When M&S announced that it would be going up to a size 30 I was ecstatic. I assumed that they would be increasing the sizes for all their clothing. WRONG! Instead they introduced the Plus range, which is appalling. The clothes are poorer quality than the usual M&S standard and they cost more.
Why do shops insist on having separate sections for larger clothing? And why do they always put it at the back of the shop, like they are ashamed to be stocking it? And why do they always try to be politically correct about it and call it the 'Plus' section? Why not call it the 'You're too fat to be with the Normal shoppers' section and be done with it! They don't have a 'Thin' section for skinny women so why should we be singled out?
M&S are worried that they are losing money. My advice is that they stop trying to attract the 18-25 year olds with the Per Una Range (which only goes up to a size 16) and concentrate on the 25+ ages and larger sizes. These are their main shoppers and these are the shoppers that are being largely ignored.
There is a big gap in the market for larger clothing. The only major high street shops are Evans and Etam and quite frankly they are appalling. I remember the day Dorothy Perkins started stocking size 22. The shop was full of size 22 girls with armfuls of clothes. The shops are so short sighted, they would make so much money. I think someone needs to do something about it and M&S are the one's to do it.
Anyway, thank you for listening to my rant! I feel so much better
I completely agree with you! I recently tried to order a pair of trousers online from M&S but they didn't go up to my size (22), so I emailed and complained. I received an email saying my message had been passed on to some department or other but I haven't heard anything yet, but it was over a month ago.
I end up going to Evans usually but it just depresses me. Sometimes I find something I think is ok but otherwise I hate everything! Hate the fabric or the cut and I don't like things with too many spangly bits on.
Maybe we should get everyone to email all these shops and complain. Next goes up to a size 20 in its catalogues so I see no reason why it can't go higher.
I want to wear something I like rather than something that fits.
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purple dragon--you are so right! For me it's evans and sometimes I find a few nice things in Debenhams but other than that, I don't find anything that i feel is 'me'. Evans is ok, but heidi is right--either the cut is too boxy or the fabric is just crap. What we need is a Lane Bryant!!! I'm originally from NY. Dh and I just got back from a trip to visit family, and I practicaly bought a whole new wardrobe. Besides being so inexpensive compared to buying clothes in the UK, it's much more fashionable and just so NICE! I wonder if we showed enough interest, they would ship internationally?
cheers,
jen xx
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NYBird I hear ya!!! I just came back from the US and the ladies at Lane Bryant couldn't believe how much I was buying!!! I've emailed many times about them shipping internationally, and they just won't.
There is such a lack of plus-size (sorry Purple Dragon ) in the UK... I get some stuff from the Simply-be catalogue which isn't too bad (www.simplybe.co.uk).
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At least I know it's not just me now!!! I've bought a few things from simply be too but I have to buy a size bigger than usual which isn't so good! www.bravissimo.com is good for underwear, well the bras go up to 'proper' sizes anyway...but the bottoms only go up to size 18. Sometimes you see a bra that reaches size HH but the briefs only go to a 16..seems a bit pointless to me.
It would just be soooo good to go into a shop see something I like and buy it without any problems at all. Only you know what I mean!
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I've been to the US for holidays for the last few years and every time I end up spending a fortune! But you do get your moneys worth. You don't end up spending £30 for a top that would cost a size 10 woman £15!
I've emailed them several times about shipping internationally but they won't do it, even if you are willing to pay the extra shipping fee. I guess I'll just keep trying.
Sorry to pop in uninvited but I thought I might share what I do for family who live in Scotland...
They will often go through Lane Bryant, Nordstrom's, Fashion Bug, etc... websites, order what they want and have it shipped to me, then I ship it on to them. It adds a few extra £ for shipping costs, but in the long run it's worth it for them...perhaps you have family or friends in the US who could do the same for you? Best of luck to you!
__________________ There is no most excellent beauty which hath not some strangeness in the proportion. -Sir Francis Bacon
I am 20years old and I find it really hard to find 'fashionable' clothes. All my friends shop in places like TopShop and when I go in with them I don't even bother looking at the clothes as I know none of them will be anywhere big enough to fit me (I'm a size 20)
I'm quite tall (5'10) so as well as needing larger sizes I need longer lengths. It's a nightmare! And with most of my weight concentrated around my middle I find that trousors tend to be baggy on my hips and thighs.
I usually get most of my clothes from catalogues and them tend to do 'larger sizes' Simplybe, that has been mentioned, is quite good. Dorothy Perkins sometimes has things that fit ok too. But, I'm just so fed up of clothes that were obviously designed by someone who's thin!!
For anyone that lives in Glasgow or Edinburgh I can recommend Big Ideas. They have a website http://www.bigideasforladies.co.uk/ unfortunately they don't have an online shop. The stuff in the shop is lovely but it doesn't come cheap. Well worth a look though.
I just ordered a smashing dress from a website that is all plus sized clothes. It has quite a good variety of things and best of all, they ship internationally. In fact, the shipping was awful quick for standard shipping even. I pretty much followed the size chart and the dress was a great fit. No one could believe that it fit so well considering I ordered it from the internet.
Basically, if you are familiar with your lane bryant size, then this site is pretty much in line with that. It is at www.alight.com.
Furthermore, I don't know how many of you UK ladies have significant others or like to don the odd saucy outfit, but for some beautiful lingerie for plus sized women (including stockings) and they ship internationally too try www.hipsandcurves.com.
If you are looking for something very formal, maybe bridesmaid dresses or gala/ball type gowns then another site that ships internationally is www.sydneyscloset.com and again I have ordered from this and it is great.
hope this helps some of you, as I am originally from the US and spoiled by the Lane Bryant shopping experience too. I know the feeling of bringing back a whole wardrobe from there everytime I go.
The UK plus sized shops are definitely depressing, I couldn't agree more there.
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RANT!! I should be the new Director of M&S! 
) in the UK... I get some stuff from the Simply-be catalogue which isn't too bad (
Big Ideas 
