Can I buy "plus size" clothes in France?
 

We'll be driving around France and the repeated warnings about car break-ins leave me wondering what I would do if someone stole my suitcase with all of my clothes. I wear a size 18 (American sizes; I think this is a 50 in France - ouch!). Would it be difficult to find clothes at a French department store? I wouldn't want anything expensive.

Thanks!

I know there are three Ulla Popken stores in Paris, and I think they are in other cities, like Strasbourg too. They cater for women up to a size 60!

Contrary to popular belief not all Frenchwomen are a size 0.

Yes, it will be difficult in a regular dept store, at least French ones. But I think most of them do now have plus-size depts (ie, BOn Marche and Printemps). I know in Paris, C&A has a plus size dept, and they are cheap, but not sure what the point would be of buying something there except in the case you cited. It's not French nor any special design, just decent clothing--that chain is British and the clothes are made in 3rd world countries, of course, like Target, etc. If you need something you didn't pack for some reason, or weather change, you can go there, though. I do if I need a cheap sweater or hoodie due to cool weather.

There are some plus size boutiques, don't think they are French, though (ie Marina Rinaldi). Size 18 may be larger than a 50, probably a 52, not sure. I wear a 10 and sometimes have to wear a 40 in France.

here's a good article, plenty of places cited in Paris, for other small towns, no, you won't be able to

http://www.bonjourparis.com/story/pa...-size-10-plus/

Size 18 is a 48 in France.

http://www.onlineconversion.com/clothing_womens.htm

http://www.sizeguide.net/womens-clot...ion-chart.html

They both show 18 as a 50.

The bigger issue is WHERE, and Christina's link is pretty comprehensive.

And here they show 18 as 48
http://www.convertworld.com/fr/vetem...be-et-costume/

C&A is the clothing chain with the best selection of plus sizes. It can be found in all of the big cities and major shopping malls.

a UK 10 is typically a 38.
That would make UK 12 = 40, UK 14 = 42, UK 16 = 44, UK 18 = 46 and UK 20 = 48. But it's important to be clear about whether we are discussing UK or US sizes! US sizes typically subtract 4 from the UK number (so UK 10 = US 6). So American 18 = UK 22 = EU 50.
French women are, I think, generally more petite than UK and US women, though. I also find that the children here are so skinny that in the UK this would necessitate a visit to the doctor! However, it seems to make for slim, healthy adults in the long run.
So it can well be that because French women tend to be slighter than British and American women, you may have to go up a further size.

Well. I wear an 18 and I always shop at C&A when I find one in Europe although I seem to always get my luggage.
I just like to shop there because I find they have a fairly small but nice selection in my size.
Take a look even if you get your luggage.

Marks and Spencer now has stores in Paris again. When I was traveling to London and my luggage was delayed, I was able to get everything I needed there and I'm about your size. Not sure if the Paris stores carry all sizes, but it might be another option, although it's not a French brand.

Obviously, the thing to do would be to make sure your belongings are well-hidden and completely out of sight in a protected car park. It would be worth the money to pay for secure parking, rather than waste hours of your time trying to find replacement clothing.

You didn't specify where you might be in France when disaster strikes, but you can Google "magasins grande taille femme" to see what comes up nearby. Most "centres commerciales" (shopping centers) have at least a couple of plus-size stores.

Size 48-50 might not be in the "grande taille" (plus size) section - look first in the regular racks. There are lots of Monoprix stores that carry clothing, and they now carry larger sizes for women and men. If you want casual clothing, look for a Carrefour with clothing or a Decathlon or other sports store, if you can get by with something very sporty. All have large sizes and are inexpensive. C&A sells cheap clothes mostly designed for the elderly or very petite young things.

<<<C&A sells cheap clothes mostly designed for the elderly or very petite young things.>>>

C&A may be inexpensive but definitely nothing designed for 'the elderly'.
There are a lot of cute things in sizes 34 to 54 - check out C&A's site for yourself.
http://www.c-and-a.com/fr/fr/shop/femme

We Have returned from France and thank goodness lost or stolen
luggage did not become an issue. The alarms about theft on the forums seem to be overblown based on our experience. We saw no car breakins, no pick pocketing (though one person did say his wallet was stolen on the train from Antibes to Nice) no swarms of children, no one stopping us to say we had dropped something, etc. It must happen since people report it but it wasn't a problem for us. I always feel safer in Europe than I do where I live.

I don't shop when I travel so I can't comment on what sizes I might have found had I needed anything. There were a lot of H&M stores but if the sizes in France are similar to what is available at the one near my home, the extra large sizes are not very large.

I used to buy a lot of work clothes at Un Jour Ailleurs
http://www.unjourailleurs.com/en/ Sizes available range from 36 to 52. They also have a "T" size range similar to Chico sizes. They cater mostly to women 40 and up (age AND size). Style is fairly conservative with a focus on mixable separates and prices are moderate -- that's why I shopped there for many of my work outfits. There are 11 branches in Paris.

I like that their items are well made and many can be machine or hand washed; I'm trying to dial way back on my "dry clean only" clothes. All the branches I've been to had helpful sales staff, many of whom were verging on plus-size themselves.

Note: They do keep a susbtanial amount of stock in the back, so if you don't see your size on the rack, ask.

We Have returned from France and thank goodness lost or stolen
luggage did not become an issue. The alarms about theft on the forums seem to be overblown based on our experience.>>

I'm very pleased to read that, dchris, but not surprised. some people just like to alarm others, for some reason.

BTW, I've pressed the button on our advertising friend, feedshoppersfeed.

Bookmarking.

The Yellows Pages have a big list of places to go.

http://www.pagesjaunes.fr/annuaire/p...randes-tailles