Plus-Size Fashion Options Advance!
We’ve talked a little bit recently about how plus-size options are dwindling away because retailers are stupid and shortsighted and ought to be kicked in the head and it is all pretty angry-making, but here is something that sounds like kind of an antidote: the very first “Full-Figured Fashion Week” is being staged next week in New York, June 25-27 (which…is not so much a week?). Let’s ignore the cringey name and the bad math for a moment, and hear what the organizer has to say:
With over 10 years experience in fashion show production, Gwen DeVoe, CEO of DSE and Executive Producer of FFFWeek says, “It is time for designers, retailers, boutique owners and businesses with an interest in the plus size market to combine their resources and their talents to create a memorable event that will rival all other Fashion Weeks. We are uniquely qualified to make this event a success because we work directly with plus size consumers and know what they want. They want great fitting, fashionable clothing that is readily available in stores and online. The plus size consumer is a loyal consumer and because quality fashion items are so hard to find, they will be loyal to brands that they like.â€
No! Really, is that what they want? That is a revolution! And you know what’s sad? As a rule, I hate the brutally materialistic consumer culture, the idea that customers are commodities, faceless wallets, numbers to be racked up and stacked up and counted down as cold, hard cash–but when it comes to plus size fashion, plus-size customers begging to be treated that way, as any other customer who ought to be wooed, who ought to be looked at as an advantage, a sales opportunity, another bump in their stock price. That companies need to be browbeaten, slapped around until they’re woken up and realize they have customers who are begging to be treated like fountains of money? I still can’t believe they’re that dumb, and willing to throw away that much business.
We believe that FFFWeek will not only provide an opportunity for independent designers to market their collections to a wider audience, and a unique opportunity for plus models to gain more professional exposure on the runway, but also a chance for the media, buyers and the general public to have access to collections that have not received the marketing and publicity they deserve. FFFWeek is also an excellent vehicle for those retailers and boutiques who want to expand their customer base.
And despite the name, I am hoping this works out for everyone they’re trying to reach–the customers, the designers, the companies, the stores, the models, that one guy named Joe. FFFWeek wants to make everyone happy! FFFWeek wants to happily impoverish the fat and gleefully poverish the smart designers who realize that fat is not a goddamn disease and put more big, gorgeous ladies with thighs and bellies and butts out on the runway and I salute Gwen DeVoe, CEO of DSE, and I hope she is rolling around in piles of money at the end of this week, ensuring that this is not the last of this kind of event, and outreach, and celebration. I guess we’ll have to see how this actually pans out–will it happen, and nothing will change? Or will it actually make a difference in how plus-size fashion is designed and marketed and sold? I have to admit, I’m the tiniest bit hopeful, I really am.
What do you think of FFFW? And is there anyone in New York? Go and report back!
Posted by jenfu
Filed under: Advertising, Cold Hard Cash, Fashion, Fat Positive, Media
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It’s heartening to see something like this being organized, even if the name is funky and the week is actually three days long.
Tiny acorns, man. Tiny acorns.
I’m not an economist. But I wonder if the retail buyers will take notice of this event and see that plus-sized fashion can come in great colors, cuts and texture.
As usual, I am in need of light, cool summer clothes that will fit over my arse…
I’ll be there and I’ll make sure to report back!
I’ll be covering this event on my blog and will make sure to report back!
I am curious…..What exactly is wrong with the name “Full Figured Fashion Week?
As far as the “week” being three days long??? Everyone has to start SOMEWHERE and somehow….”Full Figured Fashion WeekEND” doesn’t roll of the tongue as nicely.
I am hoping for the best as well, despite the somewhat snarky sounding er…”pre-review”?
Thanks, Johara! I am excited to hear what it’s like.
Sharon: To me, “full-figured” sounds coy and cutesy, and the alliteration grates, and is kind of dorky–not at all the sophisticated, savvy kind of name that a big event that I hope will garner media attention ought to have. And the name just kind of made me laugh. So did the idea of calling three days a “week.” That’s just makes them look a little dopey, I think.
Because you’ve mentioned it a couple of times … I read the article about Target “testing out” but I think it may have been misinterpreted. It sounded to me it was more like =trying out and not =phasing out.
And I don’t think we NEED a descriptive term to describe a ‘class’ of clothing size.
The problem with Target and plus sizes can easily be summed up by walking into any of the Targets I’ve been in (in three states: Illinois, Indiana, and California) and walking to the sign that says “Women’s” hanging from the ceiling (it’s in the back corner, by the fitting rooms, behind “Maternity”).
What’s under it? Not the -W sizes … the clearance racks. SRSLY. Never once have I found a whole section of W-sized clothing at Target; it’s always mixed randomly into the racks of maternity clothes, and really hard to find.
Plus-Sized clothing, as bad as it is now, used to be much worse. There was a time when I had to make all my clothes because I had outgrown the sizes in the plus sized departments.
I used to hate how the clothes sections were located next to the petite section or the lingerie section. In the city we moved from there was a plus sized store called – no joke – Catherine’s Stout Shop. I never went in.
Whatever the motivation for this fashion week is – I hope some large retailers/designers will take notice and start offering more choices for women.
can I just get sleeves on tops long enough to cover my batwings? I’m not asking for sleeves to my elbows, just mid arm.
Will you find me some short waisted pants for a tall girl? I’m so glad this is happening, turns out plus size women don’t want to be shaped like a box…go figure. I’ve got nice legs but all the plus size shorts swim on my legs…… i would love to be a fashion designer but can’t draw or sew. hmm, is there any sort of compromise in that? i’ve got lots of ideas
This is a big event for both parties. Ladies will get to see the latest trends and appreciate the fact that the models on the runway don’t look like they are about to faint from 3-days-starvation. Plus size brands will get to learn about their consumers taste and “degree of riskiness”. Plus size designers often forget that women with curves would rather embrace who they are and wear bright outstanding clothes, than hide everything and anything in dull baggy shapeless robes.
Inperfection is Beautifull…be who you are .
I heard somone mention isochronic tones the other day, do you know what this is or where I could find about it?