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Limited high street options have left hundreds of 'plus sized' islanders with no choice but to use Facebook selling groups, or travel abroad, in a bid to find clothing to fit curvier forms.
The most recent island health profile showed that 44% of island women ranked on the higher end of the BMI scale. It’s a statistic that has changed very little in nearly 10 years - yet in that time the island has lost the curve-friendly outlets of Etam and Evans.
That gap has remained unfilled – save for one or two establishments offering smarter looks for premium prices, leaving a “disheartened” group of larger local ladies behind.
“When it comes to larger sizes (especially sizes 26 upwards), choice seems to be near non-existent. Being a size 26/28 myself, I can count on one hand the amount of shops I could go to here, but even then they all lack in either variety, style or are too high in price,” islander Zoe Viel told Express.
Pictured: Zoe Viel, who would like to see a Yours Clothing in Jersey, says she relies on the internet to do her clothes shopping.
While she describes online shopping as a “godsend”, she acknowledges that there are drawbacks: “I buy absolutely everything online. The main downfall is not being able to physically try it on before purchasing which results in having to either send the clothes back or sell them… The biggest problem with only being able to shop online is the waiting for delivery. If I had an event to go to last minute, for example, I wouldn't have any other options.”
When clothes don’t fit, many sell them on local Facebook groups, where they’re heartily welcomed by those who have also struggled against the lack of local options. One of them – ‘JERSEY Plus Size Clothes & Shoes’ – has nearly 1,300 members, who post an array of cardigans, coats, day dresses and workwear almost daily.
The other option is travelling to the UK to stock up on ‘basics’ from stores like Yours, Primark and New Look’s Plus Size selection, which was removed from the Jersey branch some years ago. The cost of a plane ticket certainly drives up the clothing’s average cost, but Dee Michoux says it’s been worth it for her in the past.
Pictured: Dee Michoux, who has just recently opened The Curvy Girl Jersey in the market, says that she would often travel to the UK to buy clothes to fit her frame.
“People used to laugh at me because I’d go to the UK and spend a fortune. I’d spend £500, but I’d have a years’ worth of clothes including underwear, jeans, leggings… You need to try these things on – there’s nothing worse than ordering something, getting so excited, and then it doesn’t fit, or it fits but it doesn’t suit you.”
But now she’s seeking to change that. Last month, Dee opened the doors to The Curvy Girl Jersey boutique at 50 Central Market, a new shop catering for sizes 18 to 32. Beyond its bubblegum pink exterior lies an elegant selection of predominantly vintage-style dresses from the likes of Lindy Bop, Hell Bunny, Dolly and Dotty, and Hearts & Roses. But they also cater to casual tastes with tunic tops, scarves and capes from Magna.
Despite having “absolutely nada” retail experience, she said that she has always planned to get affordable options on the island – it was more a case of ‘when’ rather than ‘if’.
Pictured: The new Curvy Girl shop, which Dee says stocks high quality but affordable clothing, stands out in the market with its distinctive pink exterior.
“I’m not exactly a svelte size 10 myself and when BHS [home to Evans] closed down, it occurred to me that there was only really Up and Above. As much as I appreciate there is a market for that, the prices rendered it a bit out of my price range for sure… Our most expensive thing is £70. Those are the two things I’m most concerned about – it has to be decent quality, and affordable.”
With a pinch of help from Jersey Business and a heavier dose of determination, she set up the The Curvy Girl Jersey franchise earlier this year. It started as a pop-up at Holme Grown, until a stroke of luck saw her secure her market spot. Footfall has been slow so far, but she hopes it will pick up over the Christmas season, as islanders start the search for party attire. If successful, she also hopes to attract a curvaceous clientele in Guernsey too.
Zoe is also committed to the plus size mission, but is looking for a more mainstream solution. She’s hoping that a petition will help to attract her “go to place” Yours Clothing to the island. “I believe they are super trendy, up to date with the fashion (where else would you get a unicorn onesie and pyjamas in a size 36!) and do cater for all ages.”
Pictured: Zoe hopes her petition will reach enough signatures to make Sandpiper CI and Yours Clothing take note of the need for a larger plus size offering in Jersey.
She’s looking to gain 500 to 1,000 signatures, before handing the petition to Sandpiper CI and Yours Clothing HQ. It has so far racked up over 160 signatures from equally passionate shoppers. “Please! We need more choice and better value! We are not all size zero and super rich!” one commented.
Above all, however, it’s about having access to clothes that build confidence. As one signatory pointed out: “We need clothes that are modern as well as making us feel and look stunning.”
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