Realwomen.co.nz

I wear a size 18/20-ish though I'm not complaining and I really do like my body. But I find there is very limited choice in the way of fashion for sizes any bigger than 16 - has anyone else noticed this? Stores such as Glassons, Max, Dotti, Jacqui E, Pagani, etc, all these stores only stock up to a size 16 (Pagani sometimes does 18), but even their largest sizes are so TINY and are really more like a large 14 at best.

I really love some of the beautiful clothing I see in these stores and would love to wear them, but they just don't make sutff that would fit me and it really sucks. Surely women design the clothes for these stores, do none of them realise that yes even curvy girls LOVE to wear beautiful clothes too? Do they not realise that if they made clothes that went right up to a size 24/26, that they would be happy because they would make lots of money from all of the new customers buying their clcothes, and we would be thrilled to actually have gorgeous clothes that fit?!

Yes there are stores like K&K that sell stunning plus sized clothes but their prices are quite high and even buying two tops can set you back $150 - in Glassons you could buy 4 things for that amount. It's just such a shame that bigger sizes for women are so pricey and our choices are so limited. I wish someone would invent a plus sized women's clothing range that is reasonably priced and not just part of a clothing section in a department store but a whole store.

Okay, whinge done lol

I guess most of us here have had a good whinge on this subjet at some stage Masquerade, for we big girls are not so well catered for by the fashion industry, and when we are, it comes at price !
However, I do think the situation has been improving over the past few years. I do a lot of my shopping in the sales. As you say, K & K have some nice clothes but no so affordable clothes if you look at them at the start of the season. I have quite a bit of their gear in my wardrobe, but I wait for the sales. I do not know where you are in Auckland, but there is also a K&K shop in the Glenfield Mall which is their 'sale price' outlet. All their end of line stuff goes there, and you can get some bargains , My last purchase there was some really smart pants for $40 and I know that they were $110 when I first saw them in one of their other stores at the start of the season. I hung them back on the rack then, but grabbed them next time.
I have found that Farmers have really improved their plus size dept. And for every day stuff, I am not too proud to shop at TWH or KMart, for casual gear.
What about mail order ? I know it is not the same as going into a shop, seeing the fabric , finish and trying on. I am not usually a fan for MO or internet shopping myself , but I have used one particular company a few times and have been extremely happy with their quality, cut, and service . They also have good sales bargains , and I am thrilled with a lovely felted wool jacket I bought in their sale for way under half price. Such a bargain, and it is so cosy and comfy to wear. They really do understand the larger womans figures and do not skimp in important places, like upper arms, across shoulders etc. and their descriptions are very accurate. I have only ever had to return one garment to them, and it was very straight forward ,no hitches. - If you don't already know the about Long Island Fashions in Christchurch already, it could be worth your while asking them to put you on their mail order catalogue listing. I have no personal connection with this company, so am not just giving it a plug for any advantage to myself. It is something we do not really encourgage on this site. And spammers.... well, we would like to line them up before a firing squad really !! Anyway, for Long Island, there is a freephone 0800 234353 or www.longisland.co.nz . Hope it is helpful to you. Right now of course, there could be communication difficulties in the aftermath of the earthquake because they are in Christchurch.

Have just had an email from Long Island, to say that they are back at work and having cleaned up after the quake are busy despatching orders . They are running daily specials from yesterday so now would be a good time for anyone to contact them and ask to go on their mailing list and take advantage of their sale prices if there was anything that they liked there.

Wow, want to know a weird coincidence? A couple of days after I wrote this post, they opened a new plus sized clothing store for women at my local mall! And although it's a bit pricey, it's still cheaper than the other plus sized stores! YAY! Here's the link for this snazzy new clothing store - www.citychic.co.nz. If you sign up to be a VIP member (it's free), you get 25% off clothing, regular email updates with their new incoming stock BEFORE it hits the shop floor, invites to VIP nights, etc.

