If there’s one thing most plus size women can agree on, it’s that finding clothes that FIT is extremely difficult.  We often settle for items that are too loose in some areas and too tight in other areas just because we need SOMETHING that works for us.

I feel for plus size brands because if you look at a group of 10 women who all wear a size 28, we almost all look completely different.  It’s not easy to make clothes that work for many different body types, so we’re often left with ill-fitting items or things that just look like tents so they’ll fit us all.

I recently discovered a way to get the perfect fit WITHOUT keeping a tailor on speed-dial:  custom clothing!

I think of two different things when I hear the term “custom clothing.”

1.  The “olden” days when grandmas or moms would sew clothing for their families.
2. Fancy celebrities who can afford couture.

Nothing in between.  It really never occurred to me that everyday women with little to no sewing skills (like me!) could have custom clothing made at a reasonable price, but we definitely can!

Disclosure:  This post is NOT sponsored by Eshakti but the dress I’m wearing in the photos was gifted.  Additionally, links in this blog post are affiliate links so I will receive a small percentage if you purchase items using these links at no cost to you.  I appreciate your support of the blog in using these links when you shop!

How to Get Plus Size Clothes That Fit Perfectly

As someone who has certain body features that are extremely hard to fit yet somehow never manages to take my clothes to be tailored, I can’t believe it never occurred to me to purchase custom pieces.

If you’re like me and have a “non-conventional” plus size body, finding the perfect fit can be a huge challenge.

We have a few different options when this happens.

1.  Buy off the rack in a size up and have an item tailored to fit.  The problem with this is that if you’re at the higher end of a brand’s size range you might not be able to size up AND sometimes even with the best tailoring, it’s hard to make an off the shelf item look perfect.
2. Wear items that don’t fit properly.
3. Go custom.  I honestly have always shied away from this option because I wasn’t sure where to start AND it sounds…expensive.  I recently learned about an online option to get custom clothing and it’s a game-changer for me.

About Eshakti

Eshakti is a brand that offers TONS of different styles.  They have dresses, workwear, jeans, blouses, and pretty much any wardrobe item you could need.  Their standard size chart includes sizes 0-36 but you can customize pieces in any size!

Not only can you customize the sizes, but you can also customize the actual design of the garment by changing things like sleeve length and neckline.  You can truly make anything they sell work for your exact needs and preferences.

You can check out the available items here.

How The Eshakti Custom Order Process Works

The process to order a custom piece from Eshakti is extremely simple! You can choose from a HUGE variety of items on the site and customize both the size AND the style of the piece with just a few simple steps:

1.  Browse the website and find an item you love!
2. Take your measurements.
3. Check out the size chart to determine if you can order standard sizing or if you need custom.
4. If custom, enter all of your measurements.
5. Customize the piece further by selecting your own sleeve length, item length, neckline, etc.
6. Place your order!

The hardest part of the process is getting accurate measurements.  You’ll definitely want to have someone else measure you to ensure accuracy.  The site lists all of the different measurements needed and you can find images demonstrating exactly what to measure to make it even easier.

What should I custom-order?

The best things to buy custom are those things that are the biggest pain to find off the rack.  Most plus size women I know have certain pieces that are just EXTREMELY difficult to find. Start with those items.  Here are a few of my ideas that I think would be awesome options to custom order:

Non-Stretch Items

For me, I struggle to buy anything with non-stretch arms so non-stretch blouses and dresses are awesome options to customize.

Button-Up Tops

I know a lot of my plus size friends with bigger busts struggle to find button-up tops that don’t gape.

Jeans

One thing I haven’t yet tried from Eshakti that I’m excited to soon is the denim.  Jeans are another very hard to fit item for many of us.  For “pear shape” people like me, we have to deal with gaping waistbands to fit our hips/butts/thighs, and I know a lot of my “apple shape” friends struggle with the legs/ankle area of jeans being too loose.

I honestly can’t even imagine having a pair of jeans that fit my body perfectly, so I’m excited to try these!

Current Faves from Eshakti

For my first Eshakti experience, I decided to REALLY test the brand by ordering a non-stretch dress with sleeves.  I wanted a classic style and pattern that I will wear for a long time, so I went with this black and white polka dot option.

My next two purchases from Eshakti will be a pair of jeans and a white blouse.  Both are items I struggle to find at regular retailers and will be items I wear all year long and for years to come.  Here are a few things I’ve got my eye on:

(Links to the items in the photos can be found below)

Item #1, Item #2, Item #3, Item #4, Item #5, Item #6, Item #7, Item #8, Item #9, Item #10, Item #11, Item #12

The Downside of Ordering Custom From Eshakti

Overall, my first experience with Eshakti was extremely pleasant and I can see myself ordering many more items in the future. I always want to be completely transparent so I’ll share a couple things you should keep in mind if you’re considering a purchase.

Processing/Shipping Time

It does take a bit longer to receive your items from Eshakti than a normal retailer because the piece is being made for you.  You’ll receive your items in 14-17 days.  I think given that the pieces are custom, this is a reasonable turnaround time but you won’t be able to order anything for last minute events, etc.  Definitely plan ahead.

Price

I know many of my readers are frugal like me, so Eshakti’s price point is a little higher than what we often pay for items.  I personally am happy to pay extra to have items that fit me perfectly when I feel like a piece is a good investment, and I love the convenience of having the items arrive fitting perfect instead of requiring me to take them to a tailor.  While the item price point is a bit on the higher side (at least compared to bargain mall brands and/or clearance prices at other stores), the customization only costs $9.99 per item which is reasonable.

No Plus Size Models On The Site

The last of my three downsides is that the Eshakti site doesn’t feature plus-size models although they offer up to a size 36 in their standard sizes and offer ANY size through the custom option.

It’s often difficult to figure out which styles to buy when the bodies shown on the website look nothing like yours.

I hope that the brand will begin incorporating larger bodies on the website.  They have posted some larger bodies on social media, but I hope they’ll continue to do so more in the future.

Final Thoughts

Overall, I think that Eshakti is a GREAT resource for plus size women, especially those of us who size out of many mainstream brands OR those of us who have disproportionate bodies and struggle with fit.  You can check out all of the brand’s offerings by clicking here.

I’d love to hear from you… If you could only have ONE item in your wardrobe that was designed to fit your unique body perfectly, what would it be?  Let’s chat in the comments <3

PS – If you are looking for a little extra help finding the perfect wardrobe additions… did you know that I now offer personal shopping and personal styling services?  You can check out my styling service page here for details or contact me with any questions!