What is the New Look ‘fat tax’, is their plus size Curve range more expensive and do other stores charge more for bigger sizes?

HIGH street clothing store New Look has come under fire for how it prices clothes in its Curve range.

More and more retailers are offering a plus-size or curvy range, alongside their standard sizes.

What is the New Look 'fat tax'?

The store has been accused of levying a ‘fat tax’ after shoppers spotted items in their Curves range cost more than the standard sizes.

Items in their Curves range were found to cost up to 30 per cent more than identical pieces in their normal collection.

The disparity was found by 43-year-old retail supervisor Maria Wassell, from Kent, who branded the pricing structure “absolutely disgusting”.

In the wake of the furore the chain, which is closing 60 of its 593 UK-wide branches, said it would look into the issue.

New Look released a statement saying: “We are in the process of reviewing the pricing structure of our Plus Size collection in a way which works best for our customers and our business.

"We are proud of the ranges we offer to our Plus Size customers and value all customers, no matter what their body shape or size."

Some stores claim that as more material is required to make a plus-size item, this should be reflected in the price.

Is their plus size Curve range more expensive?

The scandal emerged after it was discovered the same items in the Curves range cost more than the standard sizes.

Some clothes were found to be up to 30 per cent pricier than identical items.

For example the same pair of trousers, the Green Stripe Wide Leg Trousers, cost £19.99 for sizes six to 16, but £24.99 for sizes 20 to 32.

The same blue vanilla red floral print tulip dress costs £18 in the regular range, and £24 in the Curves collection.

And a striped t-shirt was marked up 30 per cent, costing £12.99 for the larger sizes compared to £9.99.

Do other stores charge more for bigger sizes?

Many online and high street shops have been known to charge different prizes for plus-size clothes.

In the past, labels such as H&M, Missguided, New Look, Pretty Little Thing, River Island, Boohoo and Asos have either sold or carried different prices for the same item.

Lines, ranges and pricing does change and some of these items are either not for sale anymore, or have been changed so they are equal prices.

Despite the furore over the 'fat-tax', Tam Fry, the National Obesity Forum, said it was “reasonable” for shops to charge more for larger sizes.

He told The Times: "I think if a woman is paying more for her clothes because she is a size 18 or over that she will think seriously about staying in shape and that can only be a good thing.”