Finding 16+ clothing on the UK high street or online that isn’t downright frumpy and shapeless can sometimes prove a little tricky. Some shops stop at a 16 or 18 and have a separate plus size line that by no means reflect the gorgeous collections that the rest of the store has to offer. And so with this post I bring you my high street and online faves, some tried and tested, some just lusted after!
One of my favourite current stores is Collectif. At present they have just 3 physical stores that are in London, and so if you are in the big smoke then I would recommend checking them out. They frequently host sales online and instore and their high quality pieces are often a real bargain.
Their dresses come in many styles and fabrics and patterns and there really is something for everyone. They cater up to a size 22 in a lot of their clothes. With my busty bottomy shape I favour the Dolores dresses – and I recently got to model the red riding hood print dress at London Edge, available to purchase soon.
I fit into a size SIXTEEN in the Dolores and this little number, proving that they really are cut for curves!
Check out a few of my lust haves from the present and upcoming collection:
Mariella Leopard Long Coat
Dolores Rose Dress
Ella Dress
Marie Lace Dress
Ella Doll Dress
Julia Doll Dress
Here’s hoping that Collectif go all the way up to a 22 in all of these styles!
Another store that is doing really great things is Evans. I was recently lucky enough to attend the opening of their Marble Arch store and I snagged a couple of beautiful coloured jeggings as they were on offer. I think you’ll agree that the current selection is amazing…
I am also quite a fan of the Clements Ribeiro range as it looks a little more form fitted and on trend than some things Evans produce. I know that they have to cater for women of all ages and of many many sizes and so I don’t begrudge what they do sell, it’s just fab to finally see so many things that I personally love.
One of my absolute FAVOURITE new online stores has to be Lady V London.
She makes dresses from a size 8 through to a 32 and regularly has sales and promotions. She listens to her customers and acts accordingly, always trying to provide what we want and so far not failing! I reviewed one of her gorgeous midi dresses here and provided links to a few other reviews as well.
A brand that is slowly growing on me is Excite Clothing.
I first came across them when I was looking for short sleeved and long sleeved boleros and became impressed by their range and prices when I investigated further.
Mrs BeBe is also a fan of the brand and I think you’ll agree that she looks amazing in it.
Those are my favourites online and on the high street right now. It looks like things are on the up for us more voluptuous ladies who still want to look stylish and proportioned and I for one am grateful for that. We don’t all want to dress in baggy dark non patterned items, we want to look sassy and sexy and on trend and we want bargainous bountiful options.
Which is your favourite plus size store and why? What kind of clothing you do love? Let me know in the comments.
Great suggestions here, my other faves are ASOS and Dorothy Perkins which I find really affordable.
Thanks so much for being such a brilliant role-model for the anti-skeleton brigade. always enjoy your posts. x
If we forget about looking stunning for a while, and focus on staying dry and warm while still looking ok[*], I can recommend the brand Didriksons (www.didriksons.com).
They only go upp to size 44/18 (46/20 in some models) but where size 44 is often too small for me in other brands (and high street clothes in general), I can wear a 42 or even 40 in Didriksons with space left for a cardigan.
The mistake most other brands seem to make is that they add a lot of extra fabric to the back of the jacket in bigger sizes, wich – on me – just bulks under the arms while the jacket is still tight over the chest. Didriksons have understood that you need some in the front too.
Here in Scandinavia the brand is mid-range pricewise. From the website it looks like it’s sold all over the UK, but I of course know nothing about the selection or pricing.
[*] I find it extremely hard to look good AND keep warm in -20 degrees Celsius. If anyone has ideas, I’m all ears.
The Russians do it with fur, but that’s not very PC in Scandinavia.
And I should of course have specified that it’s rain coats, parkas and winter-/skijackets (I had written that next to the URL but must have managed to erase it). Maybe you won’t turn heads, but you won’t turn blue either.
Is that a customized metal studded Tease Me bra in the second-to-last photo? It looks awesome! These recommendations will be useful, I find it impossible to find fitting trousers on the high-street, as I’m somewhere between a 14 and an 18 and have enormous muscley thighs and wide hips… when my legs fit in I end up with about 6 inches of loose fabric at the waist. SIGH.
I’m a 22 year old American college student and I stumbled upon your site through the Suicide Girls facebook page and I LOVE your site! I’ve checked out many of the stores you have posted and I can’t believe the things they have that I can 1.AFFORD AND 2.WILL ACTUALLY FIT ME! I’m glad that there are places out there for me to be able to find clothes that I like and will look good. I wish more places were like that in the U.S.
love love love collectif – got my first package from there the other day and the stretch fabric used in the dresses hugs curves perfectly. Unfortunately, still a little big around my ribcage but that will happen with boobs and not anything a belt cant fix! Dying to buy from Lady V next!
That black dress with birds on the print looks amazing to you. I wanna wear that brown polka dot dress.