Plus Size Alternative Clothing: What We Stock, What We're Working On, and an Honest Chat

The goth world is for everyone. The fashion industry is... getting there.

Finding genuinely good plus size gothic clothing can be a bit of a mission. You probably already know this. You've likely spent time clicking through sites only to find the plus size section is three items, two of which are sold out, and one of which is a shapeless black sack that someone's decided "works for all sizes."

That's not good enough. And while I can't claim Kate's Clothing has fully cracked it either (we're an independent business with real constraints) I can tell you exactly what we do stock, where the gaps are, and what we're working on.

Our Plus Size Alternative Clothing Range

Our plus size collection pulls together everything we carry in extended sizing from across the brands we stock (Dark in Love, Punk Rave, Banned Apparel, and others) wherever the manufacturer actually makes them.

That last bit is the honest caveat: not every brand produces extended sizing, and we can only stock what exists. But where it does exist, we bring it in. You'll find:

• Gothic dresses - lace, velvet, mesh, maxi lengths, corseted styles
• Alternative tops - fishnet, printed, layering pieces
• Gothic skirts - wrap, pleated, tulle, midi and maxi
• Jackets and cover-ups - because a goth outfit rarely stops at one layer
• Accessories - the one category that has never had a size limit

The range generally runs UK 18 to UK 24 with some going up to a UK 26 depending on brand and style (we're working on doing better than that). Sizing varies between manufacturers, so it's always worth checking the individual size guide, and if you're unsure, drop us a message. We're happy to advise on fit.

A Completely Honest Note About the Photography

If you're browsing our plus size gothic clothing and thinking "those models don't look very plus size" - you're absolutely right, and it's a fair observation.

Most of the product photography we receive from manufacturers is shot on a standard sample size. Reshooting an entire catalogue with our own models is a big undertaking for a small indie business, and we haven't managed it yet. We're aware it's a gap, and it matters, because it's genuinely hard to know how something will look on your body when all the images show a completely different one.

What we can offer in the meantime: honest sizing notes where we have them, a no-quibble exchange and store credit policy, and a real human at the end of an email who knows the stock.

And, completely genuinely, if you're a plus size alternative model and you'd like to get involved, we'd love to have you. Our collabs programme is open to all sizes: you pick something from the site, take your own photos wearing it, and submit them to us. We reward accepted content with store credit, which means more gothic clothing for you. No studio, no awkward shoot day, no fixed brief - just you, your wardrobe, and your camera. If that sounds like your kind of deal, head over and apply. 🖤

What I've Noticed About Plus Size Gothic Fashion

I'll be upfront: I'm not plus size myself, so I'm not going to tell you what the experience is like from the inside. What I can share is what I've observed over 20 years of running an alternative fashion shop.

The demand has always been there. The community has always been there. Gothic and alternative style doesn't belong to one body type, it never has. The subculture has always been, at its core, about people who don't fit the mainstream mould finding their people and their aesthetic. The idea that a size 20 person is somehow less goth than a size 10 person is frankly bizarre.

The manufacturing side has been the slow part. Extended sizing costs more to develop, sample, and produce, and a lot of brands have historically not thought it worth the investment. That's changing (slowly) and when brands we work with extend their ranges, we extend ours with them.

We also have our own label, Necessary Evil, which is being developed with UK manufacture in mind. Extended sizing is part of that plan from the beginning, not an afterthought.

Styling Ideas (From What Our Customers Actually Buy)

Rather than me guessing what works, here's what tends to fly out of the plus size section:

Full-length dramatic dresses - the Dark in Love and Punk Rave maxi styles are consistently popular. Floor-length, corseted or flowing, they're the kind of piece that doesn't require any particular styling knowledge. they just land.

Layer-friendly separates - a gothic skirt paired with a draped top or oversized jacket. These work well because they're about proportion and texture, not about fitting a specific silhouette.

Statement accessories - always, endlessly. A collar, a ring stack, a dramatic bag. No size chart required.

Find Your Size

Browse the full plus size collection or if you'd rather filter by a specific size across the whole site, try our shop by size pages.

And if you're looking for something specific that you can't find, just ask. We might have it coming in, or we might be able to point you somewhere useful. We'd rather give you an honest answer than a sale we can't back up.

Kate x 🖤