Best Shopping Places in London as a Plus Size Woman

Two-thirds of British women wear a size 14 or larger. Yet walk into most London boutiques and you’d never know it. The rails stop at a 12. The changing room mirrors feel designed to crush confidence.

I spent three days hitting every plus-size-friendly store in central London. Not the websites — the actual shops. I tried on jeans, blazers, dresses, and bras. Some fit beautifully. Some were a waste of tube fare. Here’s what I found.

The Real Problem: Most “Plus Size” Sections Are Afterthoughts

Brands claim to stock sizes 14–28. But walk into their flagship stores and you’ll find one cramped rail tucked behind the sale rack. The fabric choices are different — cheaper, thinner, less structured. The cuts assume a straight-up-and-down body shape.

This isn’t a size issue. It’s a design issue.

The stores that do plus size well treat it as their main business, not a side project. They hire fit models who wear a size 20. They grade patterns properly from a size 14 base, not just scale up a size 8. The difference is obvious the second you pull a garment off the hanger.

What to Look For in a Store

Three things separate a good plus size shop from a bad one:

• Seat and thigh room in trousers. If the waist fits but the thighs are painted on, the pattern wasn’t graded for curves. Walk away.
• Armhole depth in tops and jackets. A size 22 armhole should not be the same circumference as a size 12. It should be cut deeper and wider.
• Bust darts that actually sit on the bust. If the dart points at your shoulder, the garment was not designed for a D+ cup.

Evans: The Obvious Choice, But Not Always the Best

Evans has the widest physical footprint of any UK plus size retailer. You’ll find them on Oxford Street, in Westfield, and in most major shopping centres. Their sizes run from 14 to 32. Their prices sit at mid-range — think £40 for a dress, £55 for a coat.

The good: their denim selection is solid. The Evans Signature Sculpt Jeans (£38) come in three leg lengths and four rises. The mid-rise skinny with stretch holds its shape after a full day of walking. Their bras are also worth a look — the Evans Lace Full Cup Bra (£22) goes up to a K cup and costs half what you’d pay at a specialist lingerie shop.

The bad: their casual tops and t-shirts use thin jersey that pills after three washes. Avoid the £12 basic tee. Spend the extra £8 on the thicker cotton version.

The ugly: their store layout. Most Evans shops feel like a 1990s department store dropped into 2026. Dim lighting, narrow aisles, and changing rooms with flimsy curtains. You’ll find better stock online, but if you need to try before you buy, Evans is your safest bet.

Evans vs. Simply Be: Which One Wins?

Feature	Evans	Simply Be
Size range	14–32	14–36
Physical stores in central London	4	1 (Oxford Street)
Average dress price	£40	£35
Denim quality	Good	Better
Bra range	32A–46K	32A–48J
In-store fitting room quality	Poor (curtains, cramped)	Good (lockable doors, spacious)

Verdict: If you need a bra or a structured coat, go to Evans. If you want jeans or casual dresses, go to Simply Be.

Simply Be: The Underrated Contender

Simply Be only has one London store — on Oxford Street, near Marble Arch. But that store is worth a dedicated trip. Sizes go from 14 to 36. The fitting rooms have proper doors, good lighting, and three-way mirrors. That alone makes it better than Evans.

The Simply Be Tall Jersey Wrap Dress (£32) is the single best value item I found on the entire trip. It comes in 10 colours, hits below the knee on a 5’9″ frame, and the wrap style adjusts for bust sizes from a C to an H cup. The fabric is a thick cotton-viscose blend that doesn’t cling to every lump. I bought three.

Their denim is genuinely good. The Simply Be Sculpt & Smooth High Waist Jeggings (£28) look like proper jeans — real pockets, real zip, real belt loops — but move like leggings. They come in short, regular, and long inseams. The black pair doesn’t fade to grey after two washes.

One warning: their shoe section runs small. If you’re a UK 7, order a 7.5 or 8. Their boots are narrow through the calf, even the “wide fit” options.

Yours Clothing: Budget Friendly, But Check the Seams

Yours Clothing targets the value end of the plus size market. Dresses start at £15. Jeans at £20. Coats at £35. They have stores in Stratford Westfield, the O2, and a handful of other London locations.

The quality is hit or miss. I tried a pair of Yours Signature Stretch Skinny Jeans (£18) that fit beautifully in the waist and thigh but had a seam that started unraveling after five minutes of walking around the store. The sales assistant shrugged and said it was a known issue with that batch.

Their tops are better. The Yours 3/4 Sleeve V-Neck Blouse (£12) is a solid basic — opaque, not see-through, with a generous cut through the arms. Buy three. They’ll last about six months of regular wear.

Skip their bras entirely. The underwires are flimsy and the straps dig in. Spend the money at Evans or M&S instead.

