Unable to find shoes and clothing that fit, many expats limit their shopping sprees to annual pilgrimages to their home countries or Hong Kong, and maybe the occasional "help me" package sent from home. However, the imminent arrival of Marks & Spencer on Nanjing Xi Lu marks the latest in what seems to be a slow-moving paradigm shift as shops selling "Western” sizes sprout like rare, wild flowers throughout the city.

One of the first "plus size" stores on the scene, H&M, sparked excitement--it wasn't couture, but it was clothing that fit. Since then, a handful of boutiques have emerged, mostly targeting women. Lingerie shop Amour Cache stocks local and European items in a range of sizes and the latest addition, British superstore Marks & Spencer, will be bringing in women's underwear in UK sizes 8-18 and bras from 32A to 40D, as well as men's shirts with larger neck measurement, women's shoes up to UK size 8 (U.S. 10) and men's to UK 11 (U.S. 12). Excitement is again, understandably, stirring. Estimates of average heights and weights for men and women vary, but the average Western woman is generally considered to be 163cm (5'4") tall, 66kg (145 lbs) and between a U.S. size 12-14 (UK 16-18). Men, on average, are 178cm (5'10"), 80kg (175 lbs) and a U.S. size 40-44 (UK 44-48). Contrasted with their Chinese counterparts, many foreigners bemoan yet accept the lack of larger sizes, but not all locals fit the "tinier than thou" stereotype.

Meet Crystal Tao, the voluptuous Shanghainese owner of Scarlet's, a new boutique which provides both local and imported lingerie and footwear for women in need of larger sizes. "It's hard [for me] to find the right sizes and good products," she says. Somewhat of a shoe addict, Tao is quick to snap up any shoe that fits, though this "if it fits, wear it" approach means those needing larger sizes often lose out in the style department. "Maybe only one-fifth of Shanghainese women are big," says Tao, "but people like beautiful things [and like having the] right size." Providing style and size in one is what Tao strives to achieve, and she believes that with the number of foreigners coming to Shanghai, the market is large enough for big name stores and small boutiques alike to prosper. Amen.