Realwomen.co.nz

Hi,
Sorry if this seems a silly question but..... are there many places around the Christchurch area to buy size 18/20 clothes?
We're moving over in Sept and here in the UK I live in Evans, BHS etc....what is there in NZ? I'm seriously wondering wether to 'stock up' on clothes here to bring over! I wouldn't be so paranoid if I was a 'normal' size but I'm 18/20 and also petite! (It's really hard getting nice stuff here and I have no idea about your shops! HELP!!!! :? :mrgreen:

Thank you!

Hi Paula,
I hope you are very happy in NZ once you get here in Sept. It is a big move to make, but we Kiwi's think that we have it pretty darn good "down under." Not too far into the past it was quite difficult to find larger sizes in nice styles and good quality here, but things have greatly improved in more recent times. I would say to you though, to bring as much as you can with you - especially any special occasion wear, and that way you will at least have something different to wear when those occasions arise. One of the problems with this country is that being so small, and with small population, that each town or city has the different branches of the same stores with just more of the same, same..! It is much easier to find casual gear in sizes up to 24 at least.. T Shirts, shorts, pants etc ... and it does not seem to matter so much if you go out to a BBQ and see someone else wearing "your T shirt" . However, I remember once about 15 years ago, going to a wedding and from where I was at the back of the church I could see the brides mother in the same dress that I was wearing.. identical colour, everything! Fortuanately the wedding was only 10 minutes from my home, and for her sake I felt I had slip out to dash back and change into my 'second best' outfit. We had a good laugh afterwards about how we both had such excellent taste etc. She had even gone out of town to look for her outfit, and I had purchased mine in my favourite local boutique. I think that this sort of thing is less likely now though. We do have more choices of where to go for clothes though still feel that we need to have more "good and fashionable " stuff in the big sizes. There are some lovely shops in Christchurch - beautiful city in fact.. hope you will love there.

Paula, how lovely that you are joining us here in NZ. You will have to let us know when you arrive because we have RW gatherings from time to time. As for the big girls clothes, we do have shops here in Christchurch but I am not sure about petite fittings. So I would bring as many clothes with you as you can. I lived in the UK for a while and really miss Evans and such like. Look forward to hearing from you when you arrive (and in the meantime, of course). September is a great time to arrive as we will be just coming out the worst of our winter. Like England we have pretty changeable weather though.

Thanks AJ and K Katy (ooops,too many K's ?!)

We are really looking forward to joining the Kiwi race instead of the ratrace over here! We'll be coming to Christchurch so AJ, those meetings would be great, get to know some friendly faces!
Thanks for the advice both of you, I guess I have an excuse to go shopping now huh?!
Keep in touch,
Paula x