AS a plus-sized girlie, I often fall into the trap of wearing baggy clothes to hide my size 18 figure.
And certain shops make me break out in sweat thinking nothing on the rails will fit me. One of those stores, without anything to actually back up my fear, has always been River Island.
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But in a bid to step out of my fashion comfort zone, I decided to give the retail giant a go with an autumn haul alongside my work bestie Lynn, size 10.
With a shared passion for shopping, we are on a mission to find the best high street gems that flatter both of our body shapes and to see if there really is something ‘for everybody’.
Last week, we put Sainsbury’s Tu Clothing autumn collection to the test and walked away with some fantastic wardrobe staples including an £18 leopard print dress that suits any occasion.
And over the weekend, we took to River Island to test out their ‘new in’ pieces for the colder months.
From viral prints to the colour of the season, we’ve definitely bagged some stunning must-have buys in the haul.
First up, we picked up a pair of wide legged £45 trousers in the go-to autumn colour, burgundy.
We went true to size in a 10 and 18 and paired them with a simple £12 white T-shirt.
Despite my fears that wide legs would make me look bigger, we were both huge fans of the stylish office look. The sizing was generous too which is also a bonus.
The only drawback, at 5ft 4in they were even too long for Lynn. So if you’re short, pull on your highest heels or invest in a trip to the tailor to get them shortened. They’re worth it.
Next up in our try on video, we tried a cream plisse midi dress with a subtle animal print on it and a tie waist, and paired it with boots and a cross-body bag.
The £45 frock had many plus points – flattering slit up the skirt, pretty fluted sleeves and a boat neckline.
But if you are at all body conscious, it’s quite clingy. And in all of the wrong places.
I found it emphasised my tummy far too much, while Lynn felt it didn’t give her any shape. It also only goes up to a size 18, so I don’t have the option of trying a bigger size.
The coat we paired it with, however, was a winner.
The £79 khaki mac is a timeless staple and will easily see us through to spring.
We both sized up, going for an extra large and a medium, so we’d have plenty of room for jumpers and hoodies underneath.
If anything, we’d say you could size down as it is a very generous fit. As Lynn jokingly put it, it was giving slight Inspector Gadget vibes because it’s so roomy.
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Our next pick was a slight wild card due to our ages. At 33, I instantly felly in love with the black sheer lace maxi skirt.
Lynn, on the other hand, was hesitant she would fall into “mutton dressed as lamb” territory at 44.
Her fears were unfounded though, as we were both huge fans of the overall look.
We paired the £35 skirt with our white tees and a black blazer for a classic ‘smart casual’ vibe If we swapped out our boots for heels it would also look perfect for a dressier occasion.
And no autumn haul would be complete without at least one jumper.
I think we managed to find the most fun option on the rails with some £55 black fringed knitwear.
If you’re a Schitts Creek fan you will agree with us that it’s giving Moira Rose vibes, but in a very current and stylish way. It’s also super comfy and can be dressed up or down.
Saving the best until last, we rounded off our River Island shopping spree with a £95 leopard print coat.
There’s always a risk with leopard print that it can be ‘too much’ or look tacky. But the River Island designers knew exactly what they were doing with this gem, as the finished piece is beautiful.
We paired it with leggings, T-shirts and trainers for a casual look but are already planning to chuck it over night out looks in the lead up to Christmas.
The animal print is subtle, the material is thick and luxurious, and the cut is very flattering.
Again, you could afford to size down in this one. But you’ll have to be quick to get it in store as it’s already sold out online.
- All filming was done in the beautiful Liberty Suite at the AC Marriot Glasgow Hotel in the city’s George Street
