Queen Simply Be

New Look have always been a bit of a dead loss as far as I'm concerned for plus sizes. Well, locally, anyway. The shops in Cambridge didn't stock the Inspire plus size range at all ( presumably there are no fat people in Cambridge although there's never a shortage of the smallest sizes in Ted Baker & Karen Millen) and in Ipswich the selection is pitiful to say the least. Although the shoe selection is pretty fab.

Anyway, it's come to light that the store routinely charges extra for the same jeans in a size 18 as it does in a 16.

The store claims that while it does its best to absorb the extra costs involved in making bigger fashions, there are some items where it has little choice but to charge a higher price.

Can they really justify £2 extra for bigger sizes? Maybe we should start a 'Bums4Justice' like the Busts for Justice that managed to lobby M&S to reduce their surcharge on bigger bra sizes. Just think of the extra profit they are making out of women that to be fair, New Look don't make a great deal of effort to cater for anyway. What do you think?

We're all looking forward to getting our hands on the new Beth Ditto collection at Evans - which is is set to launch on Thursday  9th July. So widely anticipated by a fashion forward fat pack are Beth's designs, that Evans have set up a separate website just for her. I've complained about Evans far too many times so I've got everything crossed that Beth has revamped the whole Evans 'if you can do it in bright orange tiger print, do' philosophy and come up with some real style.

The capsule collection will be influenced by the eighties and includes clothes, accessories and shoes. Get it while you can as it's pretty likely that the collection is going to fly off the shelves (and website) if the designs are actually any good!

Key items include draped jersey tops, oversized knitwear and many of the pieces will be inspired by vintage pieces found on Beth's travels.

It's about time the high street started to cater for plus size women who actually have a sense of style, so let's hope that this new collecion is as funky as it promises to be, and that it's the start, if you'll pardon the expression, of something big!

Stranger things have happened...

Beth Ditto at Evans

If there's something that puts a smile on the face and a skip in the step of every woman, whatever her size, it's sexy shoes.

It doesn't matter if you can't get into anything in Top Shop, or that the assistants in Karen Millen look down their noses at you if you so much as step over the threshold, there's always shoes. And handbags. So it's great news that Jimmy Choo is coming to an H&M near you!

Wait for the mass stampede as shoe loving fashionistas of all shapes and sizes fight for the last pair in a six.

Prices for these little beauties  will start from as little as £30 for a pair of ballet pumps, and the top of the range Choo is going to be a reasonably justifiable £170.

The average Jummy Choo will usually set you back at least £400 so if one of the 200 Choo-stocked H&M stores is near you, I would start queuing now!

Some stop press news for you - yours truly has been appointed editor of Just as Beautiful - and I'm going to be looking for inspiration, comment and ideas from my faithful blog readers.

What really gets your goat? What would you like to see more of? What are the burning issues that matter to you? Are you a big girl with something to say? Do you have a recommendation that you want to share? Would you like to appear in the mag and say your piece?

PLEASE get in touch.

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