Not so long ago, if you were bigger than a size 12-14 and you wanted to look stylish, then you had a choice – make your own clothes or forget it.

But with experts believing the average woman in the UK is a size 16, at long last shops have woken up to the fact that just because someone might not be a skinny minnie, that doesn’t mean she has no interest in fashion.

The latest brand to launch a curvy range is River Island, with its trendy RI Plus range.

It means the choice for the curvier woman is greater than ever.

But which companies are delivering on style, price and choice – and which are failing to cater for the curvier among us out there?

IMAGE: Next says it has “catwalk-inspired fashion designed up to size 26”. In reality it’s a bit more run-of-the-mill than that.

RANGE: A selection of the “normal” range in bigger sizes. Loses marks for not using curvier models – it’s hard to imagine what some styles look like on curvier shapes when size six twigs are modelling them.

SIZES: 6-26

PRICE: Normal Next prices. It is just us or is £18 pricey for a T-shirt?

WE LOVE: Next’s floaty summer styles are among the best on the high street.

M&S

IMAGE: We are good old M&S – something for everyone, and that includes those with curvy figures. Or so they would like us to think.

RANGE: In reality, there are a disappointing 95 items in the plus-size section of the M&S website. Surely our flagship high street store is missing a trick here.

SIZES: M&S claims the range is for sizes 18-32. But many bigger sizes only had one or two items available.

PRICE: Prices are reasonable – £19.50 for an everyday tunic is good value.

WE LOVE: This Best of British dress will take you from beach to bar.

ASOS Curve and Plus Size

IMAGE: We might be bigger, but we’re stylish, sexy and we want the world to know it. The website is full of foxy-looking, proper curvy girls.

RANGE: There are almost 1500 items listed in the Curve range. If you can’t find what you’re looking for here, it probably doesn’t exist.

SIZES: 18-30

PRICE: From £4 for a pair of Curve Tights to more than £200 for a dress and everything in between, too.

WE LOVE: There’s an amazing section of dress-up, dress-down tops.

New Look Curves

IMAGE: Say it loud, we’re curvy and we’re proud. It’s fast-fashion for people who want to buy up-to-the-minute styles on a regular basis.

RANGE: One of the first high street brands to cotton on to the fact that bigger fashion means bigger business. Don’t be put off by the fact New Look is “younger” – there’s great choice here for all ages.

SIZES: 18-32

PRICE: At £22.99 for a boyfriend blazer and a tenner for a cold-shoulder T-shirt, it’s affordable.

WE LOVE: Jeans. A good selection, in skinny, straight or bootcut.

Simply Be

IMAGE: So you happen to be bigger? So what? You won’t find words like “plus size” on the website. In Simply Be land, curvy is king.

RANGE: Absolutely everything and more. From catwalk cutting-edge to basic jeans.

SIZES: Mainly 12-32, though some styles only go up to a 26.

PRICE: From budget to blow-the-budget. There’s a sale on at the moment.

WE LOVE: The Magisculpt range claims it can help you drop a dress size. Our tester says it’s more about making you look streamlined-smooth. Great for shoes, too.

Evans

IMAGE: Not just for the middle-aged. If you’re bigger, this is a one-stop shop for all your fashion needs.

RANGE: From basic jeans to heels and everything in between.

SIZES: 14-32. And they’re generously-cut.

PRICE: Mid-range. But frequently reduced – currently running an up-to-60%-off sale.

WE LOVE: Basics are good, but occasion wear is great. So stylish it’s enough to make the skinny reach for cake.

M&Co

IMAGE: Has a plus-size range – but it isn’t going to shout about it. Never very flashy or high-profile – just quietly gets on with selling wearable styles to women of 35+.

RANGE: It’s not huge and not the most exciting, but tends to be practical and machine-washable.

SIZES: 16-30

PRICE: A mix of good budget buys and more expensive items. One dress is £79 – seems steep.

WE LOVE: Summer maxis – dress up or down.

RI Plus at River Island

Jacket, £65, skirt and top from a selection at River Island

IMAGE: Size is no barrier to style. River Island has signed up plus-sized supermodel Candice Huffine to model its new range of stylish, ultra-fashionable looks.

RANGE: Everything from tube dresses to floral jeans.

SIZES: 18-24

PRICE: Typical River Island prices. You’ll pay £28 for a pencil skirt, £65 for a wear-forever trench coat.

WE LOVE: Coats, cardis and jackets. You might pay slightly more but we reckon they’re worth it.

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