Fashion Advice: Where has all the Plus Size Gone?
Dear Budget Fashionista,
What’s happening to large size fashion? It’s becoming harder and harder to find “nice” brands of large size clothes, particularly at a bargain. Is this a trend? The new, West Coast “flagship” Bloomingdale’s opened in downtown San Francisco with NO women sizes above 14! And the 14s are few and far between. What’s the rationale?
Answer:
The shrinking size of plus size departments at your favorite stores has to do both with money and the “image” the store is trying to project. I’ve been told by “plus size experts” that, and I quote, “plus size women don’t like to spend any money on their clothes”. Whether this is true or not is debatable, but what I do know is that many stores want to compete for the younger audience that worships starving celebs like Nicole Ritchie and feel that having stylish plus size collections would deter this customer from shopping at the store. Therefore, many stores have not only removed or limited their plus size sections, but also their petite and Misses sections as well. Bloomingdales flag ship store in Manhattan, recently consolidated it’s contemporary (cheaper) misses collection to one floor- when it used to be spread among two and increased the size of it’s YES collection focusing on teens.
Another important thing to remember is that lines rarely diffuse down- meaning lines rarely start at the low priced budget level and then try to do a higher end line. Think of the most successful, budget friendly designer lines- Isaac Mizrahi at Target, H&M designers collections, Go International- all of them started off as very pricey high end collections. The issue is, according to my friends in the fashion business, that in order to have the fabulous budget plus size discount collections, you have to first support the higher end collections. These friends have a whole list of plus size lines that failed because plus size fashionistas didn’t go and buy them. For example, DKNY had a wonderful plus size line that was carried at Bloomingdales and Saks
, that no longer exists for many reasons, one being that it didn’t sell until it was on sale. Now, I think this is bit one sided because I also know that the stores put $0 marketing dollars behind their plus size departments (like they do their petite departments).
So what does this mean for the bargain plus size fashionista? Well.. if department stores aren’t buying the collections (for whatever reason), then there’s no overstock or left over pieces from a season to put on sale/clearance, and no deals to get. Which is sad cause they’re some truly fabulous, albeit expensive, plus size designers out there like Monifc, Elena Miro, and Kiyonna, who should be carried in department stores nationwide.
My main advice would be to do what the petite size sisters did when Saks chucked it’s petite department- they got organized, wrote letters, and most importantly, when the department got reinstated, they went in and spent their money. The later is the most important thing. There’s also stores like Marianne’s, Ashley Stewart, and even Lane Bryant
- which are great for budget weekend wear, but not the best quality.
| Posted by The Budget Fashionista
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Member Comments
Although you may laugh at the HSN (Home Shopping Network) and the QVCs on your cable box, but they offer a wide array of plus-size clothing from casual to black tie. You can find high-end designers offering plus-sie clothing at reasonable prices. For example HSN (HSN.com) offers clothing by designers like Randolph Duke, ABS by Allen Schwartz, Gloria Vanderbilt, and Seven7 Jeans. QVC offers designers Alice Roi, Bradley Bayou, Dana Buchman, Pamela Dennis, and Marc Bouwer. Check them out!
People do sleep on QVC.. I love it!!! You can get some amazing deals on the tv shopping networks.
as a plus size model I would agree, the choices are very limited. I model for a more “mature” brand which I would never wear since I am only 27! Many designers think you are a sloppy fashionless sack or a menopausal granny if you shop plus size. Me, I am a very tall, muscular healthy woman, drawing attention wherever I go.
wake up and smell the real women!
I think that there is a trend to push a lot of “special” sizes out of the stores in favor of turning over a lot of inexpesively made of-the-moment fashion. I’m often surprised at the lack of quality in high priced department store goods and the speed at which they cycle from full price to the sale racks. This trend seems to be pulling stores away from offering well fitting goods to those of us who fall outside standard sizing.
Out here in Las Vegas there is the mid priced Torrid, and the Lower Priced Rainbow, even 17 Again has low cost plus sized clothes. I have stopped shopping at the larger retailers for sometime now.
I’m not plus size myself, but my mother is, and so I am very familiar with the hassles of trying to find good quality, affordable AND stylish plus-size clothing. Christmas shopping for my Mom was a nightmare—everything I could find was dowdy and unattractive. My mom gets depressed when she goes shopping and all she sees are “granny-like” clothes. She walks out of the store with the attitude that she’s not worth nice, stylish clothes. If only there were more options that would help plus-size ladies feel more confident about themselves.
FYI- torrid, which is great, isn’t a considered a “mid-priced” retailer, but more of a down market retailer. A mid priced retailer/brand would be more like Elisabeth by Liz Claiborne, Tommy Hilfiger or Ralph Lauren
You have to be very creative if you’re a plus size fashionista. Quality is the big difference. Because Lane Bryant can not compare to Dana Buchman. Lane Bryant is my staple, but I’ve also had luck with Macy’s (INC Woman & others), Baby Phat, SizeAppeal. For bargains, sign up for coupons from Lane Bryant (and don’t shop w/o them!) & don’t sleep on Target.
