Round Up: Inclusive Activewear

Written by Naima Sullivan, MS, RD, LDN

Senior Registered Dietitian, Karuna Wellness Studio

Comfortable activewear can be hard to find if you fall outside of the typical range of sizes available in most stores. Some popular clothing brands have expanded their sizing over the years while others have notoriously walked back their commitment to inclusivity. Many retailers that do offer extended sizes only carry them online. It’s hard to make peace with your body when you can’t even walk into a store to try on clothes in your size.

You don’t need to drop hundreds of dollars on new gear to be active, but finding something you can comfortably move in can boost your confidence and motivation. We scoured the internet and crowdsourced to find the most highly recommended plus-size activewear. Some exciting brands are stepping up with styles designed by and for larger bodies. For this roundup, we looked for styles across all price points and included brands that have many pieces to choose from in sizes 4X and above. 

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Popular Brands

These retailers are available for in-person and online shopping and typically range in size from XS – 4X. They often don’t carry the full size range in stores so you’ll need to check online first. Customers love that they can find good quality on-trend styles at affordable prices. 

👉🏾 Target (XXS – 4X)

👉🏾 Old Navy (XS – 4X)

👉🏾 Nike (XS – 4X)

👉🏾 Torrid (10 – 30)

👉🏾 Lane Bryant (10 – 40)

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Independent Brands

These brands have expanded the market in plus-size activewear. They are available mostly online and are committed to inclusivity with styles specifically tailored for larger bodies. Many of these companies are women, BIPOC, or LGBTQIA+ owned and tout sustainable and ethical practices. The pieces can be pricier but customers love the quality and fit.

👉🏾 Beyond Yoga (XS – 4X)

👉🏾 Girlfriend Collective (XXS – 6X)

👉🏾 The Underbelly (XS – 6X)

👉🏾 Superfit Hero (L – 7X)

👉🏾 Universal Standard (00 – 40)

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Men’s Activewear

These brands are highly recommended for their quality, style, and accessibility at affordable prices. DXL is a retailer that specializes in big and tall clothing and sells a variety of popular brands in an impressive size range. They have stores nationwide.

👉🏾 Old Navy (XS – 4X)

👉🏾 Under Armour (XS – 5X) 

👉🏾 Bad Rhino (M – 8X)

👉🏾 DXL (XL – 8X)

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Sports Bras

What you wear underneath is just as important as the outfit you choose. As a large chested person myself, finding the right no-bounce bra was life changing. Many of the brands listed above carry quality bras, underwear, and shapewear, but customers looking for more support love these brands for their notable comfort and sizing, with many cute and colorful styles to choose from.

👉🏾 She Fit (28 – 50 band; A – I cup)

👉🏾 Glamorise (32 – 50 band; B – J cup)

👉🏾 Enell (28 – 54 band; C – L cup)

👉🏾 Panache (28 – 46 band; A – O cup)

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Tips for more peaceful shopping:

1. Know your measurements.
As with all clothing, plus-sizes are inconsistent from brand to brand. Knowing your measurements is the best way to find the right fit for you.

2. Invest in a measuring tape.
Or go to a store to get measured by a pro and use those measurements anywhere. If you’re looking for expert bra fitting advice, we love the A Bra That Fits  community for shame free guidance.

3. Take your time.
Unless you are already familiar with the styles and sizes that work for you make sure you give yourself enough time when shopping. You may have to try on many different pieces to find a good fit. Feeling like you have to rush can make shopping even more stressful.

4. Be gentle with yourself.
Remember that off-the-rack clothing is designed using standardized measurements meant to represent “average” shoppers. Bodies come in all shapes, sizes and proportions so standardized measurements won’t work for everyone. If clothes don’t seem to be fitting you properly, it’s not your body that’s the problem, it’s the clothes! Activewear usually has some stretch which can be forgiving. Also, some brands have more diverse sizing options like curvy, petite, short, and tall.

5. Look for easy returns.
Online shopping has made it easier to find clothing in a wider range of sizes and styles, but shipping and return fees can really add up. Get to know the policies so you can make the most out of each shipment.

6. Buy in bulk.
When you find something that works for you, buy more than one! Many pieces come in a variety of colors so don’t be afraid to get one of each if you really love the style. Sometimes brands will discontinue products so scoop them up while you can.

7. Fashion for all bodies
If we are really going for inclusive fashion we have to acknowledge that bodies don’t stop at 7X or 8X. When it comes to larger sizes you might need to find brands that offer custom or made to measure options. Lindley Ashline has a nice roundup of extended plus-size brands (not just activewear) here.

Joyful movement is a cornerstone of Karuna’s approach and our nutrition and fitness experts are committed to helping you find the activities and gear that are right for you and your body, exactly as it is today.

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Naima Sullivan is a Senior Registered Dietitian and Culinary Instructor with Karuna Wellness Studio. When working with both  children and adults, she brings a sense of curiosity, playfulness, and exploration to a process that can often be a source of stress and worry. She helps her clients move forward from disordered eating and harmful behavior patterns and towards self-compassion, enjoyment of food, and whole-being health. Naima is also a master composter and loves to garden and explore ways to make her family kitchen more sustainable.

To schedule an appointment with Naima, click here.