25 May 2019

A question about : Large Plus Size Clothing

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I thought it would be good to start a thread sharing tips on plus size clothes shopping.

Below I share my Bookmarks, don't use all of them but thought other women may be interested in having a look at these websites. They all go up to at least size 28.

Ann Harvey: love them, they are smart, very good quality. Do a lot of sales, so prices are more reasonable. Not cheap, but they will last. They use a lot of viscose, which I love. Some silk and linen, obviously more expensive.
Sold at Debenhams as well: https://www.debenhams.com/ann-harvey

Evans: I stay away from them, as I find them not very good value for money. Also everybody wears their stuff so you will find other large ladies wearing the same clothes. Lots of man-made fabric.

M&S: Another one I don't use much. Not clear where they are going, as they keep changing their strategy, sometimes they have a separate, sad looking section for sizes up to 28 (next to the old ladies section....) other times they have a few larger sizes scattered in the shop which are impossible to find!
And on line you can search for petite, maternity etc, but no longer for plus sizes!
However they do many lines up to size 24, lots of nice stuff in my opinion, but very little that I like above that. What a pity!

Simply Be: they are part of the JD Williams group, they have other brands like Marisota, Naturally Close (lingerie), Viva La Diva (large fit shes) and Jacamo (for men). You can access all of them (23 just for fashion, shoes, lingerie etc), including two discount websites at: HomeShoppingDirect.
Sizing and quality are a bit unreliable, but they have an excellent return policy excellent, so you easily send back what you don't want (free postage), and pay only for what you keep.

yours Yours' fashionable collection is specially designed for women up to size 32.
Yours Clothing seems to be one of the few companies that caters for the younger 28+ market, and they are very popular despite their appalling quality (sorry I know many people disagree, but IMO really bad value for money if you pay full price).

ULLA POPKEN : good quality, classic fashion from Germany. Very expensive, probably not the best value for money.

Curvety.com Online shopping emporium for women with fuller figures who don't wish to compromise on their style. Our plus size womens clothing and lingerie features designer chic and a comfortable fit, offering women out size fashion clothes that celebrate our curves!

Box2: unusual clothes I bought some interesting items from them.

Next - Plus Sizes – Personally I don't like their quality, poor value for money, but offers trendy clothes.

Chesca: gorgeous clothes, fit up to size 28 (they only go up to size 24, but some stuff fits size 28 generously).

Matalan Online: much improved quality and styles, very good value for money.

The following website are for your information, but I have never used them so I can't comment on them:

M&Co. - Locate your nearest store, shop on-line or call 0800 0317 200 for high quality fashion for ladies, men, kids and your home. Next day delivery and free returns.

Empire Stores/Littlewood/Additions: - so fabulous range
The also have an outlet on eBay: https://stores.ebay.co.uk/Littlewoods...sasiZ1QQ_sopZ1

La Redoute: Plus-size La Redoute specialist in French Fashion designer clothes at great prices like womenswear, menswear, childrenswear from La Redoute Home Shopping Catalogue UK. Daxon: (la Redoute 50+) Daxon French Fashion designer clothes at great prices womenswear, menswear, childrenswear, sportswear and homeware.
Please be warned that their reliability and customer service are not very good, they are known to take ages to deliver, and are difficult to get hold of by phone or email.

sosienna Large range of Fashionable Womens Plus Size Clothing from top designers such as Anna Scholz

Kanopy NOW CLOSED

Anna Scholz Anna Scholz online shop offers plus size women's clothing in sizes 12 - 28. Buy designer dresses, tops, knitwear, coats, jackets, skirts & accessories

FLORENTYNA DOWN Mother of the bride stock larger sizes in ladies special occasion wear and evening wear. Florentyna Dawn - UK's leading fashion house. We also cater for larger sizes and plus sizes.

DIRECTORIES, BLOGS, NEWS AND MAGAZINES:

Plus Size Clothing - search clothes from evans, simply be etc. Plus Size clothing with the latest plus size fashion from Evans, Yours, Ann Harvey and Curvety, including plus size dresses, tops, swimwear and lots more.

www.plussizedirectory.com

Plus Size Clothing (From USA). Above average? Look great at any size with our shopping links to plus size clothing stores. Find a new world of fashion choices online

https://www.justasbeautiful.com/
Just As Beautiful Magazine is the UK's first free lifestyle magazine dedicated to the plus-size woman. It is also the number one magazine in Britain and Europe catering to the plus-size market.
PS: I've just stopped my subscription because they have been promoting plus size models that are slim women size 12. What???

US Fully figured fashion week
https://www.fffweek.com/la.php
Here's an article about it on the Independent: https://www.independent.co.uk/life-st...w-2007313.html

US news and blogs
https://plussize.lovetoknow.com/Main_Page

UK EBAY SHOPS

In both cases really nice clothes, different from the usual high street. Some, but not many, up to size 28/30. They don't let you shop by size, so you have to look at all the lovely things you CAN'T buy before finding what comes in your size.
More importantly if you buy something that doesn't fit you may not get all of your money back, as these shops have terms and conditions that don't to comply with the Distance Selling Regulations.

