WasM&SCurve worththeweight?
PUTTING STORE’S NEW RANGE TO THE TEST As M&S launch their Curve Collection of clothing in larger sizes, fashion experts give their verdict on long-awaited move
AT LAST, one of the UK’s main clothes retailers has woken up to the reality of women’s changing body shapes.
M&S’s new collection, Curve, starts at size 18 and goes up to size 32.
And unlike the store’s previous plus-size pieces (some of their main collections go up to size 28), these are not trousers and dresses for skinny minnies that have been scaled up.
They are designed to fit and look great on a size 24 woman, and then scaled up or down.
This should, in theory, end the madness of racks of unsold spaghetti-strap vests and titchy frocks in big sizes, while shoppers search in vain for smart, comfortable, flattering clothes that they can wear to work.
The full Curve range of 100 pieces will be on sale on January 23 online and at 30 stores. For now, there are 20 dresses, coats and tops on the website, including a knockout black dress, a foxy jumpsuit and a cool biker jacket.
The range has been designed in conjuction with plus-size fashion blogger Danielle Vanier, who models the standout black frock and looks smoking hot in it.
M&S also consulted 2000 British women in the 18-32 size range. Buyer Jo Hales said: “The women we met with, and who tried on the pieces as we developed them, told us fit was the most important thing to them.
“That was what they felt was lacking within collections on the high street.”
M&S are not the first chain to target the plus-sized market. Asos. com’s range, also called Curve, is the go-to for many younger shoppers. River Island and New Look’s main lines go up to a size 18 and their plus ranges are 18 to 28.
For blogger Bethany Rutter, whose book Plus is published next month, it’s great to see M&S taking the needs of bigger women seriously. She said: “I think it’s really important that such a major retailer are thinking more carefully about their plus-size offering. “Getting Danielle Vanier involved was a great move as it shows an awareness the plus-size customer is getting younger and wanting something different. “I think it’s super-useful to be designing to a size 24 block – I feel like the range was genuinely designed with plus-size women in mind at every stage.” Christine McConochie, whose 20-year-old daughter is a size 20, agreed. “It’s so hard to find things. The choices are horrible middleaged drapey things, hippie prints or super body-conscious 50s styles. “Daisy doesn’t want anything like that. She wants skinny jeans and cool tops and foxy dresses to wear out clubbing.”
Christine has bought her clothes from M&S in the past.
She said: “I have found her a few good bits and pieces but I’ve often felt they were too short, or didn’t have the right cut for someone with a big bust.
“She really dislikes shopping for clothes because everything that fits her is so horrible. Obviously not all this range is right for her but there are a few things that she would love, so that has got to be a step forward.”
Users of the Mumsnet website were less impressed with the new offerings. One commenter offered the verdict: “Hideous – all frumpy and tent-like.”
Another said: “I think most of the tops look maternity. Maybe they look better on. It’s all a bit uninspired. There’s nothing really stylish.”
And another griped: “No decent work dresses. All sleeveless or short-sleeved – I don’t want to show my upper arms. Everything kind of clingy or drapey.”
A particular gripe was that many of the clothes seemed designed for tall women.
Rachel McCormack, a food writer and broadcaster who regularly describes herself as “a wee round ball”, didn’t see much for five-footers like her.
She said: “The shirts would come down to my knees and the below-the-knee dresses down to my ankles.”
But there are pieces in the collection she rates.
She said: “The biker jackets are lovely. If they don’t come down to my hips or have arms twice as long as mine, I want one.
“The black and blue mesh dress designed by Danielle Vanier is very nice. A black floaty dress with the big sleeve is also lovely, but wee fat women like me will look like a rectangle in it.”
Other options had Rachel shaking her head. “Waterfall longline cardigans are okay on very tall women but no one else should even look at them.”
A bold checked shirt also got the thumbs down. “Big women need to stop wearing this kind of thing as it just makes them look like lumberjacks. This is awful and will look good on no one.”
It’s really important such a major retailer are thinking about their plus-size offering BETHANY RUTTER