Plus size ladies, where do you shop?

MsHolloway

Hi everyone.

I'm a plus size lady about a size 22/24, and I normally dont have too much problem buying casual clothes, generally shop in new look, sometimes evans.
I have a wedding coming up in a few months, and I'm finding it very hard to find nice, trendy plus size dresses, for my age group (I'm 26 btw).

I'm probably being too picky, but I just want something a bit different, a nice pattern (since its going to be a summer wedding), that covers the arms a bit and isn't above the knee. While I've found some stuff that might work, I'd love to have more choice. I keep thinking that maybe theres a really cool shop or website I don't know about yet.

So I thought wouldn't it be handy to have a list of place/websites to find such stuff?

So far these are the places I've found are:
New Look
Evans (though a lot of the clothes seem to be for an older age group)
Simply Be
Anna Scholz (such beautiful clothes, but expensive!)
Littlewoods
Debenhams
Monsoon
Asos curve
City Chic
Torrid

If you have any others, whether it be a local boutique etc, or a website I haven't listed, please let me know!

How do you ladies feel, is there enough choice for us plus sized women? Do you ever have trouble finding clothes?

phasers

Good idea for a thread!

I used to have a lot of trouble finding decent clothes, but more labels seem to be opening up to the plus size market lately. Asos Curve in particular has been a real turning point I think, the clothes are super trendy but made to suit a plus size frame at the same time.

I've been reading a few blogs who've said that the Asos Summer range is going to have a ton of gorgrous maxi dresses, perfect for weddings with a shrug thrown over. Keep an eye out there maybe?

Littlewoods is pretty fab too because not only do they have a dedicated plus size label, they also offer most of their "straight" stuff up to a 24! Including their tall range, thankfully, because I can finally get jeans that actually reach my feet. Great deals to be had in their sales too.

My main sort of "tip" would be that online, Evans have a much younger selection because they collaborate with other labels and designers (Hooray for Beth Ditto!).

Weirdly, Tesco offer a plus size range too, and they have lovely dresses, although sometimes they're hideous. Marks and Spencer can turn up some good results too. Oh, also Next can be really brilliant but their plus range is only available online.

H&M do a range as well but don't sell it in ireland and don't ship here! :mad:

There's a decent list here but some are UK only delivery which is a pain!

Sorry for the long rambly post!

MsHolloway

Thanks phasers, I'll definitely check out that list.

Just want to add:
forever21 plus - not entirely sure if they deliver to Ireland, hope they do as I found some lovely stylish dresses!

http://www.eshakti.com/ lots of sizes and colours, and they can customize whatever you order, can be a bit pricey but could be worth it for a special occasion. Again, not entirely sure if they deliver to Ireland. Need to investigate further.

psycho-hope

MsHolloway wrote: »

Thanks phasers, I'll definitely check out that list.

Just want to add:
forever21 plus - not entirely sure if they deliver to Ireland, hope they do as I found some lovely stylish dresses!

http://www.eshakti.com/ lots of sizes and colours, and they can customize whatever you order, can be a bit pricey but could be worth it for a special occasion. Again, not entirely sure if they deliver to Ireland. Need to investigate further.

they only ship within the us unfortunatly

New look seem to have there nicer stuff online and littlewoods delivery has gone to crap lately im waiting almost 2 weeks for stuff, there blaming the courier, the courier is blaming them :rolleyes:

aoife2k

Want to give this thread a bump as I think it's quite important for us ladies who are curvier than most. I'm also 26 like Ms. H and I'm a 16/18... and a weird shape. 2 years ago I was a lovely size 12 but due to a health issue, I have put on weight.

I'm SO glad I stumbled on this thread.. I've just been scouring the internet looking for something to wear to my H.Dip Graduation next month. I'm so self conscious since I put the weight on that I tend to just wear baggy clothes now.

Thank you Ms. H for listing out those shops... I now have places to search for clothes!!