Plus Size Heaven
https://stores.ebay.co.uk/Plus-Size-Heaven

Pretty Big Stuff
https://stores.ebay.co.uk/PRETTY-BIG-STUFF

WEBSITE RECOMMENDED BY OTHER MSE MEMBERS:
(I'm saving them all in one place, easier to find).

Tenuissent:
https://www.elvi.co.uk/ (NOW UP TO SIZE 28 - LOOK OUT FOR THE GREAT SALES!)

Chocmonster7:
Lands End https://www.landsend.co.uk/ have a Plus size collection. I've always found their stuff very good and they have a clearance section worth keeping an eye on.

Salduck and Maevejuniper:
New Look (inspire range, up to size 26)

Rainbow Fury and Goodcake:
Spirito D'Artigiano: (up to 28)

Olive Oli:
Bonprix: (up to size 30)
Personally have found Bon Prix mail order to be really quite good, very reasonably priced, quality can be a bit mixed, but do do some sizes up to size 30. Can really recommend the bras as some have the wider comfy straps and aren't granny style, and very good value

Minxwolf:
USA sites. There are a few that will ship direct..
For young fashion torrid
for good prices and plus size maternity j.c pennys
for jeans old navy

Australia: for evening wear sidneys.closet

Mum2one:
great summer dresses from a company in America, off ebay: Holyclothing. Some are Gothic inspired.

Anniestar:
Fantastic dresses. The new season stuff looks really nice. They go from size 12 to 34.
https://www.rpeal.co.uk/
beware: customer service issues reported, more feedback welcome (terra_ferma)

lellywelly:
https://www.shop.feminineplus.com/
Feminine Plus offers great quality lingerie, that not only looks fabulous and feels wonderful, but provides an exceptional fit, whatever the size.

MATERNITY
Earthmother:
https://www.room42maternity.co.uk/
https://www.newnow.co.uk (part of the JD Williams group)

BRIDAL
Curvety.com: ready made (up to size 36) and made to measure
https://www.plussizebridal.co.uk/index.html

Cte111:
USA sites
I think this one is gorgeous and quite cheap:
https://www.nexteve.com/shop/evening-...-F01_0014.html
Shipping at this store is only $28 so quite reasonable too.

Here's another lovely one:
https://www.therosedress.com/shop/pro...52&vendorid=MQ

Minerva69:
I found this site that does bridesmaid dresses up to a size 28: https://www.bridesmaidsdirect.co.uk/default.asp They also have a wedding dress site where they do made-to-measure and don't charge extra for larger sizes: https://www.denisebyrd.com/default.asp

My sister found a site called Landy Bridal who are based in China, there's a long thread about them on the Weddings board https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/...html?t=1230785 I think we'll be getting my bridesmaid dress from here as they have lots that I like, including ones with sleeves title=BigThey seem very reasonably priced aswell.

tynegirl
https://www.cuteandcurvybrides.co.uk/oscommerce/

WIDE SHOES
NatFeerick
https://www.jileon.com/home.html
For extra-wide calf Wellington Boots try www.jileon.com They aren't cheap but they are excellent quality and if like me you generally have trouble manoevering your foot into boots you will not have a problem with these. They were also very obliging when I ordered the wrong size and had to exchange them.

FOR MEN
https://www.bigmatts.com/index.html
JACAMO and NewNow (younger market), both part of JD William.
Sizedwell
https://www.bigformen.com/
https://uk.rochesterclothing.eu/
https://www.suitsmen.co.uk/
https://www.bigaclothing.co.uk/
https://www.highandmighty.co.uk/
https://www.chums.co.uk/

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Best answers:

