The best vintage dresses for curvy and plus-size women are swing and peasant dresses for an easy, twirly fit, and wiggle dresses when you want a fitted shape from neckline to hem. Every dress below defines your waist and comes in XS to 5X.
Laura Byrnes founded Pin Up Girl Clothing in 1997 to dress every body, and our customers have modeled for us since the very first photo shoot for the website.
How to pick your silhouette
- Swing: a fitted bodice that defines your waist, then a full skirt that twirls. The easiest place to start.
- Peasant: a softer bodice with puff sleeves. The comfiest choice for a long day.
- Wiggle: fitted from the bust down past the hips. Pure 1940s and 50s screen siren.
- Or go long: the same shapes, down to the floor.
7 vintage dresses for curvy women
1. Amalie Ballerina Swing Dress
Picture a 1970s ballet studio, then add pockets. Amalie pairs a fitted ballerina bodice on adjustable spaghetti straps with a gathered full skirt and deep pockets. It's fully lined with a back zip, in a flowy poly/spandex crepe made for summer.
It runs a little larger than our size chart, so if you're between sizes, order by your waist.
Shop the Amalie Swing Dress in Solid Black
2. Marie-Therese Peasant Dress
If you only pack one dress for a weekend away, make it this one. The bodice comes from our much-loved Swann top, with a square neckline and puff sleeves, over a full gathered skirt. The pockets are big enough for any phone. Shown here in green Noto Tile, painted after the ceramic tiles of Sicily. It also comes in black, leopard and more.
Fits a little larger than our size chart, so order by your waist.
Shop the Marie-Therese in Green Noto Tile
3. Molly 70s Maxi Gown
Our maxi pick. Molly borrows the bodice of our fan favorite Natalie dress, adds elbow-length sleeves and finishes in a billowing tiered skirt with deep-set pockets. In mulberry pink crepe, it's ready for a garden party or a long dinner out.
Runs a little larger than our size chart; between sizes, order by your waist.
Shop the Molly Maxi in Mulberry Pink
4. Kara Swing Dress
Midcentury drama, done right. A plunging V neckline and full billowing sleeves up top; a nipped-in waist and a swirling swing skirt below. Ambrosia Floral is a print designed exclusively by Pinup Girl, and the ivory version is soft cream and white.
Fits a little larger than our size chart. Between sizes? Order by your waist.
Shop the Kara in Ivory Ambrosia Floral
5. Amara Swing Dress
Our Noto Tile print was painted after the ceramic tiles of Sicily, and Amara might be the sweetest way to wear it. Short puff sleeves, a modest rounded neckline, a gathered swing skirt and deep pockets, cut from a 95% poly, 5% spandex stretch crepe.
Amara fits true to size, so order by your waist. Shown on Laura and Aurora.
Shop the Amara in Blue Noto Tile
6. Serena Wiggle Dress
1950s tiki glamour, straight off a resort postcard. The boned strapless bodice gives real support, and the neck tie works as a halter or tucks away. Below, a tulip wrap skirt ties at the hip. It's cotton sateen in a lime-green tropical hibiscus print, and it belongs at a tiki bar.
True to size; order by your waist.
Shop the Serena in Tropical Hibiscus Green
7. Lucrezia Renaissance Maxi Gown
Our Renaissance gown, for nights that call for a little drama. A deep sweetheart neckline and billowing bishop sleeves sit over a gathered circle skirt with deep pockets. It's cut from a 95% poly, 5% spandex stretch crepe, lined through the bodice, with a back zip.
True to size; order by your waist.
Shop the Lucrezia in Solid Black
How our sizing works
Every dress above comes in XS to 5X, and all 7 define the waist, so order by your waist measurement. Amalie, Marie-Therese, Molly and Kara run a little larger than our size chart. Amara, Serena and Lucrezia fit true to size. Our size chart has the numbers.
All 7 are designed by Laura Byrnes and made to order, cut just for you once you order, so we make zero surplus. Made-to-order styles ship within 3 business days and arrive in about 3 weeks.
Quick answers
What vintage dress style is best for curvy women?
A swing dress is the easiest place to start: the bodice defines your waist and the full skirt twirls. Go wiggle when you want a fitted shape from top to bottom.
Does Pinup Girl Clothing make plus-size vintage dresses?
Yes. Our house dresses run XS to 5X, including all 7 on this list.
Should I order vintage dresses by my bust or my waist?
For dresses that define the waist, like all 7 on this list, order by your waist. Every product page tells you which measurement to use.
Do these dresses have pockets?
Amalie, Marie-Therese, Molly, Amara and Lucrezia have deep pockets.