So I was online shopping this morning and came across something that really rubs me the wrong way: a dress that is ONLY available in sizes 2, 4 and 6. Now had this been some sort of teensy little dress that only the fittest should attempt to wear, maybe I would have understood. But it was a very forgiving shift style dress that almost any woman could carry off (which is why I looked at it.) Why do designers -- and contemporary designers are the worst offenders -- continue to offer such limited sizing in their goods? The smart ones, like Diane von Furstenberg at least go up to a 14 (and wouldn't it be nice if she also made plus-size dresses?) Does it drive you crazy, too, to find so many cute styles that don't come in your size?
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Not only Dresses in tiny sizes bug me but as a plus size woman who is also tall, Try finding something long enough and fits. Long sleeves are the worst.
Doesn’t bother me at all (wear a 14 and am 6′). I do not buy clothes from designers who do not carry my size (obviously). I have fluctuated in my life between a 9 and an 18. Since I have been an adult, when I am small, I do not support designers who do not also have either a larger line, or carry sizes for my full range.
Just another psychological ploy to screw with women’s heads. Sorry, we’ve been screaming about it long enough that the industry can no longer feign ignorance. Anything like this they do at this point is simply a blatant slap in the face–there are plenty of companies TRYING to embrace “the real woman”.
Don’t support this bad behavior with your wallet (and inform the online company via email that you will not be recommending them to your smaller sized sisters) since that is the only thing they hear.
I do not expect to ever wear anything from Ralph Lauren again–and won’t miss him a bit. He tainted his own art with his ugly attitude.
oh, and I think it is a ploy simply because I live in NYC, the small size mecca of high dollar wear….
but when I go home, down south, the (fewer) high dollar stores down there, carry LARGER sizes that you never see in the stores here. I’ve had moments when I’ve said…”I didn’t know X went up to a size X”.
Now, whether that is because the higher pop of NYC scoops up the size 4-18 faster…or if the NC stores stock more because the size of the female population is larger…who’s to say…
But the larger sizes exist…so it may be the purchasing agent rather than availability. Either way, if it annoys you, they should hear about it.
I don’t think I’ve come across this problem but I can see how it can annoy someone. Media already presses enough issues on being skinny, to the point of unhealthiness. Strategies for these top designers would be to provide larger sizes. Seeing the cutest dress that you would think would compliment your figure, falling in love with it, going to check out the sizes and you see that only the smaller ones exist, ever! It would peeve the heck outta me!!
Come check out my blog at http://personal-petpeeves.blogspot.com/ to see what else peeve’s me. Thanks!
Yes,as a fashion designer should think his /her designed style will be fit every women including SS,S,M,L,XL,XXL size.which is best designer in people ‘ mind
I am on the exact opposite side of the spectrum and it gets worse and worse as vanity sizes take over. There are quite a few wonderful plus size designers, and a handful of big and tall. I’m well into my 30’s and if I’m lucky I may stumble upon a 0 or an XS in the Junior department that actually fits. I can hardly even buy shoes anymore as more and more stores are fazing out size 5’s. Don’t even get me started on bras…
I totally understand your frustration and annoyance. Unfortunately, the media constantly promotes the wrong message, depicting skinny people in skinny people fashion. It seems to me as if there were only one kind of people living on this planet. Luckily, plenty of dresses and outfits for people like you exist out there. They are not only cute, but cost much less. It is worthwhile to check them out. Just remember: being fit is better, but does not have to be skinny. Enjoying Spring shopping
“2 is the new 6″………yeah?
I buy whatever size looks good and fits me well. Vanity sizing is so frustrating. That size 7 is actually a size 9. I think it’s all a big mind tease. Buy and wear what fits well and looks good on you. Forget the size!
And then there are the plus size catalogs which carry sizes up to 6x and show the clothing on size 8 models! Unbelievable!
Another thing that bugs me is a size 12, which I am, is considered to be a plus size in some stores. I remember a time when 12 was considered to be the perfect size for a woman!
Ladies, ladies, ladies…..
Learn to sew!
Or go to a seamstress!
Then you can find EXACTLY what you want, no matter the size, no matter the length, no matter what color is “in” or not and what looks good on you….
I sew everything from panties to tops to skirts to dresses to pants ….just about everything but jeans or structured pants (because I can find those in my size at a good price so why sew it!)
I have collected tons of fabric and oodles of patterns and I make up what I want; when I want and how I want. I never wear short skirts and as a ballroom dancer have specific stretch, sweat and movement needs and love a longer fuller skirt when it moves….
I make the latest patterns or patterns 20 or more years old….. I make and wear what looks good on me….not forced to wear what the designers say I have to wear. That is not to say I don’t get ideas from designers….I do….I get ideas from everwhere!
SEW SEW SEW
My pet peeve is stores, catalogues, and email sites that do NOT have size 2!! Or shoes sites that do not have the one you want in aa width!!
And if they do design for plus size people, why do they mess up anything sleeveless? The armholes are designed as if they were made for NFL Linemen – not women with a little excess weight. Get a clue designers.
Give the designers some CREDIT! They know what styles look good on different body types….give it up! Find something worth spending your efforts, like helping feed hungry children…..
I too have a hard time finding dresses/pants small enough to fit me. Many places do not carry size 2 in women’s sizes in nice clothing. At 57 I hate having to go to the Jr.’s department and only finding bell bottoms, low hip huggers, & cute casual mini dresses. Shoes, with an AA width, are impossible to find in nice dressy shoes. It seems I go from boots to sandals, with basically tennis shoes in between.
My my, do I miss my “skinny days” when I was a solid size 3… Now, being about 10 to 12, I actually find it hard to find clothing that not only fits my now larger body, but actually looks flattering as well. Seems the only place I can find clothes that are nice looking, un-complicated and well fitting is Costco… yes, I know this sounds weird but it’s true. No particular “label”, just stuff that fits, wears well and is more that reasonably priced. No, I am not cheap but rather I am not in position to overspend just so it fits.
My other pet peeve would be about shoes. Having what some call “sensitive feet”, I do care a lot about the quality and fit of my footwear as well as the looks. What peeves me in all this is the brands I would not mind shelling out more money for (like Stuart Weitzman, for one) only seem to come in Narrow. Even their so-called Wide are narrow and far from fitting my normal width feet…
When a garment is only available up to size 6, which is often a small 6, it’s as though the store and designer are saying that anyone larger than that isn’t worthy of the clothes. Like Cynthia said, it’s not always that someone larger wouldn’t look good in the garment. I can definitely empathize with small women who have a hard time finding things, but women come in all shapes and sizes. Two women can look identical, but small differences in their bodies will dictate different sizes. Sizing is crazy!