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?

I have no problem with elasticated waists! Just have trouble finding them - especially in smarter trousers. The suit I'm wearing today has a safety pin in the waistband, because the little bit of elastication at the sides just doesn't cut it...

I've got some great stuff from H&M in the past - but can't find anything nice at the moment!

yes - things tend to come in & go really quick

Without wishing to get emboiled in an argument, given that this thread isn't about that...

I would like to say that for a lot of overweight people, telling them to eat less is tantamount to telling an anorexic "Eat a slice of cake and you'll be fine" or a bulemic "stop throwing up and all will be well".

There are often underlying issues that people that don't have food issues don't understand.

So even if you are not trying to be unkind by coming onto a thread like this and suggest people "just lose weight" you will find that you hit a nerve for some people. Sometimes, you know, it's not that easy.

End of lecture. As you were.

OK, I am 18-20 (was 16-18 before DS2 hmmmm) and generally am considered to be well dressed by my friends and colleagues. I buy from H and M, am quite norktastic (36HH) but thier L/XL can fit well often especially in lycra-ed tops, which are plentiful and cheap there! Per Una goes to 18 and 20 but you do have to have a good search through the stuff there. I'm not a huge fan of Next, I think I am but am hard pushed to think of anything I own from there that I wear lots apart from a couple of dresses I got in a sale a couple of years ago, and thier linen trousers which are fabulous. I think Evans can have gems if you explore, and I do like thier shoes. Dorothy Perkins, Wallis, Principles do 18/20s (DP goes to a 22 I think???) Monsoon you've mentioned of course. I have just bought a dress for my sister's wedding from Simply Be and I really like it, also some shoes from there which are yummy. Even Primark can come up trumps sometimes, I have a couple of linen skirts and linen trousers that swim on me, and I love them. New Look as mentioned above and sometimes Tesco/Asda.

I think the key is to search and keep aware, you can send catalogue stuff back, I have a lovely relationship with my courier lady, she's really nice.

Accessories also are very helpful!

I think all of us lovely ladies are aware that it would be helpful to lose weight, you'll probably find most of us have, and have slipped off the wagon in our time. In the meantime, whilst achieving this goal, it is in our own best interests to do the best with we can with ourselves, and indeed we owe it to the poor unfortunates who have to look at us, non? Or, perhaps people prefer to see larger women in jogging bottoms and marquees....

applause for TigerFeet.

OliveOli there is some FANTASTIC stuff on there and reasonably priced too.

A fab find.

F and F at Tesco can sometimes have nice stuff in for the lady of the fuller figure.

I find F&F a bit samey season after season. Brightly coloured tshirts and similar styles and not much else in my store.

Like the look of Littelwoods though might be perusing that myself.

some of it is minging

there is a silver dress....my eyes my eyes, please god, my eyes

do NOT buy this

Message withdrawn

www.wraponline.co.uk

www.poetrycollection.co.uk

some nice stuff but £££,wait for the sales,get on their mailing list as they do exclusive web offers

Littlewoods... omg... I refer you to an earlier post about dressing like my Mum

some of it is lovely and I may have to have a look next time I am shopping

First of all, thanks for defnding me, but the truth is that I'm not offended because I agree with OO. Like another poster said, though, it's not always that simple to lose weight, and in any case I would still have to wear something while (ha ha ha) losing the weight.

I may have to bite the catalogue bullet, as there's no way I can browse for good stuff with a shop-phobic 1yo in tow! It just annoys me to have to pay return P&P jus so that I can try on clothes.

Thansk for thos links - not familiar with them so I'll have a good browse.

I'm not looking for anything in particular, just decent every-day stuff. I am awkward also, bcause I have a long body. So the 'hip-length' shirts that are currently in, combind with the low-waisted trousers, generally end up wtih me showing rather more wobbly tum than I care to display! As for tunic tops - shudder - not my cup of tea at all. Another log look on me. Fitted stuff is good.

lol at feltesque. My dp adores me the size I am paranoid about becoming feltesque though!

I will check out those linksggirl.

I think if you are larger you have to buy quality well cut clothes to flatter your shape.

ah PC - suspect I was not so much defending you as being sensitive about hearing the comment yet again. IN fact you are a waif compared to me so I'm actually very jealous...

OO - I have one of those in each colour

and I wouldn;t even consider taking DS clothes shopping unless I was prepared for my eyes to bleed.

how about ann harvey or elvi?
ann harvey has some good stuff, but again can be long. they do reduce prices really well in the sales. and they nearly always have a sale rail.

elvi is quite expensive and oldish, maybe not such a good idea.

My smart stuff tends to come from Ann Harvey - and not fit on the waist!

Kewcumber - lol at one in each colour!

I don't go clothes shopping at all unless I'm prepared to gnaw my own arm off. No way I'm taking DS (few months older than yours).

there is also debenhams. maine collection goes up to 22, and red herring up to 18 but i have lots of their tops and they are fine.

they do a larger ladies collection too.

Have you looked at the Gorgeous range in Debenhams? They had some lovely bits last week in the Glasgow one, ended up spending £68!

Tesco do a new range called True, at least I think it's called that, and goes upto at least a 28.

M&Co were a bit crap for sizes. Bon Marche just looks 'old', never found New Look that great. Debenhams also do another big range. MK One go upto a 24. What about Next?

asda g oup to 24 in some items, and cheap too.

I have had a few lovely pairs of trousers in a size 18 and 20 from Tesco before though I find their stitching can be shite.

DP is good for trousers, though fabric plays a big part I find, their heavier trousers are better fitting than the thinner non iron no movement trousers iyswim.

I can never get trousers from Asda - always too tight on the thigh and loose on the waist.

I'd recommend Monsoon for jeans - I have a pair from there that are size 18 (and I'm definitely a 20), and they fit on the waist and on the hips - it's brilliant (mind you, £45, so not the cheapest, but by no means the most expensive).

ALso I notice that Littlewoods seems to do a lot of its ordinary clothing up to a size 22/24, not just its 'plus size' range, so worth looking at the whole site (not the teenagery branded stuff though, but am well past that).