It seems like if 56% of all women wear those sizes, maybe we should stop referring to them as plus-sized. Call those regular, and then we can refer to what's now regular as "mini-sized."

I hate that majority of companies sell their plus-sized clothing online now. I have to actually try clothes on to know how it fits. I can't stand buying something online, it not fitting, then having to go to the store to return it. If the store just carried the clothes to begin with, you could skip a lot of hassle.

Plus with 56% of women wearing plus sized clothing, seems to me they would want to have those items in the store.

I also hate how plus sized clothing is either outrageous looking or makes you look like a grandmother in a mu mu. And don't get me started on the price of plus sized clothing.

Okay, I'll quit ranting now.

"Indeed, sales are down 8% in the last 12 months for plus sizes compared to the 2% drop in sales for standard sizes..."

I guess I don't understand if the majority of women wear these sizes, why are sales down more for these sizes than others?

And don't get me started on the price of plus sized clothing.

Star, does plus size clothing cost more?

I was wondering the same thing Martini about why sales would be down if the majority of woman are wearing those sizes. Seems it would be the other way around.

Depends on where you go. If I go to Goody's or Kato or place like that, I can usually find shirts under $25. But they aren't the best quality and I am usually needing to buy new shirts in a few months.

If you go to Lane Bryant and shop without coupons or on a sale day, you can easily drop $100 for a pair of pants and one shirt. Most of their shirts run from $40-50 (other than camis and tanks) and majority of their pants are $50 and up.

I know you can find regular sized clothing at those prices too, but plus sized clothing stores kind of have people over a barrel since we have such limited shopping options.

Those were my questions exactly, Martini.

"If you go to Lane Bryant and shop without coupons or on a sale day, you can easily drop $100 for a pair of pants and one shirt. Most of their shirts run from $40-50 (other than camis and tanks) and majority of their pants are $50 and up."

Yeesh. Are they good with sales and giving out those coupons?

em - not really. Their after Christmas sale is about the best one all year. And sometimes you can go in and find bras normal $30-50 for under $20. Usually thought their coupons are get $15 off a purchase of $75, $30 off a purchase of $150, etc. Or if you shop certain days, you'll get 'store cash' to come back and spend another day after you've spent the minimum amount.

And, like, I go buy basics like tank tops at H&M where they're like eight bucks, but I think their sizes stop around 14, and there's not really a plus size equivalent (as far as I know).

Yeah most department stories stop at either XL, 18, 16, or 14. So it makes it really hard to shop most places.

What about Faith21, the new plus line from F21? They have some super cute stuff, Star! I am not sure what size it goes up to....

Here is the web site: http://www.forever21.com/category.asp?catalog_name=FOREVER21&category_na...

They need to improve their coupon system, then--who wouldn't want customers to be in their stores regularly? I get bombarded with coupons from Express, Victoria's Secret, etc. in both paper form and electronically--they should learn how to do the same.

Oooh, thanks Martini. I'll have to check that out.

Let me know if you find anything good, Star - I hope it works out for you!

Oh great there goes my voluptuousness.

I've worked for three fashion designers when I lived in L.A. it was fun but the industry is very dependent on a very healthy economy.

I read the comments on this article on Jezebel and a lot of the women were speculating that plus size sales are down because the options for plus sized clothing are so awful. I don't have any experience with it, so I don't know if it makes sense.

On another note, I had a revelation the other day while I was looking at TresSugar. I'd always wondered what the hell they were going for when they grouped all those random pages together, and I realized that Tres is supposed to be Jezebel! They have the same kinds of stories but without half the thought or effort put into them. Sometimes they even steal the topics directly from Jezebel. Poor (wo)man's imitation. But I don't mind stealing the stories and discussing them in Citizen 4.0

"But I don't mind stealing the stories and discussing them in Citizen 4.0"

Agreed!

Do we steal stories from Très? It seems like mostly we post them first.

And that's funny you should say that, Mich. That was stephley's first thought, if I recall. Something like, "Oh, it's trying to be the new jezebel, except not as good."

I meant I don't mind stealing stories from Jezebel.

If Stephley and I both think it, it must be true.

The irony here is that it is obvious that even MORE people will be needing plus-size clothing because during/after each downturn there is an enormous amount of news about stress-eating. There was one about most everyone in England gaining at least 2 Lbs since the ecomomy started sliding.

I suppose what chaps my hide is that the actual "normal" for "average" women is sizes 12-20. Yes I kjnow that isn't what is recognized as average or normal---but how long are people going to keep their head in the sand?

The problem is that although sizes 12-20 are in fact "average" you will find in almost every store in a typical mall they will stock perhaps one of each of those sizes in each item, then at least 6 each in all the sizes below 12. The 12-20 sizes go fast since there are only one of each.

