I noted in my last post (July 12) that Rachel Pally's plus-sized line will debut in the spring. Not true. Pally's first batch of plus wear will be available for Fall '07; Nordstrom will have it next month.
After seeing pictures of what's being offered, my advice is for the larger misses customer to stick with the regular line. I understand Pally's misses wear runs big (lotsa fabric) and the plus line looks like it runs REALLY big.
Tuesday, July 17, 2007
Thursday, July 12, 2007
Huzzah For Paige Premium Denim!
About a year ago, I was unhappy with how all of these premium (i.e. expensive) denim brands were blowing off consumers above a size 10-12, or a 32" waist. And I know from experience that with a couple of exceptions, the bigger sizes were hard to find and were often cut for women who nevertheless had no butt or hips. El cheapo jeans are easy to find in larger sizes. The hot brands, washes, and cuts though? No dice. So those of us who wanted to wear 7 For All Mankind, Citizens of Humanity, True Religion, Rock and Republic, etc. did without, got them in men's sizes (I'll do a whole post about that sometime), and/or turned to premium plus brands like Svoboda.
Even so, I figured at some point somebody was going to cave and realize the money of the curvaceous customer is just as green as the skinny chicks' and that the brand overall won't be diluted if a gal with a bigger butt is wearing it. Today, that somebody is Paige Premium Denim which is now offering three styles of its jeans in women's sizes 14-24 for pre-orders on Nordstrom.com. Selected Encore departments at Nordie's will also carry the jeans beginning in August.
http://shop.nordstrom.com/c/6007094/0~2376776~2374327~6007059~6007094?origin=plus_shop
The bad news...these babies aren't cheap. The original Paiges are $175+, and these hover around the $200 mark.
The good news...it's a sign the fashion world is realizing that we want more options. Last week, Rachel Pally announced a plus sized line that will debut next spring. I'm sure other designers will follow, especially if these efforts are successful. What I love about these Paiges is that they look just like the basic jeans offered to the misses' market. (Paige Premium Denim is the only brand to go up to a 34" waist for its regular line.) Since the original versions are cut narrowly, I'm going to give the plus versions a shot. They will probably allow more room for the booty and hips. I pre-ordered the Mandeville Canyon in 16...if it runs a little big, I can always trade it for a 14.
Why do I think these designers are trying plus sizes? Some upstart brands making high-end, fashionable clothes for the larger misses/plus market have had great success. Svoboda went from selling almost exclusively online to selling at stores like Nordstrom, Saks Fifth Avenue, and Neiman Marcus in less than three years. I also think that the premium denim market right now is extremely crowded; going for territory that's not as competitive might be a smart way to brush up those revenues.
Whatever the reasons, I think it's great news. I'm all for more choices for more people in every price range.
Even so, I figured at some point somebody was going to cave and realize the money of the curvaceous customer is just as green as the skinny chicks' and that the brand overall won't be diluted if a gal with a bigger butt is wearing it. Today, that somebody is Paige Premium Denim which is now offering three styles of its jeans in women's sizes 14-24 for pre-orders on Nordstrom.com. Selected Encore departments at Nordie's will also carry the jeans beginning in August.
http://shop.nordstrom.com/c/6007094/0~2376776~2374327~6007059~6007094?origin=plus_shop
The bad news...these babies aren't cheap. The original Paiges are $175+, and these hover around the $200 mark.
The good news...it's a sign the fashion world is realizing that we want more options. Last week, Rachel Pally announced a plus sized line that will debut next spring. I'm sure other designers will follow, especially if these efforts are successful. What I love about these Paiges is that they look just like the basic jeans offered to the misses' market. (Paige Premium Denim is the only brand to go up to a 34" waist for its regular line.) Since the original versions are cut narrowly, I'm going to give the plus versions a shot. They will probably allow more room for the booty and hips. I pre-ordered the Mandeville Canyon in 16...if it runs a little big, I can always trade it for a 14.
Why do I think these designers are trying plus sizes? Some upstart brands making high-end, fashionable clothes for the larger misses/plus market have had great success. Svoboda went from selling almost exclusively online to selling at stores like Nordstrom, Saks Fifth Avenue, and Neiman Marcus in less than three years. I also think that the premium denim market right now is extremely crowded; going for territory that's not as competitive might be a smart way to brush up those revenues.
Whatever the reasons, I think it's great news. I'm all for more choices for more people in every price range.
Wednesday, July 11, 2007
Big Girls Don't Cry But They Sure Can Complain A Lot
I visit a few sites aimed at plus-sized gals, mostly because there's some convergence between their world and ours (most plus sized stores start at 12 or 14, though plus cuts are bigger than misses'). There's a lot of positive advice you can get from these sites and lots of commiserating for those of us who know that the higher the size #, the fewer the options. (It works that way too for the tiny and petite, but that's a whole 'nuther can of worms.)
