The UK fashion brands that really fit every body — and those that don’t
Brits up and down the country will be relishing in the scorching weather. With spring here and summer on the horizon, most of us will be thinking about a bit of a wardrobe refresh.However, for some, the arrival of the warmer season can sometimes bring with it some form of 'body anxiety'. While every shape and size is 'bikini body ready', there is no doubt that not everyone feels catered to when it comes to shopping.That's because, despite the average UK woman wearing between a size 16 and 18, not many brands cater to these sizes. This shows that, despite the growing need for body inclusivity, many brands are not catering towards the needs of the general public.While it might not seem much to some, sizing remains one of the biggest factors in weight loss. Around 46 percent of people say their mental health is negatively impacted when their clothes don't fit, while 50 percent of adults say it motivates them to get in shape.With 11.6 million Brits said to be anxious about the upcoming swimwear season and the lack of inclusivity making many shop at plus-size only brands, it's safe to say that not all of us feel seen when it comes to fashion. That's why online healthcare provider has recently discovered the top 15 UK fashion brands that offer the most sizes.Based on data from publicly available size charts across a broad spectrum of items, the study found that the likes of Yours Clothing, Mango and Burberry were among the names with the most available sizes on offer.The top five most inclusive UK fashion brandsTaking the top spot was online retailer Yours Clothing that scored 9.43 out of 10. The plus-size firm, which has sizes ranging from a 14 to 40, with bust measurements ranging from 38in to 68in, resulting in a range of 30in between the sizes - the largest of any brand in the study.It also offered the maximum for both hip and waist sizes, serving a measurement range of 30in. That being said, while the brand catered towards larger body shapes, it wasn't as inclusive on the smaller end, with size steps also being comparatively large at 2.3in, making less tailored fits for smaller women.Coming in second place was Spanish chain Mango that scored 9.26 on the inclusivity range, with measurements ranging from 24.41in for bust and hip measurements, and 26.38in for waist. It also trumps Yours Clothing for smaller sizes, starting lower at bust measurements of 30.71in, hip measurements of 33.86in and 23.23in for waist measurements.Scottish firm M&Co came in third with a score of 9.44, serving sizes between eight and 28, with 22in between the smallest and largest size, with smaller steps making it provide the closest fit. British chain FatFace came fourth on the list, scoring nine out of 10, with sizes ranging from six to 24, available in 22-in between the smallest and largest.Rounding out the top five was luxury firm Burberry. Offering sizes between two and 18, the designer brand scored 8.76, as it was the most tailored to smaller sizes out of all included in the study, with steps as small as 1.57in for waist measurements, making it provide the most tailored fits.Crystal Wyllie, doctor at ZAVA, weighs in on the mental impact clothing size limitations have on people: "Fashion sizes measurably affect our mental health, self-confidence, and even weight loss behaviour. Studies have shown that larger sizes, regardless of actual measurements, can reduce self-confidence, and inconsistent sizing can equally lead to negative self-perception. For example, if someone has lost weight, but doesn’t fit into a smaller size in a particular garment."As we at ZAVA have found out in a survey, over 50% of people are motivated to lose weight because they can't fit into their old clothes, and difficulty finding clothes that fit them can be a barrier to the weight loss journey, especially when people’s own body image is negatively impacted by fashion sizes."This has a disproportionate impact on women, with 73% having avoided wearing certain types of clothes because of their weight, while this figure is lower, but still high at 52% for men. Other motivators linked to fashion are seeing yourself in photos (49.7% of respondents were motivated by this), holidays (33.1%), which often involve fitting into beach or eveningwear, and weddings (18.1%) for both the couple or guests, with wedding dresses often requiring expensive alterations."In an age where body ideals are changing rapidly, where there is increased pressure on body image due to social media, and with much more inconsistency in sizes across brands, the impact of fashion sizes on weight loss behaviour has grown massively. Particularly, the unpredictability of sizes when buying online has added to this."It is therefore crucial that fashion sizes are not seen as an objective measurement of beauty, health or indeed body weight, and that sustainable habits should be adopted for weight loss, based on positive motivations such as energy and physical health, rather than shame."The full list of the UK's top 15 most inclusive fashion brandsYours Clothing - 9.43/10Mango - 9/26/10M&Co - 9.17/10FatFace - 9/10Burberry - 8/76/10Fashion-Nova - 8.71/10Timberland - 8.67/10Superdry - 8.37/10ASOS - 8.34/10Oasis - 8.27/10Dorothy Perkins - 8.04/10Chicos - 7.97/10PrettyLittleThing - 7.71/10Joules - 7.67/10Next - 7.42/10
