for local communities in the process, while also making cute clothes? WINNING!
You can learn more and find out where to get the clothes at the Universal Standard website.
