Portland’s Plus-Size Fashion Scene

Local designer Claire Doody explains what makes Portland a plus-size shopping destination.

Updated July 24, 2024 3 min read

Eden Dawn

Each September, style floods the New York runways for its annual fashion week. But in Portland, October belongs to Knock Out — arguably the most joyful fashion event the city has to offer, all devoted to the plus-size community.

“Knock Out is for community building; I wanted to bring these women into a space literally dedicated for them by people in their community,” says founder Claire Doody. Unlike most fashion events, Knock Out centers on women who identify as curvy, body-positive, fat or plus-size.

The body-positive movement is happening here in Portland and has been for many years, but we’re in a bubble that isn’t in the rest of the country.
Claire Doody

The Plus-Size Fashion Industry

According to Refinery 29, 67% of American women wear a size 14 or above — yet these women are represented in only 2% of media. This means, of course, that most American women don’t see people who look like them on television, in magazines or in ads. On top of that, the fashion industry is woefully behind. Scroll through the offerings of most mass-market plus-size retailers, and you’ll find joyless black tunics and snooze-worthy full-body-covering numbers. These pieces are often designed by non-plus-size people who don’t fully understand the needs or fit issues of plus-size women.

mannequins styled in plus size designs — Portland-based fashion line Copper Union offers sizes 12-30.

“[The industry] hasn’t caught up with the fact that there are radical babes that want to wear flashy pieces and to show off their bodies,” Doody says. “The body-positive movement is happening here in Portland and has been for many years, but we’re in a bubble that isn’t in the rest of the country.”

Doody spent hours diligently compiling a shopping guide for plus-size folks, which was included in the Knock Out event program. (Browse the full list of Knock Out vendors.) “The plus-size community online is very vibrant and very large, no pun intended,” Doody says with a laugh. “We’re all a part of the body-positive movement that says love the body you’re in, be beautiful and be bold right now.”

Plus-Size Shopping in Portland

Claire Doody’s fashion line, Cooper Union, is by appointment only but offers sizes 12-30. Other local boutiques and makers are stepping into the plus-size world as well. Southeast’s Union Rose runs an in-house line from a size XS to a 3X and aims to inspire other small shops to do the same. Altar, whose clothing can be found online as well as inside Cargo, has sizes up to 6x in their seasonally updated apparel. Celebrated Portland maker Wildfang has sizing up to 4X. These owners hope that plus-size shoppers — who might not typically even enter these shops — will feel welcome to come in and explore the inclusively-sized garments.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Altar (@shop_altar)

With their promise “Keeping plus-sized fashion accessible and affordable” I Want Seconds is Portland’s only plus-sized resale shop selling fashionable used closed size 14 and up. Other resale boutiques, like Spero Park and Midtowners Market, aren’t exclusively plus-size focus on carrying up to 3XL. Midtown’s Market even hosts plus-size clothing swap events.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by I Want Seconds (@iwantsecondspdx)

Specializing in bras sizes D and above, The Pencil Test is filled with frilly and functional lingerie, sports bras, swimwear, and maternity bras, and also offers fitting services by appointment.