Before I write a review of the presentation of the Bitten by Sarah Jessica Parker line on today’s Oprah, I want to first clear up some misconceptions:
1. I like Sarah Jessica Parker, but she isn’t the patron saint of budget shoppers. She made a smart business move and has excellent pr people who know how to push your buttons to get you to buy. We do need more bargain shopping options and I am glad that Steve & Barry’s is providing it.
2. I like Steve & Barry’s. In fact, I was just there about 1 month ago, because Tobias begged me to buy him a pair of Starbury shoes.
3. The prior issue had nothing to do with my review of the line (which actually was pretty even handed, read it here) but with the use of promotional photos and TBF readers reactions to the line.
4. I get the impression that many of you feel that celebrities like SJP are doing you a favor when they “design” these lines. While I’m positive SJP and Stephon Marbury care about consumers, they are doing these lines because they make money.
5. I also think there’s this major misconception involving fashion bloggers. We’re not necessarily “fashion insiders”, but we’re not “fashion outsiders” either. We go to fashion week, visit the showrooms of major designers, write books published by major publishers, work as TV correspondents, and shop at stores like Steve &Barry’s.
Now that this is cleared up.. On to Bitten…
Ask yourself if Sarah Jessica Parker’s name was removed from the line, would you still buy it? If someone, other than celebrity created this line, would the line have been on Oprah?
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The one thing that separates the Bitten by Sarah Jessica Parker line from the other celebrity lines, is that the sizing (2-22) reflects the true sizing range of America and it for this that I wanted to like the line. I also find the $20 coats to be refreshing (I will probably buy one). But, and this is just based upon what I saw on Oprah and my discussions with people who have seen the line and work with Steve & Barry, the line really isn’t anything new. When Isaac Mizrahi did a line with Target, that was new. When Stephon Marbury wore the $14.98 Starbury basketball shoes in NBA basketball games, that was something new.
Take away sizing from the Bitten and you can get all those pieces from stores like Old Navy, Mandee, Marianne, Payless, Forever 21, etc. Plus the quality may leave a lot to be desired- the seams appear wavy (a sign of poor stitching) and the front of the pants were bunchy on the models (go back and watch the segment and notice how every pair of pants bunched in the front and how the seams on the pants didn’t lie flat) It is my hope that the next batch of clothing from the line will step it up on the quality front.
But what I noticed the most was the lukewarm enthusiasm shown by the Oprah audience. I watch Oprah everyday and when the audience loves something, they LOVE it. They seemed pretty unmoved by the Bitten line, with Oprah at one point responding to a lukewarm reception of the audience to a $14.98 knit dress with “Come on it’s $14 dollars.” Compare that to the audience’s reaction regarding the truly impressive bridal dresses by Isaac Mizrahi at Target and you see what I mean.
All in all, this line will be a success, because people still confuse personal style with that created by a stylist. People will also buy because of the continued popularity and strength of SJP’s Sex and the City character.
But again, ask yourself… if her name was removed from the line, would you even be reading this right now?
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Member Comments
I just went to Steve and Barry’s and had no intention of even checking out her line. However I could not resist when I saw the prices and the sizes. Her clothes were cute not over the top and very affordable. I bought a cute blue striped button up for less than 10 dollars. Her jeans were in my size (18) and under 15 bucks. I don’t know about MOST of the bloggers here but I can accessorize and wear the hell out of an outfit. Maybe you guys need need to be more creative!
I heard about the Bitten line on the Today show and I was curious about it because I think SJP always looks cute. The clothes were okay, when I actually see them I can make a better judgement.
But in my bargain shopping I have discovered that always shopping from the place that tells you they are the cheapest isn’t always the best practice. For example you can go to a place like Ross or Marhsall’s and search for something you sort of like only to find you could have gotten something better from a regular store for the same price or cheaper either on the sale rack or on the wall!
My point is, you don’t have to always go to the discount store. The old reliables are fine. Express always has good sales except for the classic work pieces,but I bought my work clothes from there several years ago and they still look new. Anyway,H&M has great clothes and JcPenney isn’t bad. And for bigger girls Torrid and Lane Bryant have sales too.
