It's been my experience, as a plus
sized girl, that plus size punk clothes are nearly impossible to find
at a reasonable price. In this article, I'll show you how to acquire plus size
punk clothes easily and inexpensively.
Sure, we can shop at Hot Topic or
Torrid, but on my income that equates to a clearance top every month or so. Of
course, the most punk thing to do is make your plus size punk clothes on your
own. This is not always easy and if you aren't good with your hands may prove
overwhelming.
Online
Auctions for Finding Plus Size Punk Clothes
Ebay and Etsy will become your best
friend fr finding plus size punk clothes. For my summer wardrobe, I was able to
buy four plus size punk mini-skirts, an awesome plus size punk dress made by
Torrid, three pairs of Bermuda shorts and countless punk t-shirts for about
$100. At Torrid or Hot Topic, that might buy you a pair of jeans.
Ebay constantly has a barrage of
plus size punk clothes and they're cheap - fractions of the cost of regular
retail stores. There are even a few sellers who make unique plus size punk
clothes and offer them at very reasonable prices. Of course, I would recommend
looking for original pieces first. Support the little guys!
Etsy is another great auction
source for plus size punk clothes. However, they can sometimes be pricey. I've
found amazing deals there but you have to dig and keep coming back.
Punk or not?
Also, when looking on Ebay,
remember to search for things that aren't necessarily punk by themselves but
can be converted into great plus size punk clothes.
An example is two pair of Jones NY
shorts I bought for about $10. These were advertised as women's Bermuda shorts
but I could definitely see the punk potential here. They are long shorts that I
sewed a patch onto and wear them with a pair of converse low-tops and a band
tee.
As plus size punks, we have to get
creative. Take a regular jean jacket from a thrift store that you can normally
buy for under $5, add patches and studs and voila! It's an instant and cheap
plus size punk jacket! Look for items that you can make your own.
Thrift Stores for Plus
Size Punk Clothes
Another great resource for plus
size punk clothes is your neighborhood thrift store. Granted, you probably
won't be able to find many items that are usable as-is. But, I've got some tips
for making plus size thrift store finds a little more punk (and interesting).
Look in the men's slacks section.
Find men's old Dickies work pants that fit your waist and cut them off to make
shorts. Don't worry about cutting them evenly or hemming. Ha! You're supposed
to be a punk! Chop those legs off and wear them! Let them fray; add patches,
studs, zippers, etc. to make your own unique, plus size punk clothes.
Find a plaid skirt that fits your
waist and cut it up; add zippers, d-rings, straps and studs. Anything can be
modified easily with a little creativity and before you know it you'll have
tons of plus size punk clothes.
Thrift stores are excellent places to find t-shirts. If
you like the logo or picture, buy it! It doesn't matter if it doesn't fit. You
can cut out the logo and sew or pin it onto a solid color t-shirt you have that
does fit.
Other Ways with T-shirts
There are many things you can do
with t-shirts to expand your plus size punk clothes collection. You can buy
them too large and resize them. When I go thrift store shopping, I buy every
t-shirt I like then resize them to fit if they're too large.
If you have
a sewing machine, this isn't very difficult. I've listed a site in
the resources section that will show you exactly how to do it.
Spray Paint! That's right; spray
paint is a great tool for making t-shirts for your plus size punk clothes
collection. Buy or make some letter stencils and spray paint your favorite
quote or band name onto a solid color t-shirt. This can also be useful for
jackets, bum flaps, etc, and it costs pennies!
Use online auctions for buying your
base pieces, a few shorts or skirts and dresses. Then hit up thrift stores for
items you can modify into plus size punk clothes. Not only is this more ethical
than shopping at Hot Topic, it's also easier on the wallet. Plus, you'll have
your own one-of-a kind plus size punk clothes! W.S.