ASOS Curve: Online Only, But Worth the Wait

ASOS doesn’t have a physical Curve store in London. But their online stock is massive — sizes 14–28, plus a dedicated Tall and Petite range within Curve. They ship free over £25 and returns are free.

The ASOS Design Curve Midi Tea Dress (£30) is a consistent bestseller for a reason. It has a defined waist, a modest V-neck, and sleeves that actually cover your upper arms. The fabric is a thick cotton sateen that holds its shape. It comes in 15 prints.

Their Curve denim is where ASOS really shines. The ASOS Design Curve Hourglass Jeans (£32) are cut specifically for a smaller waist and wider hips — not just scaled up from a straight cut. They come in five washes and three inseams.

The catch: you can’t try before you buy. Order two sizes and return the one that doesn’t fit. Their size guide is accurate for most items, but the Curve range runs slightly large in the bust and slightly small in the thigh. Factor that in.

Navabi: Designer Plus Size, High Prices, High Quality

Navabi started as an online-only retailer for plus size designer brands. They opened a small showroom near Covent Garden in 2026. It’s appointment-only, so book ahead.

They stock brands like Anna Scholz, Gwyneth, and Marina Rinaldi. Sizes go from 14 to 32. Prices start at £80 for a top and go up to £400 for a coat.

Is it worth it? If you need a dress for a wedding, a job interview, or any occasion where you need to look absolutely polished — yes. The construction is visibly better. Linings are fully finished. Seams are reinforced. Buttons are sewn on with thread that won’t snap.

The Anna Scholz Crepe Blazer (£185) fits like it was made for you. The shoulder seams sit where they should. The single button closure doesn’t pull. The sleeves are cut long enough for someone with actual arm length. It’s expensive, but it’ll last ten years.

Don’t go to Navabi for casual wear. Go when you need something that makes you feel like you spent more than you did.

M&S Curve: The Reliable Choice for Workwear and Basics

Marks & Spencer has been selling plus size clothing for decades. Their Curve range (sizes 18–32) is available in most large M&S stores, including the Marble Arch and Bluewater locations.

The M&S Collection Curve Tailored Trousers (£35) are the best affordable work trousers I found. They come in black, navy, and grey. The waistband has a hidden elastic panel that gives an extra two inches of give. The fabric is a polyester-viscose blend that doesn’t wrinkle after sitting on the tube. They look like £80 trousers.

Their bras are excellent. The M&S Fuller Bust Non-Padded Bra (£18) goes up to a G cup and is the most comfortable bra I own. The straps are wide enough not to dig in. The band stays put all day.

The downside: their casual wear is boring. Lots of plain black tops and beige cardigans. If you want prints, colour, or any fashion-forward design, go elsewhere.

Long Tall Sally: For Plus Size Women Over 5’8″

Long Tall Sally specialises in tall sizes for women. Their standard length fits someone who is 5’9″ to 6’0″. Their extra long fits up to 6’3″. They now stock sizes 14–28 in most styles.

Their London store is on Baker Street, near the tube station. It’s small but well laid out.

The Long Tall Sally Premium Stretch Bootcut Jean (£55) is the only pair of jeans I’ve ever owned that covers my ankles when I sit down. The inseam is 36 inches. The fabric is a heavy 12oz denim with 2% elastane — enough stretch to be comfortable, not so much that they bag out by lunchtime.

Their coats are also worth a look. The Long Tall Sally Double Breasted Wool Coat (£120) has sleeves that actually reach your wrists. The body is cut long enough to cover your hips. The buttons don’t pull across the bust if you’re a D cup or larger.

Skip their shoes. They only go up to a UK 9, and the styles are dated.

Three Mistakes to Avoid When Plus Size Shopping in London

Mistake 1: Trusting the size chart without trying. A size 20 at Evans is not the same as a size 20 at Yours. Evans runs slightly generous. Yours runs slightly small. Always try both sizes.

Mistake 2: Shopping only on Oxford Street. The Oxford Street Evans and Simply Be are always crowded. The fitting rooms have queues. The stock gets picked over. Go to the Westfield Stratford stores instead — they’re bigger, quieter, and better stocked.

Mistake 3: Buying cheap t-shirts. The £8 basic tee at Primark or Yours will be see-through and shapeless after one wash. Spend £15–20 on a thicker cotton tee from M&S or Simply Be. It’ll last three times as long.

My Final Recommendation

If you have one day in London and need to refresh your wardrobe, start at Simply Be on Oxford Street for jeans and dresses. Then walk to Evans for bras and coats. If you have time and budget, book an appointment at Navabi for one investment piece. Skip Yours unless you’re on a tight budget and willing to check every seam.

For workwear, M&S Curve is the safest bet. For tall sizes, Long Tall Sally is the only option worth your time. For everything else, order ASOS Curve to your hotel room and return what doesn’t fit.