The End of an Era: Saks Fifth Avenue "Clothes" SalonZ

What Would Adele Do?

I never thought  I'd see this day. After years of  trying to convince designers and retailers to make clothing in plus sizes for curvy grrls, it's a sad day when  a store like Saks Fifth Avenue decides that the only way to cater to this demographic is online, and closing Salon Z.
I took a friend and client shopping at Saks a few weeks ago and was shocked and disappointed with the lack of selection. The sales associate rattled off name after name of recognizable brands who were no longer making clothing in plus sizes.
NPD, a market research firm on Long Island, New York, has said that sales of plus size clothing don't add up to correlate with the statistic of how many women in America wear a plus size. But if the number of American women actually wear a larger size, then why aren't they shopping?
Or, are they not being counted? The questions abound.
A conversation with a colleague confirmed the number of women who want fashionable clothing is still "at large."
But, she said the woman who wears a size 12/14/16 is still "The Forgotten Woman."
Anyone remember that store? A class act and one that will never be forgotten...Nancy, whereever you are.
What to do? We've got to get our act together sisters, because it's never been harder to shop, even though there is a plethora of choices online. And returns are rarely free, postage that is.
A recent swimsuit purchase caused me a lot of grief, because even though I measured myself, the swimsuits didn't fit that great. And...they were on sale, all sales final.
It used to be that a store like Nordstrom hid the intimate apparel and swim wear in the dressing room.
So the way to get rid of us is to get us out of the stores??
We're omnipresent on Twitter, on Facebook on MySpace...but a virtual grrrl still needs to get dressed.
A few years ago, as the former editor in chief of a now defunct but pioneering magazine called BBW, I went on record that there wasn't anything we couldn't find.
That may still be true, but now it's harder to find...at brick & mortar.
I don't sell, I tell. And I'm telling you, we've got to get our act together, one voice, much like the civil rights movement of the sixties....and tell these retailers what we really want, and then put our money where our mouth is!
Are you listening?

Forever 21 Comes To Their Senses! Faith 21 Name Change

I always scratch my  head in wonder when a brand names their plus size division some stupid or irrevalent name. For example, there are a few of you who may remember Liz Claiborne's plus size line called Elizabeth!! So when Forever 21 launched Faith 21 I was surprised. Wouldn't you want the customers who couldn't shop with you because the size range wasn't "wide enough" hit the floors and the buy button online?
Seems they've come to their senses, and a name change is in the works.

The Washington Post Takes Interest in FFF Week

Robin Givhan, a Washington Post Staff Writer who covers style, covered Full Figured Fashion Week in her paper yesterday.
Every few years the media gets around to writing about the plus size dilemma - obesity is on the rise, yet if you prowl the malls, there are few stores that carry women's sizes past 12 or 14.
It seems that a lot of women are still mad because they can't find the styles they want to wear available in their size.
I've never been an activist or pushed the size acceptance agenda, but I have spoken out about self esteem.  I've had a wonderful career dedicated to helping women of size look and feel better in their clothing, usually with a quip like "stripes make you look thinner, so sport your own stripe," if I'm giving tips on how to look slimmer.
You probably know I was a fashion editor and editor at Big Beautiful Woman magazine (BBW.) Because BBW magazine was owned by Larry Flynt, a famous pornographer, it was disdained by many in the apparel and advertising world.
I still find it interesting that the same man whose activities held up our Fifth Amendment rights, was the man who bought BBW magazine from the founder, Carol Shaw.
Larry knew that  mainstream tastes for what is beautiful ran the gamut, since he is famous for publishing magazines that focus on body parts and fetishes.
Nobody else believed that plus size women were important to their bottom line. 
But plus size women do count. According the article in the Washington Post, almost half of black women  and about one-third of American and Hispanic females are obese. That's a lot of gals with buying power.
I don't want to march to the beat of a different drummer, I don't want to protest or be angry. The sixties are fifty. I just want to get dressed, I want to feel and look good. I want to look pretty. How 'bout you?
*Photo Credit: Photo of  Rosie Mercado courtesy of Helayne Seidman-For The Washington Post

Love To Know and It's Getting Easier To Get Dressed

I've always said grrrls just want to get dressed.
If you wear a larger size, you know how hard it can be to "just get dressed."
Lovetoknow dot com interviewed me a couple of years ago about the state of the plus size fashion world. I just read the article again and it's still relevant.
The article covers my background and career as a former plus size spokesmodel, magazine editor and fashion stylist.
It gets easier and easier to get dressed.
Last week I ordered a four piece capsule wardrobe off gapdotcom and guess what, they had my size, the size chart was accurate and everthing fit. I can't believe how cool my short, straight camouflage print khaki skirt is.
I kept one out the three bathing suits I ordered from Newport News,
and considering how many bathing suits I try on at retail every year to find the approximately 10 suits I purchase each year, one out of three is a home run. This suit is really sexy and I can't wait to wear it in the turquoise waters of Puerto Rico!