I told several managers to look at their sale racks--they never find sizes 12-20 there--so it does not take a geneus to see their ordering procedures need some changes. You'd be surprised how many mangers stood there with that light bulb "ah-ha moment---and how many stood there still unable to grasp that concept.

Success is measured in the amount of full-price sales...not what ends up on a sale rack to be sold at a fraction...but many stores have not figured this very basic concept: Look to your market and act accordingly.

Some stores I simply refuse to enter. Gap, Navy...etc.... you set a size 6 on top of a 12 or 14 and you will find the only difference is that the larger size is longer. People are not built that way. Duh.

this genius forgot to use spellcheck

Cheeky, that's odd that the managers would respond. At every retail place I've worked, shipment is just sent. Managers don't actually order it.

And star, a friend of mine has the same problem. We actually took a big trip to an outlet mall in Pennsylvania and there happened to be a Lane Bryant outlet there and she was thrilled! She found lots of great stuff there. (Including a dress that she was reluctant to try on and wound up loving! I love helping others shop.)

I think it has less to with how many women are plus sized, than what the percentage of plus size women to thinner women shop on a regular basis. I've been petite all my life, but I had a larger friend in HS who was by 15 already traumatized by her mom and stores when it came to shopping. I think so many plus size women hate shopping because of fit issues and have generally more weight esteem issues therefore they shop less. It's a lot more encouraging to shop, if you tend to look good in clothes or don't have any fit issues.

Most malls I've been to, if you take a snap shot of the people inside, you'd tend to see women a size 12 and under as the majority of consumers...no matter what time of day, except holidays. Also coming from LA I might make a deduction that the cities that are big fashion capitals might also have a smaller size population in comparison to the average across the country, in a similar way large cities have larger minority groups. I don't know if this is true or not, but if it is then the places that sell the most clothes will cater to their population even if it's not the average.

For example in general the male to female is about 50/50, but there are by far more clothing stores for women than for men. It's this way because women shop more for clothes.

When I worked at NY&Co we would get only about 4 pairs of jeans in the largest size and about 4 in the smallest size, so we always ran out of the ones for people on the end of the spectrum, and the larger jeans cost more, which the women would b*tch about and I had to explain that its because they have to use more fabric, but then I would think about it and realize that the teeny jeans didnt cost LESS....so how fair was that?

jessie - that's a good point. I hate shopping. I've always been a big girl. I've pretty much spent from 10 up in bigger sizes. I HATE shopping. I hate trying on clothes that look like my grandmother would wear (and sometimes things my grandmother wouldn't be caught dead in!). It is so hard to find cute and affordable plus size clothing. So shopping gets really frustrating. I only go shopping when my clothes are in rags or there is a special occasion. I just hate it that much.

lilkim - sadly, there isn't a LB outlet even remotely close to me. I live in BFE, remember?

Sorry, star.

"Star, does plus size clothing cost more?"

Yes. I worked in retail for a long time and "Womens" sizes always cost more. It's usually $10-$20 more. Go into a Macy's or JC Penny and check the prices for exact same style of clothing in "Misses" vs "Womens".

"the larger jeans cost more, which the women would b*tch about and I had to explain that its because they have to use more fabric, but then I would think about it and realize that the teeny jeans didnt cost LESS....so how fair was that?"

That is a good point, CG. The size zeros and twos should be cheaper than the eights and tens if that is going to be the excuse for marking up the sixteens and eighteens.

I hate how the larger bras cost more! But I would never actually complain to a salesperson about it. People are strange. Like you personally set the cost or something. Bizarre.

I totally agree with Jessiebanana on this and echo what she's said.

It's true - when you have a difficult time finding clothes that could POSSIBLY fit you, much less fit you decently or well, as so often happens if you've ever shopped for a plus size, you don't shop as often. You make do with what you have. Especially with places like Lane Bryant, which actually has decent quality [unlike Torrid!], but charges a pretty penny for the privilege. That's why I think the dip in plus-sized purchases dropped more than "standard" sizes.

Personally, I wouldn't recommend Faith21 [XXII's new plus-sized clothing line]. It only has 3 sizes: an 11/12, 13/14, and 15/16, with 33, 35, and 37 in. waist measurements, respectively. [Some other lines, like Old Navy's Women's Plus, have wider waists and standard inseams]. I've read many blogs and heard many experiences from people who have tried to buy things with Faith21 saying that the sizes are all extremely narrow and cut very small. If you are a narrow plus size, then it might work. I am pretty narrow myself, but not short enough or have long enough legs to properly fit in Faith21. It's like an extension of their regular sizes...most department stores sell sizes 0 -17 in the junior's department anyway, cut to the same proportions.