All About The Plus Bus | An Interview with Fabulous Founders, Marcy & Jen

At present on TCF, we’re sharing all issues about The Plus Bus, latest sponsors of the TCFStyle Brunch and the model based by fearless fats babes, Marcy & Jen (or Jen & Marcy) in 2016. Saying that The Plus Bus is a “plus dimension retailer” is form of like saying “Disneyland has some enjoyable rides” — it simply doesn’t do The Plus Bus justice!

I’m honored (actual speak!) to share the backstory and evolution of The Plus Bus, via this interview with founders, Jen and Marcy. Whether or not you’ve been a very long time stan (and fan!) of The Plus Bus IRL in-store or throughout stay gross sales, otherwise you’re simply studying about this pillar of the plus dimension and fats neighborhood — Welcome!!

Let’s speak all issues PLUS BUS!

All About The Plus Bus

Okay, bestie! As a result of Jen & Marcy are empire constructing babes, this interview is gonna be in-depth. (Actual speak, can we get a Plus Bus memoir?! Or biopic?!) As a result of I’m diving in deep with Marcy and Jen, I wish to offer you a form of desk of contents. That manner, you could find what you’re searching for, or higher but, know the place we’re happening this glorious trip!

Right here’s the place we’re going:

• Jen & Marcy MEET: How the model got here to be!
• The Concentrate on the Fats Group: How garments are simply ONE a part of the corporate’s mission
• Plus Bus 3 Areas: A primer on the place to go to buy WHAT
• Group Occasions: Seashore events, pool events, Lizzo concert events, and so forth
• Connecting with The Plus Bus

You prepared? Let’s rock’n roll!!!

Jen & Marcy MEET: How The Plus Bus Got here to Be!

Okay, so! As a plus dimension blogger/mannequin/advisor/weirdo, I’ve lengthy puzzled, “How did The Plus Bus HAPPEN?!”

I visited the flagship location pre-pandemic, and there was simply SO MUCH occurring. Shade! Clothes! Group! Cute enjoyable sun shades!!!!! this magical wonderland that’s The Plus Bus, I used to be actually like, “How tf did we get right here!?!?!”

So, after I acquired on the telephone with Marcy and Jen, that was one of many first issues I requested.

And their story did NOT disappoint!

Shares Jen: “I walked as much as Marcy at Full Figured Vogue Week in 2012, and I used to be like, ‘Oh my god you’re  a “Huge Woman in a Skinny World” for Marie Claire!  Come be my buddy!!” Jen says with amusing. “I didn’t have any fats mates or fats liberation, so assembly all these individuals was great. I used to be form of overstimulated, and it was a whirlwind. We ended up turning into Fb mates and speaking on there.”

From there, this dynamic duo discovered themselves going to London collectively!

“There was an occasion in London that we each wished to go to,” shares Marcy.  “We love going to plus dimension style occasions. As we have been strolling in the direction of one another within the airport, I believed, ‘I’ve by no means spent greater than 5 minutes in actual life with this particular person. This may very well be a foul concept.’”

Fortuitously, their worldwide journey was a smashing success. “We have been collectively continually for 3 days,” shares Marcy. “From that minute of assembly within the airport, we began laughing and by no means stopped.”

From that minute of assembly within the airport, we began laughing and by no means stopped.

Marcy Guevara-Prete , Co-Founder

(This theme of “Leaping in with each ft” could be very a lot the ethos of this enterprise, as you’ll see all through this interview!)

From that occasion in 2013, Marcy and Jen then went onto host plus dimension clothes swaps in Los Angeles, impressed by occasions occurring in San Diego. “Jen posted that she wanted to cease shopping for garments,” shares Marcy.  “So we determined, ‘Let’s do a fats swap!’ I had been to a swap in San Diego hosted by Ashley Nell Tipton, and it was so profitable. We felt like there was a neighborhood and starvation for neighborhood in LA.“

These preliminary clothes swaps led to Jen and Marcy opening up their flagship location in 2016. The long-lasting pink warehouse turned their first location!

“The Plus Bus is a ONE STOP SHOP for all issues plus dimension style,” shares Jen. 

“Now we have a bunch of choices for these occasions, bachelorette events or a customized costume designed by Jen,” provides Marcy.

“We’re the perfect place to stay your greatest plus dimension life.”

Jen Wilder, Co-Founding father of The Plus Bus

The Concentrate on the Fats Group: How garments are simply ONE a part of The Plus Bus mission

Speaking to Jen & Marcy, they actually made clear that whereas they LOVE and ADORE clothes (Jen is a plus dimension designer, and Marcy is knowledgeable producer and style stylist), the mission of The Plus Bus goes past garments.

“The garments are a disguise for the FAT activism,” shares Jen.  “So usually when new individuals come to the shop, there’s so much happening of their minds. They gained’t present their arms, they gained’t take photos with their youngsters, and so forth. We wish to be your tour information to your fabulous fats life.”

We wish to be your tour information to your fabulous fats life.

Jen Wilder, Co-Founding father of The Plus Bus

“We’re therapeutic the trauma of plus dimension buying,” explains Jen. “Being round those who come from the identical form of expertise you’ve had, who understand how difficult buying will be. The Plus Bus is known as a house of celebration and therapeutic.”

Plus Bus 3 Areas: A primer on the place to go to buy WHAT

As a part of their overarching activism and mission, The Plus Bus has created intentional areas for each sort of plus dimension and fats buyer.

Their three areas are:

• The Plus Bus Flagship: 5031 York Blvd. LA, CA 90042
• Group by TBP: 2701 W Ave 34, LA, CA, 90065
• The Plus Bus (a literal bus!!): Travels throughout!

