If you’re a mom who dreams of finding adorable plus size mommy and me dresses to match with your little one, you probably already know how difficult that can be. After having a daughter of my own two years ago, I have spent COUNTLESS hours researching my options and just knew I HAVE to share my #1 tip with you.
Keep reading for my exact process for finding plus size matching outfits for my daughter and me.
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The Secret No One Told You About Finding Plus Size Mommy and Me Dresses
I’m not going to drag this one out, and I’ll get right to the secret. Retailers are making a HUGE mistake by not promoting items made out of the same fabrics as “mommy and me” styles.
For today’s post, I’ll be using Old Navy’s website as an example. I love buying clothes for the family at Old Navy! They offer sizes that fit my whole family (baby, toddler, kids, straight size, plus size, and big & tall).
If you look at the Old Navy website, you’ll see that they even have a menu category for “Family Matching” which SHOULD make it super easy to find what you’re looking for.
While you definitely will find some cute options under the Family Matching category, it’s not even a fraction of all of the items they have that actually match! At the time of publishing, almost everything in the category is pajamas and loungewear.
You have to do a little legwork to find the real gems that match. While not listed in the “matching category” you can find cute dresses, tops, rompers, etc. I’ll show you exactly how to do it.
Exactly How to Find Plus Size Matching Outfits at Old Navy (Or Your Favorite Retailer)
Step 1: Find a cute option for either mom or daughter.
Step 2: Note the color/pattern name listed on the item description.
Step 3: Open another tab and search for that color/pattern name. You’ll see all pieces available on the site using that fabric.
Step 4: Identify if there is a coordinating option for the family member you want to match with.
Step 5: Repeat the search until you find cute options you love for the whole family.
This process can definitely take some trial and error. Not every fabric is available in the different product lines, but you’ll often find a few great options! Knowing where to go and what to do makes it so much faster.
I’ve spent HOURS in the past looking for mommy and me outfits. Now I can find several options in 30 minutes or less.
The beauty of Old Navy is that many of their fabric colors (especially neutrals) will also be available in the men/boys sections. If you want the whole family to coordinate you can.
Coordinating Plus Size Mommy and Me Outfits
If you prefer coordinating dresses to an exact match, you will have a LOT more options available to you. That’s what I did in the featured image of this post.
How to Find Coordinating Plus Size Matching Family Outfits
Start by picking a patterned outfit for one member of the family that includes 2-3 colors you like. I typically start with my daughter or me for the first outfit and then coordinate everyone else’s clothes around that outfit.
Next, you’ll need to shop around for pieces for the family in the different colors in the original patterned outfit. This is a lot easier than an exact match because you have the flexibility to shop anywhere.
For the most part, you’ll want the rest of the family wearing solids or very minimal patterns that don’t clash with the original pattern.
In the featured image of this post, I started by finding my daughter’s dress at OshKosh. It had shades of burgundy, mauve, beige, and white. I found a mauve dress for me (with a small and not competing floral pattern) and then we grabbed a burgundy sweater my husband already owned.
I hope you found this post about plus size mommy and me dresses helpful! Happy matching!
PS if you have any other stores you love that offer matching clothes for the family, I’d love to hear them! Please drop a comment below.
