Where Are All the Plus-Size Spa Robes?

A ROBE OF ONE'S OWNWhere Are All the Plus-Size Spa Robes?For the 68 percent of American women who are above a size 14, the lack of inclusively-sized robes at spas makes it near-impossible to relax.

By Dianna Mazzone

May 6, 2022

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Illustrated by Channing Smith

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Julie Pankey was the spa director at a swanky hotel on a Caribbean island when, one day, she got word about a problem in the locker room. "I walked in, and the guest was [sitting] on the bench crying," she says, "because [we] didn't have a robe that fit her."

With the spa's one and only size extra-large robe out for laundering, Pankey and her staff scrambled to find a solution. But for the guest, the experience was too far gone: She left the spa before her appointment ever started.

If you sit at the cross-section of the 68 percent of American women who are a size 14 or above and the estimated 124 million people who visit U.S. spas annually, this story may be all too familiar. There's a major problem in the spa industry when it comes to the availability and distribution of larger-size robes. And, as a result, curvy clients are left feeling both literally and figuratively exposed in common areas like locker rooms and lounges.

Sarah Chiwaya, the blogger behind Curvily and founder of New York City Plus, reports that her full bust means that she has to physically hold together the top sides of most standard-size robes in order to cover her chest. Those with wider hips might find they need to do the same to shield their lower halves. But those sorts of workarounds are only viable if the robe is a near-fit. Kellie Brown, a content creator and consultant, has had enough "horrible" experiences that she now brings her own robe (a rare find from ASOS Curve that's no longer available) anytime she visits a spa. 

As a plus-size person, "there are so many concessions you have to make," says Brown, who reviews the inclusivity of hotels, airlines, and tourist destinations through a platform called Plus Size Friendly. To have to do so at a spa — a place that prides itself on anticipating client needs and creating a stress-free environment — is, to say the least, disappointing. 

That may be the crux of why this issue — even amongst a whole host of issues related to size inclusivity in the beauty industry — feels particularly fraught. "You're trying to escape from some of the realities of life, and you're confronted with the same stuff [you encounter in the outside world]," says Katie Sturino, the author of Body Talk and founder of body-care brand Megababe. "It definitely invokes a very specific emotion." In interviewing subjects for this article, feelings like "vulnerable" and "uneasy" were common themes.

Of course, one can only hope that spas don't actually set out to make guests of any size feel anything other than completely serene. After that guest was moved to tears because of the lack of larger robes at the spa she was working at, "I vowed that it would never, ever happen to any of my clients again," says Pankey, who went on to start independent spa consultancy JMPankey Partners. 

The Spa Industry's Plus-Size Problem

Today, Pankey takes pains to ensure that the spas she works with stock at least five robes in each extended size (which typically range from 2XL to 5XL). Depending on the vendor the spa has been working with, that might mean seeking out a new supplier: "Most manufacturers do not make the extended sizes; some only make a ones-size-fits-most," says Marie DeLucca, sales manager at Chadsworth & Haig, a robe manufacturer that produces up to a size 10XL in some styles. 

But while a necessary first step (and one that far too many spas have yet to take), obtaining larger-size robes is only half the battle: The other half is ensuring those robes are actually provided to the clients that need them. Unfortunately, this is where things get — rather inexplicably — complicated. 

According to Lynne McNees, president of the International Spa Association (ISPA), current industry best practice dictates that robes are distributed by way of lockers, with some lockers being pre-stocked with larger options. At check-in, a guest would be greeted by a spa attendant who would make a visual assessment of their size, and guide them to a particular locker accordingly. 

There are, however, flaws in this system — the first being human error. A visual scan of someone's body may not reveal the size they'd actually find most comfortable. Second, as staff shortages continue to plague the industry, not all spas have the personnel to individually escort clients. 

Prompted by Allure's outreach, ISPA has committed to conducting further research into best practices by surveying its spa-industry members.

A Proposed Solution

All that said, none of the plus-size people Allure spoke to for this story could name a spa that handled robes exactly right, with extended sizes both readily available (as in, without having to ask for them) and effectively distributed. 

After taking into consideration the perspectives of fashion experts, spa industry professionals, and robe manufacturers, we present a solution that will ensure every guest receives a robe that makes them feel as comfortable as any spa-goer should: ask them what size they want, and then, give it to them.

This could be accomplished by asking guests verbally upon arrival in the locker room — as spa attendants are already trained to do when it comes to sandal size — or at the front desk during check-in. But perhaps the most seamless would be to inquire at the time of booking. Just underneath the fields for name, address, and preferred service could be a drop-down menu of all the robe sizes the spa has to offer. Through the power of technology — and a little bit of that special kind of magic that draws us all to the spa in the first place — your ideal size, as determined by you, could be waiting in your locker.

It really is that simple for spas: provide robes in a wide range of sizes, and let guests know you have them. "At this point in time, not doing better is intentional," says Brown. "Because even if you didn't think about it [before], if you've read this article and you don't make a change, you are intentionally excluding people." 

With that, our message to the spa industry is this: it's your move. And it's high-time to make it.

Now read about ways to turn your bathroom into a spa:

• The 11 Best Facial Steamers for a Dewier, Plumper Complexion
• Why You Should Consider Adding a Body Mask to Your Skin-Care Routine
• The 21 Best Bath Salts to Toss Into Your Tub for the Most Relaxing Soak

Watch Barbie Ferreira's drugstore hack for perfect brows:

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Dianna Mazzone is a senior beauty editor at Allure, and a host of The Science of Beauty podcast with executive beauty director Jenny Bailly. Previously, she served as beauty editor at InStyle and held roles at Marie Claire, Refinery29, and ELLE. A graduate of the Fashion Institute... Read moreSenior Beauty Editor

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