BEING a mum with a tum that I hate to show off, I tend to stick to my faves when shopping for clothes.
And one place I tend to avoid is Primark. Not because I don’t like the clothes, but I have a preconception that it will be hit and miss when it comes to sizing.
But my work bestie Katy and I are on a mission to test the high street out for size – and see who comes out on top.
And stepping out of my fashion comfort zone for the sake of our readers – who we know LOVE the bargain buys they get from Primark – we had to hit the store.
I’m a 44-year-old size 10 while Katy is a self-confessed big-boobed size 18 and we are scouring the supermarkets, high streets and online stores to find gems that flatter both of our ages and shapes and to see if there really is something ‘for everybody’.
So far we have 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.
Meanwhile, River Island impressed with their fall fashion – and we discovered the coat of the season.
When it came to Primark the first thing on our minds was THAT viral jumper. You know the one – super soft, fits everyone and is sold out everywhere. Including in out Scottish stores.
So it wasn’t meant to be – but we think we may just have discovered the next big thing in knitwear with this haul.
For a casual look we tried a pair of flared, dark blue jeans, priced at £20. Now I struggle when it comes to jeans.
Generally they fit me perfectly in one place, like the thighs, then won’t fit the bum or I’ll be left with that annoying gap at the back of the waistline.
But we were both genuinely delighted by the fit on these – they are super comfy and hugged the body without leaving any nasty bulges. The only thing we would say is, they’re not made for shorties – unless you’re happy for them to drag, or get them taken up a bit.
We paired these with a red, knitted bomber, which was £21 – and this is the item we predict is going to be a seasonal hit.
The colour, first of all, totally pops. There’s a gorgeous covered button detail which gives a peek of gold if you leave a couple undone.
And it fit us both so well, flattering our shapes.
For a workwear look we chose a pretty animal print skirt at £14, veering away from our staple leopard and earning our fashion stripes with zebra print.
This is ideal for anyone tummy conscious as it has a super stretchy waist. Katy went for the bigger size, as the 18 was sold out, but actually she was really pleased with the fit.
For cocktails or a smart dinner, we opted for a pair of silky satin trousers, priced at £14. Now I have to admit, these were out of my comfort zone.
But I decided to be brave and embrace nightwear as outerwear.
And I was very pleasantly surprised. These feel really luxe and, again, have that lovely stretched waist – ideal if you’re having out for dinner.
Again, they’re a bit on the long side, but lovely despite this. And Katy reckons these are one of the only things that will pull her away from her staple silky skirts.
Our final try-on was the barrel jeans – a new shape for both of us. And safe to say, this is not the style for Katy or me.
Our hit rate for Primark was remarkable, but these were just not for us. They made me feel like a low-rate panto character while Katy felt they were not flattering around the tum.
You can’t win them all!
We paired our outfits with some of the store’s accessories including the black version of the it bag of the season, a slouchy black hand-bag, a dinky leopard print bag which is also giving 90s vibes and some gorgeous jeweller. We were loving the Bottega dupe earrings.
Overall we were impressed by how true to size Primark is these days and how flattering the pieces we chose are – another big tick for the high street.