Sometimes you just have to able to think for yourslef, just because they say “Look at me, I’m so cheap” doesn’t mean that everyone else is so high. And just for the record when I buy something expensive(once every other blue moon) it has to be American made which is why ,even though I love Beyonce ,I couldn’t support her line.
With or without her name, I was not at all impressed with the line. When I heard about it I thought “Oh wow, SJP will come up with something fabulously different, yet affordable”. Well, that certainly didn’t happen and you’re right about Oprah’s audience -they were probably thinking the same thing. Mizrahi and Mossimo contributed so much more and although theirs are a bit more than SJP’s $19.98 cap, I’m okay with it becasue the quality and style are desirable. Hopefully, SJP will have better ideas for a Fall collection. In addition, I wonder if critics labeled her a sell out as they did to those who created lines for Wal-Mart and Target! Hmmm?
I purchased 2 items from the Bitten line on Friday night in Long Island. After reading some of the comments here I was expecting the line to be terrible, but I was pleasantly surprised. I saw a lot of cute items. And YES… being a size 18, I would buy the clothes even if SJP was not attached to it. I say that because wearing a size 18 and a size 12 shoe I have a hard time finding clothing that isn’t MATRONLY. Unfortunately I will be returning the cute jeans as they are not made for girls with the big ol booty.
I love sjp and i was so excited to check out her line. I bought a pair of her peep toe cork wedges and 2 hours into my daughters recital i went to the bathroom and noticed that the outer rubber lining had come undone in both shoes and was flopping as i walked and it was noticed by another mom i was humiliated i may have to switch my daughter’s dance school i know that all of the other moms know by now. I had to cancel celebration dinner because it was just too embarrasing. Needless to say i will never buy bitten again i am emensely disappointed in you sarah you of all people should know that the shoe makes the outfit. I guess i got what i paid for a cheap pair of shoes.
i went to steve and barry’s on thursday, when the line came out. the store was completely empty. i tried on some stuff. in every other line, im a 14. i had to try size 18 jeans just to get them on. also the tops were waaaay too clingy. i usually need a large, but had to try the extra larges in this line. sjp needs to realize that real woman are definitely NOT built like her, and need room to breathe!!!!
I bought the jeans jacket for $14.98—it is really cute and well made for the $—I am usually an 8 but had to buy the XL—the girl at S&B told me all the sizes run small—but a small price to pay for good stuff at a really good price!
Yes, I would still by these items if SJP wasnt associated with the line. It probably would not have been featured on Oprah if it was not her line but so what? Of course she started the line to make money, whats wrong with that? At least she did not overprice them just because of who she is. At least you are getting what you pay for, not forking out almost $100 for a tshirt just because it says “J’Adore Dior”. (And yes “J’adore dior” but I cant afford it) From what I have seen, there are some cute pieces.
Some people buy expensive clothing items that are ugly just because of the name attached to it.
Ok this is way off subject, but I’m so sick of all the negativity towards Forever 21 that I am reading on here. I am 21 and a size 1, I can fit those clothes perfectly so can my two best friends who are size 5 and size 7, they are 20 and 22. So for the rest of you who think they are for “tweens” well, why don’t you lay off the cheeseburgers?
I checked out the Bitten line when it debuted last Thursday. There is one location in the PHX area and the Bitten area was busy but not packed. the girls working there said they didn’t have space to put everything out, but brought out jewelry still in the box and let us paw through it. I found the sizing inconsistent; however I purchased several items after some trial and error in the fitting room. I’m taking a few things back; not because i don’t like them, but because they were impulse buys that I truly do not need. Overall, it was great fun to spend $112 and leave with 15 items. Wore one of the tops out to a bar Friday nite and received several compliments. I’ll be back in a few weeks to see the rest of the line when it becomes available.
All this line does is promote the destructive trend of ‘disposable fashion’ that is saturating the marketplace. These pieces will fall apart, and then be replaced. There will be no guilt (as many mothers here have stated) because they only spent $15 on the garment. What they really mean, is that they wouldn’t feel guilty going out and buying another one. This assures the creators of these mass market lines that when you come back (and you will) you’ll be going to them.
The highest-profit retailers in the nations are NOT the ones with the highest profit margins, rather, the ones with the lowest margins. Wal-Mart, Target, even the much-talked about Forever 21 bring home some of the highest profits.
