The inadequacies of plus size clothing

[Swarthysandwich543]

I have just been looking at the ever decreasing number of plus size autumn ranges (thank you Mountjaro) from on-line retailers and oh my goodness, are any of the designers larger themselves do you think?

Anyway, fwiw, I would like them to know that:

** just because we are plus size, it doesn’t necessarily mean that we are also short! Some of us tall people get fat over time you know! Where are all the tall sizing options for women uk size 20 or 22, or eu size 48 or 50? Or do you think that our legs automatically shrink up in to our non-existent cores once we reach that size?

**just because we are larger, it doesn’t necessarily mean that we want to dress in huge, loud, garish, flowery prints; we appreciate plain, subtle, classic, pieces for our capsule wardrobes as much as the next person.

**just because we are fat, we don’t want all of the extra fabric required to make our clothes, embellished with strange embroidery on one shoulder, or with pockets on the front of coats, cardigans, or jeans, or with huge sleeves that make us look even broader than usual. Resist the urge to embellish and leave them plain fhs!

** just because we are heavy, it doesn’t mean that we want correspondingly heavy, chunky knits or big puffy coats! We want fine knits (preferably v-neck) and coats that drape well and mould around our curves easily without sticking out like a tent.

Anyone else?

My main issue with plus size clothing is that skirts are made wider but they don't account for the extra curve around the hips so they end up being 4 inches shorter on the back.

I don’t wear skirts very often but this is exactly the sort of thing I mean!

I get Ulla popken clothes using Vinted. It is a German company which has a UK website if you can afford the clothes. They do have sales though. I found their shop 20 years ago in Berlin and the clothes still look smart apart from one t-shirt recently got holes in it. They are really made well. Also recently got some Marina Rinaldi clothes from Vinted and they are expensive when new. The Ulla popken shop were very helpful and even changed a long cardigan when a member of staff saw a button was coming off. If I go back to Berlin I would get another capsule wardrobe of clothes from them .Also found a big branch of C&A in Berlin and that was a blast from the past as I used to love that shop. I am sure you could get a lot of their clothes from Vinted. I spent my Nationwide bonus on clothes from both shops. The sellers were lovely as they commented they were glad I was so pleased. I like it when the sellers are pleased .

I'm size 24 and I also recommend Ulla Popken. Very good customer service and clothes wash well.

I recently ordered from YOURS and got some tops/t-shirts in a size 20. I'm 168cm (5ft 6) and in proportion, but they were almost tunic length and came half way down my thighs! Give them a try if you want longer length tops.

My main problem is being TOO short and a size 24.
I can get size 24 trousers and skirts but they're always too long. I cannot wear maxi skirts because I would trip over (and I also look like Queen Victoria).

i am sick of the tops either been too low cut or gaping as in cross over tops seems the bigger your boobs the more manufacturers think you want to show the world

God I used to hate that. Im skinny now....mounjaro.

Square hems on blouses and shirts. Yeah yeah we're supposed to tuck them in but we don't. So a bit of attention to creating hems that look like they were meant to be seen - scalloped, rounded, detailed, anything.

Also cut it out with the bloody cold shoulder tops. Not wanting to show our bingo wings doesn't mean we suddenly need to go bare-biceped all the time.

Any cutesy designs/slogans.

+++++++
I YEARN for a simple, narrow tailored, fitted suit jacket type affair. Yes I may be generally wider, but that doesn't mean I want to look like a 1980s yuppie reject in a giant fabric box with arms down to my knees as a bonus. Also not a blazer (I'm not Princess Di), not ruched sleeve (WTF!), not bedazzled (with anything!) or anything. Just like the nicely shaped ones you do for slim ladies, but bigger.

I had exactly the same experience. Far too long! I'm normally complaining that tops are too short. And now they have an annoying returns limit of 6 items so tricky to try to different sizes. Grrr!

My bug bear is massive arm holes which show most of your bra, I return so much stuff as it is unwearable.

Or they assume that just because you're big you must have enormous knockers.

