I tried $5 plus-size clothes from Wish to see if it’s a scam

Whether you live for luxury or are a member of the broke girl squad, everyone loves a deal. 

And you can’t scroll down Facebook, Instagram, or YouTube without coming across Wish, the online brand that sells clothes for as little as $1 — or even for FREE. Shopping on the extremely low-priced, Amazon-esque platform can be dicey if you're sample size, so shopping for a size 18/20 like myself is super adventurous. 

I tried shopping $5 plus-size clothes on Wish and here's what happened…

I was genuinely excited to try Wish. I got my credit card out and began to shop.

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I browsed the site for items that were exactly $5.

After hours of searching for something I actually liked, I came across my first scam.

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Items promoted as $5 would increase in price when I changed the color or added them to my cart. This limited my options greatly. After almost two hours, I found a few things that I liked and that fit my $5-per-item budget.

About a week later, the packages from various vendors started trickling in.

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Revelist/ Carmen Hurtado Esteves

Some of the packages were smaller than my hand. I was worried.

I sized up to a 4X in every piece to be safe.

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Revelist/Carmen Hurtado Esteves

The first item I tried on was this off-the-shoulder teal blouse.

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Revelist/ Carmen Hurtado Esteves

I wasn't expecting great material, but the fabric felt like actual paper.

I thought it looked extremely small for a 4X... I wasn't wrong.

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Revelist/ Carmen Hurtado Esteves

Wish, what is you doing, baby?

Chiffon off-the-shoulder blouse ($5, Wish)

This Nirvana tee fit more like a 1X than a 4X.

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Revelist/ Carmen Hurtado Esteves

I was happy that this one at least covered my bra.

Summer tank top ($5, Wish)

This striped top goes up to a 6XL, but I don't even think sizing up would help.

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Revelist/ Carmen Hurtado Esteves

Trying on clothes that don't fit gives me flashbacks to shopping with skinny friends at straight size stores. The sizing was so ridiculous, all I could do was laugh. 

Long-sleeve button down ($5, Wish)

Attention: This was advertised as a dress. I really don't have anything else to say other than that.

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Revelist/ Carmen Hurtado Esteves

Hoodie short dress ($5, Wish)

I live for a T-shirt with a funny quote, so when I saw this one, I had to add it to my shopping cart.

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Revelist/ Carmen Hurtado Esteves

Though I only ordered a white T-shirt, I received a bonus gray one as well. They both had a 4X on the tag, but the white one was slightly bigger.

I Speak Fluent Sarcasm T-shirt ($5, Wish)

This adorable cat T-shirt was probably the item I was most excited for.

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Revelist/ Carmen Hurtado Esteves

As you can see, it did not go as planned. 

Cat Lovers top ($5, Wish)

Not only did they send the wrong color, but it was so thin and cheap that the cat pocket effect was ruined.

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Revelist/ Carmen Hurtado Esteves

The lower half of the cat showed through the pocket. FAIL.

I'd love to say things got better, but they didn't.

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Revelist/Carmen Hurtado Esteves

This material reminded me of a cheap Halloween costume.  

Sexy hollow out lace-up shirt ($5, Wish)

It was finally time to try on the bottoms, and I was terrified.

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Revelist/Carmen Hurtado Esteves

The 4X pants I ordered felt like paper mache and fit like an XL.   

Cropped drawstring trousers ($5, Wish)

I love anything that makes me feel like a land mermaid, so I had to try these green scale leggings.

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Revelist/Carmen Hurtado Esteves

Mermaid scales gym leggings ($5, Wish)

Unfortunately the waist was too short and it gave me plumber butt crack.

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Revelist/Carmen Hurtado Esteves

I ordered a second pair in a 5X — just in case the 4X didn't fit.

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Revelist/ Carmen Hurtado Esteves

Same scam, different size.

These leggings fit, but they were far from comfortable.

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Revelist/ Carmen Hurtado Esteves

This, too, felt like Halloween costume material. 

Elastic leggings with criss cross cutout ($5, Wish)

When I was shopping, I came across a few lace bras and prayed they would cover my nipples.

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Revelist/ Carmen Hurtado Esteves

I got what I prayed for, but no support whatsoever.

Rose appliqué bralette ($5, Wish)

I only ordered one black bralette but they sent me two. Neither fit.

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Revelist/ Carmen Hurtado Esteves

Black lace strappy bra ($5, Wish)

VERDICT:

Wish is like a wild wild west for plus-size shoppers. 

None of the vendors are verified accounts or known brands and nearly everything is modeled on tiny straight size bodies. The size charts are extremely unreliable and some vendors don't even have them. 

As a plus-size woman, I didn't find one item that fit comfortably enough to even be worn as around the house clothes or to go to bed. Trying on this many ill-fitting clothes was frustrating and tiring. 

You're better off digging through the sale racks at Forever 21 or Forever 21 Red.