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Original poster

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

52 replies

StillFrankie · 18/09/2015 18:03

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?

OP posts:
ginmakesitallok · 19/09/2015 08:52

The alternative to cactus's suggestion would be to eat a bit more so that you fit into a size 20. CakeCake and more Cake

zzzzz · 19/09/2015 09:39

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

SubUrbaneFox · 19/09/2015 10:13

I know this is the internet and it's all anonymous and typed but if somebody at work asked you this question, you wouldn't reply with "lose weight".

i think you have to look at what board the question is posted on. This isn't on weight loss chat, it's on s&b

pieceofpurplesky · 19/09/2015 10:20

Op I buy jeans/trousers from simply be as they do various leg lengths. Have always found them great sizing-wise

HortonWho · 19/09/2015 10:22

In the nicest possible way Cactus, losing 50 pounds after a pregnancy and going BACK to your normal weight is much easier than losing 10 or 20 pounds (and keeping it off for more than a couple of years) off your normal weight.

jorahmormont · 19/09/2015 10:25

I'm an 18 in most shops but find that a Primark 20 fits really well. They come up small compared to other shops, but are still fairly tight fitting without a massive crotch.

LittleCandle · 19/09/2015 12:29

Try Simply Be. They have good sized jeans that come in different leg lengths, from 25in to 33in. They are also properly cut for the larger sizes, instead of just making the clothes square. There is a good selection of different trousers and you may find that you drop a size in some of them.

Getuhda348 · 19/09/2015 12:44

Have you tried boohoo? The sizing Is very generous to the point that I order 2 sizes below what iam. It's cheap as well. Quality isn't fantastic but for the price can't complain.

Original poster
StillFrankie · 19/09/2015 16:28

thanks everyone

Yes I've tried boohoo, I like their tops but not tried trousers yet.

Will look at simply be and coast too

I'm definitely NOT a size 20 in any shop I've tried!

OP posts:
VeganCow · 19/09/2015 17:17

Asda George 18s are a nice size, bit bigger than other 18s.

Fluffyears · 19/09/2015 17:37

Asda are good size wise as is sainsburys but I found track awful. I have a similar issue in that 16 is too tight and 18 too big Angry. New look are ok for jeans I've found but not trousers, I get my black work ones from debenhams and am loving dresses as my waist and hips are different sizes and A line dresses look better than trousers with a weird tummy pouch thing.

Cactus I bet my work would love me going to client meeting I cheap leggings u til I was a smaller size! Some of us have to dress appropriately for work etc and can't wander about in leggings every day.

CactusAnnie · 19/09/2015 20:24

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

jorahmormont · 19/09/2015 20:30

Sorry if you thought I was insinuating that you are a size 20 StillFrankie, you didn't mention whether you'd tried Primark or not so I thought it was worth letting you know that they come up small.

Agree that George at ASDA is very generous with sizes, I've just had a size 18 jumper from there and it's quite big.

Original poster
StillFrankie · 19/09/2015 20:47

Cactus reminds me a lot from her last post of my sister, and not in a good way.

My sister was bulimic and although better, she she is still worryingly very controlling about her weight/looks and comments a lot on others looks/weight.

I suspect Cactus has posted on here to vent her own feelings/beliefs rather than give advice. Her posts say more about her than about me.

I know I'm overweight, yes I'd like to lose weight, but as PPs have said, that's not why I posted on here.

I think Cactus should find another topic more suited to her needs and leave this thread to those who aren't giving weight advice.

OP posts:
jorahmormont · 19/09/2015 20:56

Oh and also, I don't know if it's work clothes, lounge clothes or just general every day stuff you're looking for, but for a lot of jumpers and general lounging t-shirts, I sometimes shop in the men's section, especially at Sports Direct and Primark. A large fits well unless you're huge of boob, or a medium if you want something closer-fitting, and men's tops don't cling too much to awkward tummy areas :)

HortonWho · 19/09/2015 21:00

I see, Cactus. so it's not ignorance then. So. Much. Worse.

CactusAnnie · 19/09/2015 21:02

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

WhatDoesTheUrbaneFoxSay · 19/09/2015 21:18

ah cactus annie, so you're the xsmoker, so to speak.

FluffyCubs · 20/09/2015 07:57

Whys everybody scrapping on here? Op, don't know how old you are but new look do quite a lot of long line tops etc. And they are definitely generously sized. When I was your size, I shopped at next, M& etc..

If I'd been aware of maternity jeans then I would have bought some in a heartbeat.... But I have long legs and carried weight around my front.

When I was losing weight, I wore stuff from hm, so I could bin it and move down to the next size.

HelenF35 · 20/09/2015 08:00

Sainsburys clothes are generously sized, I'm sure an 18 in there would be more than big enough. They have some surprisingly nice stuff, their jeans are amazing.

MyFirstMyLastMyEverythingBagel · 20/09/2015 08:22

Well that was uncalled for - I don't think cactus meant any harm at all and to be honest I think it's what a majority of people would think - size 18 too tight - loose a few pound so they are not rather than going up another size! cactus never said loose stones she said loose pounds which cant be that hard and would make the whole shopping experience probably more pleasant - just being the standard size rather than having to shop in the men's section as was suggested or hunting high and low for somewhere where the cut is large because you don't seem ready to admit you are not a size 18. What is standard anyway!

Runningupthathill82 · 20/09/2015 08:49

I didn't see any bitchiness at all in Cactus' post - she didn't say "lose a load of weight then", all she said was, if the OP is in between two sizes, why not lose a few pounds to get into the smaller size?

Surely that's somewhere most of us have been, plus size or otherwise. I certainly have, as I never wanted to go up a size and would rather cut back for a week or two.
So, options are:

  1. drop a few pounds to get back into the size you feel you "should" be
  2. embrace it and move a size up Or 3) look for shops where vanity sizing and generous cuts means you can get away with your old size.

As option 1 is apparently rude to even mention, how about option 3.

My sister is a size 18/20 and gets almost everything from Dorothy Perkins, where sizing is very generous. She's a 18 there but can't fit in an 18 in most other places - like the OP.

She also likes the Henry Holland range in Debenhams, which I'm told is cut generously. They do some fab print dresses which would work well for a winter work wardrobe with thick black tights, boots and a blazer.

Fat Face, white stuff, Joules etc are cut very generously in general, but really not my style, so I can't advise on whether they do decent plus sizes or not.

jorahmormont · 20/09/2015 10:19

MyFirst I don't shop in the men's section because clothes don't fit me Hmm I'm a size 18, comfortably. I shop in the men's section because I like them for lounging in.

FluffyCubs · 20/09/2015 10:36

Yes, but when you're overweight shopping for clothes is utterly demoralising. Your criteria becomes "whatever fits" and while you're feeling like that it's very hard to actually turn it around. So, yes, you need to find stuff for now regardless of future weight loss intentions....

hiccupgirl · 20/09/2015 16:08

I really don't find shopping for size 18 clothes 'utterly demoralising' and certainly don't go for whatever fits. That was sometimes true when I was a size 22 but there is loads of choice once you can fit into standard size ranges. And at a size 18, it's not a case of shopping in the men's section as nothing else fits.

But I do agree that it's important to have clothes that fit well and you enjoy wearing even if you are a plus size. Feeling demoralised and like you're not worth making an effort for, isn't going to help anyone get into the right frame of mind to consider losing weight.

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