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Plus size woman accuses Zara of ‘gaslighting’ as even an XXL dress doesn’t fit her

They’re not exactly known for being plus size inclusive. So Joanna Spicer wasn’t holding out too much hope when she visited Zara for the first time since gaining weight during the coronavirus pandemic. “I used to be obsessed with Zara but since gaining 30lbs in the pandemic I haven’t shopped there so I thought, what […]

They’re not exactly known for being plus size inclusive.

So Joanna Spicer wasn’t holding out too much hope when she visited Zara for the first time since gaining weight during the coronavirus pandemic.

Plus size
Joanna Spicer had hoped this XXL dress in Zara would fit her, but was sorely disappointedCredit: TikTok/@joanna_spicer
Plus size
These trousers, in a UK size 18, didn’t fit her, while the shirt was super unflatteringCredit: TikTok/@joanna_spicer
Plus size
And when she tried on these trousers in a size smaller than the other ones, and they fit, she accused Zara of “gaslighting”Credit: TikTok/@joanna_spicer

“I used to be obsessed with Zara but since gaining 30lbs in the pandemic I haven’t shopped there so I thought, what the hell, I’m in the mood to hurt my own feelings,” she began a video on her TikTok page.


Joanna immediately thought she was being sent a sign when she walked into the store and spotted a white dress in a size XXL.

“But turns out it was not a sign for me because it actually looked really, really bad,” she sighed.

She then tried on a patterned black shirt dress, which she loved but was “too small in the chest area”.

“So I tried on this dress in the exact same size, same dress, did fit weirdly, but I didn’t like it as much,” she said.

Next up, a “really unflattering” hot pink shirt, which she paired with a pair of beige trousers.

While the bottoms were in a US size 14 (UK size 18), she said they felt as though they were a US size 6 (UK size 10).


“And that was so awesome. Really feeling myself here,” she said, sarcastically.

Lastly, Joanna tried on a palm-tree embroidered two-piece.

“I got these pants in a size smaller than the previous ones and they fit,” she said, before adding – again sarcastically: “I love being confused and gaslit at Zara.

“But it looked bad.”

Other frustrated Zara shoppers took to the comments section to weigh in on Joanna’s video, with one writing: “Incredibly relatable”.

“i literally just walk by zara now lmao,” another added.

“Not trying to cry trying on clothes.”

And a third commented: “Literally the reason I rarely go anymore.


“Bizarre sizing and quality getting worse by the minute.”

Plus size
While Joanna liked this shirt dress, it was too small on the chest areaCredit: TikTok/@joanna_spicer
Plus size
She then tried this one in the same size, but a different colour, and it fitCredit: TikTok/@joanna_spicer