Avoid making the wrong online purchases: 7 things to check when buying plus-size clothes

Buying clothes online can be a real relief. You can take your time, compare colours and styles, and try them on in the comfort of your own living room. Yet many people end up making the wrong choice, especially when shopping for plus-size clothing.

It’s rarely the case that you’re “doing something wrong”. It’s more a question of sizes varies from fire to fire, in that fit can be difficult to tell from photos, and that fabrics look different when you’re moving. With a simple checklist, you’ll get it right far more often, whilst also making the returns process easy on the occasions when it doesn’t fit as you’d hoped.

Why bad buys happen more often in plus-size clothing

Plus size isn’t just about “more fabric”. Proportions vary, and two men who both wear 3XL may have completely different needs: shoulder width, waist, thighs, upper arms and lengths all affect how a shirt, a sweatshirt or a pair of jeans actually sits.

And then there’s the length. If you’re tall, you may find that a standard size is wide enough, but the sleeves or legs are too short. In that case, number sizes (e.g. LT to 6XLT) can make the difference between “it’ll do” and “it fits perfectly”.

One more point: Many returns are due to the fact that people assess the clothes whilst standing completely still. That’s rarely how we wear clothes in everyday life.

Overview: 7 things to check that you can keep in mind for your next purchase

It helps to have a set routine. Here’s a summary that you can have a quick look at before you click “pay”.

Checkpoint	What you’re checking	A quick question for yourself
1. Measurements and size guide	Body measurements and/or measurements of a favourite item of clothing	Do my objectives match the specific plan for this particular brand?
2. Materials	Breathability, stretch, texture	Will the fabric drape around me, or will it feel tight when I sit down?
3. Fit and cut	Regular, relaxed, straight, tapered, high-waisted	Is the cut designed to suit my body shape, or does it “pull” in the wrong places?
4. Lengths	Sleeves, legs, back length, inside leg length	Would I be better off with a larger size or extra leg length?
5. Pictures and details	Zoom in on the stitching, collar, waistband and stretch	Does it look sturdy, and do the details make sense in practice?
6. Returns and exchanges	Deadline, conditions, process	Can I try it at home without any stress, and is it easy to exchange?
7. Delivery and total price	Shipping thresholds, delivery times, track & trace	When will I need the clothes, and how much will they cost in total?

Checkpoint 1: Measure yourself, and feel free to measure a piece of clothing you already love

The size of the label is just a starting point. It’s the measurements that give you peace of mind.

If you already have a T-shirt, shirt or pair of trousers that fit perfectly, lay them flat on a table and measure their width and length. When an online shop displays product measurements, you can compare them directly and avoid having to guess.

After a brief section setting out the objectives, things become more specific:

• Chest (widest point)
• Waist (where you are naturally narrowest, or where you want the trousers to sit)
• Hip/seat
• Thigh width
• Inside leg length
• Sleeve length
• Neck size (for shirts)

Tip: Measure twice. Not because you can’t work it out, but because a tape measure can easily shift a couple of centimetres, and those centimetres make a difference when it comes to plus sizes.

Checkpoint 2: Read through the material as if you were going to spend a whole day on it

The fabric description is more than just “cotton” or “polyester”. It tells you how the garment typically feels after two hours in the car, a long day at work or a night out on the town.

Cotton with a touch of elastane often offers a lovely combination of breathability and freedom of movement. Jersey fabric can drape softly and is forgiving. Stiffer fabrics can look great, but require the measurements to be spot on; otherwise, they’ll quickly feel tight around the tummy or upper arms.

When you’re looking at materials, you can use this little rule of thumb:

• Stretch: Provides room to move and reduces the feeling of “riding up” and “tightening when I sit down”.
• Breathability: Feels better in warm rooms and when being active, which is often an advantage in underwear and T-shirts.
• Structure and weight: A slightly sturdier fabric often retains its shape better, even after washing.

If you’re in any doubt, go for what you know you’ll be happy with. It’s perfectly fine to avoid fabrics that have previously been itchy, clung to your skin or lost their shape.

