I want affordable stuff, that isn't tat. But I'm a size 20...

[PrettyCandles]

so where can I shop? I find catalogues frustrating because of not being able to try things on. And I'm fed up of Evan's quality - it's just not good enough most of the time, besides the cut is ghastly. Why are fat women's tops cut with such wide shoulders and low sleeve-holes? The result is inevitably that I look like a log, no womanly shape, and can't raise my arms or breathe too deeply because the cut doesn't allow for this.

Monsoon do lovely clothes in my size (tyhough I can only afford them int the sales LOL).

Where else?

Oh, and I want a pair of trousers that will fit me when I put them on, and still fit me at the end of the day - not stretch so much that they fall off without my even loosening the button!

H&M? Some of it is tat, some not - you have to sort through it.

Bon Marche may look old fashined but i got some nice trousers and holiday wear from there.

Evans is generally rubbish quality isn;t it (so is SimplyBe before anyone suggest that)

My experience is to buy vbetter quality like M&S and Spirito D'artignano but in the sales.

Thats no help is it!

M&S?

from reading Trinny & Suze & Gok, they say do not go for tents, go for fitted stuff

what are you looking for, tops, dresses etc?

although tbh, in your shoes, I would diet. And I know I will no doubt get jumped on by MN buty hey ho, if I was restricted by my size to only certain shops and styles, I would be upset and do something about it

having said that - I bought a great linen skirt form Evasn recently whcih was much better quality than normal and also more expensive (about £40)

new look? my a 16 and they have some great stuff in size 16 to 24 in thier larger stores. are really affordable and stylish too.

and this is coming fronm a girl who after having dd2 vowed to be a size 10 -12 again asap as river island where the only decent shop in my town! was introduced to new look by a friend and now even if i do get to my old size wont be buying much from river. why pay £45 for jeans when you get the same pair in new look for £20?

trousers in M&S

there you go pretty candles - diet and wear bin bags in the meantime, it will encorage you to stop eating pies if you look like shit most of the time.

(Yes OO you are right, you will get jumped on)

Where are youi - I went to Laura Ashley discount store at Lakeside on Sunday and they had loads of size 20 stuff there!

marks and spencers have got some fantatic stuff in at the mo, just bought 3 new tops, and they fit and are flattering

agree that wearing fitted stuff is better

i have a small (ish) waist, so i but stuff that ties at the back or has a belt, and i have suddenly been converted to wearing shoes with a wedge so that my legs look longer, which is always more flattering

asda and dorothy perkins are great, do 3 different leg lengths and the stuff lasts

also, try lots of different stuff on, you will be surprised what suits you

and don;t forget to accesorise!

erm, where did I say she looked like shit and ate pies?

she sounds fed up, so I suggested she do something about it

what an unfair thing to say oo have you ever had a probelm with your size before? i have and have also been slim its not that easy. you do try to lose weight, but can easily get side tracked by family.

im exactly the same prettycandles..evans is shit, new look quality is shit, simply b neevr looks the same once you get it..marksy's in old fashioned(mine is anyway?)...I HATE SHOPPING!

why is it unfair? if you lose weight you would have more variety to choose from

don't see why what I have said is mean

if PC would let me know what she is looking for, price and style etc I will try and link something

or can only larger ladies help out on this thread?

I suppose I assumed (obviously naively) that OP had worked out that if she was a smaller size she would have more choice of shops.

i dont think OO was being horrible, she had already and has since offered help in finding shops that stock bigger clothes, she was just saying if you cant find things to fit you, or rather if she couldnt, she would diet..now as a size 18-20 myself i know its not as easy as that, but it is right..im sooo fed up not finding anything or not looking nice, but i(me, personally not anyone else) cant get the enthusiasm to do anything about it..pathetic i know, but it is what needs to be done in my case anyway, i look way older than my years because i HAVE to shop in evan sand the like

Agree with haunting the sales, and buying out of season, iyswim. Boden does size 20, but can be pricey, and apparently Fat Face sizes are big, so might be worth trying their size 18 (keep meaning to do that myself, but haven't got round to it).

Next, of course, but haven't been in for ages, so no idea what the quality's like.

ebay

got some nice monsoon stuff from there, cheaper than in the shops

I look in Matalan from time to time, most of their plus size stuff is horrible but you get the odd gem.

I find myself always looking around for nice clothes and buying things that I know I will use even if I don't need it straight away, iyswim, as it's so rare to find something nice and affordable that it's madness not to buy it when you see it.

I was in Sainsbo's yesterday and noticed that a lot of their stuff goes up to a size 22 now - I've never bought anything for myself from there before but I may go back after next payday.

OH yes - supermarkets occasionally. Tesco go up to 20, I think also 22. Though I only ever seem to see tops in that size, rarely bottoms, so to speak.

Oooh Fat Face! I lurve some of their stuff... bet I would be pushing it though even if their size 18 comes up big

Worth a try though, isn't it. I really must go and see whether it's true.

Actually I find a lot of high street shops go up to a size 18 nowadays. Though it is easier to get the big sizes on their catalogues. So maybe just getting down one size might help. I know how you feel though I was a size 14 six months ago and am now an 18/20. It is really depressing a lot of the time.

Why not order from catalogues. That is what I have started to do. I go through and order a lot of stuff (maybe 20 items or more). they are deliverd the next day, I try them all on and keep the items I like/that fit. The rest go back in the post. TBH it is much easier than shopping on the high street, especially with my 3.5 year old with me

I have found Dorothy Perkins quite good and also Next go up to a size 20 in the catalogue. I do order from Simplybe but I agree the quality isn't great.

I personally can't bring myself to spend a lot on individual items of clothes as I know I'm likely to be 2-3 sizes smaller or bigger in the next 6-12 months. Any expensive item doesn't really fit long enogh to be worth the investment IYSWIM.

Larger Tesco stores have a plus size range - but like Matalan they are generally horrible with the occasional nice item