M&S launches new Curve collection for sizes 18-22 – and we’ve picked the best pieces so you can stay ahead of the trend

STYLISH clothes should be available in all shapes and sizes – and M&S is making sure that happens.

The high-street giant today launches the first of its Curve collection, which comes in sizes 18-32, with clever detailing and carefully picked fabrics to flatter fuller figures.

The so-called “plus size” fashion industry is worth £6.6billion, but M&S has fallen behind other stores which have been cashing in on the market for years.

New Look introduced its first plus-size range in 2000, while River Island launched its version six years later.

M&S’s collection will also be in competition with specialists Simply Be, Yours and Evans.

So how does it compare to the old hands? M&S is off to a good start – the collection has strong key items, such as a trench coat, an evening jumpsuit and a cool waistcoat.