As a longtime plus-size fashion enthusiast and curvy consumer, I‘ve tested out countless retailers catering to sizes 14+. With over 15 years experience shopping for and reviewing plus-size clothing, I think I‘ve developed quite a discerning eye.
So when the online retailer FlyCurvy crossed my radar, I knew I had to give their affordable and stylish selection a try. I ordered a wide assortment of their best selling dresses, sets and separates to see if these pieces lived up to their rave customer reviews.
In this extensive FlyCurvy review, I‘ll give you a detailed breakdown of their sizing, quality and value. You‘ll also get an inside look at some of my favorite pieces to help you determine if their cute and budget-friendly plus fashions are worth adding to your wardrobe!
Who is FlyCurvy? An Introduction
As the plus-size fashion market explodes with new players vying for market share, FlyCurvy entered to make on-trend style accessible to curvy women sizes 1X to 5XL.
Headquartered in China but shipping worldwide, FlyCurvy drops new arrivals almost daily to keep their selection fresh. Price points typically range from $20 for basic tees and tanks up to $100 for more elevated sets and occasion wear.
Their website organizes an impressive variety of tops, dresses, pants, sets and accessories to fit any shape or budget. Compared to legacy plus brands focused more on basics and comfort, FlyCurvy infuses flattering silhouettes with what‘s hot right now.
However, inconsistencies in sizing and quality have some customers singing their praises while others feel disappointed.
So how did my many FlyCurvy purchases measure up? Keep reading for my hands-on assessment across all the key metrics shoppers care about most.
FlyCurvy Clothing Review: Key Strengths & Drawbacks
Before jumping into the specifics on sizing, quality and value, here is a brief overview of FlyCurvy‘s main pros and cons I discovered first-hand from multiple test orders.
Where FlyCurvy Shines
Trend-Forward Styles: No basic blacks or beiges here! FlyCurvy serves up Head-turning dresses, jumpsuits, sets and accessories with of-the-moment details like puff sleeves, shoulder pads, cut-outs and bright colors. Their in-house designers really have their finger on the fashion pulse.
Flattering for Plus: Pieces enhance your best assets with strategic ruching, wrap effects, empire waists and clever layering. The clothes celebrate just how good it feels to be curvy!
Affordable Price Points: With most items between $50-70, you can score showstopper looks for a fraction of standard plus prices. Frequent sales and sitewide deals offer additional discounts.
Extended Sizes: Hard-to-find sizes up to 5X means more people get to partake in the latest trends. Styles sized right can fit and flatter all shapes from petite to very tall.
Where FlyCurvy Falters
Inconsistent Sizing: Based on my experience, you‘ll want to order 1 to 2 sizes up from your regular size for the best fit. Most items run quite small, with sizing differences even across like products.
Questionable Quality: While some pieces exceeded expectations, many had loose strings, uneven hems or cheap materials. Complex styles likely to have construction issues or imperfections requiring some DIY tweaking.
Lengthy Shipping Times: Waiting 10 business days from China to North America left me checking the mailbox daily. Rush processing helps shave off a few days for an extra fee.
Unreliable Customer Service: Getting issues resolved or questions answered by their customer service department proves challenging based on negative reviews.
Now that you know the broad strokes on FlyCurvy as an emerging plus brand, keep reading for the full breakdown of my first-hand experience assessing their fit, sizing, construction and overall value.
Inside My FlyCurvy Orders: How Did These Trendy Finds Fit & Feel?
To accurately evaluate the key factors plus shoppers care about, I ordered a wide variety of bestselling items across multiple size points over three separate FlyCurvy hauls. In total, I tested 16 tops, 14 dresses and 5 matching sets to see how they‘d flatter my curvy size 18 frame at 5‘5".
Here‘s exactly how FlyCurvy measured up on the most important markers of quality and value:
FlyCurvy Sizing & Fit
From flowy peasant tops to body-skimming midi dresses, fit proved hit or miss depending on the style. About 30% of pieces fit well right out of the bag. But to get my ideal fit on most items, I needed to size up once or even twice from my normal size.
For reference, here is how my measurements compare to the sizes ordered:
| Measurement | My Size | Size Ordered |
|---|---|---|
| Bust | 44 inches | 2X or 3X |
| Waist | 38 inches | 1X or 2X |
| Hips | 46 inches | 2X or 3X |
And here‘s how some of those size selections actually fit:
Tops
My thoughts: Tops run very small! Size up twice, especially if you carry weight in your middle. The peasant blouses were my faves – so flirty!
- 2X Pink Lace Up Peasant Blouse – Fit like a glove!
- 2X Coral Lace Yoke Blouse – Still tight in the sleeves
- 3X Blue Puff Sleeve Wrap Top – This size fit much better
Dresses
My thoughts: More variation in fit and construction compared to tops. Mermaid and wrap styles extremely figure-flattering!
- 2X Grey Lace Bodycon Midi – Fit super tight, could barely zip
- 3X Floral Print Wrap Midi Dress – Perfect fit, very comfortable
- 3X Satin Cowl Neck Gown – Seam ripped getting it over hips
Sets
My thoughts: Adore the concept of cohesive head-to-toe looks! But quality and sizing very uneven across styles.
- 2X Floral Lace 3-piece Set – Surprisingly stretchy and true-to-size!
