Larger ladies - I need your advice

[bubblerock]

I recently opened a small ladieswear/girlswear shop selling ex high street clothing, originally I was selling regular sizes but within a week I had so many requests for plus sizes (18 - 32) I brought them in and they are now my best sellers in the 'real' shop and my Ebay shop!

What I need to know though is which are the best brands, how do they compare with quality and sizing? I am mostly stocking Evans and a couple of M&S/Newlook items but I'd love to hear your opinions and also what styles you like.

Thanks in advance

Just wanted to wish you all the best! As a larger lady of limited means I find it difficult to get flattering affordable clothing! I will definitely have a look at your stuff on ebay and if DH gets the job in Southport I will come to your shop! x

Thanks I am enjoying it so much, I've worked in shops before and found it soooo boring but having your own is briliant (so far) there's loads of scope and each time someone buys something it's a buzz. I don't even mind doing the books! Obviously we're not drawing a wage yet and won't be for some time (thank god for tax credits!) but it's a lot more family friendly than the hotel lifestyle!

This is Yours

The local branch here has just closed

That said, I went in the one in Lincoln today and my Mum would feel old and frumpy in some of the stuff they had in there.

I reckon you could probably add a couple of quid to your prices without losing any trade

There's definitely a huge gap in the market here, as no-one is doing this very well at the moment.
Here's my theory on the shops I've tried:
M&S - although they stock my size, their clothes just don't fit or flatter. Lots of them are very frumpy, too. Wish they did some of the Per Una range in bigger sizes.
Evans - very poor quality clothes. I've had to take several things back because of wonky seams, frayed material etc. But I guess we all buy from there cos it's easy and it's on the high street
Ann Harvey - clothes are better made but generally frumpy. You might get the odd gem though - I've had a couple of great T-shirts from there
H&M - I find the sizing really odd, and seem to need one or two sizes bigger than I would usually buy.
Elvi - for older ladies, I think!

I'd like to order something from Simply Be - what is their sizing like?

I generally prefer to try things on before I buy, as I'm a bit of a strange shape: I don't have the large norkage of most larger ladies, so if something fits on the hips it's usually huge on the boobs, so when I bend down you get a right eyeful of what I have got!

Good luck bubblerock!

Birdly, the sizing on simply be's stuff is generally ok but I've encountered problems with some of their trousers, I ordered a pair of casual cord trousers and the waistband was weird, it was tighter than the rest of the trousers, so it made my shape very odd. But then maybe my bod is just weird!

The maternity trousers and jeans I ordered from there are a bit crap, I ordered my usual size but they were absolitely huge and sack like, and very long in the leg, again maybe that's my body's problem, not simply be's!

I always buy moulded tshirt bras from them, and they look great for about three months and then the moulded cups warp and usually the underwire snaps.

The tops and nightwear I've ordered in the past have all been pretty good, but I did order a pair of sandals from them once in a wide "E" fitting and they were too wide to wear, even though I have very wide feet.

Hope this helps.