Calling all "not very slim at all" people, where do you shop?

[Shesparkles]

I'm not slim at all. Actually I'm a size 26/28 depending on brand. I'm not proud if it, but for now, it's what I am.

Where on earth do big people but clothes that are not either 200% polyester, or hideously garish colours?

I always seem to struggle for decent tops, I'm not massively tall at 5'7", but am quite long in the body. I never seem to be able to find long enough tunic tops to wear over leggings, and if anything has even slight shaping at the waist, it's halfway up my boobs!

Any suggestions for where to look? I'm 44, and whilst I've never been at the leading edge of fashion, even in my slim days, I do like to be relatively up to date, but without being mutton dressed as lamb.

Where do you shop?

Boden, Monsoon, M&S a bit but the first two only go up to 22. I think M&S may do up to 26 but you'll need to look online. I have bought things from Ann Harvey in the past - are they still going? You do have to be VERY selective though.

I buy jeans from M&S as their cut fits me really well, and I got a great jacket there, but their tops are always awful!

I do tend to wear fairly short lasting clothes from New Look at the moment to be honest, mainly because I find that more expensive stuff is either sack shaped or too short. Plus the fact I like to convince myself that these clothes are just a stop gap until I lose a bit of weight!
I have quite a few nice cotton tips from there, I like their jeans too.

Try ASOS curve range. I also check ebay out every so often but I mostly shop on facebook buy and sell pages now. Look for Plus Size Clothes and it should throw up some pages. Some stuff is new, but mostly second hand. Evans is crap.

Marisota specialise in plus sizes.

New look and Asks curve are quite nice, but may not do much in natural fabrics.

*asos, sorry.

Yours.co.uk is amazing. Lots of leg lengths and half the price of Evans. If you can get to a store they give a very personal service and are happy to help select clothes for your shapers.

m.yoursclothing.co.uk/?platform=mobile

I'm size 26/28 too and I shop at Evans (although you have to selective), Yours, asos curve, new look, matalan and sometimes asda. It's so difficult finding nice fitting clothes so I always try things on. I now just wish I could be a size 18, I didn't realise how good I had it at that size with choice of shops!

I ALWAYS forget about Marisota! Thanks for all the suggestions, I'm off for a trawl, but any more would be very welcome too

Have a look here www.wannabeprincess.co.uk/p/recommended-retailers.html

You can say fat or plus size. They aren't swear words! And you don't need to be ashamed. Don't justify your body. There is nothing wrong with it.
I like asos curve- nice dresses and fashion forward.
H and Ms plus size range is good for basics.
Yours clothing can be hit and miss but they have such a huge range there's lots of nice bits among the polyester. I especially like jumpers and cardigans from them.

PinkandTwinkly, that's a brilliant link, thanks so much
Betterthanabox, I know, you're right. I do sometimes refer to myself as fat, or that I'm looking for clothes in the fat bird section, for once in my life I was trying to be more sensitive to others!
I've had a great ses from yours but hunting out the good amongst the polyester does take time doesn't it!

Try the very site too!

What about simply b?

Simply B start at size 12 go up to size 32.
I've recently got a whole load of stuff online from there - great choice and well-made. I'm about your height and have a long body - got some great 100% cotton polo necks and tunics/long jumpers to wear with them, including this one which is nice and long:
www.simplybe.co.uk/shop/conversational-swallow-fine-gauge-jumper/lh720/product/details/show.action?pdBoUid=2985#colour:Pink,size:

Navabi is German - great clothes, not so much polyester. Bit different from other offerings but a little more pricey.

I was looking at JD Williams this week - bit like Simply Be

Asos curve.

If you want some more expensive and classic pieces, the German brands seem the way to go. Oska do some lovely jackets and layering pieces. I'm an 18/20 and their size 3 fits me. They go up to a size 5 which would easily work for you. There are shops in the UK that stock them. I've also got a couple of dresses from the Rundholz Black Label brand. They look shapeless and awful on the hanger but are wonderfully flattering on the body. Not cheap though, I get mine in sales or on eBay.

Gundren Surjenson (sp?) is another place to try. Their catalogue looks like an explosion in a pattern factory but there are always some lovely, useful items hidden amongst the chaos. Their velour dresses and jumper dresses form the basis of my winter work wardrobe.

When people compliment me on an putfit (rare but has happened) their eyebrows go up when I say its not high street as I can't find anything there for me!
House of Fraser is my start point if I want upper end high street, rarely buy from Evans, havent shopped with ann Harvey since they were bought by Bon Marche. Have just discovered Elvi is still around and available online. And with rather a good sale on. Yours on the high street a bit crap in the main but the odd gem (jeans and chinos).

There is another store I fpund that I need to check out but for the life of me I cannot remember the name and am on phone so I can't find the bookmarked link. If you are up for playing detective they owned a store in Basingstoke last year and have other uk shops. Website looked like a shop visit might be worth it for a quality/size/fit test before just leaping in with a web order.

I used to be a size 22 and shopped at Monsoon, Boden, M&S, Kaliko and Next.

I liked Curvissa for online ordering, and they go up to Size 32 I think.

I also used to like knitwear from The White Company - their XL wraps and cardigans were perfect.

Forgot to mention Boohoo.com, up to Size 24 though I think.

These are all great, a fair few I've not known about. There is absolutely nowhere in my town I can shop, even Evans closed down last year, so it's online all the way for me

ASOS Curve, Pink Clove, Yours, Simply Be, New Look, Matalan, H&M, sometimes Evans but I find them expensive for what they are.

Next and Sainsburys do generous sizes in their cardigans.