AIBU to think that clothes shopping in person as a plus sized woman is now impossible?

[FatFuckerFrances]

I was in Oxford Street today. Usually I can go into M & S and find clothes in a size 22 to try on. Today, there was one pair of black trousers in a size 24. Everything else was a size 20 or smaller. Mostly smaller. Even ranges like Seasalt, which goes up to size 28, only go up to a 16 or 18 in store. Same for John Lewis. Nothing above size 18.

A few weeks ago, I was in M & S, bought two dresses, a top and pair of jeans, and tried on a load more stuff. Asked a member of staff, who said “you’ll just have to click and collect.” Same in John Lewis, which until a few weeks ago stocked a small amount of one plus sized range, Live Unlimited. They now only do this online.

So now, if I want to buy clothes, I have to go through the faff of click and collect, try them on in the fitting room and then queue up to get a refund on what doesn’t fit. The option of browsing, and trying on clothes like a normal person is no longer available to me. The only shop I can go to is Beige, which is out of my price range. How is this fair? I still need clothes! And there seemed to be plenty of sizes 6 and 8 in stock, so it’s not as if they are only stocking sizes 10-16.

They probably don’t sell well in store. Same as tall/petite/maternity ranges

For all you know, I could have been a size 30 and slowly losing weight. No, it doesn’t.

If most of the sizes left are 6 & 8, that suggests those lines have been there for a while, sold out of all the most popular sizes, and new stock will be in shortly.

As a 10 / 12, I can usually find my size in physical shops IF I look as soon as the lines come into stock.

This is uncalled for.

How rude.

Sorry,the above post was meant to include the quote 'Does this not motivate you?'. It missed it out for some reason.

This!

OP I really feel your pain. I just want to go to the shops and try on clothes too.

There is nowhere on the high-street or even across the 4 big shopping centers in my city where I can buy clothes for tall women.

And what is worse, a lot of "specialist" shops like Long Tall Sally charge for repacking items for returns. I wouldn't need to return them if I could try them on in a physical shop!

I think we just have to accept it isn't as economically viable to stock these ranges in store nowadays. Such a pain in the bum though.

I think it has always been this way.
Until 2 yrs ago I was a size 22-24 and could never find anything instore at M&S or John Lewis, was always told to order online. The only places I could shop in person and regularly find my size were Yours and Asda
I have now lost weight and now take size 14-16 but still find proper shopping very hit and miss. Sadly I think online shopping has destroyed it for all of us

I’d rather be overweight than a terrible person.

I hate shopping for clothes for this reason. They either don’t stock plus size or the stuff they do is just shapeless bags because everyone who is fat just wants to look like a potato sack to hide their shame.

I hate having to buy stuff online where you can’t get a feel for the fabric, the cut, try it on etc. And it takes a 100 x longer if it doesn’t fit you have to return it, wait for refund, rebuy it. No good if you’re in a hurry.

Retail shops aren’t in the business of being fair; that’s not what makes them money.

To stay home and eat more? Yes, it does.

op I hear you. I am the same size and feel the same. I have gained a lot of weight due to high dose steroids from lupus and asthma. It’s miserable not being able to shop like a normal person.

I have the same frustration as someone who needs petite ranges. Many shops don't offer petite ranges anyway, but the few that do it's almost entirely online now. I don't understand it; women's clothes are typically designed for a model 5ft 8- 5ft 10, and the average height for women is much shorter than that, it can't be that unusual to need a petite range surely?

That is true, I did not look at it from that angle, I am sorry.

Sometimes I wish I could sew well enough to make clothes! I don’t have the size issues per se but I find that the quality and fit of clothing is getting worse while prices get higher.

Clothes can't possibly be designed for 5 ft 8 models, I'm 5 ft 7 and really struggle to buy tops, everything ends at my belly button!!

Shopping is shit for everyone

You're just aware of plus size problems as it's your size. Tall, short, thin, fat all have problems finding stuff and are told to order online

The high street has been dead for years. Buy online.

You have to see it from a retailers perspective. The amount of work and money involved in keeping size 22 and above in M&S’ hundreds of branches over one warehouse for online purchases will exceed the amount of profit on the item, which increases the overall cost for everyone.

I don't do a lot of in person shopping as a size 10. 10/12 are popular sizes but sell out quickly.

I'm 5'7" and sometimes dresses with a defined waist sit about 2" above my actual waist in the normal range. Designed on 5'5" model tops I would say. Often with shorter arms than me as well.

i feel this is the case