Where to buy "Plus" size casual clothes in Rome?
 

Looking for a Roman version of Lane Bryant. Is that too much to hope for? (Not designer, not Walmart.. somewhere in between.)

Try La Rinascente (via del Corso, and other locations) and Coin (pronounced: "co-een", one at Porta Roma and another at via Cola di Rienzo). Marina Rinaldi is a popular shop too, but might fall into your more expensive category.

Even with the dollar strengthening against the euro Marina Rinaldi will certainly fall into the expensive category! Over all I think you will you will find clothes much more expensive in Europe than in the US, which is why Europeans love to go to the US to do their clothes shopping!

www.landsend.co.uk may ship to Italy, they ship to France, shipping fees aren't bad. For shipments to France they use Royal Mail. Smaller selection than the US and while I think the quality is not what it used to be, what is? They do a plus-size range. Clothes are in US sizes, which helps.

www.evans.co.uk is another possibility. It's similar to Lane Bryant.

Marina Rinaldi is lovely but high end, watch for sales or maybe an outlet store?

LaRedoute, a huge French mail order clothing business, has a plus-size range. I've not tried them. One problem, French women, if larger, tend to be large on top which isn't my problem!

Good luck from one who will never fit in a pair of French trousers--if they "sort of" fit, they are 6" too long in the leg!!

Thanks folks. Cath- I'm in the process of losing weight and was hoping I could find some place to buy the next size, as I expect I will be in Rome when that comes. (I am an 18 and suspect even after losing another 20 lbs [I started at a 24], I may still be considered a "plus" size in Rome. :(

I may opt to go buy a couple pairs of jeans in the next two lower sizes and take them with me. Maybe that will be an added incentive! hahaha

Dang- maybe THAT should be my next vision... opening a plus size casual store in Rome, whadya think? :)

If your shop has jeans and trousers, I'll be there. Continued good luck with the weight and with the move!!!

Anything more than a US 12 is definitely plus sized in europe (some stores only go up to 10s). And agree that clothing is much more expensive in europe. Continua sales and discounts are not the rule - and much of the clothing is just more expensive due to better fabrics and workmanship.

I would consider Marina Rinaldi as moderate (not like Via Condotti designers) - but Lane Bryant is really budget - not sure what would be similar there.

Well let's just say your "moderate" is my expensive.

ny, Lane Bryant is "really budget"? Sorry, paying $39 for a t-shirt and $60 for jeans is not considered "really budget" where I come from. :(

sarge - i found an outlet shop in Rome, just off the piazza navona, that had clothes my size - which is not far off yours.

if you are by the Bernini 3 rivers statue, face south and then exit the piazza to your right, which brings you out into a street full of restaurants. on the other side of that street about 2/3s on the way down towards the bottom of the street - where you'll find the wine bar 'cul de sac" facing you as you emerge onto the via dei governo vecchio. [lots of nice shops there too!]

If you will be in Italy when it's warm, jeans are not advised. They're too hot, and they take too long to dry in European dryers. Better some lightweight, easy to wash and dry pants. Maybe with a drawstring waist to adapt to your changing size.

BTW, good news: I always lose weight when doing all the walking around European cities.

Oviesse stores are all over Italy and they carry a mid-price
line of women's clothing that would probably fit your needs.

Thanks, Fodor friends!

annhig- perfect. I've been wanting to go to cul-de-sac since I read about it on MaiTaiTom's trip report!

immimi, thanks. I'll look for those.

Mimar- I lose 10 lbs every trip, due to walking! Since I'll be there for several months, I expect to find it easier to lose more weight! :) I'll never be a '10' again, but I'd settle for a 14! :)

Sarge it's all relative. I'd be thrilled if I could by a nice quality shirt for $39 and jeans for $60 where I live. Add a hundred to each item for decent clothes in Sydney.

Congrats on the weight loss.

Designer outlet near Rome:

Not sure how far down the prices fall, or availability of larger sizes (although my experience in Australia is that outlet Clearances most often have stock of larger and smaller sizes in decent garments, and all sizes in those that were clearly a mistake or misjudgement of taste).

http://www.mcarthurglen.com/it/caste...ner-outlet/en/

I've been wanting to go to cul-de-sac since I read about it on MaiTaiTom's trip report!>>

Sarge, me too.

we managed to get there after the end of the lunch-time rush and before the evening crowd arrived, so we had a very nice drink in relative peace and quiet.

another near-by bar which you might like is the Cafe della Pace - again if you find the three rives statue in the middle of the piazza, this time face north, and take the first exit left [by the bar Tre Scalline] keep walking, and you'll come to a little square - the cafe/bar is on the opposite corner. Continue further and you'll come to the Antica Taverna - a restaurant I've now eaten at several times, and it's always been very good.

thx annhig!

First of all Congratulations sarge for losing so much weight and for your upcoming trip to bella roma.

Clothes in Italy are very expensive and you are better off bringing some smaller size clothings with you.

My sister was amazed when she came to visit me in the US and saw our sales but most of all our prices.She just shopped and shopped..

Italians come to the US with empty suitcases to take adavantages of our fabulous sales.

I am not talking about US prices - but those in europe - where generally clothing is more - often much more - expensive than in the US. And Italian women are generally much smaller than american women - and sizes run differently.

I often have trouble finding things that fit in europe although I am not plus - but I am 5'9" - with shoulders, boobs and hips. Usually wear a 10 in the US - but often european clothes are simply too small (esp in the chest) and very often too short in the arms and legs.

And unless you are running into sales or outlets - prices are higher. (Marina Rinaldi costs less in Lord & Taylor than it does in Rome).

thanks. I forgot to ask about that, too. What shoe size would I wear in Italy if I wear a 10 or 11 in US?