Also, one shouldn’t be acting as though Sarah Jessica Parker is in any way personally accountable for this line beyond sales. She is a spokeswoman.
I went to Steve & Barry’s in Long Island the other day, I was impressed with her line. Some of the clothes are a little too young for me, being 33 however I love her jeans. I had to get a size 20 though I am a size 18. The waist in the jeans were a little big but for $14.98 and with a belt who cares.
I love the fact that you really talked about Bitten I really do agree with this article following Oprah. I wouldn’t agree that it is fashion blind many of the pieces were nice decent pieces. That being said I really think the line is boring, I don’t think that SJP should be designing a fashion line budget or other wise. And here is one major example where the reality does not live up to the fiction and Sarah Jessica Parker is not the same as Carie.
the 1 itam from the line i saw was a very cute polkadot blouse, featured in 17 magazine this month. i liked what i saw, and well priced. just bring it to canada…
The Bitten line advertises sizes 2-22 yet when I went to the S&B’s store at Century III Mall I was only able to find a few pairs of size 22 jeans and no size 22 pants or shorts at all in the entire store. There was a very limited amount of sizes 16-20 pants and shorts, I would estimate around a dozen between all the different styles. The tops come in S-XXL, but XXL does not always fit a woman who wears a size 18-22 pant, a lot of times they are too narrow and clingy as was the case with the XXL’s I tried on. There was again a gross shortage of size XXL tops, like searching for a needle in a haystack. In looking through the rest of the store and apparently they don’t carry anything larger than a size 16 in the other departments. I guess there is no market for plus sizes in their opinion. With the Bitten line it is almost as if they are throwing out a few Women’s sizes as a test market just to see if they sell and if so then maybe they will think about carrying more. I have been looking forward to seeing the SJP Bitten line for weeks ever since I saw her on Oprah and I cannot tell you what a disappointment it was when I finally got there to see it. Not only were there almost non-existent women’s plus sizes 18-22 as I was lead to believe there would be plenty of them, but the clothing quality was very poor. The fabric was very thin and flimsy, even in the denim, and the stitching in the seams/hems was crooked. It does not take a fashion expert to see these are not well made clothes as was also promised when SJP made her Oprah appearance. I will make it my mission to tell the plus size community not to bother with S&B’s Bitten. What a waste of time!
I went into Steve and Barry’s yesterday with my husband because he wanted to check out a few things. I had no idea SJP had a clothing line there. I have to say I was pleasantly surprised! I am a person that pairs high end things with low end things….I spend money on shoes and outerwear. I purchased some shorts and a nice racerback tee. They fit wonderfully and I will definitely be back to buy some more items. There was a time when Gap, Express, and Target were a bit more affordable but for the past few years the prices have gotten a bit ridiculous. The SJP line is for every woman. Sometimes you don’t want to spend a lot of money for simple clothing. You want options.
she was dead wrong for showcasing those MOM jeans. aka highwaisted jeans. i was DONE! DONE after that. :)
I shopped the line at Steve and Barry’s and really liked the pieces, unfortunately they are sized completely wrong. I wear an extra small to small in every other store, but couldn’t fit into anything smaller than a medium of the bitten line.
While I am not naive and realize that SJP is,like everyone, out to make a buck, I find it commendable that she has set out to make an affordable and good looking line of clothing. I would wear even if her name were not attached because the style rivals upper end stores and because the fabric used is relatively good. SJP was raised in a lower end part of Appalachian Ohio, close to where I live (but I live in the suburbs and a much richer community closer to the columbus) and it seems as though SJP recalls her humble beginnings in this fashion line. Many women do not have even thirty dollars to spend on clothing. I’m a college student and I want my look to be affordable yet classy. If a person can make women feel good about themselves and make a dollar, why not?
I cannot believe all the negative comments about this line! Have any of you actually SEEN the clothing in person? Because it is FABULOUS! I live about 20 minutes away from a Steve and Barrys and have driven there three times already. Yes I had to go up a size in shirts, but most of the sizing is true to size. I have NEVER walked in and tried on a pair of jeans and had them fit PERFECTLY, and for 14.98?!! I am a stay at home mom and spending $60 on a great pair of jeans is not an option for me.There are great tshirts with great cuts that are very flattering for less than 8 bucks! Great purses for 10 bucks! All the jewelry is $6, and so so cute, and I even got a swimsuit for $7.98. Some of the pieces are basic, but thats what I love about it because you can dress them up or down. There are some extremely cute pieces in this line! I think on Oprah, the line was NOT represented well at ALL. Some of it looked so 80’s and yucky! In actuality the clothes are very modern looking without being trendy. Poor quality? What are you talking about? When I used to work full time I could afford more expensive clothes, so I know quality. I have been a big fan of SJP since square pegs and just want to tell her THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU Sarah for your affordable, great clothes!