It does sizes 14 upwards and this is how their sizing goes - 14 is a XS, 16 is a S, 18, is a M, 20 is a L, 22 is a XL, etc etc. Love it

Thanx Katy for putting up that info for us to share. I have been online and ordered the catalogue to be mailed and they have sent me an email with the specials already. The lady was very helpful
What mall is your local mall Masquerade please ? I would like to know that because I have a couple of plus size sisters as well as myself, who are always interested in modern styles. I looked on the website and found all the stores listed on it , appear to be Australia, so they have not yet updated their website with the NZ locality. Thankx in advance.

Masquerade, I'm not sure which part of Auckland you are in but today I noticed that there is an outlet shop for City Chic at Dressmart in Onehunga. I had a look around and can vouch that their discounted prices are really good. Far too young a range for me but they certainly have funk clothes for younger women.

New Zealand City Chic stores (under store location online)

ALBANY
SHOP S253 WESTFIELD ALBANY
219 DON MCKINNON DR
ALBANY NORTH ISLAND, 0632
0011 64 9 443 2791
map

BOTANY DOWNS
SHOP SP 0511A BOTANY TOWN CENTRE
588 CHAPEL RD
BOTANY DOWNS , 2013
09 2788 27364
map

DRESS SMART
SHOP 426A DRESS SMART FACTORY OUTLET
151 ARTHUR ST
ONEHUNGA , 1061
09 622 0801
map


DUNEDIN
SHOP 293 GEORGE ST
DUNEDIN , 9016
TBA
map

HAMILTON
SHOP 4 CENTRE PLACE
56 WARD ST
HAMILTON , 3204
07 834 0911
map

HIGH STREET
SHOP 222 HIGH ST
CHRISTCHURCH , 8041
03 372 3516
map


MANUKAU
SHOP S235 WESTFIELD MANUKAU
GREAT SOUTH & WIRI STATION ROADS
MANUKAU , 2105
09 263 8343
map

NEW PLYMOUTH
SHOP 30 CENTRE CITY SHOPPING CENTRE
11 GILL ST
NEW PLYMOUTH , 4310
06 759 4627
map

PALMERSTON NORTH
SHOP 21 THE PLAZA
84, THE SQUARE
PALMERSTON NORTH , 4410
06 353 5660
map


QUEENSGATE
SHOP A160 WESTFIELD QUEENSGATE
CNR QUEENS DRIVE & BUNNY ST
LOWER HUT , 5010
04 576 0149
map

RICCARTON
SHOP 80 WESTFIELD RICCARTON
129 RICCARTON RD
CHRISTCHURCH SOUTH ISLAND, 8041
0
map

SHORE CITY
SHOP SU13 WESTFIELD SHORE CITY
CNR LAKE ROAD & COMO ST
TAKAPUNA , 0622
09 486 3261
map


ST LUKES
SHOP 5452 WESTFIELD ST LUKES
80 ST LUKES ST
ST LUKES NORTH ISLAND, 1025
0011 64 9 846 4322
map

SYLVIA PARK
SHOP S059, SYLVIA PARK
286 WELLINGTON HWY
MT WELLINGTON , 1060
09 573 5960
map

THE PALMS
SHOP TN40 THE PALMS SHOPPING CENTRE
CNR MARSHLAND & NEW BRIGHTON RDS
CHRISTCHURCH SOUTH ISLAND, 8061
03 385 8026
map


WELLINGTON
SHOP 7, 342-352 LAMBTON QUAY
WELLINGTON , 6011
04 472 1261
map

WEST CITY
SHOP S280 WESTFIELD WEST CITY
CATHERINE STREET
AUCKLAND , 0600
09 838 7368
map




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That's really helpful Ellieann, thanks.

Palms is my local Mall, & I didn't know shop TN40 is a City Chic store.

Then again, they change owners frequently

Renting space is expensive down there.