|
Today I came home for lunch to get away from the office. I sat down and decided to read some great news for the shopping/fashion loving plus-sized girl that I am. Popular retailer, Forever 21 announced today the May 2009 roll out of a plus-sized clothes line called Faith 21!
I just about peed myself. I immediately went back to work and told all my fellow curvy shoppers. May is now circled in my date book. SQUEEEEEEEEEEEE! I can shop at the same store as those skinny wenches!
Sorry to be so smug – but for years, being a plus-sized woman meant your fashion sense was severely hemmed in by clothing that was designed to make you look worse than you really were (One piece bathing suits with a mini-skirt…seriously?). While strides have been made to give more variety of clothing, the Curvy Fashionista had to rely on specialty stores like Lane Bryant. And we’ve taken a hit in these hard economic times where stores are cutting plus-size selections or losing stores altogether (Dave & Barry’s, you will be missed!).
Sure, there are regular retailers who put out plus-size lines – but we still find it limiting. Don’t believe me? Ask a big girl about the current season selection at Target, it isn’t as inspiring as the international designers they’re bringing in on the “regular side.” I’d buy everything in the Isaac Mizrahi Collection…if they only made it my size. Sure Old Navy has a plus-size line…but it’s only available online. Hello, you can’t try it on! Gap only seems to offer XXL at their outlets. And boutique shopping? Forget it! Big girls go to boutiques with their skinny friends and come out with accessories (“The Great Equalizer”).
Shopping as a big girl in America takes a lot of research, patience, and money!
The L.A. Times, in a related article states, “The average American Woman is a size 14. Why is the fashion industry still pretending she doesn’t exist?” The article, entitled Fashion’s Invisible Woman sheds light on the fashion industry’s neglect of the plus-size market. They point out the stigma of being plus-sized and how fashion could be neglecting a profitable market by limiting their sizes. Basically, plus-size women have money and burning want for fashion, but they have nowhere to spend it. Major fashion players like Prada cut off sizes at 10 to avoid socializing with women who don’t project their point of view and lifestyle.
Oh, I’m sorry, Miuccia Prada. I guess the women who spent a total of $109.7 billion on plus-size clothing last year can’t afford to be as fashionable as you. My bad.
I’m not asking for runway models to strut down the catwalks of Bryant Park (yet). I just want a choice. I’m a size 18 on top and a size 22/24 on the bottom. I’m not skinny, I’m not even average! But that doesn’t mean I don’t have the right to look damn fine in flattering clothing in my size.
One excuse the plus-size fashion haters have always used is the fact that they don’t know what plus-size women want. And since a focus group from DVF or Nanette Lepore aren’t going to be banging down my front door – let me tell you about me.
My name is Kimberly. I am 33-years old female with a career and I love fashion. I was always taught to dress my best regardless of size or looks. My friends tell me I have great taste in clothing, which is cool because I work really hard to dress nicely. I’m a Carrie Bradshaw on the inside, but I aspire to dress like Charlotte York. I faithfully watch Project Runway when it’s on and enjoy reading monthly issues of Lucky, Glamour, People Stylewatch, Elle and every awards issue of Entertainment Weekly to keep up on fashion. I check the Project Rungay blog twice a day in the hopes of new material to view. I worship at the styling altar of St. Tim Gunn.
My fashion aesthetic is timeless, classic American. I want my closet to look like Ralph Lauren, Calvin Klein, and have the occasional Euro-ness of Catherine Malandrino. When I shop, I want something to be interesting, but be more than just a fad. I think the biggest fashion faux pas in the world is not dressing to your personal style. My biggest splurges are my Coach purses and the numerous pairs of shoes that crowd my corner shelf. If there were no size limitations, I would probably go broke because I’d be in Anthropologie, Banana Republic, and J. Crew stores all the freaking time.
When I have an event or am packing for a trip, I believe it’s the perfect time to get more new clothes. I spend hours researching places to shop while on vacation. At the next semi-formal party I go to, I want my cocktail dress to look like something from the wardrobe of Mad Men. I am about to buy a sewing machine because I can't find cute skirts and dresses in my size for the spring.
