If you don't mind ordering from Canada, have a look at Addition-Elle/Penningtons/MXM. I often find good stuff there, especially basics like jeans, tees, PJs and undies and bras. You might have to dig through the sites though, 'cause a lot of their new arrivals are looking distinctly granny-ish right now. (Maybe it's just me?)

I love Eddie Bauer's plus-size selection and have had great luck with how their clothes fit me. I just wish there was a larger selection to choose from. It might not be your style, however.

If $$ is not too much of an issue, check out Igigi and Kiyonna for dresses and tops, sometimes blazers and trousers. Don't forget to check out their sales!

One of my best friends: Cupcake and Cuddlebunny.

I shop at a whole load of places, but most of them boring (business casual). All of them have the occasional inspired outfit. Here are the links, in case you have missed any:
- Lands End
- Coldwater Creek
- Junonia
- Making It Big
- Silhouettes
- Ulla Popken.

They mentioned on the news tonight that Saks Fifth Avenue will have plus sizes in some of their Fall lines. So if you need some fancy-schmancy stuff, that might be worth thinking about.

The company that ownes LB also now owns Fashion Bug. Their quality is much better since being acquired by Charming Shoppes. I like their pants. They fit well for a good price.

I think my biggest frustrations are:

1. At some point, designers decided plus size women don't need sleeves. I live in Seattle! I have unpleasant upper arms and I would freeze to death in sleeveless clothes.

2. I don't like to wear pants and I hate jeans. Nobody sells skirts anymore, and if they do they are too short for my tastes.

3. What is up with these putrid prints?? Is it supposed to cammoflage me in an urban setting if I wear a baby blue and olive brown geometric nightmare??

I also like:
Alight
Baby Girl Boutique
Stop Staring (I haven't bought from them, but I want too!)

Some good suggestions here. Here are some plus size retailers I know of but have not tried yet, though want to.

Faith 21
Spiegel
Macy's
Nordstrom

I have gotten a great cocktail dress from Newport News. You can get lucky @ JCPenney, I've gotten a nice top for a night out as well as yoga pants there recently. Same goes for Target and Old Navy.

EvilCCakes - what was eShakti's quality/delivery time like? Thought about ordering a dress for a summer wedding from there. Thx for the post!

I ordered something for my wedding last year (that I ended up not wearing, it didn't match the skirt I was going to wear, oh well) and I recall it only took about 3-5 days to get here, but they are based in Seattle (where I live) so YMMV.

Which reminds me, I bought my wedding dress from Holy Clothing (I wore red, not a traditional wedding dress). They have some really cool stuff.

I was pleasantly surprised by Dress Barn when I went there the other day. Not as matronly as I'd feared, and fully half their store is plus-sized stuff. Loads of accessories, too.

Avenue is hot and cold for me, but I've found some more basic stuff there than I did at LB. (WTF, LB -- not everything I own needs to be ruffled and made of polyester!)

You might check B and Lu. Igigi, as mentioned above, has some gorgeous stuff.

I DO NOT UNDERSTAND the sleeve thing. Cap sleeves are grody. And you know what I really don't get? Empire waistlines -- like, the actual lines at the boobs -- when you KNOW that the boobs are big and low. No! It does not fit in that place!

Like Melanie I shop (bricks 'n' mortar) at Penningtons and Addition-Elle. They're really the only choices in my area of BC except for more expensive stuff at The Bay or really cheap stuff at Zeller's and Wal-mart. Not one of those last three sell stuff online.

When I visit Mum I usually make a stop at Target and once in a while pop into JCPenney's (they have the underwear I love).

And yes! Where the fuck have sleeves gone?! I am not baring arms (ha!) in public and a shrug would add to much weight/heat. GRAR!

Just to grar, my daughter is currently highly annoyed with Igigi - she bought a dress there for a wedding, ended up returning it (she got a way, way cuter & cheaper one from Dillards) and is STILL, five weeks later, awaiting her refund. Every time she calls or emails they say, oh, it will be in our next billing cycle. Apparently their billing cycles run in years or something? So be aware.