Plus size clothes on the High Street - 90% crap?

[DraenorQueen]

I'm size 22 and 5 foot 7. I know I need to lose weight but while I'm this size I would love a few decent items of workwear to boost my confidence again.
I've just been to a fairly huge shopping centre and returned with nothing. Not one thing. I can't get over how shit the vast majority of plus size clothes were:

Sleeveless - not ok for work and I certainly don't fancy flashing my upper arms/shoulders at the moment!

Shapeless: no structure or shape so they literally just hang. If you're cursed with stupidly large boobs like me, it just looks make you look like a vast billowing tent!

Horrible loud jungle patterns: Why would I want to draw more attention to myself? HELLO EVERYONE, LOOK AT BIG FAT ME!

I would be eternally grateful if anyone could point me towards some flattering plus size work clothes on the high street - you know, wrap tops, v necks, flattering layers. I'm in such a bad mood having wasted my bank holiday morning!

John Roche at Debenham do size 22. I find that the cut on regular sized shops just do not sit right on my moulds of flesh.I recently got some decent wide legged work trousers from Evans in fairness everything else was shite.

Not all of these are high street but I like the following -

Asos - structured jackets/ tops and blouses - their kimono sleeve tops are flattering/ wide leg trousers / maxi dresses
Peacocks - black skinny jeans/ linen trousers/ casual trousers / no vpl vests for smoother feel under tops
Mat alan - smart casual tops / simple pencil skirts

I'm a 20 and 5ft 8 and consider myself stylish where possible as I work in design!!

Poly - the website is much better than the Simply Be shop, which I agree is like a sort of tarty Evans. They seem to stock their cheapest range in there, which is odd, as it is presumably the Flagship store, and could carry some of their better, more expensive ranges. I've just ordered three dresses from the website. They used to do click and collect, so I would go in, try everything on, and leave behind what I didn't want, but now I have the faff of sending it all back.

Studio 8 is not bad, but much more polyester focused than Phase 8. I have got a couple of nice things from there.

I would also like fairly standard sizing (I think this across the board, though) - my clothes range from an 18 to a 22.

Sadly none of the Studio Eight dresses are long enough for me at 5'9'' Also masses are sleeveless annoyingly.

I get you. It's hard enough when you're a 14-16 with no waist because the muscles that had held it all in gave up, long ago.

Was just about to say Studio 8. Only discovered the website recently but have bought several tops and dresses from them now. Boden's my other favoured place to shop. I'm 22/24 5ft 3.

Why are plus size clothes so crap? I'm tempted to set up a quality plus size fashion company and clean up! Boden go up to size 22, and they do some great dresses, really nice materials too.

When i was plus sized i used to sometimes buy some basics in sainsburys or M&S. Lands end do a good range of sizing think they go from 8- 30 and is more classic styled so aren't stuck when the current fashion isn't working, at one point i couldn't find any non- skinny jeans in the shops. They always have some offer and an outlet sale online, i also buy some off ebay.

Box 2 is an online retailer - though I think they may have one or two shops - and I buy a fair bit from them. Some of it is a bit mother-the-bride in pastel shades but they're good for jersey tops and they do lovely linen. Like everywhere, especially when you're a woman of traditional build, you have to be selective... Fab customer service and free returns too which is always good. Pet hate is ordering things that don't fit because they look nothing like they do in the catalogue (Gudrun Sjoden I'm looking at you) and then having to pay to return them.

Good luck and thanks for the tips everyone - am off to check out Studio 8 next time I'm in town,

There used to be a Box 2 shop near where I lived. It seemed to me to be voluminous linen tents in pastel colours, and I think what is called the "lagen look" (lots of floaty layers with bits of lace, frills and embroidery on it, which makes you look twice the size).

I used to get some work stuff from Chesca - I've got a couple of nice jersey tops and a "bandage" skirt. Had a look the other day, and they truly have gone all "mother of the bride" and "lagen look"!

Lands End is good for basics like tee shirts.

I really dislike the Box 2 look - makes me look even larger, like a ship in full sail.
Chesca have always been too short in body for me and agree their present selection fire ( like so many specialist 'fat retailers'). Lands End can be good for basics such as winter padded jackets (though I prefer Max Mara's!) but I do wish they'd make their tops longer.

Dire, not fire!

Tkmaxx have a lot of Studio8 stuff on the website atm

Thanks for the alert, you'remywife

Lagenlook saved me when I went to Iran recently and needed to cover myself appropriately. I left most it behind.

it doesn't all come up if you do a search for it though, look under dresses in the larger sizes and more appears.

This dress from Boden is awesome. I'm about to order another m.boden.co.uk/en-GB/womens-dresses/day-dresses/wh884/womens-janie-dress.html

I had a look at Studio 8 on the TK Maxx site, and nothing appealed. So I went to the John Lewis site and ordered a couple of dresses from there...

I find Studio 8 a bit hit and miss - I have the Katy dress from there (reduced on the JL website) and it fits and flatters beautifully, but other stuff has been too short, or just fitted oddly. Interestingly, everything I've taken back seems to be reduced now!

I like the Boden dress, but have vowed never to buy another Boden patterned dress again, and they're out of my size in the black!

Like that Boden dress smitten - though I do have rather a lot already! How long does it come up, please? Length's a constant problem for me, as no one seems to think large people can also be tall and might like their knees just covered ( this rules out practically all Studio 8 for me).

I'm 5,7" and it comes to just above my knees.

I'm surprised no one has said ASOS.

They do a range called Curve which is excellent for basics and will have branded stuff too. I find it very modern, all though a lot can be for going out.

Simply Be you have to be careful but they usually do some key items that are a bit pricer (they also stock a large sized Coast range) I tend to wait till they have their sale on as I find they reduce everything within a few weeks of it coming out.

I used to wear Artigiano Italuan Mock Wrap Jersey Dresses www.artigiano.co.uk/art/italian-mock-wrap-jersey-dress-ajds410-product-1

As a sturdy teacher with management responsibilities, with waisted jackets ( often from Artigiano's sale or Sainsbury's/Viyella(come up large size wise) other places) with various co-ordinating or contrasting cotton camis / opaque tights/ scarves / necklaces.

The website feels like everything has gone, so as many MNetters would consider it a 'granny brand' perhaps the grannies have been shopping. However, the dresses are long enough to discreetly hide chunky legs.

What about when you buy a plus size top and its too short at the front so you can barely raise your arms without having your belly exposed. What is that?

Yes, absolutely infuriating. Why so hard to get simple good quality long tops in larger sizes.??With some sort of sleeve.

I have a long body in relation to my height- finding tops that don't cut off at the waist is nigh on impossible. and finding trousers that don't cut off too soon is next to impossible. Finding decent trousers is a pain in the arse- due to my job I need to wear plain black trousers. Easy peasy you say?

Nope. I actually surprised myself today by finding two identical pairs of black trouers that aren't too light or look too jeans-like or are too skinny or look like leggings and that have stretch in them and were actually in my size. New Look, in the sale. Everywhere else had linen blend or cropped or palazzo or harem trousers. The worst I saw were in H&M and were leggings with jumbo corded effect jodphur panels at the thigh.
I saw no tops or dresses that I would be happy to be seen in. Either floaty tents or sleeveless or the prints were foul.