I'll Be There At 9
Old Navy has started making plus-sized clothes available in their stores. Wouldn't it be great if other clothing manufacturers followed suit? I've always thought it was so inane that sizes stop at 12 in so many places. Is it that the "prestige" of the brand suffers when they make extended sizes? Is it the cost of the fabric?
Because the idea of hip, boutique clothiers making extended sizes (when so many people can't wear the smaller sizes and would love an adorable bcbg dress or whatever) screams "cash cow" to me. "Cow" maybe being an unfortunate word choice there, but still.
That said, I was in Old Navy not long ago, and took a quick look at the clothes. It's as if they picked their ugliest styles and those were the ones they chose to upgrade to plus-sizes. I have no idea why people think overweight women have terrible taste in clothes. Still, it's a start.
Because the idea of hip, boutique clothiers making extended sizes (when so many people can't wear the smaller sizes and would love an adorable bcbg dress or whatever) screams "cash cow" to me. "Cow" maybe being an unfortunate word choice there, but still.
That said, I was in Old Navy not long ago, and took a quick look at the clothes. It's as if they picked their ugliest styles and those were the ones they chose to upgrade to plus-sizes. I have no idea why people think overweight women have terrible taste in clothes. Still, it's a start.
posted by mo pie at 11:08 AM
31 Comments:
I have heard, anecdotally, that designers don't make plus size clothing because a size-zero woman who has "worked hard" to be in a size zero and fit into fabulous clothes would be horrified if some fat slobby chick showed up in the same designer dress. Which is, clearly, ridiculous - designers are, as you say, cutting themselves out of a huge market. That was another unfortunate pun.
When I first noticed Old Navy's plus size stuff, I was grateful - they're making cute jeans and cords and skirts in larger sizes, and it felt like a godsend. But I also noticed, besides all the shirts being fucking ugly, they didn't make any sleeveless ones. Because, you know, fat chicks should be ashamed of their arms. And they really need to get their asses in gear and offer some pajamas and workout stuff.
Anyway, here's hoping the selection will grow (which it should - I bet it's going to be incredibly popular), and that The Gap is next on board.
-fu
I was so thrilled to see that Old Navy was offering plus-sized clothes. I was also disappointed that they for the most part weren't just plus-sized versions of their regular line. Why do designers think we heavier girls want 'special clothes'? Why can't they just make the exact same things in larger sizes and let us decide what we do and don't want to wear.
Oh, and JenFu.....there are a few sleeveless shirts on the site. If you click on the Tees link over on the left once you are in the plus-sized section, you'll see 3 of them. Not a bunch, but at least there are a few options.
Some of the plus-sized stores are even turning on us now. I went into August Max Woman the other day to look for some nice clothes to wear to work. If you don't know, August Max Woman is the plus-sized version of Casual Corner. When I asked about the 1-2-3 sizing, the sales lady told me that they had changed their sizes in January. The 1 was the equivalent of a 10 and the 3 was the equivalent of an 18. I asked her if they didn't used to carry sizes higher than an 18 and she said yes, but they don't anymore.
It's definitely a start! I hope the Gap starts doing that soon, too. Sure, you can order plus-sized stuff on-line, or find an outlet store, but if you're over size 14 or 16, forget buying off the rack. It's a bummer!
My Old Navy has had plus size up to 20 for a long time, in almost every piece of clothing. And The Gap does too. I love this about them, which is why I almost exclusively shop there...until recently I noticed ALL my clothes are Old Navy...lol
This very issue is why I will never, ever buy another piece of Calvin Klein merchandise as long as I live. He pretty much did come right out a few years ago and say that he won't make a size higher than 14 because he feels it would hurt his brand.
Mo, the new blog looks great!
The internet has been a wonderful thing for larger people. The clothing choices are much better online than anywhere in the real world, especially for those of us above size 20.
I'm glad to see so many people commenting already! I encourage you to take the time to set up whatever kind of account Blogger seems to require so that you can post comments with your name on them. (Of course you are free to post anonymously, but the names are so much more cozy!)
Suzy, you're absolutely right. I was flabbergasted when I finally figured out (thinking I had just gotten small enough for non-plus-sized clothing) that I could have been wearing stylish things all along, had I been ordering them online.
Still, I resent having to go that route and not being able to go a mall with my thin friends and shop at the same places, you know? Screw off, Calvin Klein!
H&M has a plus-sized section, too, and their clothes are pretty fun and style-y (and cheap, too.)
