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Beth Ditto launches new plus-size fashion range
10.07.09
Fans of The Gossip frontwoman Beth Ditto's flamboyant style got the chance to snap up some of her own fashion designs on the high street today.
Curvaceous Ditto has collaborated with plus-size retailer Evans to launch an 80s inspired collection of prom dresses, wet look leggings and sequinned tops which mirrors the singer's own signature look.
The clothes - available from a size 14 to 32 - are in selected stores and online from today.
Shoppers can pick up a knitted dress with a striking face graphic for £65 or high-waisted leggings for £20 that are specially designed not to dig into more ample waists.
A purple sequinned batwing top, £55, and a strapless prom dress, £65, in a floral stained glass-style print are also tipped to be big sellers.
Ditto, who has been outspoken in defence of large women, said: "Designing this line is a dream come true. I wanted to make something special, just for us, something never seen before.
"I hope the clothes inspire you to think outside the box. After all, boxes are square and in more ways than one we are not."
The range is available in Birmingham, Glasgow, Liverpool, Nottingham, Brighton, Leeds, Newcastle, Manchester, Meadowhall, Cardiff, London Marble Arch, Dublin, Plymouth, Belfast, Bluewater, Bristol and White City.
Reader views (10)
God you people are either very sad or just really horrible i think ditto's range is great and why shouldn't big girls look fashionable they are human and alot off big girls are as stunning as size 8 girls if not better
- Becky, lincolnshire
We do not all look the same and neither should we. How deluded of you to think that everybody should conform to your own stereotypes. Just like we all have different eye colour, hair colour and skin colour - we all have different heights and weights. I would love to see the commentators here attempting to live the life of an obese person in society today. In our PC world, fatism is the only 'ism' that is actively encouraged. Whether the clothes in the Beth Ditto collection are any good does not matter. There are far worse clothes in the mainstream collections (for 'normal' people) that should be burned. People are free to wear and look however they want. It is their own body and choice after all. Leave them alone and look at yourself in the mirror and criticize your own appearance if you must comment at all.
- Alyson, Birmingham
I pass Evans flagship store in Marble Arch everyday & glimpsed the Ditto opening from the bus. I can say wholeheartedly just from what is in the window display would make me run a mile from Evans now.
The previous display made me making an effort to go see what they had on offer and actually parting with my cash. There is nothing in the window that looks even remotely flattering and to be honest the clothes look ugly, so does the display but thats just my opinion.
I know I will not be shopping in store anytime soon.
- Summer, London, England
Beth needs to focus on her flat and screechy vocals and not her size 20 figure. No wonfer record sales are flattening out
- Keith Price, Luton, England
Beth may be able to pull off the Clarice Cliff on a tablecloth look but i doubt other plumpsters will.
- Squiz, Islington
This is so so wrong.
Obesity is bad for your health & this will just be £s for ditto.
Tell the truth ditto,
you'd love to be an ideal healthy weight.
- Suzyn, Essex, UK
We are supposed to be inclusive and non-judgemental in a judgemental world. However like her obese-promoting predecessor, Dawn French, Beth Ditto is neither attractive in any respect nor should be seen as a role model. She is trying to normalise her size when her size is anything but normal. Obesity brings all sorts of long term health problems.
- Adam, harrow, uk
Horrible.
- Adam, London
Surely rather than "normalising" obesity we should be encouraging people to take responsibility for their size and eating patterns.... this is just exoilting fat people
- David, Southampton
Every garment in this range ridicules a young overweight girl. It does nothing to show her good points. Fashion is not for girls/women over a size 8 - why do you think Evans is a one off fatstop! Style and a more tailored and elegant outline will tide over whilst you do something about your issues and health and get down to a more shop friendly size where little bits of fashion can kick in Most high street shops claims to go to a 14 and sometimes a real 16 Dont delude yourselves that this will look good or rock - your self esteem will plummet in normal life in these outfits.
- Amazonmothe, hasting
