When you can't wear 'standard' OR 'plus size'...

[StillFrankie]

Where do you shop?!

I'm a size 18, but standard size 18 is a bit tight on me. Standard size 20s are too big no matter where I shop. I don't mean a bit big, I mean hugely big.

So I've tried a few plus size shops, but all sizes are huge around the crotch. Do they think we all have massive belly overhang?

Where do you size 18s shop?

My mother had this problem. She is 5ft tall arms the crotch area of trousers is always baggy. She will sometimes take them up but its a real pain to have to do that all the time.

I have this problem on and off depending on the shop.

i'm an 18 on the bottom and like you, plus size trousers are huge especially in the crotch, but I find it difficult to find standard size 18s that fit my pear shaped bottom well.

After trial and error I've found Next trousers to be generous and I can often get into a 16 there. Some M&S trousers are good too but everything needs to be tried on before buying. Dorothy Perkins jeans are generally a good fit in an 18 but sometimes I find I'm in between their 16 and 18 and neither really fit properly. H&M plus range is not generous in the trouser fit so I can sometimes find something there too. Basically trouser/skirt shopping takes way more trying on and thinking about than top half shopping!

CactusAnnie that's hardly helpful. I'm sure it's probably occurred to the OP that she could try losing some weight but for whatever reason, at this point in time, she isn't or doesn't want to.

Personally having slimed down to a size 18 from a 22 a year ago, I'm enjoying shopping in standard size shops now. Yes I know I have 3 more stone to lose but at the moment I'm quite happy where I am. Thanks for the concern about potential health issues though

any you know, she may be trying to loose weight .... but she does actually need to wear clothes in the mean time!! and even if she isn't she deserves to wear nice clothes that fit properly - so she is asking for ideas where to find them!!

There's no "nicest possible way" about that CactucAnnie. Beam in your own eye my friend, beam in your own eye.

I think the problem is not about sizing exactly, and much more about shape. I gave up on trousers years ago when I was still a 14 waist, but 16-18 hips (and 12 on top ...). Nowadays I've developed a tummy and the waist/hip mis-match is probably not so pronounced, but fundamentally clothes are not being made to women's shapes. Far more common to be a pear than anything else, but stuff isn't designed to fit that at all realistically.

Because the OP didn come on here asking how she could lose weight to fit into a standard size 18 did she...then your answer would have been helpful.

As it is it just looks like you saw a chance to have a go while pretending to be concerned.

I agree Pythonesque, the shape is more of an issue than the actual sizing. I'm a pear - 14/16 on top and 18 on the bottom and finding clothes to accommodate this is tricky.

I second next - I've found some decent jeans/stretch trousers in there which fit when I've struggled elsewhere.

Monsoon trousers are always a generous fit. I always need a size down so 16 may fit you

Thanks for all the replies.

Cactus, I am a size 18, if you had read my OP properly, you'd see I said that size 20s (either standard or plus size) are too big so I can't be a size 20 can I?

I do want to lose weight, yes, but as PPs have pointed out, I need something to wear in the meantime that isn't baggy or unstylish.

I have the problem of a long body but short legs so again as PPs have pointed out, the problem can be to do with shape and not just weight, even when slim I struggled to get trousers in particular.

I tend to avoid Next though, bit more expensive than I'd like

I'm 5'5" and a size 18. My favourite jeans atm are high waisted stretch skinnies from Primark. I love the high cut to them as they sit properly on my waist with no gaping.
My other ones are from Gap or next but aren't nearly as comfortable and well fitting as my Primark ones.

I feel for you OP I have a similar problem but it's with tops. I am a size 20 but have quite small boobs. Plus size clothing manufacturers all seem to think that if you are a larger size you must have a huge chest and I always end up with loads of material round the armpit and a much too low neckline. I'm not sure what the answer is but it's definitely nothing taken from any one of cactus's posts.

Cactus, you may mean well but to someone with weight issues it really doesn't come across that way. OP asked for advice, possibly not feeling great about the way she looks. I can absolutely assure you that your advice would not be taken in a positive way, however well intentioned it was. Please read the topic you are answering in. No shit I could lose weight and look thinner.

OP I feel your pain - I'm tall and have waist issues with trousers but plus size trousers and tops always have odd bits of extra fabric. I buy quite a lot of my clothes including trousers from a Phase 8 outlet shop near me, and buy high waisted stretch skinny jeans from Primark/Tesco.

Jesus, you can't be anything over a size 12 on here without having to justify your fucking eating habits.

I can't abide sanctimonious fat (or thin) bashers.

frankie have a look at Coast for trousers, their sizes seem to me to be in proportion in that they make the waist and hips fit, but keep the leg shape slim enough so you don't feel like you're wearing a nappy.

Cactus I didn't find your comment offensive.

The "beam in your own eye" comment above is a Bible reference.

Matthew 7:3-5

Cactus I think if you'd said that you too had lost weight to start with then your advice might have been better received. Otherwise it sounds like an off the cuff 'oh, it's easy to lose 3 stone, why don't you just do that instead' remark that can come from people who have never been more than a couple of pounds from their ideal weight. But I do get what you mean now you've explained more.

I forgot about Sainsburys last night. Their sizes are very generous - I'm a 16 in trousers and 14 in tops there which is def vanity sizing. But their clothes are well priced and good quality.

Second monsoon, m+s and sainsburys on generous fit. Also brands aimed at an older target... jaeger and so on... also coadt + phase 8 - those are more expensive but may be worth trying on in store and keeping an eye open for sales/online for that? And own labels for John lewis/house of fraser/Debenhams

Apart from tum roo big on plus sizes are there other ways you are getting wrong fit (eg waist too big vs hips?)

Btw: some excellent sites that list sizes from different shops online which you could try for ideas