Wearing 17 Sundays dress and shoes from boohoo.com
Yesterday an article on Stuff mentioned that size 18 is the top seller at New Zealand department store Farmers. They also mentioned that many New Zealand retailers only go to a size 14-16 – something that many of you wish wasn’t the case. One of the things so many people say to me about New Zealand plus size fashion is that they would love to have the options available in straight size – there are so many different designs, prints and colours that are difficult to find in bigger sizes – especially if you want to shop in store and be able to try things on!
On The AM Show with Duncan Garner and Amanda Gillies
This morning I was on The AM Show talking about a few places that you can find plus size clothing and why I think many retailers decide not to stock plus sizes (including major international retailer H&M, who recently opened in Auckland but do not carry their plus size line) – you can watch the full interview here.
One of the main issues that my readers have talked to me about (that’s you guys!) is that there isn’t a great amount of choice here in physical stores. There are a lot of things that look the same out there, many options that are dated and not fitting in with current fashion trends. Compare side by side the options in a department store, and the plus size collection has nothing on the straight size options! Another concern is the lack of things like activewear, outdoorwear … just options! We want more, and if New Zealand retailers don’t want to provide that, then we’re going to take our money overseas.
The good news is that there are a lot of options out there – both physical stores in New Zealand and online options that you can get delivered to your door. I’ve got a regularly updated list here that you might find helpful, and I regularly post about new stores I’ve found and what options are in store here on my blog (sign up here for updates if you haven’t already).
What stores would you like to see with plus sizes?
Let me know in the comments
I would love some more activewear! None of the main sports brands do things in my size. I have stuff from kmart and the warehouse but I wish I could walk into Rebel sports or similar for some new leggings, sports bras etc.
That would be awesome. Did you know that Nike does up to a 3X? I wish they stocked their plus sizes in NZ.
Thats the dream!! I need a good swimsuit for actually doing laps, as opposed to my normal beach one and I’m so reluctant to go looking
Swimsuits I can definitely help with – send me a PM on Facebook with your size and I’ll give you a few options xx
Storm
Ooh yes, they have some gorgeous pieces don’t they?!
Well done Meagan, and i agree you looked amazing on the tele! And what you said made sense, there needs to be more plus sizes for us in regular stores. XAngela
Thanks Angela! Here’s hoping some stores take this feedback on board
Bravo fabulous Woman!!! What the hell..let’s be outrageous-why can’t our stores be like the U.S.A. where every store should cater for us over size 14.Completley agree;our money is just the same as everyone elses.Also ,we live in a country with many diverse cultures of all shapes and sizes-not forgetting our Rainbow whanau too!!!
HI Meagan thanks for advocating thanks for being our voice and face. It’s crazy that we just can’t have choice and that plus sized fashion buyers constantly miss the mark.
Thanks Samantha! I think a lot of missing the mark is due to brands really not understanding what their plus size customers want, hopefully this is a chance for them to start reaching out and taking things on board
I’m so glad that you did that Meagan, like you say it’s like they don’t want us bigger ladies their shops, same can be said on how trans women can be treated or felt not welcomed in women’s shops or even sections of a department store
It’s silly – our money is just as good as anyone else’s! They don’t know what they’re missing. It makes me sad to think that some trans women are made to feel unwelcome in women’s stores (or departments), that kind of treatment is not on. You have as much right as anyone to shop there!
it has personally happened to me in the past, once accidently, what I’ve hated the most is not having shop assistant being at all helpful