Trying the Trend: Catsuits

It is no secret that I love a jumpsuit. I am constantly on the lookout for cool plus size jumpsuits, and some of my favorite looks *ever* are jumpsuits. Still, when I saw that one of the big trends of 2022 is the form-fitting, head-to-toe bodycon catsuit, I wasn’t sure if this particular style would be for me.  But in the spirit of trying the big trends for you, I ordered two very different versions to see what the catsuit trend looks like on a size 18/20 plus size body with a full bust and a belly.

The first one I got is from one of my favorite indie designers, Samantha Pleet. I first pined for her cool designs after seeing them in the pages of a glossy magazine back in the aughts, and was pleasantly surprised to discover that she had extended her size range a couple of years ago. She has continued to put time and resources into perfecting her plus sizes and adding more as she can, so I figured a Samantha Pleet catsuit would have a better than average chance of success for me.

Sarah wears a blue velvet plus size catsuit from Samantha Pleet

I was right 🙂

This deep blue velvet number with an embroidered celestial print was the perfect way to ease into this trend. I wore it for a cold and snowy day at New York Fashion Week, styled with boots and a cropped gold puffer. As the weather warms, I plan to wear it alone with some strappy platforms and minimal accessories to really showcase the sleek cut and gorgeous detailing.

On the other end of the spectrum is this full-on zip-up catsuit from H&M. This one really had me feeling uncertain before I tried it on, but I figured for $15 if was worth the risk. So I was pleasantly surprised to find that I actually loved it.

Sarah wears a logo print plus size catsuit from H&M

It was another wintry day when I wore it out this weekend, so I leaned into the apres-ski snowbunny vibes by pairing it with puffer boots and a sporty belt bag. Topping it off with 90’s inspired sunnies and a little gold jacket felt just right.  The added styling elements made it feel daytime ready, but the zip front detail and full bodycon fit means that you could easily take it to night with a strappy heel and minimal styling (aka the celebrity favorite way to wear a catsuit right now).

If you want to try a catsuit of your own (and I definitely encourage it – there is something very freeing about this style IMO!), I’ve rounded up the best places to find fashion catsuits in plus size here:

If you are looking for a low-risk price point to try out this trend in plus, my go-to recommendation is Rainbow. They have catsuits in a variety of colors and prints in plus, and most of them are under $15! This Marine Serre dupe is definitely tempting me (especially since the designer version does not come in plus!)

If you want a catsuit that is all fashion, check out Eloquii, Fashion to Figure, Ashley Stewart, or Rebdolls. Torrid also has a sleek black one in sizes up to 6x.

If you are looking for a more sporty, athleisure-esque catsuit, check out Girlfriend Collective or Old Navy. I actually have this one from Universal Standard from years ago, and I can attest that it both feels secure on, and lasts.

Which catsuit vibe is calling to you? Do you have other styling questions? Let’s chat on Instagram or Tiktok!