The UK high street is failing with its sizing. Mango only stocks its more fashion-forward items – including the much-loved Victoria Beckham collection – up to a size 12; most Zara items only go up to an XL or a UK 16 if sized consistently, and the same can be said for Warehouse and many more, leaving larger-bodied consumers very few places to shop for clothes.

“It’s incredibly frustrating,” says plus model Felicity Hayward, sitting down with Stylist. “We’re more than just a number on a label, and I wish more brands would stock a wider range of sizes of the same items. Why should we fight for accessibility to clothing when it’s a basic necessity?”

Adding to the frustration is the inconsistency that comes with clothing sizes. We all know the feeling of shopping for what we think is our size in one store, only to find out we can only fit half a thigh in another. This poses a major challenge for those shopping at the upper end of the sizing range. If an item that is labelled as a size 16 is actually a 14 or smaller at some brands, those that may seem more inclusive can be doing more harm than good.  

“The sizing inconsistencies in the fashion industry impact our mental health and how we’re treated based on our clothing size,” says Hayward. A universal standard sizing chart “would help us identify which brands are genuinely inclusive and which are not”, she says. “Currently, we deal with vanity sizing, where some brands label larger sizes as smaller to attract customers. This creates confusion and frustration, so addressing the sizing issue would significantly improve the shopping experience, especially for the curve community.”

As conversations around the lack of curve clothing has increased in recent years, so has the number of brands attempting to widen their size offering – although it doesn’t always appear as genuine. “When brands make inclusivity changes, they need to stick to them and incorporate them into their core values, not just as a token gesture,” stresses Hayward. “Brands must ensure diverse representation in their marketing and design teams to create truly inclusive fashion.” Otherwise, we’re left with poor fits, odd sizing and a small number of options.

Until this universal sizing and increased curve offering comes into effect, however, the key question for many is where can we shop for chic curve clothing right now? Hayward shared with us her three favourite solutions. 

“Never Fully Dressed has expanded its sizes to 6–28, and it’s great to see their growth and increased inclusivity,” says Hayward, dubbing the dress-heavy brand as one of her top three favourite places to shop. The model uses social media as a core source of styling inspiration and suggests we all do the same, so you’re bound to see this brand pop up rather regularly if you’re scrolling online as it’s long been loved by content creators.

“Joanie Clothing also stands out with its retro prints and sustainable fabrics, catering to curvier women,” she adds. “It appeals to me with its commitment to sustainability and stylish plus-size options, and it’s refreshing to find a brand that combines sustainability with inclusivity.” This is certainly a huge plus point.

And to make curve shopping even easier, Hayward has now partnered with another one of her favourite size-inclusive stores, Simply Be, which she says “is fantastic because they offer clothing in sizes 10 to 32, providing a wide range of options from swimwear to gym clothes to wedding guest outfits”.

So, we’ll certainly be bookmarking this list for our next shopping trip, and let’s hope that other brands start to do a lot better very soon.  

Images: courtesy of Felicity Hayward and Simply Be