Shopping Plus Size Clothes Online vs In-Store in Dubai – Pros & Cons

Online shopping has transformed the way we approach fashion. With just a few clicks, international plus size, fashion labels, fashion trends, and affordable prices are at your doorstep without leaving the comfort of your couch.

But with all that which is good, there are also drawbacks of online shopping. Anyone who has ever bought a "dream dress" online only to find out that it is as big as a potato sack knows the irritation. So it's definitely worth weighing both sides of the coin before building your wardrobe exclusively on the web.

In this handbook, we'll explore the pros and cons of shopping for plus-size clothes online vs in-store in Dubai.

So you'll know exactly what to expect? Where to shop wisely? Most frequently asked is how to avoid common traps.

Pros of Shopping Plus Size Clothes Online

Let's stick to the positive and start with the good ones. Online shopping has really opened up doors for plus-size fashion lovers in Dubai and made it easier for them to shop for stylish pieces that flatter their figure and lifestyle.

1. Wider Variety of Styles & International Brands

One of the best advantages is access to an international fashion market. In-town shopping malls may feature several brands like Max, H&M, or LC Waikiki offering only limited plus size offerings, but online? Everything and more.

Online stores like ASOS Curve, SHEIN Plus, Boohoo Plus, and Marks & Spencer UAE offer a wider range of plus sizes than many shops in Dubai. This means you can find stylish clothes without worrying about limited sizes in local stores.

According to Statista (2024), fashion e-commerce sales in the UAE are expected to grow by over 12% each year, with plus-size clothing being one of the fastest-growing categories.

2. Easy Price Comparison & Frequent Discounts

Another huge benefit is affordability. In shopping malls, you can only compare prices between two or three stores, but online browsing allows you to compare dozens of sites side by side.

Websites such as Namshi and 6th Street always have regular sales, flash sales, and loyalty points, so you can more easily get a discount.

3. Shop Anytime, From Anywhere

Dubai traffic will test anyone's patience. Add to that the summer heat, and mall-hopping for apparel doesn’t always sound appealing.

Online shopping solves such problems by enabling you to shop at any hour. Big Boyz Collection is one of the online stores that caters to all your problems and delivers the best plus size shirts on time.

This flexibility is especially useful for working professionals and mothers who may not have the time to spare hours of their day at a shopping mall. 

4. Privacy & Comfort of Trying at Home

For some plus-size shoppers, trying on clothes in a crowded fitting room is uncomfortable. With shopping online, you don't feel pressured.

You can try on ensembles from home, where you can accessorize with shoes, accessories, or even experiment with how they'll look in different lighting.

It also gives you the chance to be honest with yourself without the biased gaze of a salesperson hovering over your shoulder outside the changing room.

5. Access To Size Guides & Customer Reviews

Another frequently overlooked advantage is the wealth of information available on the internet.

Most large e-commerce sites have large size charts, and many of them list body measurements in centimeters or inches. Some even list models' height, size, and fit, just to make customers sure of their purchase.

Customer reviews are also gold. They tell you whether a dress "runs small" or if jeans "stretch after several washes." This type of insider knowledge can save you a lot of trial-and-error and money drainage.

Cons of Shopping Plus Size Clothes Online

Online shopping is not all sweet, of course. For each pleased purchaser, there is one with a story of slow deliveries, dud fabrics, or a frustrating returns procedure. Let's go over the disadvantages you should be aware of.

1. Sizing Issues

This is the number one complaint with buying clothes online. Even with size charts, there is no one-size-fits-all benchmark for "XL" or "2XL."

Something that fits perfectly from one brand is too small or too big for another.

2. Delayed Shipping

While Dubai’s logistics are among the best in the region, delays still happen. International websites like ASOS or Boohoo may take up to 10–14 days to deliver, and sometimes shipments get held up at customs.

Even local platforms aren’t immune. Festive seasons like Eid or mega-sales like Black Friday often cause order backlogs.

If you’re buying something for an event, ordering online can sometimes feel like a gamble (risk).

3. Hard To Check Fabric Quality & Feel

You can zoom in on product images all day long, but nothing compares to the feel of fabric in person.

What looks flowy on the web might be stiff polyester, or what feels light might be too much to wear comfortably while visiting Dubai's warm climate.

This is one of those negatives you can't always avoid buying online.

4. Difficult Return/Exchange Process at Times

Having clothes returned is not always easy. While on sites like Namshi or Noon, returns can be pretty straightforward, on international websites, you often have to post things back yourself. It means that you may have to pay AED 80–100 to post back. 

Additionally, certain online retailers offer only store credit instead of refunds, which is limiting if you're not entirely satisfied with the options.

5. Risk of Receiving Different Items Than Shown

We've all heard the nightmare stories! Purchasing a beautiful dress online and getting a completely different item that resembles nothing like the image.

While big sites are generally trustworthy, smaller online vendors or Instagram shops sometimes misrepresent product images.

