Disappointment. That’s what I felt after I went shopping for a plus size outfit for a semi-formal church banquet.
Yeah, I could’ve made myself something, but I was experiencing decision paralysis as to what to make, so I decided to buy something instead.
Even the one store I’d bought really nice stuff from before, let me down.
“If you’re not gonna do it right, don’t do it at all” comes to mind after what I saw being offered to plus size women. I mean, I never expected a large selection because while it’s better, it’s always been limited pickings for us full-figured girls.
But what I saw was plain U-G-L-Y. There were suits made out of polyester as thick as wool-for spring? And I wouldn’t put those silhouettes on my dress form, let alone my body.
To the designers, creative directors, manufacturers and buyers who approved that ugliness on the rack, I have 2 words for you – you’re fired!
What do you mean I can’t fire them? Well, I feel better just saying it.
Seriously though, shopping is supposed to be enjoyable and fun, but I give my experience a thumbs down.
And that brings me to the Plus Size Clothing image above (click on it to enlarge). A study by a leading market research company, NPD Group, Inc., let’s me know that I’m not the only plus size woman who is dissatisfied with ready-to-wear. I summarized their findings so it’d be an easy read.
Do you agree or disagree? Or are you one of the lucky ones who has found a brand who offers exactly what you want? Well, don’t keep it a secret, share it with the rest of us already in the comments.
Btw, I did find something to wear…in my closet with the tags still on it. Nice!
ErinM says
September 8, 2014 at 1:50 pm(I know i’m late to the party, but…)
I honestly think that the lack of larger sizes in “brick and mortar” shops is on purpose. After the hoopla over Ambercrombie and Fitch’s outright admission that they didn’t want fat people wearing their clothes (size 000??? really?), i’d say the reason is pretty obvious. It’s much easier to keep those unsightly jiggly arms and robust behinds away when the few paltry offerings look as if they were dragged from the closets of extras from the Golden Girls, bedazzled and stuck on a rack.
What makes me even angrier is, if you go to one of the higher-end plus sized shops (with their obscenely priced items), they still treat you as if you walked in the door while gnawing on a fried chicken leg, dropping Krispy Kremes in your wake.
When will the Powers That Be realize that overweight is NOT synonymous with sloppy and unattractive?
Maybe they think if they ignore us, we’ll just go away?
Katrina says
September 8, 2014 at 11:38 pmNo Erin, you’re not late to the party at all. Thank you for sharing how you feel about the way plus size women are treated and made to feel. And I do think retailers thought we would go away, but clearly that’s not going to happen. A very small percentage of retailers are paying attention to the outcry of plus size women, but there is still a very, very long way to go.
Gillian says
September 23, 2013 at 5:54 pmI’m also very annoyed at the lack of choice, and by the conclusion that what is on offer has been chosen by stick-insect thin people who don’t understand that more women are above a size 6 (which would, in all normal culture, be a child’s size, or one describing someone clinically undernourished), than below. The men who design for those small sizes clearly dislike women, and the women who design them are not living in this world, and must also dislike women, or why would they buy into this kind of bullying? Curves are what help to distinguish a child from a woman, and a man from a woman -plus other major bits ‘n bobs too of course!!Why on earth they don’t ask a woman of the right size to choose, I don’t know – too obvious I suppose. Here in Ireland there are even fewer outlets, so you can imagine what that means. Clearly curvy women are expected not to pollute the public’s space, but to remain in a self-induced purdah.
Katrina says
September 23, 2013 at 9:06 pmYou make some good points, Gillian. For a long time designers believed (and some may still believe) curvy women aren’t interested in fashionable clothes or fashion at all. They would probably love if we chose seclusion so they wouldn’t have to deal with us. There’s so much that needs to be done to address this global problem. They’re taking baby steps but we have a long way to go.
katie says
July 15, 2013 at 11:40 amI’ve had luck at Macy’s but usually only their website. The stuff in their stores is hideous. I prefer the thrill of the hunt so I rarely buy online but they do have a wider selection and you can return the items to their stores.
Katrina says
July 15, 2013 at 2:16 pmAfter seeing those hideous (that word is a perfect description) clothes in the Macy’s store, I didn’t even think to check online. It’s good to know they have a wider and better selection online as well. Thanks for the information, Katie.
Francine McGee says
December 27, 2013 at 11:40 pmOk, I’m glad to find out Macy’s has a larger plus size selection online, and I was told forever 21 has plus sized clothing online as well. But, am I the only one who feels somewhat slighted that a sliver more room can’t be found IN THE STORES? We aren’t good enough for the sales floor, they send us to their web site, to take care of ourselves, hoping we won’t actually come into the store.
I am so disgusted with plus sized clothes offered in stores I started sewing again a couple of years ago. When I can’t or don’t want to sew something I look for plus size clothes in thrift shops. I have better luck at Value Village than at Macy’s, for a teeny tiny fraction of the price. I get a lot of my fabric from thrift shops also.
Katrina says
December 28, 2013 at 9:15 pmNo, you’re not the only one who feels slighted Francine. I’ll have to look for some good thrift stores in my area. I forgot some of them sell really nice things in great condition.
Connie says
May 6, 2013 at 3:36 pmin plus size clothing the limited selections, are extremely cheaply made, extremely ugly, and very expensive. in the larger metropolitan areas there are boutiques that specialize in plus size clothing. these places but can be exorbitantly expensive. thats why i sew.
Katrina Kay says
May 7, 2013 at 12:47 amThat’s so true, Connie. I saw a lot of cheap looking, expensive stuff. Some of it was marked down and still cost too much.
Maggie says
May 6, 2013 at 9:11 amA horrible shopping experience is what led me to start working on sewing clothes for myself again.
Katrina Kay says
May 7, 2013 at 12:40 amI know what you mean, Maggie. It looks like sewing our own clothes is the only way we’re going to get the style and quality we want.