But there are times when I'm struck by the unhappiness of these women. Oh, I know the internet was made for two things, porn and gripes, but it seems like few things make these gals satisfied and happy. They're understandably upset if a clothing chain like Old Navy drops plus sizes from its stores. They're understandably upset if an attempt to woo plus sized customers falls flat, with ugly or badly-made clothes. However, if someone tries to make higher-end, better-made clothing for larger sizes then they complain that the clothes are too expensive. Or if a store sells sizes 2-22 in the same line--without even segregating the larger clothes--then there are complaints the sizes don't go up to a 28.
They don't make Armani quality at WalMart prices for anyone at any size. Don't look gift horses in the mouth; be an active consumer and show the industry you can be a valued customer.
But there are times when I'm struck by the unhappiness of these women. Oh, I know the internet was made for two things, porn and gripes, but it seems like few things make these gals satisfied and happy. They're understandably upset if a clothing chain like Old Navy drops plus sizes from its stores. They're understandably upset if an attempt to woo plus sized customers falls flat, with ugly or badly-made clothes. However, if someone tries to make higher-end, better-made clothing for larger sizes then they complain that the clothes are too expensive. Or if a store sells sizes 2-22 in the same line--without even segregating the larger clothes--then there are complaints the sizes don't go up to a 28.
They don't make Armani quality at WalMart prices for anyone at any size. Don't look gift horses in the mouth; be an active consumer and show the industry you can be a valued customer.
Sunday, July 8, 2007
Why Do They Make Short Shorts In A 16?
Sometimes the fashion industry sets us gals up as suckers. Such as when they make Daisy Dukes or micro mini skirts in larger sizes.
Chances are if you need to wear a 14 on up, it's not because you have unusually long legs. Some women don't mind showing off generous thighs or calves and as long as they're still in good shape, I suppose it's all right. But if there's a little too much jiggle or dimples, I just don't think it's a good idea at all. Yet there they are on the racks trying to trick the unwary into embarrassing themselves. The same goes for tops obviously not designed to be flattering on women with tummies or generous cleavage.
Sometimes you have just ignore the fact they make stuff in your size and pay attention as to whether or not it's actually flattering on your body. I stay away from anything with that horrible stretchy jersey-on-steroids fabric, even if it comes in a plus size, because I know that fabric sticks like glue to my thighs and stomach in way that looks awful. I have not worn any short shorts since I was a size 12 and even then, I probably shouldn't have worn them. Micro minis? Not since I was in college and even then I wore leggings with them.
So this summer, don't fall for the trap, ladies! Go with what looks good.
Chances are if you need to wear a 14 on up, it's not because you have unusually long legs. Some women don't mind showing off generous thighs or calves and as long as they're still in good shape, I suppose it's all right. But if there's a little too much jiggle or dimples, I just don't think it's a good idea at all. Yet there they are on the racks trying to trick the unwary into embarrassing themselves. The same goes for tops obviously not designed to be flattering on women with tummies or generous cleavage.
Sometimes you have just ignore the fact they make stuff in your size and pay attention as to whether or not it's actually flattering on your body. I stay away from anything with that horrible stretchy jersey-on-steroids fabric, even if it comes in a plus size, because I know that fabric sticks like glue to my thighs and stomach in way that looks awful. I have not worn any short shorts since I was a size 12 and even then, I probably shouldn't have worn them. Micro minis? Not since I was in college and even then I wore leggings with them.
So this summer, don't fall for the trap, ladies! Go with what looks good.
Thursday, July 5, 2007
Get Successful, Lose Weight
Recently there was an article in the Los Angeles Times about the recent rise in prominence of successful performers and personalities who are breaking the size 0 mold favored by the media over the past 7 or 8 years. Certainly, we've seen curvaceous types like Oscar winner Jennifer Hudson, "Ugly Betty" star America Ferrera, t.v. actress Sara Ramirez, etc. gracing magazine covers. Undoubtedly this is in a way a backlash against Nicole Ritchie/Olsen twins who epitomize the thin-thin-thin worlds of fashion and entertainment. Most of us find it refreshing, even inspiring to see ladies who look more like the rest of us rising to prominence.
But already we've learned that Miss Ferrera is a size 6 and that Hudson along with the most recent American Idol winner Jordin Sparks are already on diets to lose weight. Now, there's nothing wrong with trying to improve your health and well-being but none of these women are what you call obese. Sparks cruised to victory a size 12. She's no waif but she ain't fat. If America loves her just the way she is, what's with the dieting?
It's because they all get caught up in the machinery. Once these ladies achieve success, they're surrounded by "experts" like agents and publicists who tell them that if they want to climb higher and stay on top, they have to conform and lose weight. To them, being a size 12 is totally unacceptable. A 6 might still make you bigger than average, but it's better than being a 14 in their world. The media feeds into this by running positive stories about how so and so lost 20 pounds and how you can too. You won't see a story about gushing about how Ashley Olsen gained 20 pounds and how the underweight can pack on some curves too.
After all this is the same media that considers the bony Gisele Bundchen "curvy."
