I'm a Plus-Size Fashion Expert—5 Staples I Always Buy in the Summer Sales

And just like that, it's July... We’re halfway through the year, the glorious sunshine is back, and so are the summer sales, which means it's the perfect time to nab that last-minute summer dress you'll love for years, a feel-good holiday outfit or a savvy bargain that’ll set you up for next winter. For me, the sales are always about checking back in with my wish lists to see if any of the items I’ve been lusting after have dropped in price. It’s an especially good time to invest in the higher-end brands you love with items you can treasure for years to come. The brands I love to check in with first are Ganni (extended size range up to a UK 24 /4 XL), Marina Rinaldi (8 UK – 28 UK) and Anthropologie (extended size range up to a 3 XL). Top tip: I suggest signing up for Anthropologie's emails, as the brand often gives subscribers extra discount codes for the sale. 

As you know, it can be hard to find clothing in bigger sizes at the best of times, so getting your hands on the perfect piece that’s also discounted is even harder. You probably don’t have the time to scour the internet, let alone the actual high street, right? That’s where I come in. I’ve searched through hundreds of sites to find my top picks from the sales and separated them into five categories.

I’m here to help you find everything from gorgeous forever-dresses to winter-ready pieces and the best sale shoes, right through to the finishing touches. Scroll down to discover the five items I always invest in during sale season.

1. Last-Minute Summer Steals

These pieces are good to go. A buy now, wear now (but love forever) piece that might be just the thing you’re looking for to squeeze into your suitcase. I’ve pulled together a mix of easy natural-fibre tops, crochet cover-ups and standout items for your summer wardrobe. 

I’ve had this pink Ganni top in and out of my basket more times than I care to admit. Although I see myself layering it in the colder months, I also think it will be perfect worn as on its own (as pictured above), and with a bikini top underneath to embrace the crochet-esque vibe.

Shop Summer Steals:

2. Amazing Dresses

Maybe I’m biased, but dresses will always be the royalty of my wardrobe. After searching through pages of styles, this edit includes the ones that shouted "pick me" the loudest.

Taller Marmo is quickly becoming the go-to brand for the perfect wafty kaftan. Many a best-dressed wedding guest has worn its fringed or feathered pieces. Although it isn't described as "plus-size”, I really want to try the brand's dresses, as they’re often full of fabric and look as though they would fit a good range of sizes. It is more of a luxury brand, but with 50% off the likes of the sequin number below, it could be the perfect wardrobe investment.

Now let’s chat about this ASOS dress I'm wearing in the above images. I spotted this maxi a few months ago and it’s been on my wish list ever since. To me, it looks way more expensive than its price tag. I could imagine picking this off a rail in a Portobello vintage shop where it would cost maybe 10 times the price. Plus, as a size 24, it’s the vintage feel that really draws me in, since finding true vintage that looks like this at my size is near impossible.

There are a few more treats below, including two fabulous minis from my favourite (Olivia Rubin) and a dream Mara Hoffman midi.

Shop Dresses:

3. Winter Prep

I'm rarely this forward thinking, but after losing out on the perfect Mara Hoffman coat in the summer sale last year, I’m ready to grab an out of season bargain. If you know there’s a certain style of coat you love or a few cosy knits your wardrobe lacked last winter, now is the time nab them and squirrel them away.

Coats are often a brand's most expensive item, so if you can catch them when they're discounted it can save you a lot of money. Marina Rinaldi is the brand I most want to invest in this year. As a sister brand of iconic Max Mara, impeccable outerwear is its strong point.

I’m also always on the lookout for denim coats, so the dark-wash duster coat below really stood out to me. I love the neutral quality that a denim coat has—it’s such an easy piece to chuck on with anything. Lastly, I tested out this Topshop trench coat I'm wearing above as part of the Who What Wear UK Great Try On earlier this year, and I loved it. It’s such a wardrobe staple, and the quality of this piece feels like it would last you for years to come. 

Shop Winter-Ready Styles:

4. Versatile Shoes

For this selection of shoes I wanted to feature as many wide-fit options as possible. Where a pair isn't made in a wide fit, I've looked for styles that appear to have some fit flexibility from elastic or adjustable straps. I have these camper sandals (below) in a pink colour from last year and they've been a fabulous shoe to style. I love that the chunky, almost-wedge heel is low enough to walk around in all day, and this blue tone is beautiful.

Simply Be is one of the brands leading the way with wide-fit options, and I especially love the offering of boots. With Western styles still prominent throughout the summer, it's the place to head if you usually struggle to fit your calves into boots. Some styles are available in three foot-width fittings and three calf-width fittings, all in sizes 4-9. Here’s hoping that amongst this selection you can find a pair that fits perfectly. 

Shop Shoes:

5. Joyful Accessories

Accessories get a bad rap in the plus-size world, as they’re often the only items you can buy from a brand that doesn't cater to your clothing size, which can leave you feeling bitter. But as a maximalist, accessories are also great bringers of joy in my life, and they’re the pieces I tend to wear more than any other.

If you follow me on Instagram, there are two items on this list that you might have seen me wearing already: The JW Anderson Bumper Bag and the Swarovski gold pendant. I own both and absolutely adore them. I’d been lusting after the Bumper Bag for over a year when I finally hit "Buy", and it’s been the highlight of many outfits since. It’s a great size for carrying around all your essentials, and the thin shoulder strap means it actually stays on your shoulder without falling down your arm. Plus, I love its sculpted squishiness.

Since Giovanna Battaglia Engelbert was appointed creative director of Swarovski in 2021, the brand has reinvigorated its designs. I would happily "frost myself” (See: How To Lose A Guy In 10 Days) in the entire collection, but the pendant I've picked here was my first choice. It’s a chunky statement piece that is brilliant to layer with and is a great conversation starter.

Whilst the Swarovski sale keeps running, I’m hoping to add a few more items to my collection, including the ear cuff and yellow stone hoops below. Finding rings in larger sizes can be tough, which is why I pulled out this tiger's eye one from Missoma, as it goes up to a size V. Last but not least, I had to add in the Altuzzara basket bag because it just looks perfect for summer holidays.

Shop Accessories:

Next Up: Pretty Dresses! Chic Linen! Sandals! These Are the Best Summer Sales Buys