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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think clothes shops should have more plus sizes available?

135 replies

somekindoflife · 29/04/2014 20:38

I am going shopping soon with one of my friends and she is plus sized (about a size 26.)

It's going to be difficult as she has to get most of her clothes online which means a normal activity most people enjoy is in a sense denied to her.

Most shops only go up to an 18. AIBU to think they should introduce a range of plus sizes?

OP posts:
Joules68 · 29/04/2014 20:40

Which shops don't?

maddy68 · 29/04/2014 20:40

Demand and supply. Shops are businesses. If they are going to sell those sizes they will stock them. Simple unusual sizes are less likely to sell and it's expensive having unsold stock on shelves.

Original poster
somekindoflife · 29/04/2014 20:42

Most!

Thinking of the shops I usually go in, Next, Topshop, Dorothy Perkins, H and Ms range is only really available in selected stores, Coast, Karen millen.

OP posts:
celticghurl · 29/04/2014 20:42

Just tell her to get on a diet...... joke
Matalan and evans have a good range

EricIsMine · 29/04/2014 20:43

Where abouts are you going shopping? Manchester has two shops in the Arndale who specialise in size 16+ clothes and they have some lovely stuff if you're in the north west

meditrina · 29/04/2014 20:43

If she wants to enjoy shopping, there are oodles of things she could get other than loathes.

Clothes are supply and demand. there are far more which stock bigger sizes than there were a decade ago. Start with an Evans, and ask the assistants in there where else you could try locally.

Original poster
somekindoflife · 29/04/2014 20:44

Matalan tends to be out of town, though, and if you want a days shopping with a friend you're basically limited to Evans and New Look's Inspire.

OP posts:
Original poster
somekindoflife · 29/04/2014 20:44

Thanks Eric, it isn't Manchester but will definitely bear that in mind if we go in the future x

OP posts:
MrsDavidBowie · 29/04/2014 20:45

There are many high street stores selling plus sizes..up to 22 ish.
However 26 is an unusual size..just as I am not stock size, with very long legs and large feet.
I have to buy everything online.

Kormachameleon · 29/04/2014 20:46

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

SnakeyMcBadass · 29/04/2014 20:46

They also don't make clothes for tall women. Finding long length trousers/jeans/tops is a bloody nightmare. How I long to be 5'5" and a size 12

EricIsMine · 29/04/2014 20:48

This is one of them ... yours ... hopefully there might be a shop local to you?

Koothrapanties · 29/04/2014 20:48

Is there a yours by you? Their clothes are nice and good quality. I am actually currently wearing something I bought from them 4 years ago and it still looks new!

celticghurl · 29/04/2014 20:48

Agreed Korma. Well said

Koothrapanties · 29/04/2014 20:48

Xpost with Eric there!

ChronicChronicles · 29/04/2014 20:48

A lot of Evans shops are closing - it did in my town, leaving no plus size shops.

I hate clothing a shopping. I'm tall and fat, and it's impossible to get clothes that fit both those groups - even if they have a tall, or plus size section. I also have long feet and that's even harder.

I know a lot of people struggle to get clothes that fit their shape or whatever, but imagine there just being nothing.

BillyBanter · 29/04/2014 20:49

Does she want to go on a day's clothes shopping? I can't imagine anything more soul destroying, even at size 16.

It would be quite expensive to stock every size in every outfit in every shop. A lot of shops seem to keep their bigger sizes for online. This also means that you only see slim people going in their shops, even though they are willing to take money online.

It would be nicer to see more larger sizes on the high street but I don't see it happening any time soon, or at all with online shopping going from strength to strength.

Original poster
somekindoflife · 29/04/2014 20:49

Korma, but if someone is a size 26, or even a 22 for that matter, it's going to take TIME to get down to a more conventional size.

If it was me, going shopping and not being able to buy anything nice would make me MORE likely to eat Sad

OP posts:
Original poster
somekindoflife · 29/04/2014 20:50

Billy I am buying a dress for a wedding and she is coming, we will have lunch and maybe a glass of wine! :) should be a nice day.

I am the flip side of tall people as I'm short - 5'3 - but have ridiculously short legs, I have to buy a lot of trousers and jeans online.

OP posts:
ChronicChronicles · 29/04/2014 20:51

Kormachameleon - of course many bigger people want to lose weight, but to say clothes shops shouldn't have larger sizes is ridiculous. What are we meant to do, go naked??

For many complex reasons relating to my health I find losing weight almost impossible - should I just be locked away?

EricIsMine · 29/04/2014 20:52

They have loads of stores clicky list! hope your friend can find something nice Grin

Original poster
somekindoflife · 29/04/2014 20:53

Typical there isn't one where we're shopping! Thanks, though!

OP posts:
KeepOnKeepingOnAndOnAndOnAndOn · 29/04/2014 20:53

Hmmm, I do actually agree with korma.

Why normalise and enable morbid obesity? It ain't the morn, just as my lanky legs ain't the norm and I have faff about at times. My lanky legs are not a result of an unhealthy lifestyle though, I am being persecuted even more so I would say!

WooWooOwl · 29/04/2014 20:53

I don't see why businesses should be forced to cater for a small minority.

I wouldn't expect shops to ensure that they don't sell out of all their size 10's and 12's so that there's something decent to choose from in the sales, and it's the same thing. They're there to make money, not to do people a favour. I agree with Korma that it would be wrong for shops to normalise being morbidly obese because it's incredibly unhealthy.

thatstoast · 29/04/2014 20:56

Lots of main stream retailers go up to a size 20 or 22 in store. That's plus size.

2 years ago I was a size 26 and getting to the point where I could only buy clothes from Evans (awful) or Simply Be (slightly less awful) was what motivated me to lose weight. I do sympathise but I think YABU.