I am a plus size gal living in the states. I LOVE your site, but I haven't seen too many things that would be beneficial for us larger ladies. I'm unable to wear any type of ostomy belts or wraps as they end up twisting or riding up because of my size. I'm really wanting to look my best without my bag hanging out the bottom of my clothes or having it look like I've got a inflated balloon hanging off me 🤣. I'm fairly new to having the ostomy as it was a result of life saving surgery. Was supposed to be reversed by now, but they've discovered tumors everywhere and now I'm also going to loose my hair. So, anything that you could recommend to draw the attention off of my pouch or that would fit a plus sized woman would be greatly appreciated! Thank you for having this site! It's got great ideas and product info I never knew about! God 🙌 🥰❤💯😇

Hi Katie, I'm glad you found the site.

When I was putting together this information, I was hoping that a few plus-size ladies would be able to offer their feedback, but I would suggest posting your question to the forums as I'm sure you'll get more input from there. You can register at www.veganostomy.ca/community/

Take care!

Hi Katie, I don’t like belts or wraps, and I wear stretchy leggings with either a flowy pretty shirt or a button-front blouse (not tucked in) over them. Over that, depending on the weather, cardigan sweaters or zip-front hoodie sweatshirts. And I always wear the pouch inside my granny cotton undies. If it gets too hot I wrap a lightweight cotton handkerchief under the back of the bag and tie it in front, at the top (this works because I wear a two-piece system). Welcome, hope you will join permanently, lots of nice people here.

PS Will add here that I have some stretch camisoles, largest size I could find, that I wear underneath the shirts sometimes, also a few tshirts by Columbia made of some very thin silky polyester, not stretchy - both of these act sort of like a slip and keep the shirts from clinging. When shopping, don’t buy unless they are long, otherwise they can ride up.

The stoma-side of my stomach sticks out more than the other side, and I am like Laurie, always looking for creative ways to camouflage.

Hi Katie,

I’m not plus sized, but I do have a hernia, which presents some challenges in dressing. Jeans and T shirt are my uniform now that I am retired. I wear jeans that have some stretch to the fabric - Chico’s is a store I frequent when visiting the US, but I have found jeans at Costco here in Canada that work well too. Buffalo David Britton is a brand that I buy at Costco, and they fit comfortably, but I guess it depends on where your stoma is located. I don’t always wear a hernia belt, but when I do, it tends to smooth the hernia down somewhat, but not completely. I dress in layers  - a vest or sweater that is left open over a top helps to distract the eye. For the same reason, I wear my purse on the same side as my ostomy. Scarves and pashminas also are a great way to camouflage; if I wear a necklace, that draws the eye upwards towards the face. When it’s too hot to wear layers, I wear tops that are slightly flowy, and not made of clingy fabric. Dark colours tend to show less, as do fabrics with large patterns. Bathing suits are a whole different problem. Again, darker colours, at least on the bottom; a skirt or a strategically placed frill can be a distraction too. I found a two piece bathing suit at Costco this spring with a dark navy bottom and a light, patterned top. To be honest, I don’t think any bathing suit is up to the challenge of a hernia, but at least this one didn’t attract attention to it. Hope this is helpful. We ostomates have to be masters of disguise sometimes!🥸

Laurie

Hi Katie - I too am a big girl. I wear jeans, and leggings with longer tops. I also have a hernia under stoma, so it really sticks out. If you have a Walmart near you, get a white, black and beige camisole. They have them in a girdle type. I was a little nervous about being crammed in one of these; but my surgeon said it was fine.
These camisoles run around 14 to 16 dollars. If you go to higher end stores they run about 40 dollars.
I’ve had my ostomy going on 3 years and the vain person that I am, this bag still bothers me. I too have tumors in my spine, so the addition of the bag is one more thing. Keep a good attitude and thank God everyday that you have been blessed with another morning

I weight 240 lbs. and am 5’4” tall needless to say I didn’t need a stoma sticking out of my fat stomach, I can’t wear a lot of my old clothes so have been buying bigger sizes. Even with a wrap I bought from Amazon that stoma is front and just off to the left. When I got sick in 2016 I had diarrhea for months and never lost an ounce. I’d like to see a few more fat people in these pictures as I’m sure I’m not the only one. One of the things I do when I’m going out I take Imodium so I don’t have the added bulge going on. I used a lot of Imodium before with my fistula which sadly the doctor tried to fix twice but both times it failed probably due to the Crohn’s amazingly I have more freedom with the loop colostomy.