But already we've learned that Miss Ferrera is a size 6 and that Hudson along with the most recent American Idol winner Jordin Sparks are already on diets to lose weight. Now, there's nothing wrong with trying to improve your health and well-being but none of these women are what you call obese. Sparks cruised to victory a size 12. She's no waif but she ain't fat. If America loves her just the way she is, what's with the dieting?
It's because they all get caught up in the machinery. Once these ladies achieve success, they're surrounded by "experts" like agents and publicists who tell them that if they want to climb higher and stay on top, they have to conform and lose weight. To them, being a size 12 is totally unacceptable. A 6 might still make you bigger than average, but it's better than being a 14 in their world. The media feeds into this by running positive stories about how so and so lost 20 pounds and how you can too. You won't see a story about gushing about how Ashley Olsen gained 20 pounds and how the underweight can pack on some curves too.
After all this is the same media that considers the bony Gisele Bundchen "curvy."
Monday, July 2, 2007
How to drop two sizes without diet or exercise!
About a year ago, there was a minor flareup in the media about an alleged phenomenon called "vanity sizing." This was about stores supposedly putting size 6 labels on their size 8s or size 12s on their 14s so that women will feel better about "fitting" into a smaller size.
I'm more inclined to think this is more urban legend than fact. Manufacturers use all kinds of fit models for their various sizes and any given individual's clothing size is an average, not so much a hard and fast number. It's like that with shoes. Most of the time, I'm a size 9. But occasionally, because the shoe runs small or big, I have to go up to a 9.5 or a 10, or go down to an 8.5. Last summer I got a pair of Punkrose shoes that I had to get in a size 7 because the shoes ran really, really big. How many women feel better about having bigger or smaller feet?
Clothes work the same way. I've found that higher end designer suits tend to run a little bigger. I can comfortably fit in a 14 or even a 12 in them. Recently, I've bought A-line skirts from both Talbots and Anthropologie in a 12. Do I think they're fooling me? No...my body shape (smaller waist, fuller tushie and thighs) fits comfortably into the shape of the skirt. Conversely, I've had to go up to a size 18 or XXL for some outfits. Am I any fatter or thinner? Not really.
With shirts it's even weirder. Normally I run about a size 12 or a Large in shirts. But I've fit in anything from a small up to an XXL, depending.
So if you're finding the same issues, it's because of the wide variation of what constitutes a particular size.
I'm more inclined to think this is more urban legend than fact. Manufacturers use all kinds of fit models for their various sizes and any given individual's clothing size is an average, not so much a hard and fast number. It's like that with shoes. Most of the time, I'm a size 9. But occasionally, because the shoe runs small or big, I have to go up to a 9.5 or a 10, or go down to an 8.5. Last summer I got a pair of Punkrose shoes that I had to get in a size 7 because the shoes ran really, really big. How many women feel better about having bigger or smaller feet?
Clothes work the same way. I've found that higher end designer suits tend to run a little bigger. I can comfortably fit in a 14 or even a 12 in them. Recently, I've bought A-line skirts from both Talbots and Anthropologie in a 12. Do I think they're fooling me? No...my body shape (smaller waist, fuller tushie and thighs) fits comfortably into the shape of the skirt. Conversely, I've had to go up to a size 18 or XXL for some outfits. Am I any fatter or thinner? Not really.
With shirts it's even weirder. Normally I run about a size 12 or a Large in shirts. But I've fit in anything from a small up to an XXL, depending.
So if you're finding the same issues, it's because of the wide variation of what constitutes a particular size.
Sunday, July 1, 2007
Defining where this is all going
Sorry I haven't posted in a while! Vacations and other things have taken up my time. Anyway, now I'm back and I plan to post more frequently.
Reading around on some other blogs and stuff, I think that perhaps I need to let readers know what territory I'm covering and what I'm not.
This isn't going to be a fashion blog per se. I'm not a fashion expert. I understand the cycle/symbiosis between couture and the street/popular culture. I know a bit about the retail side of things. But since I'm guessing most of you are not Saudi princesses, trophy wives, movie stars, or socialites and I'm not either, I am not going to discuss haute couture. I probably won't even go into fashion shows. There are tons of sites written by people who know what they are talking about in that world. And besides, most of those houses normally do not go above a size 8 or 10 for their haute couture lines.
This is going to about everyday issues, not the fantasy world sold by the media where nobody really looks like you or me. I'm keeping it practical and keeping it real.
Reading around on some other blogs and stuff, I think that perhaps I need to let readers know what territory I'm covering and what I'm not.
This isn't going to be a fashion blog per se. I'm not a fashion expert. I understand the cycle/symbiosis between couture and the street/popular culture. I know a bit about the retail side of things. But since I'm guessing most of you are not Saudi princesses, trophy wives, movie stars, or socialites and I'm not either, I am not going to discuss haute couture. I probably won't even go into fashion shows. There are tons of sites written by people who know what they are talking about in that world. And besides, most of those houses normally do not go above a size 8 or 10 for their haute couture lines.
This is going to about everyday issues, not the fantasy world sold by the media where nobody really looks like you or me. I'm keeping it practical and keeping it real.
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