Virtually every summer top I but needs taking around the armpits and/or straps because despite being a size 24 I have a relatively modest bosom!

Also the cheap and nasty fabrics that are used. I have lost a fair bit of weight over the last few years (stress related) and have noticed that it is easier to pick up good quality material in smaller sizes (although I do admit getting good quality materials on the highstreet at any size is a challenge now).

I also rate Ulla Popken - quality of their t-shirts is excellent, they hold their shape and colour, wash and dry well and aren't see through. Sleeves are the right length unlike most who think because I'm fat my arms are like those of an orangutan (they aren't!)
I'm losing weight (the old fashioned way) and will downsize with Ulla Popken for my tops. They aren't 'cheap' but as they last for years they are good value.

It is great to see Ulla is a much loved brand. Apart from my new tops which are over a year old now a lot of the clothes I got from their Berlin shop still look wonderful and yes like another person found they survive being washed many times. Equally my tops by Marina Rinaldi bought on Vinted have lasted years. I went to their outlet shop in Berlin over 20 years ago as well .My DH spotted the Ulla shop and he said it will be worthwhile to pop in. He went to the museums and we met up later at a cafe and I had a lot of bags with me. At the time the exchange rate worked out that everything was half the price of anything in England.

All the polyester, though! Sometimes the nearest one can get to natural fabrics are the ubiquitous animal prints. They’re not grrreat!

Also, the sequins and rhinestones on everything. Lovely for opening night in Las Vegas, not so much for day-to-day basics.

I couldn’t agree more!

The synthetic fabrics are awful!

I’ll add cheap, see-through fabrics to that as well, bc when you are larger you don’t want to have to wear a double layer necessarily.

And agree about animal prints too and although I don’t mind the odd, dark, discreet sequin used very sparingly, say to highlight a v neck on an evening out, the last thing you want if you are big is any shine on your stomach or bust so no satin effect fabrics please!

I very much agree with this and with the pp about cold shoulders, gaping arm holes and crossover tops that show everything.

Some of us even like a collar or a neat v with not acres of skin on show.

I hear you about the tailored suit jacket!

I do think the recent trend of over-sized, boxy cut, often very short jackets does plus size women few favours! You might be able to get away with it when you are young but as an older woman, I look ludicrous in them! Especially the over sized arms and shoulders make me look like a butch gibbon. And no shaping on the waist!

This is a great tip, thank you!

And thanks for the Ulla Popken recommendations and I’m really glad their clothes work for you. I have yet to try their trousers but I have sent back a couple of their tops because the cut isn’t right for me somehow.

One good thing though; thanks to Mountjaro and similar drugs, there is a lot of plus sized clothing on Vinted atm!

When I was bigger (size 20-22) I used to HATE trying to buy jeans, so much material in the crotch 😭 yes I may have been wider round the hips and stomach, but that doesn't mean the length of my crotch correlates to that length! Spent so many years putting up with having to wear belts that pulled my jeans right up to stop the crotch falling down to the middle of my thighs (and it's not like I was short, I'm 5ft8!)

And yes, so definitely agree with this! I have been after a fitted leather/faux leather blazer for Autumn and every single jacket is a short, bomber style. With ridiculously big shoulders. Give me something that shows the world I actually have a waist please.

I live in France, which is dire for larger sizes, and love shopping in Germany! Clothes that are designed for tall, broad, blonde women with big boobs… I moved to the wrong European country 😭

There’s no money in designing well for larger sizes. The extra tailoring that’s required would result in very expensive final items, and that’s not the way the fashion world is working now. Plastic fabrics, zero tailoring, boxy cropped styles - none of these work in plus size. My mum’s always done dressmaking but she’s got really into it over the last few years - partly because she couldn’t find anything that fitted. She’s not even that large, but like me she has a large bust and broad back. She’s developed a standard top to her own size that she makes in different fabrics and it’s amazing the difference a few well placed darts can make! She often buys blouses and adjusts them at home as well.