- 2X Mint Satin 2-piece Set – Top pretty small, pants very baggy
So if my insight helps you at all, definitely don‘t rely on the size chart. Order at least one size up, sometimes two for roomier styles or fuller midsections. Tailor items down that end up fitting too large as needed.
Fabrics, Construction & Attention to Detail
Constructing stylish clothes for curvier bodies that also hold up over time poses some real technical challenges. And this proved to be FlyCurvy‘s Achilles heel across multiple purchases.
About a third of items looked and felt beautifully made upon unboxing – strong seams, high quality fabrics and intricate details executed to perfection. These pieces could easily pass for pricier brands.
However, the majority had some sort of defect like:
- Uneven, curved hems
- Loose strings hanging everywhere
- This sequin top missing half its sequins!
- Super cheap, sheer fabrics
- Skirts so tight, seams ripped getting them over hips
Frustratingly, the issues don‘t seem isolated to just certain styles. Even among the same item colors and prints, some are flawless while others look visibly faulty.
While nothing ever arrived literally broken or unwearable, having to meticulously inspect everything and make DIY repairs proves pretty annoying.
In the future, I‘ll likely only purchase their separates to avoid construction complexities. But overall, the quality just doesn‘t measure up to other contemporary plus brands focused more on fit, fabrics and finishings over knockout styling.
Customer Service & Return Experience
Thankfully I didn‘t need to test this firsthand. But trying to get support should issues come up may present another frustration point according to negative reviews.
Per their website, FlyCurvy offers a fairly generous 30 day return window for unused items due to defects or sizing issues. However language around covering return shipping costs stays vague.
Many reviewers experienced extremely slow email response times of 5+ days before hearing back. And often questions get "lost in translation" requiring endless back and forth.
So while return allowing policies reflect industry standards should you need them, consider any customer service contact an uphill battle based on feedback.
FlyCurvy Value & Pricing Breakdown
The majority of FlyCurvy‘s tops, dresses and sets range from $50 – $80 USD at regular retail prices. Sales can bring nice pieces into the $20 -$40 range.
Here‘s a detailed pricing example across some of my favorite purchases:
- Sale Rack Floral Peasant Blouse – $18
- Trending Now Puff Sleeve Bodycon Midi Dress – $68
- New Arrivals Satin Wrap Set with Top & Wide Leg Pants – $78
For context, most items cost 2-3x as much from other retailers focused more exclusively on plus-sizes. So no question FlyCurvy expands your fashion budget substantially if you find pieces you love.
However, lower prices often reflect lower quality production values too. You‘ll need to weigh your tolerance for imperfections against getting bang for your buck.
And while on the surface $50 seems like a "steal", having to reorder multiple sizes or make DIY fixes cuts into expected value fast.
Comparing FlyCurvy to Top Plus Fashion Retailers
Let‘s see how FlyCurvy plus-size offerings stack up to other popular brands across key metrics:
| Retailer | Sizing Range | Price Points | Shipping Time | Quality | Return Policy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FlyCurvy | 1X – 5X | $ | 2 Weeks Avg | Fair | 30 Days |
| Torrid | 00 – 30 | $$$ | 1 Week Avg | Excellent | 30 Days |
| Eloquii | 14 – 28 | $$$ | 1 Week Avg | Excellent | 60 Days |
| ASOS Curve | 12 – 26 | $$ | 1 Week Avg | Good | 45 Days |
| Fashion to Figure | 12 – 26 | $$ | 1 Week Avg | Good | 30 Days |
With affordability and extended sizes as their two distinguishing value props, FlyCurvy certainly fills a void providing trend-forward plus fashion from sizes 1X to 5X.
However lengthy shipping and quality control issues make purchasing feel like more of gamble vs established brands commanding higher price points.
At the end of the day, assess your priorities. If getting loads of super cute styles for not a lot of $ trumps all, roll the dice on FlyCurvy‘s uneven production standards.
Or if you want extra assurance your items will fit well, look chic and last more than a few wears, you‘re better off investing a bit more per piece with reputable plus names.
Should You Buy from FlyCurvy? My Final Take…
If you‘ve made it this far into my in-depth FlyCurvy review, you now hold lots of insider intel to decide if their cute and budget-friendly plus fashions belong in your closet!
Yes, try FlyCurvy if you:
- Love wearing bold prints, bright colors and trend-driven statement pieces
- Appreciate clothes celebrating curves over camouflaging them
- Want to expand your plus wardrobe without expanding your budget
- Don‘t mind inspecting pieces and making minor repairs
Maybe steer clear if you:
- Prefer high quality over mass quantity when clothes shopping
- Want assurance pieces will fit correctly and flatter instantly
- Dislike potential hassles returning or exchanging imperfect items
- Have limited tolerance for production issues or defects
For my build and style preferences, FlyCurvy makes for a nice supplementary plus option for trend-driven additions to balance out my wardrobe. But I personally need that foundation of properly fitted everyday basics from brands focused intensely on fit and construction first.
So in the infamous words of Goldilocks, FlyCurvy lands somewhere in the middle being not too perfect but not too frustrating either. Just right for some supersized fashion fun!
I hope my personal experiences and insider advice makes deciding whether to shop FlyCurvy a little less daunting! Let me know in the comments if you have any other questions.
