Overweight in the UK vs Overweight in the US

Macy's had a very nice selection of plus sizes up to 26 for sure in some stores. They charged more of them though and they were not exactly a budget store to start with.

But it was about the only place I coud buy business clothes.

Macy's had a very nice selection of plus sizes up to 26 for sure in some stores. They charged more of them though and they were not exactly a budget store to start with.

But it was about the only place I coud buy business clothes.

There's an important distinction, IMO, between ordinary clothes in large sizes, and plus sizes.  So often in the US, plus size clothes feature hideous prints on cheap fabrics, unnecessary sequins, etc.  Even Lane Bryant, which is generally pretty good, falls prey to this trend.  What I have seen so far in the UK that I didn't see in the US, is size 22 that looks the same as size 6 only bigger, made of the same fabric and at the same price.   

There's an important distinction, IMO, between ordinary clothes in large sizes, and plus sizes.  So often in the US, plus size clothes feature hideous prints on cheap fabrics, unnecessary sequins, etc.  Even Lane Bryant, which is generally pretty good, falls prey to this trend.  What I have seen so far in the UK that I didn't see in the US, is size 22 that looks the same as size 6 only bigger, made of the same fabric and at the same price.   

I would say that its only been like that in the UK over the last 4 or 5 years.  Before that..walking into the plus section..you were pretty much guaranteed to stumble across the "Shirley bassy / Pat Butcher" sequin collection 

I am a big lass, as with LuckyCuz drifting between 16 and 20 for most of the time.  I was between a 12-14 once, but Jesus, was I miserable.  I'm much happier now.

I managed to get to a size 10 once, but due to my hight and frame, I looked liked skelatore and I was constantly catching colds etc...plus I had equal difficulty with clothes fitting, just diffent problems.

When I was dieting back in my 20s (20 years ago - yikes I'm old!  ), I managed to just about squeeze into what was then a US size 14/16 - I'm thinking it was probably a little smaller than what is considered a US Women's 16 now, and got my weight to just under 12 stone.  I did that by starving myself on about 500 calories a day or fewer, and it was torture! 

For US shopping, I never did much high end shopping cos I was always poor!  For plus sizes, I could find things at, of course, shops such as Lane Bryant, 16 Plus, The Avenue, and Catherine's...plus mall/department stores such as JC Penney and Dillards, as well as Wal-Mart, Target, and there's a chain store called Goodys I sometimes visit as well.  Most of the time when I go back to the US now, I head for JC Penney just to get staples such as my work trousers, etc (I'm not fussy - plain black is fine!) because I seem to have difficulty finding trousers that look and fit the way that I like on me, over here.  Oh and I buy jeans that last forever from Wal-Mart - I usually only have a couple of pair & they really do last forever.

Thank you for all the input!  I'm a guy so I didn't quite clue in with all the clothing size references but I think I understand the situation rather clearly.  UK & US are similar.  If you go to places in either country where skinny, fashion-centric people live, then you will feel heavier than normal and clothing sizes may not be available.

If you're a guy, I really wouldn't worry about it.  Just as in the US, the whole cultural weight thing is (I think) far more forgiving for men than it is for women.  You'll be just fine & I'm sure you'll find clothes to fit! 

I am not sure I agree with this idea that women in London are less likely to be big.  I think there are socio-economic factors which mean that there won't be so many shopping in Harrods or on the King's Road, but there certainlt are in Brent Cross on a Saturday afternoon.

I agree with that. I'm sure there are neighbourhoods of London where you will see larger size people, just as there are places in New York City where everyone doesn't look like Callista Flockhart. But the OP and myself don't actually live in London, so I suppose we are less likely to see the parts of London where the more average-looking people live and work. When I am there, it is generally on business and I am catching the tube at the stops where the skinny people go. I definitely feel like I am surrounded by women who are skinnier than me when I am in London, and I definitely don't feel that way around York.

I also noticed when I started working in Manhattan (in the advertising district) that I used to be slimmer than almost everyone else I knew in Brooklyn, but then when I started working in Manhattan I became just average (without gaining or losing any weight).

To everyone who said that it's easier to find large sizes in regular stores in the US--What stores were you going to?  Aside from Old Navy, I never found a regular store that carried higher than a 16, and usually stopped at 14.  Here in the UK, everywhere I go the sizes go at least to 18, many to 22!  I feel a lot more comfortable here with my larger size, like I can go into clothing shops and not face nonverbal snubs from the sales staff.

But UK sizes are about 1 or 2 sizes smaller than the same US sizes, so a US size 16 is a UK 18 or UK 20, so same difference.