I’d like to see a few more fat people in these pictures as I’m sure I’m not the only one.

Hi Katherine. I would absolutely love to have more diversity in the photos! I'm still open to adding more, so if you're interested, let me know. 

Just an FYI for women looking for ostomy friendly fashion: a few months ago, I discovered a company in Vancouver called Maiwa that sells, among other things, a clothing line that I really like. They use all natural fibres - cotton, linen, silk, wool, and many of the styles are flowing, with a generous fit. Perfect for trying to minimize an ostomy! They are a fair trade company that employs workers in India, while trying to preserve old skills such as spinning, weaving, natural dyeing, and block printing. A friend in my weaving/spinning guild recommended the company to me, and I have really enjoyed the clothing I have bought from them. You can find them at www.maiwa.com if you’re interested. I am on their mailing list, and I enjoy reading everything they offer, from ink making, to dyeing with natural substances, to regional embroidery in India.

Laurie

Ack. Bought a dress yesterday, a poufy style that would hide my stoma. It looked so cute on the rack.  I think I look like a toadstool in it and will probably return it and go back to my uniform of leggings and blousy tops.

@llholiday yeah, I have bought many clothes that looked so good on the rack, but not on me! Why did it take me so long to realize that I’m not built like a coat hanger? 😕

Laurie

unfortunately my stoma sits on a 4 inch length and width hernia and skinny so its a lot harder to dress ; plus on the other side I have a tube from my kidney with a bag down my leg .

So far I don't go out that much unless I have a long coat on ; dressing is really a problem

Deb, I had a hernia until recently, when it was repaired, so I understand your frustration in trying to dress. What I found worked best for me was to dress in layers. I found that a loose fitting longer cardigan and/or a pashmina or long scarf helped disguise the hernia. That isn’t always easy to do in hot weather. I also found that wearing my purse on the hernia side, especially with a cross-body strap helped, and wearing a short necklace that draws the eye upwards can camouflage somewhat. Hope that helps. Are you thinking about a hernia repair anytime soon?

Laurie

This is Sally, you mentioned that you had a hernia removed. Was that a bad surgery? I know my colostomy surgery was awful. Did the surgery help on your stoma???

What about dresses for older plus-size ladies? I have purchased tops that look great on medium-sized ladies. You know the small breasts, short sleeves, they have no butt and a flat stomach. If I look for plus-size there is usually so much fabric it looks like a tent. I'm not a seamstress but I want to look nice! My dream dress would use less material, not so short sleeves, and not so many colors but flowers, tie-died, swirls, designs, and come down a little longer. I am what they call a big-boned lady with about 30 extra pounds. I'm sure many plus-size ladies would be very appreciative!

Hi Cheryl, I hear your blight, now bear in mind this comes from a guy living in the UK. I tend to buy my clothes from small independent shops. The service is more personal and many have in-house alterations or use a local seamstress. I have had many a pair of pants sorted out. Just a thought 💭😀

Hi,

Google for side gathered and wrap dresses and see if any look like what you are trying to find.  both of those styles help to distract the eye with out being to baggy.

Its a bit of a pain to google for clothes, but once you find a source or brand that works for you then you can stick with it.

I shop on online resale shops and spend too much time doing so, but I do save money when trying new styles or brands of clothing.

