Century Girl Slip by Dottie's Delights
I get lots of questions about indie lingerie designers from plus-size women, but one of the most frequently asked questions is about which designers cater to larger bodies. One of the most obvious barriers to buying a piece of made to measure lingerie if you're plus-sized is fear: after all, no one wants to feel judged or told that their money isn't wanted. It doesn't help that most indie lingerie is shot in a way that pleases retailers, which generally means using industry standard size models rather than a variety of body types. All of this can make it difficult to tell whether a designer welcomes (or has experience with) plus-size customers.
While there are lots of indie designers out there who will work with you to design a beautiful made to measure or custom piece of lingerie, today I've put together a list of six designers that are a good place to start with. These are places I have extensive experience with or have bought from and they represent a variety of styles and price points. If you've been itching to try a piece of custom lingerie but feel lost whenever you head to Etsy, check out these designers first.
Ayten Gasson:
I've ordered multiple pieces from Ayten before and loved everything. While her regularly offered sizing is pretty standard, she's got a great understanding of curves that she readily applies to custom pieces. I think these gorgeous liberty print pieces are a great place to start, but her teddies and basic silk pieces have quite a following as well.
La Lilouche:
La Lilouche is back from her maternity leave, which means we'll all have access to her amazing lingerie again. Liya is willing to go above and beyond to make her lingerie work for you -- she's gone as far as to double-line mesh pieces for me so I can wear a regular bra with them. She's lovely, open, and fun to work with.
Knickerocker:
If you're looking for something a bit younger or with a more whimsical feel, Knickerocker is your brand. From animal-inspired pieces to junk food lingerie, there's something for everyone.
Nearer the Moon:
For those who are into the elegant bondage look, Nearer the Moon offers barely-there pieces with a real point of view. Her collections are smart and interesting, but she's also great at customizing pieces to work with curves or larger bodies. She'll talk with you about sizing as well as what part of your body you'd like to accentuate when you order something made to measure, so you can work with her to design your ideal lingerie set.
Dottie's Delights:
Dottie's Delights channels pure elegance pretty much 100% of the time, so those looking to step back into another era should give her a try. This gorgeous slip is high on my list for my next order from her. She produces a wide variety of custom pieces and will tackle bras in larger sizes as well.
Angela Friedman:
While Dottie's Delights oozes turn of the century American elegance, Angela Friedman pieces to me seem to channel a French sense of elegance. Her materials are incredible, she's lovely to work with, and she'll even send muslins for fittings through the mail for custom pieces. I love this cheeky yet elegant black slip that would fit perfectly in almost any lingerie drawer.
Have you ever ordered made to measure lingerie before? What did you think of it?