Angela, for matching bra sets, check Nordstroms, Lane Bryant or Frederick’s of Hollywood.
And don’t forget Old Navy!
Of course we won’t pay money when our options look like particularly un-hip Grandma-wear. Okay, point taken about DKNY not selling, but what’s Target’s excuse for shoving plus-sizes between the fitting rooms and maternity—and then using that area for their go-backs and other messes?
Lane Bryant is often my only option, but I hate shopping there because they charge Macy’s prices but has Target or Wal-Mart quality.
Aargh! How can retailers be so stupid?
Again, and I’m by no means saying they’re right, in retail it’s virtually impossible to have a low end line without the higher end counterpart coming first. Pretty much all of Target’s major brands Mossimo, IM, etc started out as higher-end brands. If there are no higher end plus size brands, then there are no lower end brands.
As far as the product placement, again, they want the younger audience…..
I understand both sides of the debate
I’m a misses 14-16 and have been for several years. It wasn’t hard finding clothes anywhere until the past year. Now it’s easier to find a 00 petite at Banana Republic than a 16, and I’d been buying stuff there for years! A Bloomies just opened nearby and it’s tough finding bigger sizes there too. Thankfully, I can wear size 10-12 tops. I agree that home shopping t.v. is an underrated resource. Also, Ann Taylor still has good stuff in upper misses sizes and the new Gap-owned chain Forth & Towne features clothes 0-20.
The fashion industry has long had an obsession with capturing the youth market, even though the kids wander in, look at the more expensive stuff and either wait for a sale or truck on down to Charlotte Russe/Forever 21/Wet Seal, etc. and grab a cheaper knockoff. Older women are the ones with the bucks to spend. Go figure.
http://www.us.redoute.com
French budget fave LaRedoute has sizes 2-22 advertisted on their website. Again, not high high quality, but very stylish.
Thats messed up. They have always been messed up about plus size clothing. I mean, I’m in the younger teen range and i dont really prefer to shop at torrid too much! Its expensive and seems not to be worth it there. I personally like the junior/teen stuff thats in style and really trendy like abercrombie & fitch, hollister, american eagle, alloy, delias, wet seal, mandees, + a zillion other nice and sometimes CHEAP stuff you can get. I mean I can go into A & F and get the biggest size T shirt from clearance, but I’m sick of it being so hard for me to shop! I just want clothes that are in style,cater to young people, have good quality, good prices, and really good deals in clearance, UN-GRANNYISH & that cater to petite and tall sizes. I want a store that actually CARES. the dream store would have things for everybody—skinny, tall, short, fat, old, young, trendy, classic.Sometimes I think about opening a store or something in the future and seel things that are really nice and affordable and in many size options.
My size fluctuates between a 20 and a 24, and being petite I used to have an awful time finding suits and business clothes to fit me. I used to get most of my wardrobe staples at August Max, but they went out of business last year. Now I’m really stuck.
Also, why is it so difficult to find a formal gown that doesn’t look like a mother of the bride dress? I’m sure I’m not the only full-figured fashionista who cannot do strapless (not with a 42 H bust!) but occasionally needs a formal gown. I had two events earlier this year and had one heck of a time finding something that didn’t make me look like I’m over 60 and ready for Medicare.
It’s sad to see the backwards steps the fashion industry is taking - it seems that just a few years back there was so much more to choose from in plus sizes and now it appears to be swinging back to the dowdy, frumpy “old lady wear” that was so prevalent 20 years ago.
A previous poster mentioned that it’s easier to find a 00 at Banana Republic than a larger size. Well, surprise, this is actually an industry-wide problem. Vanity sizing has removed selection from the small end of the spectrum, leaving those of us who are destined to be sticks-and-skin in just as difficult a spot. I *used* to be a size 2 or 4 at Banana Republic, but the vanity sizing means those sizes no longer fit. So, I have to pick through the few size 00 pants there, or go to a “juniors” store like the Gap, where the quality is sub-par. I have a lot of sympathy for those on the other end of the spectrum - still perfectly normal sized people, who have the same problem. How on earth does it make sense to marketers at these companies to alienate half their audience by not providing quality clothes in their sizes?
I’m a size 14/16 shirt wise and an 18 for pants. I’m 22. And I agree with everything being said. This is a huge problem for us bigger girls. I like being thick and so does my fiance. More meat to eat! But when it comes to clothes, there are nothing but crappy options. Lane Bryant is my go to store.. only because some clothes are actually *gasp* stylish for my size! Quality wise.. crappy but you do what you have to.
