Something that’s annoying and frustrating and sometimes just flat-out impossible? Having a pleasant clothes shopping experience when you’re fat. Not only do we have to deal with random sizing, but there’s also the issue of fat clothing designers thinking we do not want to look fashionable or stylish. Even worse, though? When a store that had a plus-size department shrinks that department down to nothing – or just flat-out stops selling plus-size clothes in their brick and mortar stores. Because nothing is more fun than ordering clothes online and hoping they fit. And then, when they almost always don’t, having to return the clothes via mail because the brick and mortar stores won’t accept plus-size returns.
All of which is to say, there are rumors going around that Target is getting rid of their plus-size department. I was in my local Target a few weeks ago, and noticed that there weren’t any plus-size clothes. The entire section had been replaced with racks of straight-size clearance items. I kind of forgot about it, because Target plus-size clothes are really hit or miss for me. But then I started noticing chatter online about plus-size departments disappearing at other Targets. Some folks asked people in the know at the corporation, who reported that Target is completely revamping the section and it’s gonna come back bigger and better than ever! I’ll believe it when I see it.
Old Navy used to have plus-size clothes in their stores, too. But now you can only buy that merchandise online. And don’t even get me started with the barely-fat, completely proportional mannequins they show the clothes on – god forbid you take pictures of actual fat women wearing your stuff. It starts out okay:
But that’s just for show, because here’s what the selections look like. Dang, those are some fat mannequins, amirite?
Anyway, my point is this:
Why, if two-thirds of this country is fat, are our shopping options getting worse and worse?
Last summer I went to my local L.L.Bean. I wandered the store for awhile before finally asking a clerk where the plus-size section was. Her response? “We used to have one, but the stuff didn’t sell, so we got rid of it.”
All the fat people in America, and this is the best
you could do for plus-size models, L.L.Bean?
I don’t get it. There are tons of fat people in America, but apparently none of us want to try on clothes before we buy them? It honestly boggles my mind. I’m not very good with math, but if two thirds of us are plus-sized, then shouldn’t there be way more Lane Bryants than Ann Taylors? Shouldn’t Target be expanding their plus-size department?
Maybe they are. Maybe the stories are true, and they are going to unleash some fabulous fashion on us fatties very soon. I hope it is true, because I’m sick of having to spend time and money having clothes shipped to me.
Even then, I’m way more likely to buy from a UK company than a US one, because they seem to understand the radical idea that I want to look and feel great in my clothes, and not just cover my body with whatever happens to (sort of) fit.
If you’re curious, two of my favorite UK shops are Fat Face (has all sizes) and Simply Be (plus only), and I’m itching to try this new one, which also has a pretty awesome-looking line of workout clothes (and seems to use bigger models than shops do on our side of the Atlantic). Unfortunately, these overseas shops tend to be expensive, and I definitely can’t try them on before I buy. But it’s something, at least.
Workout wear from Taking Shape. I want that vest!
Come on, clothing manufacturers of America. Stop limiting our choices, and start catering to the millions of us who wear clothes in the (gasp!) double digits. There’s money to be made!