That being said…can I please throw money at you now to dress me?
I just about peed myself. I immediately went back to work and told all my fellow curvy shoppers. May is now circled in my date book. SQUEEEEEEEEEEEE! I can shop at the same store as those skinny wenches!
Sorry to be so smug – but for years, being a plus-sized woman meant your fashion sense was severely hemmed in by clothing that was designed to make you look worse than you really were (One piece bathing suits with a mini-skirt…seriously?). While strides have been made to give more variety of clothing, the Curvy Fashionista had to rely on specialty stores like Lane Bryant. And we’ve taken a hit in these hard economic times where stores are cutting plus-size selections or losing stores altogether (Dave & Barry’s, you will be missed!).
Sure, there are regular retailers who put out plus-size lines – but we still find it limiting. Don’t believe me? Ask a big girl about the current season selection at Target, it isn’t as inspiring as the international designers they’re bringing in on the “regular side.” I’d buy everything in the Isaac Mizrahi Collection…if they only made it my size. Sure Old Navy has a plus-size line…but it’s only available online. Hello, you can’t try it on! Gap only seems to offer XXL at their outlets. And boutique shopping? Forget it! Big girls go to boutiques with their skinny friends and come out with accessories (“The Great Equalizer”).
Shopping as a big girl in America takes a lot of research, patience, and money!
The L.A. Times, in a related article states, “The average American Woman is a size 14. Why is the fashion industry still pretending she doesn’t exist?” The article, entitled Fashion’s Invisible Woman sheds light on the fashion industry’s neglect of the plus-size market. They point out the stigma of being plus-sized and how fashion could be neglecting a profitable market by limiting their sizes. Basically, plus-size women have money and burning want for fashion, but they have nowhere to spend it. Major fashion players like Prada cut off sizes at 10 to avoid socializing with women who don’t project their point of view and lifestyle.
Oh, I’m sorry, Miuccia Prada. I guess the women who spent a total of $109.7 billion on plus-size clothing last year can’t afford to be as fashionable as you. My bad.
I’m not asking for runway models to strut down the catwalks of Bryant Park (yet). I just want a choice. I’m a size 18 on top and a size 22/24 on the bottom. I’m not skinny, I’m not even average! But that doesn’t mean I don’t have the right to look damn fine in flattering clothing in my size.
One excuse the plus-size fashion haters have always used is the fact that they don’t know what plus-size women want. And since a focus group from DVF or Nanette Lepore aren’t going to be banging down my front door – let me tell you about me.
My name is Kimberly. I am 33-years old female with a career and I love fashion. I was always taught to dress my best regardless of size or looks. My friends tell me I have great taste in clothing, which is cool because I work really hard to dress nicely. I’m a Carrie Bradshaw on the inside, but I aspire to dress like Charlotte York. I faithfully watch Project Runway when it’s on and enjoy reading monthly issues of Lucky, Glamour, People Stylewatch, Elle and every awards issue of Entertainment Weekly to keep up on fashion. I check the Project Rungay blog twice a day in the hopes of new material to view. I worship at the styling altar of St. Tim Gunn.
My fashion aesthetic is timeless, classic American. I want my closet to look like Ralph Lauren, Calvin Klein, and have the occasional Euro-ness of Catherine Malandrino. When I shop, I want something to be interesting, but be more than just a fad. I think the biggest fashion faux pas in the world is not dressing to your personal style. My biggest splurges are my Coach purses and the numerous pairs of shoes that crowd my corner shelf. If there were no size limitations, I would probably go broke because I’d be in Anthropologie, Banana Republic, and J. Crew stores all the freaking time.
When I have an event or am packing for a trip, I believe it’s the perfect time to get more new clothes. I spend hours researching places to shop while on vacation. At the next semi-formal party I go to, I want my cocktail dress to look like something from the wardrobe of Mad Men. I am about to buy a sewing machine because I can't find cute skirts and dresses in my size for the spring.
That being said…can I please throw money at you now to dress me?
posted by Kimberly at
6:39 PM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
Subscribe to Post Comments [Atom]
<< Home