I also use the google search photo tool to find similar items ( right click on an image then select search image with google)

Here are a couple of ideas:

https://www.avenue.com/plus-size-dress-marina-217149magentafestivalfl

and

https://www.jcpenney.com/p/robbie-bee-plus-short-sleeve-medallion-puff-print-sheath-dress/ppr5008277872?pTmplType=regular&country=US&currency=USD&selectedSKUId=22427400042&selectedLotId=2242740&fromBag=true&utm_medium=cse&utm_source=google&utm_campaign=Sheath%20Dresses&utm_content=22427400042&cid=cse%7Cgoogle%7CWomens%7cSheath%20Dresses_22427400042&kwid=productads-adType%5EPLA&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIlv2f0b7P_QIVuxqtBh1e8wyUEAQYBSABEgLhXPD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

and 

https://www.avenue.com/plus-size-dress-linda-217146seafoamfestivalb

and

https://www.macys.com/shop/product/city-chic-trendy-plus-size-color-wrap-print-dress?ID=14441888&pla_country=US&CAGPSPN=pla&trackingid=424x1052346714&m_sc=sem&m_sb=Google&m_tp=PLA&m_ac=Google_Womens_PLA&m_ag=GGL_PLA_Womens_Catchall&m_cn=RTW-PLA-Womens-Catchall-GS&m_pi=go_cmp-12520766312_adg-116481418982_ad-505347536134_pla-306854907574_dev-c_ext-_prd-9346639949664USA&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI4NfutcHP_QIVvhCtBh3F9wG6EAsYCSABEgLSSPD_BwE

I had to buy two dresses recently, one for a day-dressy and one more formal. The first is floral patterned, has a loose waist with some gathers across the front at the waistline, the other is a solid color with a large glittery outline pattern all over, and a sort of bunching-up gathering of fabric right over my stoma (that one was on clearance - lucky). I will probably wear or carry something that can be draped over the stoma side when needed; I look pregnant on the stoma side, so buying a dress was a challenge. And I am carrying an extra twenty pounds or so (and haven’t worn a dress since before my surgery).

I have found that work out type attire is best for me on a daily basis. I purchased at least 10 pair of champion work out leggings and bike shorts from champion. I really like their materials used as they are a cotton blend. You can buy them with or without the logo. The logo ones I use with hoodies and the ones without a logo can be worn with dress tops or tunics just as you would other leggings.  Flowy tops and dresses work best to hide any bulges.  I have both. They seem to hold things together as in hernia and also keeps the bag from flopping around as you’re walking. So they actually are like a support garment in a way.  The reason I like the champion brand is the construction. I have found other leggings will get too loose at the End  of the day or after washing so many times etc.. they just seem to have that perfect fit and material for me and my Ostomy.
I also wear a Ostomy wrap by corsinol underneath and it has a hole you put the bag through and then a layer that covers the top with a slot for the end of the bag. I have 10 of those as well. 
the only draw back in the work out pants is sometimes it don’t let the stool slide down but usually it’s not an issue. 
fir tops I just use a nice looking pull over hoodie or any shirt really. 
dresses are also nice but I will usually wear the bike short under them to hold things together.

I attached some photos in case any ladies interested. The 7/8 tights I purchase directly from champion but you can find them on sale at other places online as well. I just make sure to get cotton blend. The Ostomy wrap you can get on Amazon at the corsinol store. 

I have found that shoes even matter as we are walking especially for hernias as we are walking and stepping it’s affecting our abdominal area. I’m really liking the Yeezy slide type shoes for summer but can’t afford Yeezy so I but the fake version from Walmart or target. 
for tennis shoes I like kuru. The shoes really do matter especially for the hernia or if you are carrying extra weight in your abdominal area you want to avoid a hernia. If heavy in that area yes, you want a good shoe and a good support garment around your abdomen. Even if you’re not heavy in that area. Stoma’s are so prone to hernias.  You want a nice soft Cushiony step. Kuru makes all types of shoes as well as dress shoes, boots etc.. so below if you click on the links I put some examples and things I have in my Ostomy wardrobe arsenal. 

More ideas for tops and dresses. I just go on Amazon and search Flowy dress or Flowy top and for hoodies I just google women’s oversized hoodie or search it on Amazon. 

How to dress if ur not skinny as a board with an ileostomy? I'm really struggling and my surgery was last June 2034