Buckle up, lovelies! We’re diving into a clothing adventure today. So, I did something I haven’t done since high school—I walked into a Target and browsed the clothing section! Yeah, you heard me. It has been that long. Let’s talk about why.

Back in my teenage days, Target was my go-to for cute and trendy pieces, but over the years, I drifted away. Why? Honestly, I just wasn’t feeling their styles anymore. Nothing really spoke to me, and I eventually moved on to other stores that catered more to my plus-size figure.

But recently, a friend of mine—who swears by Target—was like, “Girl, you HAVE to give it another shot. The plus-size section is amazing now!” So, with a mix of excitement and skepticism, I decided to return to the big red bullseye and see what their curvy girl section had to offer. Let me take you through what I found, the hits, the misses, and why I’m both hopeful and frustrated at the same time. Ready? Let’s get into it!

Women's Faux Plisse Midi Sweater Dress - A New Day™ in Cream in XXL

The First Piece: The Sleeveless Ribbed Sweater Dress

First things first, I grabbed this sleeveless ribbed sweater dress in a cream color. Cozy vibes, right? I’m picturing myself sipping a pumpkin spice latte, leaves falling around me, feeling all autumnal and fabulous. But here's the thing: it’s sleeveless. And I don’t know about you, but fall is cold! Sleeveless and fall? Not exactly a match made in fashion heaven. Plus, I like my midi dresses a little more fitted at the bottom—show me those curves! This one was a pass for me, cute but not quite right.

Women's Faux Plisse Midi Sweater Dress - A New Day™ in Stripes in an XXL

The Myth of Horizontal Stripes

Next up, I found a black-and-white striped dress, and let me tell you, I was into it! Stripes are fun, and I’m ALL about breaking outdated fashion “rules.” Can we just collectively agree to toss that ridiculous myth about plus-size girls not being able to wear horizontal stripes? Who came up with that nonsense, and why are they so wrong? If you like stripes, wear the stripes! But again, the fit just wasn’t doing it for me. Like the first dress, I wanted something that hugged my body a little more. It wasn’t terrible, but it also wasn’t coming home with me.

Women's Maxi A-Line Dress - A New Day in Red in an XXL

The Red A-Line Dress That Almost Got Me

Alright, this next one had me excited—a red A-line dress that was totally giving me life! The color? Gorgeous. The material? Super soft. I’ve always been a sucker for a good A-line dress because it snatches my waist and makes me feel like a queen. But wait—it's another midi. Why do midi dresses and I have this ongoing battle? It’s like they look cute on the rack, but as soon as I try them on, it’s clear we’re just not vibing. If this dress were just a little shorter or even a skater style, I’d be all over it. Alas, it wasn’t meant to be.

The Struggle with Sizing

Here’s where things got a little tricky—most of the pieces I tried were in an XXL, which should fit me, but they felt looser than I expected. I mean, sure, I’ve lost a bit of weight, but not that much. This is why I always tell you to ignore the tag size and focus on the fit. It’s not about the number, it's about how it looks and feels on your body. And these XXLs? They were just too loose for my liking.

Women's Long Sleeve Maxi Sweater Dress - A New Day in Oatmeal in an XXL

Sleeves, but Not the Fit

Okay, the next dress had me excited for one reason: sleeves. Not just any sleeves—flare sleeves, the kind that add a little personality and give you that flirty fall vibe. I loved them! But guess what? The rest of the dress was too long and not fitted enough. I just want something that hugs my body in all the right places. Is that too much to ask, Target?

I know I’m sounding picky, but I’m on a mission here, okay? I want a classic, sexy silhouette that makes me feel like a million bucks, and these loose-fitting dresses just aren’t cutting it. Come on, Target—help a girl out!

The Denim Disappointment

Let’s talk about disappointment for a minute, because this next dress crushed me a little. I saw this denim piece and thought, this is it. I was so sure it was going to be the winner that I grabbed it in two colors! But when I tried it on, it was just…meh. Denim usually flatters, but this? Not so much. Even in a 3X, it fit the same as those XXL dresses I had already passed on. I loved the buttons, the slit, the waist—it had all the right ingredients, but the fit and length were just off. I had this whole sexy-preppy look planned in my head, but reality didn’t match the vision.