Checkpoint 3: Fit is a choice, not a judgement

Many people believe that “a larger size” automatically means “greater comfort”. In practice, an ill-fitting cut can feel more uncomfortable, even in a larger size.

Look out for terms such as ‘regular fit’, ‘relaxed fit’, ‘straight fit’ and ‘tapered’. These indicate where there is room and where the garment fits more closely to the body. With plus-size clothing, it’s often the small details that make the difference: shoulder seams, armholes, the placement of pockets, and whether a shirt is cut with extra width across the tummy.

One simple tip can save you a lot of hassle: if you often find that your shoulders or chest feel tight, look for cuts and sleeve designs that allow for greater freedom of movement.

Checkpoint 4: Lengths are your shortcut to a more “tailored” look

You can get the width right and still be disappointed if the lengths are too short. This is particularly true if you’re tall or have long arms or legs.

This is where size-specific cuts really make a difference. A size-specific cut provides the right amount of length in all the right places, without you having to go up several sizes and end up with too much fabric around your waist or thighs.

So always check whether the back length is specified for tops and the inside leg length for trousers. If it isn’t, it’s fair to ask customer service, before you place your order.

Checkpoint 5: Zoom in on the details and use reviews as a “fit sensor”

Product photos look great, but they’re taken in perfect lighting and often feature a model with standard proportions. So zoom in on the details you notice in everyday life: the waistband, the buttons, the collar, the stitching at the shoulder.

Reviews are also helpful because they often mention specific annoyances or positive surprises: “fits nicely across the tummy”, “the sleeves were short”, “the fabric kept looking good”.

You don’t need to read 100 reviews. Read 3 to 5 – both the positive ones and the critical ones – and look for patterns.

Checkpoint 6: The right of return is your safety net, but make it practical

A good returns policy gives you peace of mind. Not as an invitation to order blindly, but as a reassurance when you’re trying a new fit or a new brand.

Check how long the returns period is, whether there’s a straightforward returns process, and whether you have to pay for the return postage. Some shops also have extra-long returns periods, which makes it easier to try the clothes on with the items you actually wear: shoes, a belt, or a shirt under a jumper.

When the parcel arrives, have a go at the test at home:

1. Try the clothes on with the same underwear and shoes you usually wear.
2. Move around: sit down, raise your arms, walk about, bend over.
3. Leave the labels and packaging in place until you are absolutely sure.

At Birger, they have decided to 365 days return policy, and that really highlights a very real challenge for plus-size shoppers: you want to be able to try things on without being rushed and without feeling as though you have to make a decision within 10 minutes.

Checkpoint 7: Delivery, delivery limits and timing (so you don’t get stressed)

Even the right purchase can feel like the wrong one if it arrives too late. Check the delivery time, track and trace, and the total price including delivery.

If you know that you often end up just below the free delivery threshold, it might be worth planning your shopping a bit more in bulk, perhaps including everyday essentials that you use anyway. Some online shops also offer fast delivery in Denmark within 1 to 3 working days and free delivery above a certain basket value, which is handy when you need something for a specific day.

And yes, outlet shops can be tempting. But during the sales, it’s especially important to check the measurements and fit carefully, so you don’t end up with an item you only bought because the price was good.

If you want to make it even easier: get help translating your goals into a specific brand

There’s a reason why many plus-size customers prefer shops that actually focus on fit every day. It can be difficult to tell the difference between two almost identical shirts if one is roomier around the tummy and the other is roomier around the bust.

At Birger, the focus is specifically on men’s clothing in sizes from M to 8XL, as well as plus sizes, and you can shop online or pop into the shop in Christiansfeld. The most important thing isn’t where you shop, but that you make use of the help available: a quick message with your measurements and what you’re looking for can save you from making several wrong purchases.

Next time you’re thinking about making a purchase, use the table at the top as your checklist, and choose just one thing to improve on at a time. That’s often enough to notice a big difference by the time the next parcel arrives on your doorstep.