The good news is that there are many more designers creating fashions for plus size women today. The not so good news is that it's still a challenge to find many of these plus size women's clothing selections in most major department stores and boutiques. But don't despair, as many women have discovered, there is a wealth of clothing and accessories offered to the plus size woman via online retailers.

For some unexplainable reason, department stores have been slow to acknowledge the clothing needs of larger women and girls. Junior and Petite departments are easy to find, but it takes some searching and perseverance to find the plus size department. It's usually hidden off in a corner or down in the basement and the selections are pitiful. The dressing room stalls may also be cramped making it difficult for larger women to try on clothing comfortably.

Shopping online for plus size women's clothing is a very enjoyable experience. The only difficulty will be to not get too overwhelmed by all of the great looking items!

Below are some key points to help you make the most of shopping online for plus size women's clothing:

*Categories of retailers -- there are online retailers who carry a full line of plus size women's clothing from casual to formal wear to swimsuits. Others specialize in one particular category such as swimwear or lingerie. This is a great opportunity to shop for value -- low price and high quality.

*Making your selections -- the best approach to shopping online is to take the same approach as when shopping in person. Just spend some time browsing through the catalog and making note of what catches your eye. Then narrow down your choices and decide if they will work for you.

This includes selecting clothing that works well with your body type. It may look great on the plus size model in the photo, but try to picture it on yourself. Many online retailers provide body type suggestions for items in their catalog.

A relatively new trend with online clothing retailers in general is the use of "avatars", animated manikins that match your proportions. You can then dress them in the items you are interested in to get a rough idea of what they might look like on you. Unfortunately, online plus size clothing retailers have been slow to adopt them.

*Value -- the really great thing about shopping for plus size clothing online is the relatively low prices. Even with shipping costs most items available online are considerably cheaper than what you can find in a department store. Combine this with the frequent sales and promotions that online plus size clothing retailers offer and you have yourself an even sweeter deal!

*Refunds and exchanges -- one of the minor drawbacks to buying clothing online is that you cannot try it on prior to purchase. However, this risk is greatly alleviated by the generous refund and exchange policies of most all online retailers of plus size women's clothing.

The typical refund and exchange period is 30 days. Just be sure to return all items with the tags intact and in unworn condition. Keep in mind that refunds are typically paid out in store credit and you must pay for the return shipping. However, most retailers will pick up the return shipping on exchanged items.

*Secure ordering -- these days most consumers have become comfortable with using their credit cards to make purchases online. It basically comes down to common sense -- only deal with reputable merchants and make sure the order page is secure. Most retailers will also give you a tracking number so you can monitor the delivery status of your order.

There really is no substitute for a trip to the mall -- meeting up with friends for lunch or coffee, browsing the aisles, and just casually strolling around the mall. It makes for a nice change of scenery and keeps you in touch with consumer trends and fashions. It's also an opportunity to buy a silk scarf to go with the great looking suit that you just snagged for a terrific price online from a plus size clothing retailer!