I feel that a good basic tip for determining whether an item is going to fit or not is to know your body type and know the shop.
What I mean by this is, I'm an apple shape (or an inverted triangle) which basically means I'm top heavy. Ignoring all of the rules which say what I shouldn't wear on the top half, when it comes to shopping I know that I'm going to have an easier time looking for things to wriggle on to my bottom half than my top due to my wide back/shoulders and arms. Due to this I tend to gravitate towards skirts. My best friend on the other hand is a pear shape so gravitates towards tops which may be more form fitting on the top but flow out over the hips ensuring a good fit.
Now about knowing the shop, this obviously isn't essential if you're able to visit the store and check out/try on pieces for yourself but it does help and comes in handy with online shopping. As this is eventually leading up to Primark, I will say that their sizing is inconsistent throughout and even within the same garment, their tops seem to run on the short and small side too. On the other hand, H&M main range sizing tends to run quite big and is generally forgiving (unlike their BiB range!).
Primark is every students dream, on trend clothing at ridiculously cheap prices. So it's a shame that their clothing stops at a UK18. Not that this has deterred me before! If you follow me on Twitter you may have noticed my tweet about a size 12, £2 skirt. I've been wanting a black tube skirt for a while, so I was beyond excited to come across one for £2! The downside being there was only two size 10's and a size 12. Determined to take one home, I grabbed a size 12 and went to the changing room and it fit! I managed to grab a grey one when I was in Leeds along with these other skirts:
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4sjxwJeItAeLkQZ8yRJiKyqRWu9A16KnmA1JhFs7rIyuQUrKADDrZqUrKLPPvDFga4QrnflO8bdupxgV3jkKkWUE1NKA3RGgwHRnVu-B0e82_iNk8dOefQgsFPJCFoRtmdvmsEAvbGoOC/s400/primark.jpg)
I tried the grey skirt and the black with purple flowers in an 18 and found they weren't tight enough in the leg so went down to a 14 & 16 respectively. All of the skrits have lots of stretch and cost between £2 + £7 so I strongly suggest going to Primark and nabbing a bargain. When I can find them I'm determined to grab some of the £5 summer dresses I've seen in the blogging world.
Has anyone bought anything cute from Primark recently?
i can totally relate with your advice... i also have an apple shaped figure... i have absolutely NO hips lolz... therefore i can buy my bottoms at smaller sized shops... but for better fitting more flattering tops i have to shop in the plus size department... its a bit of a tough challenge getting dressed everyday... but u've really got me pumped to start dressing the way I want to again, because for a while i became really insecure about how disproportionate i am :( so i avoided all my favorite skinny jeans and shorts... but i see that you are totally right... no one says we have to dress accordingly... if i like something... i'm going to wear it, period. :) now if only they had a Primark in California lolz
ReplyDeleteI think I have a hourglass shape. I got a smaller waist and big bottom and top. I have hips and ass so I can't wear low cut jeans, no way hehe. and I often have a problem with clothes IN MY size that just doesn't fit still, because of my boobs or arms...sometimes very annoying, esp. if it's the biggest size they have, but if not I just get a bigger size, as long as the clothes fit comfortable and you like it, it's aaaaall good ;) I wear over-sized shirts and tops even tho I should wear something that brings out my waist instead of covers it, but...I don't care ;) sometimes.
ReplyDeleteps. the skirts looks real nice!
Grr, I can only shop straight sizes for tops. I'm not a pear, I'm closer to an hour glass, but these hips of mines won't work in any straight size bottoms, but it doesn't stop me from trying! :D Cute skirts though!
ReplyDeleteI'm an hour glass too...but I'll definitely go to Primark and try on some of their skirts. But it is always packed! I would love to buy things from Primark, because their prices are heaven sent.
ReplyDeleteSuch pretty skirts - and for great prices too :) I haven't bought anything from Primark since I'm here in the US :( But it'll be on my list of stores to check out the next time I'm in the UK!
ReplyDelete@ the EyeZuh - That's so good to hear! :D seriously, rock those skinny jeans and shorts! I have this bubble he coat which makes me look like a giant lollipop but I wear it anyway haha.
ReplyDelete@ Jennifer - I think the hourglass shape is the best, like Scarlett Johansson, so feminine! Although I imagine it'll be the hardest to dress as clothing is rarely cut like that! As long as the clothes fit and are comfortable - exactly!
@ NikStar - Never admit defeat! ;) I think it'd be more fun being a pear, my friend is able to pull off tube skirts so much better than I can because they fit tight.
@ LaCara - Oh I know! It's like a mass jumble sale, when I was in Leeds most people were at work so it wasn't too bad and when I'm at home I go in at about 10:30am on a Monday as it's completely dead lmao. I avoid it like the plague on a Saturday! I think the worst bit about Primark is that if you see things on blogs/in magazines you can never find them in store!
@ Audrey Allure - Definitely do! Most of the time there's things in which are exact replicas of clothing in New Look/Topshop but at less than half the price. Sure the quality isn't amazing but when you can get tops for £1.50 it doesn't really matter!
I am sooo desperatly wanting to go to primark, I really hope that there will be the possibilty to make a daytrip to Bremen (where one of the two Primaks in Germany is) during easter holidays!
ReplyDeleteI am an apple shape too. I can sometimes find an 18 for the bottoms,(very rare though) where I am a 22/24 on the top!
ReplyDeleteI am jealous of the black tube skirt.. Why are they so hard to find?! I've been looking for one everywhere, surely they should be a wardrobe staple that are sold everywhere?!
I find Primark size ridiculous! I have a size 18 pair of linen trousers from there, yet the sequin leggings I tried on in an 18 at the weekend doesn't fit?! WEIRD. H&M BiB is weird too, I find there sizes extremely small?!
Nice post, I might try and find that tube skirt ;-)