Pros of Shopping Plus Size Clothes In-Store

In the age of online fashion apps and next-day delivery, venturing out to a physical store may seem a bit old-fashioned.

Yet, when it comes to plus-size clothing, shopping in-store remains high on the priority list.

A lot of people like it because they can see, feel, and try before buying. Of course, it also has a couple of pitfalls, like traffic, limited offerings, or even higher prices than those found on the internet.

So what's the latest on shopping for plus-size style in-store? Let's cover the pros, so you can decide what is right for your style, budget, and comfort.

1. Try Before You Buy

This is the single largest advantage of shopping in a physical store, putting on clothes beforehand.

It provides an immediate response on whether or not they fit, if they flatter your body type, and you can question their comfort level. 

Online size charts might give you a ballpark figure, but there's nothing that compares with in-front-of-the-mirror, hands-on experience to inform you how a dress fits or how a pair of jeans falls around the waist and hips.

For plus-size shoppers, this is all the more significant. Sizing from one company to another is never equivalent, so what is labeled an "XL" can be a "2XL" at another.

Shopping in person saves you from risking the frustration of having to guess sizes or dealing with annoying returns later on.

2. Feel The Fabric Quality Directly

Internet pictures are deceptive. The blouse might be drapey on the web, but rigid or itchy in real life.

When you shop in person, you get to feel the material yourself. You'll have an instant sense of whether it's cool cotton for Dubai summers, jersey for casual wear, or heavy polyester that might be too warm for casual wear.

3. Instant Purchase, No Waiting For Delivery

Another huge plus of shopping in-store is that you get to take your outfit home the same day.

No waiting for delivery trucks, no worrying about holdups during holiday periods, and no checking tracking links for what feels like an eternity.

If you have a wedding or office party, in-store shopping is the way to go.

4. Personalized Help From Sales Staff

The majority of the stores have sales associates who are familiar with helping customers locate what will look best on them.

They can recommend styles that will flatter your body, suggest colors for your skin tone, or even direct you to new arrivals that you might not notice.

5. More Confidence In Size & Style Choice

In-store shopping can also boost your confidence. Standing in front of the mirror, experimenting with various types of cuts, and walking around wearing the clothes gives you instantaneous feedback.

You will know whether a dress makes you elegant or whether a blazer is suitable for the workplace.

Cons of Shopping Plus Size Clothes In-Store

Plus-size shoppers often face unique challenges that can make the experience less enjoyable.

And that we’ve talked discussed the positive aspects, now turning the coin upside down, and let’s look into some pitfalls of shopping for plus size in stores.

1. Limited Plus-Size Collections in Some Stores

While the fashion world is slowly becoming more extensive, many stores still don’t carry larger sizes of clothing.

Sometimes, you’ll only find a small corner with a few basic pieces, while the rest of the store is filled with standard sizes.

This may be frustrating, especially if you go in with energy and go out with nothing. Even in big malls, there still exist some trending brands with limited full-figured designs.

2. Time-Consuming (traffic, parking, queues)

It's time-consuming and exhausting to shop in-store. You have to arrange the trip, contend with traffic, park, and trudge through crowded malls, especially on weekends in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, or Sharjah.

Once inside, you may have waiting lines for the fitting rooms or long queues at the checkout counters.

3. Higher Prices Compared To Online Deals

Physical stores are often more expensive than websites. This is because operational costs like rent, employee salaries, and power bills come into play.

Online shops can afford to offer discounts more frequently since they are operating on lower costs.

This means that you may find the same plus-size dress at a cheaper cost online during promotions or discount seasons.

4. Less Variety Compared To Global Online Stores

Store shopping limits you to whatever is available in the local area, but still, they don’t offer the variety that online shopping does. 

Malls in Dubai have some international brands that give you thousands of options, designs, and seasonal offerings that might not even be available in physical stores.

So, if you’re looking for something very specific, like a sequin gown in a plus size or activewear designed for curvier bodies, your chances are higher online than in-store.

5. Can Feel Uncomfortable If Store Lacks Inclusivity

This is a sensitive but real disadvantage. Some stores, even today, do not accommodate plus-size customers, and their line may be an afterthought.

Then, going to a store and discovering no size available there can be disappointing.

Conclusion

Ultimately, plus-size shopping in Dubai, or anywhere online, is all about your personality, priorities, and tolerance level.

If you’re someone who loves the thrill of trying outfits on the spot, feeling fabrics between your fingers, and maybe even enjoying a good old-fashioned bargaining session, then in-store shopping will feel more satisfying. 

On the other hand, if variety and infinite scrolling are your passion, online shopping is a total victory.

The online racks are always open, and you'll have sizes, styles, and foreign brands that you won't even find their way into the neighborhood stores. But surely, you'll have to wait a little for shipping and the occasional return.

The sweet spot? Shop online for variety and inspiration, then visit the store to experiment with the fit, fabric, and overall style. So that you're never out of reach of your perfect plus-size style.

Also Read: Where To Buy Plus Size Clothes in Fujairah?