Dear UW,

Apologies for being repetitive, but I agree so much with Helen's readers corner letter from a week or so ago - this site is a blessing! I am a size 22. I have always been a larger lady. I do not over eat. I am naturally big like the majority of my family. I am sick of being penalised for the way I am and made to feel like some social outcast because of the way I look when it is through no fault of my own. So please allow me to vent my frustration on the state of plus size clothing in the UK (I say 'in the UK' as it appears that in the US they do acknowledge that most women are not proportioned like Elle McPherson).

The UK fashion industry grates on my nerves. I hate hate hate shopping (one reason why I just lurve this site with so many mail order plus size suppliers listed). I can really relate with what you ladies said in your Now mag interview on how you often come away from shops almost in tears at not being able to find clothing that flatters your figure - well that is exactly how I feel on a regular basis. I can easily go in to half a dozen clothes stores in town and find either nothing at all in my size, or if there is anything at all in my size it is hideously ugly - I am not a teenager (nor have been for some years!) but I am not ready for my zimmer frame yet and don't always want to wear lycra and/or flora designs! If I ever find anything at all then I end up paying through the nose for it. The only items you ever seem to be able to find are casual clothes such as jogging bottoms and T-shirts. Strangely enough like most other women I have a 9-5 job (yes even at size 22 I actually have a brain and a professional office job - shock horror!) where I am required to wear formal dress, smart skirts, trousers, blouses etc - but these items seem to be even less in supply.

I have just seen a posting on the plus size message board forum from somebody explaining that the problem could lie with how fashion designers are taught at college - perhaps this is the case - that students are taught to draw and design for slim women. I wish to high heaven that I was artistic or handy with the sewing machine (sadly not) as I am convinced I would be a millionairess designing a specific range for us plus sizers.

All this said, this site does list a whole load more places that sell plus sizes (even blouses and formal gear for work) that I was completely oblivious of previously. Very pleased to see that there are some USA places listed too - glad the research has been done on which ones ship to th UK as when I have browsed plus size stores in the US previously I have given up after finding the first 10 or so did not ship internationally - so thanks for saving us some work here and finding out which ones do ship to the UK. Incidentally I have noticed that many of the US stores are STILL cheaper than UK ones even with a shipping fee to the UK. Quite unbelievable really. Anyway I will give some of them a whirl (including UK ones) - and then if that fails I think I may join an evening class on how to design clothes....so watch this space I may be the next Mary Quant of the plus size world!

Kim Dee
Essex