Shops and clothing sizes - anyone help me create a list?

Snowlili, you sound like exactly where I am now.  I will definately be trying katies and susan gray - both close.  I hope I'm not turned away :-(
I'm trying to buy snug at the moment - because it's only a few weeks before they're loose!

How much does it suck that even when you loose a heap of weight clothes shopping is still a battle!

I am in a similar position to you- not quite a 16 at Kmart/target but not plus size and 18 is too big.

I went shopping last weekend and found a few great buys at unexpected places. I am not to keen to spend much given I wont be in the clothes for that long either. Shops I found good were:

-Katies: size 16 are a little snug but have stretched even in the week I have had them. Super cheap as well-$17 as they were on sale with an additional 30%of

-Crossroads: got 2 pairs of work pants for $10 each

-Susangray- pair of jean size 16 for 15

Let us know how you go!

Thanks greenfrog.

Oh how I wish they would use standard sizing.

Jacque E goes up to a 18 in most things.  I don't know if there normal or big sizing though...
Sussans goes to a 16 in everything and some 18's (I think, its been a while since I bough an 18 from there). 
David Lawrence goes to a 16
Jigsaw goes to a 16
Myer, Miss Shop goes to a 16
Kathmandu goes to an 18

I basically bought my stuff from DFO or the brandsmart outlest in Melbourne or found the really big Savers op shop in Greensborough and got lots of work pants there.
That has actualy been the best thing, I just popped in when I could and if I found things I liked in smaller sizes I grabbed them.  Most of my pants I got for $10, some with tags still attached.  For some reason tops were harder to find... but black work pants were easy.

I also signed up to lots of wharehouse sales websites and went to quite a few of those.  My favoirate even before loosing weight was the Anthea Crawfordoutlet on Brudge rd richmond, they have a 50% off all the reduced stock a few times a year.  I used to have a collection of occasion dresses ready to go for $100 or less each... have to start again now.  hehe
The funny part is I only wear dresses to weddings...
They also have knit tops, pants, suits for work etc.

I can't think of any others... I will say those shops above are probably average sized, not vanity sized.

Ah, I think I'm realising why I don't do much clothes shopping online - postage etc.  I'm on a pretty restricted budget.  $20 max for shorts.  Millers is 40% off everything at them moment.  I'll duck in and see if I can find anything just to get me through the next 10kg.

I've never bought clothes online.....I may just have to try.  

What happens if you buy and then you don't like the way it looks or sits?

Shop online! I'm hard pushed to think of somewhere online that doesn't have a proper sizing chart with inches etc. plus you get some unique clothes! I have shopped online for years because the 'big' clothes (especially undies) were AWFUL.. Like all fat people are okay with dressing like their mum/nan! If I ever found anything I liked I would see someone else wearing it within a week and it would drive me crazy thinking people could literally see The Fat Department walking down the street. eBay, Dr.Jays, OneStopPlus, asos... A goldmine of unique clothes AND you have the benefit of searching for 3XL sizes or big yet skimpy undies without being judged by passers by... or even getting out of your pyjamas lol

:D

I will go back to millers.  I try to avoid it, because my mothers entire wardrobe is from there! 

Right now, I have 4 pairs of shorts (2 for work).  1 pair of 3/4 length jeans (too big, look baggy, and i have to roll over the top.  

One pair of long crinkle soft pants and a nice white shirt to go with.

A few tshirts.  
2 work polos. 

Thats it!  Thats my wardrobe!!

BOJ try 14s in Millers. They might be a little snug to start with but it won't be long until they fit well and you cannot judge by the label.

 It depends on the different styles. Usually though when I find a size that fits I buy a couple of pairs exactly the same so I know they will fit. They do have some that have elastic waist but also a cord that allows you to get a lot more wear out of them, but I have 1 pair that are 14s and 1 pair 12s and the 12s are a little more snug so I let the cord out a bit


Actually I am with you in that I still hate clothes shopping, especially as I have really flabby arms

Wow, BOJ, how rude of that woman !!! Sizing really is a joke. Some stores are known for being 'generous' , others for being a 'small fit' , some obviously do 'vanity sizing' - and then it's all different in different countries as well - as if it's not hard enough for us women !!!! At least the guys' stuff (well, pants & shorts at least) is done in inches, so it's an actual measurement !!!
Perhaps the only advantage of my yo-yo dieting history is that I really won't need to go shopping once I've lost all my weight, I have a wardrobe that's better stocked than any shop !!!!!

Oh, god, I wish they had standard sizing.  It's NUTS.  I'm close, I think, to be able to fit 16's in a normal shop - or some normal shops.  Maybe.  I have no clue!    I hate the term Plus size, and I also hate vanity sizing.   

I just don't want to walk into one only to have another shop assistant tell me that I'm too effing big to shop there, IYKWIM.  

I think I'm in 14/16 at autograph - so I'm sizing down and out of there.  I've bought a couple basics at millers - mostly elastic waist pants because they stay up for longer as I lose weight, LOL.  The 18's I have from there are too big.  Probably a 16?  

Kmart - The plus size 18's are too big.  The normal range 16's are too small.  

Big W - I can't ever seem to fit their stuff well, even now.  No idea.   Rivers - anywhere from 16 to 20.  

I'm actually hating clothes shopping now more than I did before.

BOJ
I have been buying anything new from Millers when they have their sales on, otherwise at the Op shop.

Their sizes vary and I have found there is little difference in their 12s and 14s in some things in the pants. I buy elasticised waist pants as I can get them to fit better in smaller sizes, if that makes sense.

Currently I am wearing pants that range between 16 - 12 depending on the make so I do try them on. So I think they may be a generous size. They do go up to 20 I think.

I buy them because they are relatively cheap and I am not fussed about giving them away when they  hopefully get too big for me.

I have a couple of 16 tops from there as well. I do have difficulty with clothes because of my lack of height as they don't sit right on me

How about "Autograph", "Millers", "City Chic", "TS" and in Department stores such as Myer?

Sizing is stupid these days.
What they are calling a size 8 at Big W - 34" bust, 26" waist, and I can't remember what size hip, was what used to be a size 12 20+ years ago.  I wish there were standardized sizes world over!

All the best.
:)

I had a...crappy experience today.  Went to rockmans.  Tried on size 16 BeMe shorts - a bit big.  I asked the lady what sizes were like in the normal Rockmans range.  She said to me.."oh, we go all the way up to a 20 in some things".  So I said....oh - so I could look on that side of the shop.  She looked me up and down and said "oh, I think you would be best to look for the size 20's"

BITCH! 

Anyway, I do not wish to repeat the experience, but I'd like to have an idea which shops I might actually have success in..

So, if you know what size a shop goes to, and whether they run large/small/true - can you let me know? Apart from BeMe, Autograph, Big W (so much smaller than the others!) and Target....I've not set foot in a "normal" store forever.

I seem to remember that most stores only go to a 14, and some to a 16...but yeah, which might run big and small?