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.

Yes, if you are average size they are very often sold out of anything nice, small and larger sizes are often left, but may still be the bits no one fancied. But it was always like that really, years ago you had to be there really quickly when new styles came in to stand a chance of getting what you wanted. Thank goodness for online shopping although now it gets like that online too, all the average sizes sold out, apart from the one in that particularly hideous shade.

And very few short and petite sizes in store, I can only usually get short size jeans online, which is better than not being able to get them at all, years ago I was always having to turn up jeans, but people did sew a bit back then so it was sort of expected.

I’m a size 26 (spare the abuse please) and find that I can dress well from buying online AND never paying full price for anything.
I never wear skirts and rarely wear trousers, but have my own style (thankfully not hippy) using JDWilliams, Next, Live Unlimited sale and Vinted. My tip is to never stop looking.

I was not being an ahole…I looked at something from one point of view, I was corrected/educated and I’m fine with that…I apologised and I’ve learnt a new pov…so no I don’t agree with your sentiments here. One thing is when someone is wrong and they accept and they see another pov you don’t double down and become weird, it’s a teaching moment and we move on.

You don’t have to queue for returns anymore at M&S, they have a post box you can drop the returns to. It’s really quick and easy.

It's the same for maternity ranges as well- even larger shops like h&m don't stock maternity clothes any more. It's not just larger sizes.

OP if you tell us what clothes you need we'll search for you.
However I'm about to list loads on eBay but I'm 5'10" so DM me if there's anything specific you want/ need. I have the whole lot casual, corporate,linen. I'm South West.

The OP doesn’t say she’s incapable of finding things online? Her post is about there not being things in store.

I guess they can’t keep every possible size of everything so they go for the mid range. It’s not right but it’s life unfortunately. It does take the fun out of shopping for you though.

Retail is struggling. Stock control is difficult.

You're talking about this as if it's some kind of body-shaming issue by the store, but actually it's because they won't sell many of your particular size, not because they're making a judgement about it.

It's a commercial consideration not a moral one.

I’m a 14-16 but have been a 20-22 and the worst thing when you’re a plus size is not being able to try things on.
We have a “yours” in nearby time but concessions previously found in Debenhams/HOF have gone, as have some other high street stores - there isn’t many places to go.
I do buy a lot of vinted tho as once you’ve learnt about the sizing it’s easier.

Yours clothing is a truly enjoyable experience for plus size clothing. They have stores in most cities.

They do up to size 40 and everything is designed for plus.

https://www.yoursclothing.co.uk/

@Onefairfish - I’m 4ft 10 and got some nice summer trousers from Next in their petite range.

I much prefer shopping in person and do it wherever I can. I want to see the colours and feel fabrics. I also want to support retail workers. The average UK woman is a size 16 and I just wish shops reflected that.

You missed teens, where are teens meant to buy stuff?

@FatFuckerFrances I’m the same. I don’t even bother in store now. What I have done is identified brands I like and kept an eye out on EBay. Got lots of lovely things

Before anyone @‘s me with any bullshit. I’m on a weightloss journey and I can’t take WeGovy or Mounjaro for medical reasons. Not everyone can.

I was just discussing this with my young adult dd the other day. She is the perfect size for most brands - 5’8”, size 8/10. But she can never find anything in stock. Our experience is that shops are now for a quick browse and then you have to order online.

As a petite size 6/8 I have no hope!

I support someone obese and she gets lots of lovely clothes at Yours, she’s a size 32

I think one of the main frustrations with not being able to try stuff on in a shop is the lack of consistency in sizing and it seems this is worse on plus size clothing. I’ve gotten used to having to buy online but at any one time I could be wearing 2-3 different sizes. I remember ordering a couple of blouses for work, same style just different colours but had to send one back to size up and they weren’t the same size although sold as the same size. This then requires returns, which despite people saying are easy, this is a pain and not always easy.

in general, I think retail has moved to faster fashion and the model is that they stock a limited range in limited sizes in stores, with more stock in warehouses for online shopping, and just move to new stock quicker. This means that even the popular dudes sell out quicker as they may only have one or two in the store and don’t replace as will be bringing in a new style soon.It is cheaper to have a bigger warehouse than to have a bigger store to accommodate the range of sizes and volume of stock.

For the person who asked about the long length jeans, the brand was Good American. The only problem with them was the amount of fabric I’d have lost from making them shorter would have turned them from flared to barely bootleg. And they were expensive - I was going to treat myself, so if I had had to have paid to have had them taken up, it would have made them even more expensive!

The only Yours shop I’ve found in London was in Surrey Quays and it was small and polyester-heavy. I’ve recently bought some nice dresses from Live Unlimited and Seasalt, that are flattering.

TBF I think clothes shopping in person is just a nightmare in general in most places these days. So many shops have closed and it seems like physical shops dont seem to carry much stock and things sell out fast.
I feel like most places think you will shop online then just return a bunch of stuff if it doesnt fit.🙄

@Birdsongisangry , I'm average height (nearly 5'4") and have no trouble but some brands design for women who are much taller than me.

This drives me wild. I have lymphoedema so want full coverage on my legs. I’m sick of buying or trying to buy trousers on there. I tend to ask for the inside leg and either get no answer or ‘I don’t have a tape measure’. Even if I’m selling for stupid low prices, I put measurements. Probably a me issue as I have very long legs.

All my plus size stuff sold very quickly following my bypass. Trying to sell the more common sizes-12s, 14s-is far harder.