  • What an absoloutely brilliant idea terra_ferma
    Sadly I don't have much to add to your list - which shows the dearth of choice there is for plus size women. But it is sometimes possible to find some nice things on eBay and at TKMaxx - although both of these by the nature of their business style, are rather hit and miss.
    Hopefully there will be some better informed women than me around who will be able to add to your list.
  • I find quite a few bargains in the size 22/24 bracket in Peacocks. As for Evans I only shop there in the sale and then pick and choose what to buy so I'm not a clone. Disagree about M&S, I've found loads of stuff in there and got my latest favourite pair of cord trousers for Ј3 in the last sale!
    Went to Primark the other day but the biggest item I found was a dressing gown in 22/24, nothing in the normal clothing sections unless everyone else in my town has had them first.
    Lands End https://www.landsend.co.uk/ have a Plus size collection. I've always found their stuff very good and they have a clearance section worth keeping an eye on.
    The one shop in Darlington which is worth a look is a tatty little place called the Ex Catalogue Shop. It stocks all the end of lines from the main catalogues and always has lots of the bigger sizes. They do regular sales and bargains can be had for less than Ј1 sometimes!
  • What a good idea, didnt even know Next had a plus size range! Just need to see it in store?
  • For the younger ones amongst us! new look have their inspire range.
    Also Asda is fab for plus sizes!
    x
  • Have to add that I do most of my clothes shopping in M&S and Sainsbury's and Tesco. Asda seems to have gone too young? and I hate Evans since they changed their styles of skirts and the quality is poor. Just discovered an Anne Harvey inside a store near me so shop there in the sale. Picked up a jacket for winter Ј99 down to Ј25 so will definately return to have a look there.
  • At Anne Harvey you can find real bargains, their coats for example they are good quality and the price is very reasonable, particularly in the sales, as they would normally last . (although I would add that their quality control is not that reliable as I got the odd lemon, and normally had waited too long before wearing it, so that I could not take it back - have too many clothes nowadays...).
    Just done my first ever shop at Landsend. A bit puzzled that they did not confirm the price after I entered a voucher code, that's not on as I wanted to make sure I got the free delivery at least! Will query when I get confirmation of price, when they ship.
  • I used to buy loads in New Look but they seem to have taken their Inspire section away in my local branch.
  • Bon Marche actually has some great stuff, though you have to search through as it caters for ladies in their 20's through to 80's! Prices are very competitive and some of my favourite tops are from there, also they do fab PJ's and nighties. I find asda have some lovely stuff but a lot of it's on the small side and they never do trousers or skirts that fit me.
    Our New look stopped the plus sizes ages ago, but I'd gone off them anyway.
    Evans must have new management or designers, because over the last year or 2 their clothes have just gotten truly awful, and so expensive. Never had any trouble with the quality though.
    I miss Etam - so worth looking for them on eBay as their trousers and jeans have always been really good in my experience.
    I like M & Co lovely quality, and prices aren't too expensive (though when moneys tight I can't afford it)!
    I find Matalan is a lot better in the summer than the winter don't know why that is!
    Over all I've found this years fashion has been pretty awful for us larger ladies, and apart from eBay I don't buy clothes online though the link to next has tempted me, I didn't know they did any plus sizes!
  • Thanks for a brilliant thread! I too had no idea Next did larger sizes and there are several other good sites you've posted I hadn't heard of before.
  • The best thing I got in New Look were some jeans which fitted me perfectly, always the way that when you find somehting great they take it away.
  • If you are over size 24 shopping in 'normal' shops is almost out of the question.
    Even Next don't do their plus range (up to size 28) instore,only online.
    In a way I don't mind going to specialist shops at least I know that everything I see is available in my size and don't have to look for the corner with the less inspiring clothes while walking through lots of lovely stuff, like in many places (M&S was one...)
  • Some of the bigger Tescos do a line called "True" they go up to a size 28 and I have had a few nice items reasonably priced from them.
  • I don't like shopping for clothes at grocery stores, I can't get used to the idea that you pick an outfit in the same way as you pick a bag of potatoes...
    Without mentioning the fact that I would end up bumping into a lot of people wearing the same stuff.
    I don't mind TKMaxx, outlets. Online I buy cheap stuff from Simply Be when on sale. I'd rather buy from charity shops even than a supermarket.
    I know I'm old fashioned...
  • Just realised there's a sale at Matalan, it includes R&R range
    www.matalan.co.uk
  • What a great idea terra_ferma! Thanks for getting this underway and for the top tip about Next. I had no idea they had this range and I think I may have already spied my dress for the work's Christmas meal.:-)
    As to suggested sites - for those missing the Inspire range in their local New Look they do offer an online store. Sorry, I'm too new to be able to post the link but if you search for New Look and then select Inspire from the Women's tab you should get there.
    Also Asda's George range is available on line but there is no longer a separate Plus Size section, you just have to go in to each item you like and hope it goes up to 24.
    I've personally found Marks and Spencer to be a bit hit and miss, especially since they have taken the Plus Size range away and merged the size 24s into the main collection (if you can find the little blue tag). However, I did get two lovely suits in their sale last year so I guess you just have to keep looking.
    Finally, I do recall seeing a Plus Size range in a Debenhams store but they don't have it in my local branch to be able to give any details. Has anyone else come across this?
  • I've added New Look to the list.
    Thank you
  • What about larger men? My O/H is much bigger than average, with size 12 feet, 48 waist and 58 chest. He's also very long in the body so shirts etc. are nearly always too short for him.
    I find Premier Man (sorry, don't know how to do a link) is good for larger men...they have exclusive sizes on brands like Reebok and Adidas and Farah in trousers. Also footwear up to a size 13 or 14 and wider fittings too.
    Or there's John Banks, again superb for bigger sizes. I'm sure there are others too that I haven't heard of.
    Might be good for getting Christmas presents in early for the big guy in your life.
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