Women's Tailored Mini A-Line Dress - Ava & Viv in Tan Plaid in a 3X

The Preppy Plaid Look I Really Wanted to Love

Let’s pause here for a second because I need to talk about this preppy plaid dress I picked out. I had such high hopes for this one, and it honestly breaks my heart that it didn’t work out.

You know how you get an idea in your head for an outfit, and you’re just so sure it’s going to be amazing? That was me with this plaid number. I grabbed it in two colors, thinking I was about to serve some serious sexy-preppy vibes. I even found a cute button-up shirt to layer underneath, so I could go for that chic, layered look. But when I put it all together? Womp womp.

It just didn’t come together the way I imagined. The fit was off, and the look that was so vivid in my mind ended up falling flat. I’m actually a little bummed about it because I could see it—like, in my head, this outfit was everything. I was going to strut around like a confident queen in her preppy-chic dream. But sadly, the execution just wasn’t there. Not every fashion dream comes true, I guess.

The Sweater Vest Situation

Alright, let’s switch gears for a second and talk about this sweater vest I found. OMG, how cute are the gold buttons?! I love a good vest, and this one was an extra-large that actually fit great! But here’s the thing—I don’t love how I styled it. The shirt I paired it with wasn’t doing it any favors, and now I’m left wondering: Do I love the vest or just the idea of the vest? Does it really belong in my wardrobe? What do you think? Because right now, I’m on the fence.

Women's Short Sleeve 3pk Bundle T-Shirt - Wild Fable™ in XXL

Neutral Crop Top Love (But Do I Need Another?)

You know how you always gravitate toward certain styles even though you have a million versions of the same thing in your closet? Yeah, that’s me with neutral crop tops. I found this simple cream shirt, and it’s solid—no surprises. But do I really need another scoop neck or V-neck crop top in my life? I already grabbed it in another color (because clearly, I have a problem), but after some soul-searching, I decided: Nope. I love them, but I don’t need them.

Women's Button-Front Cardigan - A New Day™ in Camel in an XXL

Finally, A Winner!

Lovelies, we’ve finally reached the part where I find a winner! This tan cardigan? Yes, yes, and YES. It’s cute, the color looks bomb on brown skin (you know the vibes), and it fits exactly how I like it—comfy but structured. It’s an XXL, but unlike the dresses, it was perfect. I was all set to buy it, but then, for some reason (probably try-on fatigue), I left it behind. I know, I know—what was I thinking?! I regretted it the second I walked out, but sometimes you just hit that wall where you’ve tried on too many things and you can’t make one more decision.

The Verdict: Target, We’re Not Done Yet

I’m not giving up on Target yet. They’ve come a long way, especially in terms of offering plus-size options in-store, but there’s still work to be done. More styles, more variety, and let’s get all of it in-store—not just online. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve had a last-minute event pop up, and unlike straight-size women, plus-size girls don’t have the luxury of walking into any store and finding something fab on short notice. We have to plan everything weeks in advance. I don’t want to have to rely on the online shop for every cute piece—give us more options in-store, Target!

So while I didn’t walk away with much this time, I’m not giving up hope. I’ve already hopped online and found some pieces that weren’t available in-store, and I’ll be sharing those finds in my next update! Target, you’re getting there, but we still need more.

What About You?

Lovelies, tell me—where are you finding the best in-store plus-size fashion? I need more recommendations because clearly, this journey is far from over! Drop your suggestions in the comments below, and let’s chat.

Thank you so much for watching and reading! If you’re into fashion, good conversation, or just want to follow along with my adventures, be sure to subscribe for updates. Until next time, lovelies—keep shining and keep smiling! Byeeeee!

My First Target Try-On in Years: The Good, The Bad, and the Hope for More Plus Size Options