I found a bcbg velour zip-up hoodie for $11 at TJ Maxx the other day. It was a size large, and I couldn't zip it up. I wear a size 6-8 and a 36B bra. WHY, oh WHY, do designers do this?
While I appluad Old Navy for doing this, I looked at around at the website a little, and check this little gem out: (from the profile info. section for their plus-sized model, and I will give them props for the fact that she's actually plus-sized):
"If plus-sized girls are able to look like everyone else, it helps them to feel like everyone else."
What the hell does that mean? It's offensive, and also totally inane. Do overweight people FEEL different from everyone else, and it's their clothes' job to rescue us/make us feel normal/human? That pissed me off.
Oh man, that is some very unfortunate wording. "Everyone else"? I think they should change it to, "If they dress in regular clothes, they can feel like normal people, instead of giant fat freaks!"
Sure, you can order stuff online, but the thing is, plus-sized clothes are so often sized so weirdly and cut so strangely (and often badly, particularly when they're larger-scale version of ordinarily small-sized clothes), that it is so much better to be able to try them on. That's why I resent The Gap only carrying size twenty and their XXLs on their website, and not in their store. It ends up costing you a huge amount - there is the extra they charge for larger sizes, the shipping and handling, and then more shipping and handling fees if it doesn't fit, to send it back. Frustrating.
This whole discussion is really interesting. It's so sweet that ON deigned to let us feel like "everyone else," unlike other retailers.
(But man, I have to admit: I really want that corduroy skirt they've got. I wish there was an Old Navy store near me that carried the Plus line... maybe I'll just have to give in, take my measurements, take a wild guess, and order it online. I'm absolutely languishing because I can't wear my favorite denim skirt at work anymore.)
Working in retail, a lot of it is a numbers game. For a store like Gap or Express to carry sizes 16 - 20 it would represent 8-12% of their inventory to carry it in every store, but only account for 4-6% of the population (thus why Gap offers the larger sizes through internet). This is how is has been explained to me. The retailers would rather invest the money that it takes to make those sizes in sizes that are more often sold. I am not saying its right or anything. Just how its been explained to me, as well as why we discontinued carrying some larger sizes.
The other thing that cracks me up is we carried for the longest time size 2-14. Now we carry size 0-12, but we didnt change the actual size of the clothing, just the numbers. So a girl who use to be a two, can now be excited that "OH MY GOD! I FIT IN A ZERO!". Again, not agreeing with it, just laughing at designers.
-Bruce
For a fat woman, this journal is a fresh breeze. I've been complaining all of my life why designers think that fat has to equal tasteless and frumpy or that dressing up has to mean sequins. It's just stupid marketing. One third of the women in America are supposed to wear over a size 18, and the number of people exceeding traditional plus sizes (18 - 24) is growing rapidly. Thanks for a rare and valid view point.
Grah. I went to Old Navy this weekend. They don't have any plus size clothing at our local stores! "We do have them online already," a size 2 salegirl brightly told me, "and we will be getting them, but we don't have them yet." So that was frustrating. And I am not buying clothes that are a total crapshoot online. So I remain disappointed. I was really hoping their capris would fit me. I'll have to wait and try later.
-Harmony
Ironically, I am right now wearing a shirt that Bruce got me from Express. But yeah, that percentage doesn't ring true for me either. Would we buy Express clothes if we could fit into them? Hell yes! More than 4-6% of us would, anyway. But the clothing industry has pushed us all so far into the fashion ghetto that being interested in looking cute and dressing well has become an exercise in frustration, so we've all learned to give up hope. It's really sad, and I think Express needs to re-think that stupid-ass policy.
If you agree, you might consider writing to Express to urge them to change this policy. I know I'm going to go write to them right now.
The Old Navy around me (Plymouth Meeting, PA) has the plus line, and it is pretty limited right now.
But, I have noticed that in certain styles the other section of the women’s clothes, they are introducing the XXL. This makes me very happy. I was able to pick up some really cute tops that managed to make me look stylish and trendy and not like I was shopping out of my grandmothers closet.
I am looking at you Lane Bryant and Avenue – put down the sparkles and crushed velvet and walk away slowly.
Jenniah
Interesting and well written blog. I couldn't help chuckling a little at two of the comments though:
Anonymous says:
I was also disappointed that they for the most part weren't just plus-sized versions of their regular line. Why do designers think we heavier girls want 'special clothes'?
