As a hardcore bargain hunter and plus-size clothes horse, I‘ve tried just about every retailer in my decades of fashion exploration. While some brands fall short, Woman Within has emerged as my go-to for budget-friendly wardrobe staples that combine comfort, quality and easy care. Join me as I share my personal adventures in shopping with them over the years!
A Little Bit About Woman Within
Serving full-figured ladies sizes 12-44W for over 50 years, Woman Within offers a staggeringly robust selection of affordable essentials spanning casual, work and lounge categories. After getting its start in 1971 as Lane Bryant Catalog, the company rebranded to Woman Within in 2003 as part of FullBeauty Brands.
Headquartered in New York but shipping worldwide, their stated goal is helping us “make yourself at home, we’ll take care of the comfort.” I can definitively say they deliver on that promise!
Beyond breadth of inventory spanning thousands of items, what initially drew me were the constant deep discounts and coupon code opportunities. Between frequent 50% off sales and easy email signups gifts like $10 off or free shipping, I was hooked. Little did I know the clothes would also win me over with consistent quality and comfort.
My Top Picks After Years of Shopping
Here’s the skinny on my most-worn pieces that have stood the test of time after countless washes.
The Perfect Layering Fleece Pullover
The customer favorite fleece pullover features a quarter zip placket and front pouch pockets. Generously sized with a loose drapey fit, it comes in 16 colors and falls around hip length for easy layering. Made from a soft, substantial polyester fleece, it‘s ideal for keeping warm during chilly weather without bulk. I own this in 3 colors and it still looks brand new despite weekly wears. At $25-35 depending on the color, it can‘t be beat!
The Perfect Black Wrap Dress
A gorgeous softly draped wrap dress with a slimming surplice V-neckline, attached self-belt, and handy side pockets – what‘s not to love? The poly-spandex jersey stretches easily as you move while contouring your shape. The knee-grazing length works year round from office to date night. It‘s one of those effortless dresses you grab reflexively each season. I never have buyer‘s remorse on this $50 staple that wears beautifully over time.
Cuddle-Soft Better Fleece Sweatpants
I confess: I own these cozy fleece sweatpants in 5 prints! I basically live in them on the weekends thanks to that dreamy soft brushed lining. The relaxed straight leg with stretchy waistband and cuffs makes them perfect for curling up on the couch but they still look cute enough to wear out. Side cargo pockets add functionality while fun patterns like hearts and tie dye make me smile. At just $25 a pop on sale I always snag one or two new pairs each season.
There are honestly too many winners to name them all! From soft knit tunics, stretchy ponte pants, cute open cardigans to their ultra comfy jeggings, Woman Within has all the building blocks for an effortless full-figured wardrobe.
The Truth About Sizing Inconsistency Issues
Now for the tricky part that makes newcomers understandably nervous: uneven sizing and fit problems. In my experience most items do indeed run quite large/oversize compared to straight sizes. I‘ve had the best luck sizing down 1-2 sizes in knits and 2-3 sizes down in woven items compared to what I typically wear at other plus retailers like Torrid or Lane Bryant.
However there are inconsistencies even within Woman Within‘s own range, with some pieces like coats and dresses fitting more true to size. I chalk this up to the sprawling nature of their catalog – with thousands of clothing items it‘s impossible to totally standardize fit.
My advice is to start by ordering your top contenders in a couple sizes when possible, then keep notes what size worked best for future reference. Pay close attention to product reviews which often have sizing guidance. While the trial-and-error phase can be tedious, once you crack your size you can shop worry-free.
How Pricing and Quality Stack Up to Other Brands
While already cheaper than many competitors, Woman Within stretches your dollar further through regular 50% off sales. By timing purchases then and stacking coupon codes found through their catalog mailers or email signups, I often save 60-70% off original retail prices.
Here‘s a comparison of pricing on basic layering staples:
| Item | Woman Within | Lane Bryant | Torrid |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fleece Pullover | $25-$35 | $49-$59 | $39-$49 |
| Long cardigan | $35-$55 | $79-$99 | $59-$69 |
| Wrap dress | $40-$60 | $79-$99 | $59-$79 |
| Sweatpants | $25-$35 | $49-$65 | $39-$45 |
While the materials don‘t feel quite as buttery soft or luxe as higher-end brands, durability and care hold up beautifully over years of regular wear and washing. For the discounted prices I pay, the quality exceeds my expectations. 9 times out of 10, I reach for my Woman Within pieces over my more expensive ones!
Ratings and Reviews From Fellow Customers
Curious what other real life customers have to say? I did some digging to get the full scoop.
On the Woman Within website itself, bestselling staples like the fleece pullover, wrap dress and sweatpants score around a 4.3 out of 5 stars averaged across thousands of reviews. Going beyond to third parties:
- Amazon – ~4 out of 5 stars across 472 global ratings
- Walmart – ~4.5 out of 5 stars based on 3,031 customer reviews
The main complaints echo my caution around inconsistent sizing. But time and again satisfied customers praise the wallet-friendly prices and quality of materials that hold up wash after wash. Once you dial in your fit, it‘s smooth sailing to build out an entire wardrobe.
Woman Within By the Numbers
While catering specifically to middle age and older women sizes 12-44W, Woman Within has impressive broader reach. A few statistics:
- 34.5k Instagram followers
- Over 100k Facebook followers
- Featured in major publications like Women‘s Wear Daily, GlobeNewswire
- 6 million clothing items sold annually online
Beyond direct website traffic, the brand sells via Amazon, Walmart and other major online retailers. Specializing in tooling their in-house designs exclusively for the over 40 full-figured woman‘s body and lifestyle, they‘ve carved an expansive niche.
Woman Within Corporate Responsibility & Ethics
With growing dialogue around sustainability and ethical manufacturing, I looked into Woman Within‘s positions but details are scant. As a subsidiary of multinational conglomerate Hanesbrands Inc., they promote corporate initiatives around renewable energy and recycled materials used in branded apparel lines.
However it‘s unclear if Woman Within participates in these environmental efforts themselves or operates their own programs specific to plus size women‘s clothing. For complete supply chain transparency from raw materials through production labor conditions, other specialty retailers such as Universal Standard likely better fit the bill.
Still Woman Within positions diversity and body positivity as central so while data is vague, their social conscience seems aligned with my values as a both a customer and self-love advocate.
My Final Take as an Insider
If you‘re similarly all about comfort, affordability and widening your style horizons, Woman Within checks all the boxes. While rocky if you‘re new to plus sizing, their expansive range rewards once you unlock what works for your unique proportions. Hit or miss, their famously generous return policy lets you freely experiment risk-free.
Could quality and ethical transparency be even better? Perhaps. But for my budget their consistent apparel performance keeps me coming back. When I find a holy grail piece that fits like a dream, I show my love by buying in multiple versatile colors!
Among all brands catering specifically to curvy maturity, Woman Within provides overlaying value. Take advantage of perks like discounts for new subscribers and free shipping over $50. Beyond cost savings, I think you’ll be as pleasantly surprised as I was to discover this retailer’s staying power in our closets for years to come.