Not sure if you've tried it but www.yoursclothing.co.uk is a site specifically for the curvier lady. However, it's very hit and miss. Not sure if they post to Ireland but with my OH being originally from Norn Iron I get stuff sent to his Mums which is handy!

I bought a dress/tunic on it and my arms didn't actually fit into it. I was disgusted However, I bought a t-shirt which is fab! :-) Lovely material and great to wash.

We need more curvy woman threads/links discussions!! :-)

nhg

Lovely shop in Kilkenny - Annaleens, its beside Langtons. Very dear but fantastic sales:D (i.e trousers reduced from €149 to €59 then a few weeks later to maybe €29 and then if not sold down to €19), always a great choice of sizes in the sale.

aoife2k

Too far away for me I'm afraid and my budget is ridiculously hardly existant! I like getting the £10/€10 sale deals on the websites... and the stuff isn't the worst stock either!

Well this is more for plus size boobs rather than size in general. Until recently I was plus sized myself, but slimmed down to a size 12. I wasn't plus sized for long so even though the ladies got exceptionally large (34 HH) I decided I wouldn't invest in a decent bra til I lost the weight and they got smaller. Well I lost the wieght but they didn't get smaller!:eek: I've always been big on top, but come one! This is ridiculous!

Anywho, I invested in that decent bra. Got a sports one and a normal one. Sports one is incredibly comfortable, and by the brand Elomi http://www.figleaves.com/uk/product.asp?product=Elomi-Energise-Underwired-Sports-Bra&product_id=ELO-EL8040&size=&colour=Black

Yeah it's far from sexy but no more 4 boob, less back pain, not so much 'jiggling' while walking/running.

Got this too for a bit of femininity http://www.figleaves.com/uk/product.asp?product=Elomi-Sakura-Underwired-Banded-Bra&product_id=ELO-EL8380&size=&colour=Blues

You can get them on Figleaves, mine was sent within a couple of days.

Izzy j

The real woman in Wicklow town does size 16-26 and has lots of choice of dressy and casual clothes. They do bras and even tights in the larger sizes. Quite pricey but I'm always spoilt for choice.

maddragon

I'm not a lady but our friend runs a website for plus size clothes called www.curvylady.ie

Longford Lass

I'm a plus size lady that loves fashion and am always on the lookout for a nice plus size boutique or indeed even a good website.
I can honestly say that the best plus size shop I've ever been to is Tempted in Raheny. Theres also a Tempted in Wexford and Carlow.
Rosemary the owner is a plus size lady herself with a fantastic eye for style, colour etc. Her dedication and commitment is evidant the minute you walk in the door with lovely bright colours and great styles jumping out at you straight away.
My dream job(if I win the lotto!!)would be to own a plus size store hence the admiration I have for the work she does.
I've referred a number of people to this shop now and have yet to hear of anyone coming home empty handed!
Am a bit of a technophobe so not sure how to post the link to her site but just google and you'll find it. Also on facebook too!!
Happy shopping!

spurious

Ulla Popken
They do some men's stuff too.
They used to have a 'real' shop in Liffey Valley when it first opened, but it never really got the business. Had they been city centre they would have cleaned up I think.
Good quality clothes, unlike Evans which I find a bit heavy on the sleeveless tops and polyester.

CarMe

My friend has a black tie Christmas ball coming up and got a gorgeous dress on www.yoursclothing.co.uk they have lots of nice bits. I ordered a good few bits after I gave birth and its cheap and generous sizes.

jellie

Dorothy perkins goes up to size 22, they have some LOVELY stuff online. Ive always thought of their shops as denim & knitwear mostly but check out the dresses section of their website, I got a lovely evening dress there recently - http://www.dorothyperkins.com

MaudL

Where do you ladies shop for underwear? I need new bras and can't stand those plus size styles that look too old for my grandmother...
Online sites are fine but suggestions for brick-and-mortar stores in Dublin where I can try them on would be even better.
Thanks!!