Another anonymous says:
plus-sized clothes are so often sized so weirdly and cut so strangely (and often badly, particularly when they're larger-scale version of ordinarily small-sized clothes
Just like ants and elephants, styles do not translate well by just multiplying some measurements but not others. Then again, the fact that there's a conflict here just goes to show that people are, when you get right down to it, just people. No matter what shape they come in.
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It just strikes me as kind of odd that most designers are still refusing to make plus size clothing. Recently I was told that over 62% of women in the united states are bigger then a size 20 and yet it seems there is less and less clothing options available. Now what I dont understand is how can stores say theres just not a market for plus size clothing when there businesses would be booming if only they would add plus size clothing in there stores. And please, someone needs to let someone know that not every plus size women is over 50 and likes to where things that one would call "granny clothes". I mean could it just be possible that big women could be under the age of 50 and actually want to dress sexy for a change? My thought is that skinny women are starting to realize that big girls are taking over and I think there getting scared. They want to keep us down cuz they know that we can so easly kick there asses he he he. Atleast thats my opinion..I think its a pretty funny thought. And I mean you know the old saying..."fat people are hard to kidnap". So atleast we have one thing up on the skinny ones huh.
OK Ladies -- I stumbled on this site accidentally,and I have some suggestions for you. I am a size 14 - *ish - that annoying size where the tiny cut regular shop clothes don't fit right, but you can't really shop in plus size clothing stores.. but that's my own headache... no need to get into that now.
OK girls -- first off, you have to get over not buying clothing online. Most online stores have great return policies, and what is so bad about trying things on in the privacy of your own bedroom and returnig what you don't like?
That is the first thing you can do. The next thing you can do is check out the following online stores for trendy, fun, young, stylish clothing for larger women/girls.
www.nordstroms.com - they have some good stuff in their plus sized section. Nine West, Sweet Pea..really cute stuff. A little pricey. Check it out.
www.torrid.com - plus size trendy stuff. The anti Lane Bryant. Very affordable, very cute.
www.jjill.com -- I find their stuff to be a little on the pricey side, but really nice. If you like gap/old navy, chances are you will like JJill.
www.jcrew.com -- they have a Size 16 section (which is kind of obnoxious, but oh well!)
This is my latest and greatest find. You know how you see all the tiny girls walking around in the most fabulous designer jeans like seven for all mankind, citizens of humanity, etc -- the very high end denim that always looks so fabulous on? Check out this website:
http://www.svobodastyle.com/
Very high end, but I bought a pair of the jeans (renee, size 14p) and they were the best fitting jeans I've ever owned. Right off the rack. She's also got some really trendy and cute tops on there. These clothes will make you feel like a million bucks.
www.alloy.com - cheap, fun, trendy and they have an extended size section.
www.delias.com - cheap, fun, trendy and they carry some stuff in 2XL
Actually, just go to http://www.beautypluspower.com/ for a long list of places to find cool clothing online for bigger ladies.
Hell, even my skinny friends shop online! It's 2006 -- just do it!!!
Remember, only YOU can let the fashion industry make you feel anything less than what you are. There is stuff out there for you, if you only know where to look!!!
Happy Shopping!
I just hate that designer jeans such as Seven for mankind, Citizen of Humanity, True Religion and Rock and Republc does not go pass a size twelve. I love buying jeans and looking sexy in it but when designers don't expand their line it get me frustrated. I know a lot of critics will say that a person that is bigger than a size twelve should lose weight I get offensive. I think designers should provide these hot jeans in sizes ranging up to at least 24. The only thing will change is that they will have to add extra cloth. Every women is sexy and should have the right to feel sexy all the time. We should be given the same options like a skinny lady would get. In Addition, right now I am a size 16 but before I was a 18 and 20 and there weren't many designers who made clothes for plus size woman. I was stuck in Oldnavy for the most part because they offered the 0-20 within the stores. Even though Gap offers 0-20 they only sell 0-16 clothes in the store. I didn't have the resources at the time to afford shipping and extra cost for the clothes. I hope that exclusive designers jump those who sell their clothes in Bloomindales, Nordstrom and Neima Marcus to provide hot clothing for all size women.
Just wanted to let you ladies know that Paige Premium jeans are available up to a size 34, not perfect, but better than most.
Another great place to try is www.cennev.com. They have a great selection of premium denim available in two fits-apple & pear. They also have a lighterweight denim which is lower in price along with cords and gorgeous tops and dresses. I have had great luck with the fits from this company. They carry sizes 12-24!
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