AIBU to think that clothes shopping in person as a plus sized woman is now impossible?

[FatFuckerFrances]

I was in Oxford Street today. Usually I can go into M & S and find clothes in a size 22 to try on. Today, there was one pair of black trousers in a size 24. Everything else was a size 20 or smaller. Mostly smaller. Even ranges like Seasalt, which goes up to size 28, only go up to a 16 or 18 in store. Same for John Lewis. Nothing above size 18.

A few weeks ago, I was in M & S, bought two dresses, a top and pair of jeans, and tried on a load more stuff. Asked a member of staff, who said “you’ll just have to click and collect.” Same in John Lewis, which until a few weeks ago stocked a small amount of one plus sized range, Live Unlimited. They now only do this online.

So now, if I want to buy clothes, I have to go through the faff of click and collect, try them on in the fitting room and then queue up to get a refund on what doesn’t fit. The option of browsing, and trying on clothes like a normal person is no longer available to me. The only shop I can go to is Beige, which is out of my price range. How is this fair? I still need clothes! And there seemed to be plenty of sizes 6 and 8 in stock, so it’s not as if they are only stocking sizes 10-16.

i reckon its catch 22
the shops bring the clothes in and people dont buy so the bring less in and more people buy online

From a retailers perspective they will want to stock the sizes that sell the most. They also want to stock a wide range of styles. If they had to stock a wide size range of every style then they'd have to offer less choice. They'd also be left with lots of unsold stock in the tiny or plus sizes. For them it's a commercial decision. Sadly clothes retail is dying anyway and before long we'll all be ordering online/returning etc.

Maybe that poster should've tried that then.

I haven’t shopped for clothes in person since my teens anyway tbh. How many shops still sell a wide variety in store now? Primark stands out as an outlier in this space. Zara, for example, only chooses a small selection to put in store and the rest you have to order for click and collect at a later date. I remember going in for sunglasses once because I’d left mine at home on a sunny day and was told they don’t sell that sort of thing in store! I just think it’s the way the high street is now.

Also in terms of plus size clothing, I’d guess it’s because for a decade it’s been popular to be bigger (in part thanks to the Kardashians) and now it’s in vogue to be a waif again thanks to WLI.

Stock is money also clothes are seasonal
they don’t sell the volume to make it viable to stock it

retail margins are tight if there was demand and volume of sales the shops would be full of it

I'm a petite size 4-6. I only look in store to see an outfit in person and feel the material. I can't even remember the last time I left with an item. I think stores can only afford to stock average sizes now so just leave extra time (weeks) if I'm shopping for an event.

It was unnecessary. But then, so is being entitled about being obese. I wouldn't have said it, and I am a size 16 so deffo not svelte, but I did roll my eyes so hard I nearly passed out when I read the post.

Same... I guess their reference model doesn't have a bust.

@DeftGoldHedgehog I have tanned arms and ankles too. Outdoor jackets are such a pain... Buy mens so the sleeves are long enough or women's so the bust works & I can wear a jumper underneath.

Clothes shopping is really frustrating these days. I totally understand the principles and convenience of online shopping but it would be really nice to go to a shop, feel the material, try it on, then buy it! The majority of the time my size is not in store.
I can’t be bothered to then go home and pay for it to be delivered.
I’m a different size to you OP but share your frustration.

Agree - I’m a 6-8 and constantly have to order online because my local stores have so little stock in those sizes.

When I was a teenager I was a size 6-8 (God has a sense of humour) and I could almost never find clothes that fit well, it was an absolute pain.

Same for tall clothes or if you're a size 2-4. It's just what happens when you're not in the majority.

I have to buy most of my clothes online.

Im 6 feet tall and have to buy everything online. Clothes AND shoes.

OP i am sorry, it sounds really unpleasant.

But I do think this is a point also. The high street is slowly dying as a whole.

Evans is a good affordable store to shop gor plus sizes 👍

Maybe that will motivate you to not be such an arsehole for no reason in future then.

Being entitled about being obese? What is going on with this thread

YANBU.

I am fat and tall, and it is impossible. Even when I was a size 16, no where stocks the long/tall ranges in store. Im back down to a 22ish now, and opened a Next account - they sell a range of brands, and I can order multiple sizes without having to pay £££ up front, then return what I dont want in store without having to queue or talk to anyone.

And whilst we're at it, why do retailers seem to think that plus sized women only want tops with foil butterflies and random American states on?

Evans closes all their physical stores years ago.

Clothing companies openly admit they don’t want to stock plus sizes in their stores (or make them at all) because they don’t want straight sized customers to be put off by wearing the same clothes as fat people can. Looking at some of the comments here, I can see their point.

These days, I honestly prefer shopping online, trying stuff on at home and then returning it either in store or by mail. It certainly takes me less time overall than shopping in person. Most of the time you can get next day delivery. I don’t buy from any company that charges for returns unless it’s a small, flat rate like £2 per package that they just deduct from your refund.

Ugh, what a terrible thing to think, let alone type out.

Nah.

Shopping for clothes now is a nightmare whatever size.

Same, but throw in being a size 16-18-20 (depending on the shop)
I get the added fun of needing some adaptive clothes that work in a wheelchair- I don't want my ankles on show as my jeans are 4 inches too short. Primark did an adaptive range, to much fanfare, and it now appears to have vanished.....
Having size 10 feet is always such a joy. I own 3 pairs of shoes, 2 pairs of which are 'unisex' aka mens as ladies seem to stop at a 7-8 xx

My 15 yr old has different but equally frustrating problems- 5ft 10 & a UK 4....the choice in store is pretty much non-existent

I agree with pp who said the high street is dying, depressing but true.