Thrift, Classic & New

Marcy & Jen have been form of, no, REALLY good when it got here to planning their two brick and mortar areas, and their precise literal BUS.

“The Plus Bus on York was designed to raise the plus dimension buying expertise,” shares Marcy. “Wonderful classic and actually wonderful thrift items. For individuals who need extra of that thrift ‘type via bins’ expertise for treasure hunters, they’ll love the situation on Park.”

Beneath, we dive into what will be discovered at every location!

The Plus Bus Boutique [York Location]

The Plus Bus on York is a boutique! It’s a mixture of recent gadgets from plus dimension indie manufacturers (BAACAL, What Lo Desires, URTUMUCH, and so forth), in addition to classic and top quality resale or thrift gadgets (“Classic clothes” needs to be at the very least 40 years outdated to qualify as “classic,” therefore the differentiation between “classic” and “thrift” right here.)

“The York Boutique is ‘Purchase Now / Put on Now!’” exclaims Marcy. “Our aim is to raise the expertise at York to incorporate private styling.  You may go browsing and do digital styling, private styling requests, occasion requests (for instance, for those who’re going to be a bridesmaid or have one other particular occasion).  Now we have a number of the greatest plus dimension fashions and stylists that work right here within the retailer, you’re styled by a professional who has been within the trade for years.”

Now we have a number of the greatest plus dimension fashions and stylists that work right here within the retailer, you’re styled by a professional who has been within the trade for years.

Marcy Guevara-Prete , Co-Founding father of The Plus Bus

Plus dimension babes also can discover in-store neighborhood occasions for brand new and established plus dimension indie manufacturers, discovering luxurious or larger finish items for his or her wardrobe.

Okay, this location is for our babes who’re hardcore thrifters! Truthfully, earlier than going to The Plus Bus, I hadn’t actually had the expertise of going to a thrift retailer and discovering one thing in my dimension!

“On the Park location, we have now extra low season gadgets which can be a bit extra gently worn,” explains Jen. “Some items might need a injury or two. That is the place you discover treasures, and a few may have a zipper repair!”

This location additionally affords “colour packs” which I believed have been cool! “Now we have $5, $15, $20 colour packs right here as effectively,” shares Marcy.

This location was actually pushed by Marcy & Jen’s want to serve the plus and fats neighborhood. “There’s no manner we may promote all the garments we get at simply York location,” shares Jen. “This location means we will supply clothes at quite a lot of worth factors, and actually goal to serve everybody. We’re attempting to make style accessible.  Doesn’t matter your dimension or your price range.  You don’t have to decorate by the principles, and The Plus Bus is displaying that each physique will be aspirational,” says Jen.

The Plus Bus (Precise Bus!!)

Lastly, the final “location” is definitely on wheels! “It is a 250 sq ft boutique,” shares Marcy. “We use it to host occasions and pop ups throughout in Southern California!”

The Plus Bus (On-line)

As not everyone seems to be within the LA-area, the group at The Plus Bus shares each day finds to their Instagram Story, a mixture of recent, thrift and classic items! It’s like QVC or HSN, however make it fats!

The Plus Blus additionally does common “Instagram Lives” promoting items stay!

You can too arrange a private or in-person styling appointment (seems like such a enjoyable expertise!!), particulars on plus dimension private styling in LA and digital, here!

Word: Gender Inclusion

One thing that Marcy and Jen made positive to speak in the beginning of the interview was that The Plus Bus is for folk of all genders. Nobody goes to police who can strive on what at The Plus Bus!

Group Occasions: Seashore events, pool events, Lizzo concert events, Disneyland, and so forth

As Marcy & Jen have shared, The Plus Bus celebrates style — however is a lot extra!

“Now we have a month-to-month fats mountaineering membership, fats yoga on Thursdays and so many neighborhood occasions,” shares Marcy. “We love our plus dimension seaside days, and Jen is at all times attempting to get individuals to put on smaller and smaller bikinis,” she explains with amusing.

Marcy & Jen love when an occasion is community-led, and neighborhood members usually use The Plus Bus as a form of nexus for occasions they wish to see occur. “We’ve additionally organized two completely different teams round LIZZO concert events,” shares Jen.

The Plus Bus loves LIZZO, and so they have had wardrobe gross sales from gadgets from Lizzo’s closet!

To see the entire particulars on The Plus Bus occasions, head here!

In case you’re a bit afraid to go searching for your self or present as much as a neighborhood occasion, each Marcy & Jen had encouraging phrases to share (and some completely happy tears):

• From Marcy: “By no means be scared to point out as much as a fats occasion. You’re going to discover a entire neighborhood.  It’s an awesome place to satisfy individuals, particularly for those who’re in LA.  Meet different like minded people who wish to exit and have enjoyable.”
• From Jen: “Don’t be afraid to return alone, 50 fats mates are excited to satisfy you!  I do know that discovering a fats peer neighborhood is essentially the most therapeutic a part of fats liberation.  Being with individuals who seem like you.  I’m crying I really feel so fortunate to have a lot of it in my life, and I’ve created a world, and I’ve created. Present up alone, and present up open.  See what occurs! at neighborhood has has actually modified my life, and my kids’s lives.”

Connecting with The Plus Bus

There space few methods to attach with The Plus Bus! For IRL occasions, I’d regulate their events page, and for buying and enjoyable I’d comply with on Instagram!

Store the newest in plus dimension style in LA at ThePlusBus.com!

Lastly, in fact, The Plus Bus invitations you to herald YOUR clothes! “You may deliver your gently worn garments for retailer credit score,” shares Marcy. “Make an appointment via email!”

Thanks a lot to Jen & Marcy for this interview!!! We love The Plus Bus! You may comply with Jen on Instagram here, and Marcy on Instagram here!