When it comes to sizing, it’s not unusual for measurements to vary between different stores – however when it comes to designs from the same label, it’s fair to expect a bit more consistency.
So when plus-size blogger Alexandra Thomas, 25, from Boston, Massachusetts, ordered a selection of items from Walmart online, she decided to film her haul for YouTube to show that not all items were created equal.
She also shared that she asked Twitter where she should do a haul, and when several people requested Walmart, she ‘ordered a bunch of plus-size fashion’ online.
Review: Alexandra Thomas, 25, a plus-size fashion and beauty blogger from Boston, Massachusetts has posted a video of her trying on Walmart’s plus-size range
Perfect fit: Alexandra was happy with this cable knit sweater featuring slits at the shoulders
Confusing: Although she liked many of the pieces she ordered, Alexandra found the sizing varied with some items too small to even try on
‘I went on the site, first of all the prices are amazing, and they actually had some really, really trendy things,’ she told the camera.
However, noticing ‘some weird sizing going on’, she decided to film herself trying on all the pieces to highlight the disparity between the store’s sizing.
She first item, a cable knit sweater with slits in the shoulders and a lace up detail at the bust, fit nicely.
‘It’s actually really cute. This gets a thumbs up. This was a 2XL,’ Alexandra shared.
‘Okay I can’t even get this to zip, this one is really weird,’ Alexandra said in relation to her next item, a khaki green zipped hoodie.
‘I got this in a 3XL but it fits like a large,’ she added.
Explaining that she wanted the hoody to be baggy and comfortable, as Walmart stocks different brands, the sizing was totally different.
Moving onto an off-shoulder blouse, Alexandra revealed that while it ‘wasn’t completely awful’, it just ‘looks bad’.
‘It fits kinds of weird, the sleeves are really tight and it looks weird,’ she added.
And even though she admitted she sized up and ordered a 3XL, it fit more like a large.
Try before you buy: She bought everything online and advised others that trying on the items in store before buying might be a better option
Not bad: Some of the items like this cardigan fit perfectly however not all the sizes fit the way they normally do
Pretty in pink: Alexandra loved the fit of the stretch jersey top
‘In normal plus-size stores, I usually get a 2XL, but I got 3XL in a lot of things just to make sure it would fit, but I’m finding that the 3XL seems to run kind of small in a lot of these brands,’ she admitted.
Moving onto another shirt, this time a blush pink stretch jersey top with slit detail and frills at the shoulders, Alexandra revealed it felt very roomy and ‘flowy’ and again found the sizing depended on the brand.
‘It’s actually really cute,’ she said. ‘This would look good tucked into something high waisted. It’s nice and long and the color’s really pretty.’
Moving onto her next purchase, an olive green v-neck t-shirt, Alexandra shared it was a bit too snug for her liking until she teamed it with a cardigan.
She then tried on a cream furry vest in a 2XL and said because it was a plus-size brand, it fit better.
A denim shirt with a jeweled collar was next, and she revealed she liked it because it had some good ‘stretch’ to it and although it closed, she planned on wearing it open.
However, the next item, a pair of black joggers, were too small.
‘I know my big thighs will not fit in there,’ she revealed.
Mixed bag: A cream fur vest and denim shirt were a hit with both fitting nicely
Tight squeeze: A pair of trousers were too small for Alexandra to even attempt, despite her ordering them in her regular size 2XL
Hit parade: Alexandra had more success with some stretchy black leggings (left) and black and white joggers (right) that were comfortable and fashionable
The next pair of trousers, however, were a great fit: ‘I really like theses pants as they’re stretchy and comfortable,’ she added. ‘They’re really flattering, I really like these pants.’
However, although Alexandra ordered her regular size 16 in a pair of jeans, she found they were too tight despite being stretchy so would have to order up.
Her final item was a pair of thick black leggings and as they were thick and stretchy, Alexandra concluded they fit well.
‘I feel like it’s definitely a hit or miss situation,’ she said at the end of the experiment.
‘Some of it was really good, really cute, really comfortable, really affordable, but some of it, the sizing was just so off, like so off.’
However, Alexandra did appreciate the variety of items available online: ‘There was pages and pages and pages so that’s the part I really liked. I could really go ahead and look through all the variety.’
And although she advised that trying in store before buying would be the ideal option, the online gamble was ultimately worth it.
‘Maybe we take Walmart for granted. Some of the stuff was super cute and so affordable,’ she added.