I agree with that. I'm sure there are neighbourhoods of London where you will see larger size people, just as there are places in New York City where everyone doesn't look like Callista Flockhart. But the OP and myself don't actually live in London, so I suppose we are less likely to see the parts of London where the more average-looking people live and work. When I am there, it is generally on business and I am catching the tube at the stops where the skinny people go. I definitely feel like I am surrounded by women who are skinnier than me when I am in London, and I definitely don't feel that way around York.

I also noticed when I started working in Manhattan (in the advertising district) that I used to be slimmer than almost everyone else I knew in Brooklyn, but then when I started working in Manhattan I became just average (without gaining or losing any weight).

This is exactly what I mean.
When I was in Chicago, everything I wear is S or XS (Size 2-4US).  Then I moved to Japan and suddenly I was L to XXL and basically nothing fit.  The people there on average were much slimmer.  It's the same I noticed when I moved to London.  It is perhaps not as drastic.  I have to wear mainly mediums, etc.    But just as Sweetpeach said, every morning if you take a look around, there are tons and tons of girls skinnier than you.  And if you take that into consideration, I suppose that is why I am a M?

Way too early for me to make sense.......

You also have to factor how you feel in your head also.  I am often told that I think I am much bigger than I really am.  That can make you feel HUGE when you are majoritly the same as everyone else.

In general, I think it's a good idea for women to stop comparing themselves (me, included) with others.

In general, I think it's a good idea for women to stop comparing themselves (me, included) with others.

I think that girls need to be taught this as a mantra (heck, why limit it to just girls) from birth onward.

In this world with all it's billions of people, there will always be someone - lots of someones, really - who are:

fatter/slimmer
richer/poorer
luckier/unluckier
happier/sadder
smarter/dumber
prettier/uglier
stronger/weaker

... etc

Happiness comes from acceptance of your lot in life, not from trying to move up and down the scale of various adjectives.  Self-confidence and a strong sense of self-worth, regardless of size, stature, etc, is beautiful in any country, and comes solely from within.  "Social acceptance",wherever you are and whatever that means and looks like, begins with self-acceptance.
   

It was easier to get larger sizes in the US.  You could get up to size 22 at Old Navy that would be at least a 26 here and you wouldn't be able to get that in regular stores. 

I think it is also harder to find sort of, "fun" clothes in larger sizes. 

if anyone is 30 and under and would not mind answering a few questions relating to this it would be great.

I am doing my masters dissertation on this very subject. The ability to find fashionable plus sized clothes in the UK.

PLEASE email me. gadgetchik2@aol.com in ref to this topic!

  Oh and I buy jeans that last forever from Wal-Mart - I usually only have a couple of pair & they really do last forever.

They seriously do!! I have a pair I bought in an "emergency" while on a trip somewhere. I may have paid about $15 for them?? This was probably 6 or 7 years ago- at least! Can hardly see any wear and I wear them at least once/week! The other newer pair I just got about 2 years ago are getting really faded now! I paid probably $25 for those, though (they are Lee jeans. Still fit like a dream at least!)

And Andee, you are right. I KNOW better than to worry about the number on the label, but I still wish it were smaller....

I KNOW better than to worry about the number on the label, but I still wish it were smaller....

When I was losing weight, when I'd fit into even a single piece of clothing in a lower size than I was wearing, I stopped wearing and buying anything in higher sizes no matter how it fit. Even my mother, who's pretty fat-phobic told me I was nuts, but I was just that much of a slave to that stupid number.

When I was losing weight, when I'd fit into even a single piece of clothing in a lower size than I was wearing, I stopped wearing and buying anything in higher sizes no matter how it fit. Even my mother, who's pretty fat-phobic told me I was nuts, but I was just that much of a slave to that stupid number.

Same!  But with all the vanity sizing, I can't trust anything anymore!  I haven't noticed a real difference between body shapes (I worked in NYC and now in London), though the girls here are pretty slender.    I'm a UK 12, which I know is a US 8, and nothing to worry about, but the number still bothers me here, even though I know the sizing is different. 

I did join WW over here, though the program is a bit different.  Not sure how I feel about it, yet. 

I was in Paris last weekend and both other half and I noted that there were no large French women to be seen. When I went into the chi chi department stores, I didnt see anything above a UK 12  or a D cup bra.... Even the H&M there stopped at size 12.

I was in Paris last weekend and both other half and I noted that there were no large French women to be seen. When I went into the chi chi department stores, I didnt see anything above a UK 12  or a D cup bra.... Even the H&M there stopped at size 12.

I have bought things (shirts, pants, skirts) at the H&Ms in Paris and I am US size 12.