The Plus Size Thread - All are welcome!

[masquerade]

^I tried on some of the Rachel Pally stuff too. It was cute but the prices . Well, lets just say I am not going to be getting any of that any time soon

[jaffa6]

Originally Posted by masquerade

^I tried on some of the Rachel Pally stuff too. It was cute but the prices . Well, lets just say I am not going to be getting any of that any time soon

I balked at the price too, but it's only once in a great while I find something that fits so well and is flattering on me. I'm sure it'll be my last splurge for a while. (I'll probably do more window shopping in London than actual buying).

[Guessgirl96]

You guys should check out ebay for rachel pally. You can often find it heavily discounted and there are no fakes as of yet.

[3RingCircus]

Originally Posted by jaffa6

Does anyone have any other suggestions for plus size fashion in London?

(all sizes mentioned are UK, which converts basically as one bigger from US. If you are a US16, you will be a UK18-ish). UK shoe sizes are also different, if you are an 11/42 ask for an 8 or 8.5, depending on width)

Harrod's has a fairly conservative range of things which on last visit included a fuddy selection of Elena Miro and some nice Gottex swimsuits; Selfridges has MR, Anna Scholz, and a few other more German looking labels; I didn't see anything in Harvey Nicols when I was living in London last year.

The best all in one shopping day is prob this one: if you get off the Tube at Oxford Circus and walk towards Bond Street - you will pass (all on the same side of the road though not in order of appearance) Ann Harvey, Debenhams dept store (look for Gorgeous range), Marks and Spencer dept store (regular range goes to 18, plus starts at 20), Evans - which carries clothes, lingerie, swim and shoes in wide calves, and all the usual high street stores, most of which go to an 18 and are fairly well priced. If you went out of Oxford Circus and headed towards Tottenham Court you would hit a Dorothy Perkins (up to 22) and another Marks and Spencer of a decent size, plus an Evans store smaller than the first one mentioned in a mall on the other side of the street a bit past M&S.

I don't know what size you are, but Jaegar, on Regent Street about halfway to Piccadilly from Oxford Circus carries to a very generous 18 and has some gorgeous things. Pricey, of course.

The Marina Rinaldi shop is on Old Bond Street closest to Green Park tube. If you were feeling energetic you could start there, then walk up Regent to Jaeger then continue to Oxford Circus. Or do it in reverse, and finish with afternoon tea at the Ritz (assuming you booked it 5 years ago LOL)

A useful site is this one: http://www.fashion-era.com/plus_sizes.htm which explains a bit about the UK brands and what they carry. Take your money with you - remember, something that is "only 35 pounds!" is actually $70.

[fashionista-ta]

^ Thanks for the tips re Rachel Pally. I checked stockists and looks like she is carried a few places around here. Her designs look like they would work well with a healthy bustline

[jaffa6]

Thanks Guessgirl. Maybe I'm strange, but I never think of ebay for clothes. I think because of the fit issues. But I suppose it would be worth it to try stuff on at Nordstrom, and then see if it's available on ebay for much less

And thanks 2RingCircus for the London tips. I didn't realize there were enough plus size options to make a whole day of it! I'm going to check out the site you mentioned too.

[3RingCircus]

^ You're welcome. A note about the shoe sizes if anyone cares: I wear a 42 but UK sizes seem to put me at about 8.5 due to the width of my foot - instead of the 9 that all the conversion charts say I should be. So that's why I said start there when asking for sizes. Or just say 42 and see what happens!

There are quite a few stores for large size shoes in London, 3-4 of which are on Chiltern Street, W1 about halfway between Baker and Bond St tube stops. Duo Boots is on Saville Row,W1S just west off Regent St. You can have a look at Vivienne Westwood on your way there!!

[LaurieAnn]

Thanks for the London shopping tips 3RingCircus. My family and I visit London every two years and I always take a day for myself. Usually I combine a bit of shopping along with a museum visit free of a hyperactive 10 year old. Next time we go though I may take the entire day to shop now that I have a better idea of the variety available to me.

[masquerade]

ugh, so if you look in the thread for the new POP magazine, there is an ed with Beth Ditto in it. You have to love seeing a plus-sized woman in a high fashion editorial even if you don't like Beth (personally I love her). But what pisses me off is that in one of the pictures she is wearing a "specially made for POP" Hussein Chalayan dress. Of course, the only time a plus sized designer dress is made is for a magazine editorial

[fashionista-ta]

^ In the Sept Bazaar Rita Wilson writes about how hard it is to be a size 8 ... because she can't come near a sample. Hey, I found it really easy being a size 8 (I did enjoy the article ... whatever the size number in question, I think that health issues and how I feel are the compelling questions, vs whether stores in their infinite wisdom stock the size that matches me.) The cutoff is usually at 10 (for stocking, even if the size is made), although I think I have come across a size 8 cutoff before (i.e., the store stocked only 6 and smaller).

As far as Rachel Pally pricing ... I realize I could go research this but would anyone mind being a bit more specific about the range?

[masquerade]

its been a while since I was at Nordies looking at the clothes, but if i remember corrected the empire waist top I tried on was around 140 and the kimono top/really short dress was around 160. Considering its printed jersey fabric, I thought it was pretty unjustified. But if you are a size eight, I wouldn't even think about it. They were cut kinda large, but maybe thats because I had to try a 1x instead of a 0x which is what I usually wear.

[fashionista-ta]

^ I'm a 10 usually, and 38DD. The website showed things on regular models, so I was assuming it wasn't just plus, but that's all I was going on. If Nordstrom's carries her, I can def take a look next time I'm there. Which dept?

[cait]

Our thread's gotten quiet - anybody shopping for new pieces for fall?

[classic1908]

^^

Since I'm in California, fall/winter fashion isn't the most practical thing for me to buy. I probably will concentrate on shoes, particularly finding a pair of chocolate brown leather dressy pumps or slingbacks. I only have money for one pair of Manolo Carolynes, and they will be black.

I've seen a few things in the stores, though, that are interesting. I'm liking the INC Woman things, for instance. I have not been able to get to Marina Rinaldi or really cruise Saks' Salon Z for things. Then again, when I get those items, I get them at Off Fifth or at Loehmann's. Cheap, cheap, cheap.

[classic1908]

From Palm Beach Daily News @ Peter Som. She's got nice skin and a pleasant smile.