Confused - am I plus-sized or not?

[aweewhilelonger]

Hello

I'm currently around a 16 bottoms, 18 top half, tall with broad shoulders and back. I've been living in France for 10 years where it's generally pretty difficult to buy anything in my size - French women are tiny compared to me and clothing tends to be expensive. So I've survived on infrequent trips back to the UK plus the occasional sortie to Primark (just arrived here) and a few cheaper chains (C&A - yes it's still here, H&M etc). But I really don't like any of my clothes - they are all 'that'll do for now'! I was living in NZ before moving here, where I pretty much lived in jeans / fleeces / hiking boots, so I have virtually no nice clothes. And I'm sick of it.

Following on from the 'can fat people be fashionable on a low budget' thread that was recently on here, I've been looking at Pinterest for ideas and at some of the shops that were recommended. My question is - at size 16 / 18, am I considered to be plus-sized for UK / US brands? I know that here in France I am well into (and beyond!) plus-size, but is this the case in the UK too? Do I need to focus on plus-sized ranges / styles / shops etc? Or can I look more widely? It's so long since I shopped for anything other than the bare minimum, I've totally lost my way.

Please don't be offended, but wouldn't it be less hassle to try and lose some weight?
That way you would be able to buy clothes in France instead of having to nip back to the UK all the time.
I wouldn't say that 16/18 is plus sized, especially if you are tall as well.
You just need to buy from a shop that is generous with their sizes and size up a bit.

but wouldn't it be less hassle to try and lose some weight?

how exactly is that helpful

I've always thought a 16 was the beginnings of plus size, most high street ranges stop at a 16 and most plus size ranges start there.

At a 16/18 you can look at plus size and regular lines. Most regular lines will go to at least an 18, and often up to 20/22. I find plus size clothes are often cut bigger so a size 16 in, say, Evans is bigger than a size 16 in a regular line. Or maybe not bigger but cut for curves differently so fits more generously.

You don't need to look for specialist plus size shops for your size. Most high street retailers go up to size 22 (although probably not the shops aimed at younger people; like top shop and river island for example).

I'd disagree that most height street ranges stop at a 16 anymore. Maybe at the younger hipper end. But I think it is increasingly common to have at least up to an 18.

Yes OP, most high street chains start their plus size section at 14/16 so you would be considered plus size. New Look do a good range in most if their stores.

Oh snap Jenny!

I think you might get standard range up to size 18.

new look,dorothy perkins, river island and warehouse all ho.up to an 18 in their standard range. Oasis possibly too.

There only seems to be topshop and miss selfridge that stop at 16 as well as some branded fashion places like jack wills and hollister.

ASOS is my starting point for anything and im a 16 / 18.

Fat Face, white stuff, joules etc all go up to size 18 too if that's your style.

I'm a size 14 and I can't wear Gstar, Superdry etc because they stop at size large which to them is a 12.

At a 16/18 you will definitely be able to shop in standard shops, with a few exceptions. Fairly recently I was a 22, and even then never went near specialised plus size shops, couldn't bear them. I'm now 14/16, and it's def easier now, with more choice,and there is always at least one size above the one that fits me.

Asos. I'm sure they deliver free to France. It's all over the place re plus size eveywhere. I'm a 14 and live on the continent. I love a shop called Calzedonia and have to just ask for everything in the biggest size they have I didn't consider myself plus size until simply be started at a 12.

Anyway, certain shops here I just avoid. I love most of the spanish chains I just know not to buy anything tailored there and that I'm an XL. But I find myself shopping online more often than ever and I love Asos.

16 is usually plus size... but, most clothing ranges go to at least an 18, a fair few do 20 as well.

So no, you don't need to stick to plus size brands, you can and they are usually designed and cut better to suit a bigger figure, but you'll be able to buy clothes from almost anywhere.

Think I'm similar size to you. I get clothes everywhere. I get a lot of mine in the supermarket when I get my shopping . If I want nicer clothes there are very few shops I can't find things in. The plus sized shops seem to cut the clothes differently and they are really big so a 16 or 18 in there can be a bit big.

Cheers all, lots more links to follow up.

I love looking at outfits on Pinterest but I can't seem to find a category that falls between genuine plus-size and super-skinny models... The models are always either much larger than me - or much, much thinner. So I find it hard to imagine wearing anything that they are.

Losing weight might just be easier in the long run - but I'm really fed up feeling crap and hating all my clothes. I need some new things that fit me and help me feel better about myself right now. And I would have to lose an awful lot of weight (and probably some bones!) to be the same build as the average petite Frenchwoman - I've definitely got a more northern-European body shape ;-)

I'm a 16 top and 18 bottom and shop pretty much most places on the High Street. Supermarket ranges go to at least a 22-24 as well so there's loads of choice.

Like others above, I generally avoid specific plus size ranges as they are cut too big for me or assume I'm really tall, which I'm not.

I'm a tiny bit smaller but do some plus size modelling but I use instagram instead of Pinterest!

Every day stuff is generally
Tops - long tall sally, joules, Sainsbury's, matalan, asos
Jeans - m&s or Dorothy Perkins Eden jeggings
Dresses - collectif, lady v London, Dorothy Perkins tall range, new look, asos
Blazers and long cardigans - Evans, matalan, new look

My everyday thing is generally heeled boots (jigsaw cara) with a top and blazer or long cardigan like this

Oh two that post a lot on FB/insta/have blogs that you could look at are CurvyWordy and fuller figure fuller bust

In the UK 16 isn't plus but 18 often is.

In France most sizes over a 10 can be depending on the shop. So asking her to lose weight is batshit advice