Women's Plus Size Urban Clothing

Women's plus size urban clothing brings the culture and expression of hip hop within the reach of the fashion conscious full figured woman.

Rocawear Plus Size Tee

Most people have heard of hip hop music, but not everyone understands that the distinctive style of dress known as hip hop or urban fashion today is just an offshoot of that popular artistic culture. It all started back in the late '70s and the early '80s, at a time when punk was emerging and transformed to be known as hip hop. It was an easy merge between the two styles because they both embraced a "do-it-yourself" ethic which today is carried over into the fashion style known as urban or hip hop fashion. Its roots are strongly tied to African-American, Latino and Caribbean-American young people who loved the music and embraced the hip hop culture. Along with ethnic ties, urban fashion was also strongly influenced by the cultures of various cities including:

• Brooklyn
• Chicago
• Detroit
• East Bay (San Francisco)
• Galesburg
• Los Angeles
• Philadelphia
• Puerto Rico

As each city contributed to the hip hop sense of style, it has changed over the years, and today this prominent fashion is available across the world to all sizes.

Here are some of the more popular brands that carry larger sizes.

• Apple Bottoms
• Baby Phat
• Ballerr Fabulous
• Dereon
• Dilate
• Flying Fortress
• MethodsNYC
• Mono Clothing
• Nylon
• Rocawear
• Seven7 Jeans
• Southpole
• Teddy Army

When you look around and see the immense popularity of hip hop clothing, you may wonder how on earth such a distinctive look has grown to become a part of the mainstream fashion industry today. The truth is that there is no single reason it is so popular. Instead, it is a conglomeration of factors that worked together between the music, its fans and the fashion industry. Rap artists wearing the clothing created a strong link that bound all the elements together, and today it's not unusual to find rap artists who also own urban clothing lines. Among these is Jay-Z, whose designer line Rocawear carries women's plus size urban clothing along with other sizes for men and women.

If you haven't purchased hip hop clothing in the past and are now checking various brands, take the time to read reviews from the regular everyday people who have bought them and worn them. Pictures can always make a pair of plus size jeans look good, but how do they fit the plus size gal when she's bending? Do they stretch out or retain their fit as the day goes on?

When shopping online, you don't have the luxury of trying clothes on before you buy them. In that case, be sure to check the size chart for that particular brand. You'll want to take your measurements to be sure you're ordering the size that fits. Another important thing to remember when ordering online is to read the return policy. If it is full of hassles, you won't be happy if for some reason you have to return your garment.

While it is easy to see what's out there by shopping online, another option to find urban clothing that fits you right is to call nearby stores to see if they carry any of the brands mentioned in this article. Also ask if they are carrying the plus sizes. JCPenney, which can be found at many neighborhood malls, carries the Southpole brand, which is known for a large selection of plus size women's hip hop clothing.

Urban clothing is fun because it lets you be you. It's an eclectic assortment that can be mixed and matched to give you that individual style that says, "This is me!"

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