I have to disagree. I love the fit of the pants, as a girl with a little junk in the trunk, it was nice to try on a pair of pants and not have to go up a size, because they are too tight across my bottom, but too big in the waist. The bitten pants fit all over. At Old Navy, for example, the pants give me long crotch (probably what the models on Oprah had. There are plenty of lines with pants for women built like them! I have a boo-tay!) and the Bitten pants fit around my butt and weren’t too big in the waist. They are a rare find. If you are a size 12 or bigger, Forever 21 is useless…........ Some items are simular to Gap, but Bitten’s prices are more reasonable. I would love Bitten with or without SJP.
My daughter and I went to Steve and Barrys today. I was very curious to see if in fact her clothing line would fit a larger size everyday woman. After looking at the prices and the sizes I told my daughter I think I can get a few items for her. She is a size 14 and I’m a size 16. I really like most of the clothes and yes I was able to fit most of what I bought. The only thing that I have to exchange is a pair of pants. But so what, I had to bring back a $40 shirt I bought from Ann Taylor Loft. These pants were $9.98. I spent $178. and I was able to purchase items for both of us! That is very rare. I did a lot of shopping in Target and most of the clothes did not fit me. It was rare to find a shirt I could actually button across my bust. I even have problems fitting into most items from Lane Bryant!
To answer the question if SJP name was not on the line would I buy it? Yes! I would. If I knew about a clothing store where most of the items were less than $20 and, was not one of those stupid $10 stores where you can only get to wear the clothes only one season, I would be there checking it out. Like most people I like to look good everyday I step out of my house. But I can’t spend over $100 on an outfit.
Honestly I don’t understand all the nay sayers. SJP clothes are very nice and are basic pieces that will go with things you might already have in your closet. If a mother and a daughter can shop in the same store and come out satisfied, that is a great thing!
I read a lot about how she is doing this just for the money. Well YEAH! Wouln’t you? How do most people earn a living. They provide a service. If you had the opportunity to put out a clothing line are you just doing it to help people? No you are not. Your first thought is, I can make some cash from this. Then later on down the line you might think it could help a lot of people if your clothes were affordable and well made. But your thoughts will always go back to the same thing. Money!
There is no way that clothing, no matter how plain or simple, can be made for under $20 unless it is from a developing country that underpays its workers and subjects them to inhumane working conditions. There is nothing on the Bitten website that addresses this issue. All it says is that the clothing is made in “other countries” and the U.S. Are these third world factories monitored by outside independent agencies? What is the hourly wage and what are the working conditions? Do the factories have child laborers? Does the name Kathy Lee Griffen ring a bell?
For the price you get what you pay for. But the size was a big factor. Not enough larger sizes and the large sizes are an XL or XXL or a 14 or 16. In what country?
When women can shop at JC Penney, Sears, Newport News, Fredericks or even DOTs and Old Navy and get something that is what it says on the tag.
And they need to ship more than 2 or 3 in each color.Why is there 10 sm, med, lg and 2 or everything else?
Large women spend a lot of money to look cute too, I would hate to think SJP and S&B want to say they have something for every size but really don’t want us in their clothes like so many designers today.
Oh I don’t remember if I had posted a comment about this already or not, but…
I am extremely against stores such as Steve and Barry’s and Forever 21. Yes, the clothing they offer is extremely affordable, but at a staggering cost in quality. This trend of disposable fashion, clothing that one doesn’t feel bad about ruining or throwing away, because they can just go out and get a replacement for cheap, is degrading to the environment.
“On Tuesday (the same day as the Theory party), a report on WNYC stated that up to 6% of New York City’s garbage output is cast-off clothing and shoes, and that the Union Square Green Market was going to create a drop-off site to help reduce this waste.”