I’m a recent college grad and start work this monday.. so i have very little money to start with. I’ll shop at the Gap and old navy especially the outlets and online where they carry proper sizes.. old navy has some ok pieces. But from recent experience.. sweaters have been the hardest to find. You know something you can wash and wear a second time that doesn’t add 40 pounds or rolls. All in all.. we shouldn’t be left to granny wear or garbage bags and cute accessories.
Torrid is a good place.. but a bit on the younger punkish style. Being the complete non-nicole richie size means I have had to get creative with pieces and extremely picky. *sigh* what i wouldn’t kill for to have access to that DKNY plus size clothing?!!!!! does she still make it available online? I promise you all if i can make it into advertising.. I’ll do whatever in my power to get us access to prettier clothes. I mean what 15 year old is really going to buy a couple hundred dollars on clothes ? i never could have. Women do. We shop and we drop that money. Market to us people.. don’t forget where you can draw in more money.. image is crap.. because you deter your real shoppers. these stores want to stay in the ‘black’ try a new target audience.. try us!
DKNY’s line was incredible..I have this short black knit dress that’s a size 0 (14/16) that is like heaven and I get so many complements on it still. I stole it from my mom who got it for like $25 on sale…
But it’s the industry (entertainment, fashion, etc) and the industry thinks if you’re over a size 12, you can’t have style or that No one will really want to follow you and your style. Case in point- Mon’Que, the fabulous plus size comedienne, first Fat Chance Show was the highest rated show in the history of the Oxygen Network. They just couldn’t believe that people would want to watch plus size women being fabulous and beautiful.
I’m going to give it you guys straight.. they (fashion, plus, etc) don’t want you to buy their stuff. Period. read the comments of Anna Wintour, Karl Lagerfeld, etc on fuller sized women and you get the point.
Apparently, a lot of people don’t want me to buy their stuff. I don’t see myself reflected in advertising images, and never have.
For instance, most footwear designers make it a point not to offer nice shoes in xwide widths, or wide-width/wide-calf boots. Women’s magazines don’t have anyone who looks like me on their covers, thereby indicating they’re not meant for me. Sometimes this is a good thing - cigarette and liquor ads don’t feature my type either. Even so, I need clothes, and don’t need cigarettes, liquor, or even fashion magazines.
In this capitalist society of ours, where people are encouraged to spend, spend, spend, I’ve saved a fair amount of money over the years by being basically ignored.
Robin-
That’s a very interesting way to look at it and I’m going to explore it a little more in the blog…
High fashion is NOT a democracy!
If you can’t make the effort to loose weight and live a healthy lifestyle, then you shouldn’t be wearing high fashion.
End of story.
OK, I had to add a comment to ME’s post -
I live a healthy lifestyle - I eat healthy and I exercise. I “make the effort” on a daily basis. The reasons I am full-figured (or “plush” size - saw that on a web site and loved it!!) are medical issues that make it extremely difficult for me to lose weight, which I will not discuss here.
Women of all sizes and shapes have the right to look their best and to purchase clothing which flatters their figures. We all want to look good and feel good about ourselves. Why should we only be able to do that if we wear something smaller than a size 12?? The only thing limiting my wardrobe should be my budget (which is why I read this blog!! lol).
You go Nancy…
I totally agree.. I live a VERY healthy lifestyle (I haven’t had a piece of red meat in over 12 years). I workout at least 4 times a week, running at least 2 miles each time. I probably even have less body fat than most size 8s and definitely more muscle mass.
But…
I will never, ever be smaller than a size 10. Ever. That’s my fighting size and I was in college playing collegiate rugby 6 times a week.
Also, being thin doesn’t mean your healthier than someone who is bigger than you. It just means you’re thinner..
And what do you say to the petite or tall fashionistas who maybe thin, but still can’t find a decent, non-grandma dress?
Really good posts. I’m sort of lucky because I live in Southern California and still have access to decent low-cost resources, namely the Saks outlet in Ontario (east of L.A.) They are one of a precious few Off Fifths that have Salon Z castoffs.
I remember talking to a manager after full fashion was removed from the Orange, California, location, and she said the issue was that the clothes flew out of the main stores when they were reduced, leaving very little stock to be spread among the Off Fifth.
Hence, they cut the door availability way down.
Also, I have Talbots Woman for natural-fiber basics, such as wool crepe pieces, including dresses I can wear to my sorority meetings, etc.
My personal style is more conservative/classic, not trend-driven.
Responsing to Posted by ME on December 17, 2006; I am a very tall woman (6’ 3”) and if I were to diet to fit into a size 6, I would either be dead or nearly so which is decidedly UNHEALTHY! Don’t judge so hurridly .... Not everyone has the genes of Angelina Jolie.