When you walk into the fitting room, a stash of hangers under you’re arm, you’re full of optimism.
But, by the time you leave, you’re defeated, and feel personally victimised by the mirror.
From questionable sizing to expensive price tags, shopping trips are fraught with stress – and it’s even more difficult if you’re a plus size woman.
Firstly, there’s the challenge of actually finding any clothes at all in your size. For example, high-street favourite, Zara, doesn’t offer a dedicated curve range, with many items only going up to an L or XL (about a size 14).
Urban Outfitters also does not offer a plus size range, with their sizing charts for women only going up to a size 18.
While other high-street stores including H&M and New Look do stock plus-size ranges, anecdotally, shoppers say they’re often limited – and, they don’t want a ‘special’ range, but rather, just the same on-trend styles in bigger sizes.
‘Why do stores have to do a whole different collection for plus size people?’ askedX user Nic. ‘Why can’t they just do the same clothes in a wider range of sizes? I don’t want flower print.’
‘I’m tall and plus size,’ wrote Nana. ‘Meaning I’m never able to find either clothes or shoes.’
It’s a problem that influencer and British Bake Off star, Laura Adlington, has also dealt with.
She often shares the realities of plus size shopping on her social media pages. In one TikTok video, she goes to five high street stores – Yours, H&M, Marks & Spencer, New Look and Primark – searching for on-trend clothing.
Laura Adlington on body positivity
Speaking to Metro.co.uk, Laura recently raised her concerns about the movement, which started out as a social justice campaign for Black women and genuinely plus-sized people.
‘Sometimes I feel it’s been hijacked a little bit,’ Laura admitted of the movement.
‘Now we are seeing more smaller people and lighter skinned people taking on that body-positive mantle. And that’s why a lot of people don’t resonate with it anymore, and don’t want to be associated with it.’
Sharing details of her own journey with her body, she added: ‘I used to think of myself as a walking before photo.
‘I thought my life would start when I lost weight. I would long for Laura, version 2.0. I thought when skinny I would do things I never did, like date more, I’d have better sex, I’d wear better clothes, I’d socialise more, go clubbing, go on holidays.’
But now, her outlook has changed: ‘I am sitting here the heaviest and happiest I’ve ever been.’
In many of the stores, she was unable to find the plus-size options and, when she did, was frustrated by the frumpy styles. ‘I was really disappointed with the butterfly tops, the cold shoulder tops and slogan tees,’ she said. ‘I just want to wear the same thing as everyone else.’
Laura summed up her day by saying it was another ‘unsuccessful trip,’ and asked her followers: ‘Why do I bother?’
Now, Laura has launched #StockYourSize, a new campaign urging stores to take plus-size shoppers seriously.
Taking to Instagram, she posted a picture of herself in a changing room, and wrote: ‘I’ve had enough!!! I’m sick of brands not stocking bigger sizes in their stores. I’m done with not being able to shop on the high street and I’m tired of us being an after thought.’
She encouraged her followed to get involved: ‘Please post your frustrated fitting room selfies and the styles you wish were available to you with the #StockMySize hashtag…and let’s make sure brands take notice.’
People in the comments were quick to share their own difficult shopping experiences.
‘Yes, say it louder,’ wrote user Shannon. ‘Honestly, I’m so sick of the stupid excuses brands make up for not accommodating us in person & how I’m not able to shop in barely any stores!!!’
While Victoria wrote: ‘I just wander round deflated, looking at accessories or home things because shops never stock my size or if they do they assume i want to wear all black or have roses and skulls on them.’
And Laura May added: ‘I can’t remember the last time I actually tried something on in a shop, seeing as they NEVER have my size (22/24).’
Even putting inclusivity concerns to one side, the plus-size pound is profitable – retailers failing to include them means they’re missing out on valuable cash. Latest available figures show that in the UK, plus-size women’s clothing stores had a market size of £734m.
It’s not all bad news when it comes to curve sizing, however. The Vogue Business Spring/Summer 2024 size inclusivity report found that even designer brands are starting to cater for bigger bodies. For example, Kim Kardashian favourite, Balenciaga, featured plus-size models for the first time.
But, of 9,584 looks across 230 shows and presentations in New York, London, Milan and Paris, just a paltry 0.9% were plus-size.
There’s still a lot of catching up to do.
Do you have a story to share?
Get in touch by emailing MetroLifestyleTeam@Metro.co.uk.
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