Added Dimensions
A reader asks, “How does a girl with an ample figure spend her dollars locally?”
Posted by: Laura Cassidy on Oct 05, 2010 at 08:00AM
16 Comments
Fully Figured: Seattle model Tara Lynn in a groundbreaking French Elle spread shot by David Oldham. She doesn’t have a lot of luck shopping locally either.
Growing up, my mom and a few of her friends shopped at a place on my hometown’s main and only drag called Added Dimensions. You get it, right? My mom was and is fit and physically active, and I always only thought of her as perfectly mom-sized, but these ladies weren’t wearing 6s or 8s, and neither was the gal who ran the shop.
Looking back on it, it seems fairly remarkable that in a town of about 10,000, in the late ‘80s, there was a small, mom-and-pop style retail outlet addressing this aspect of fashion and apparel. Or rather, it seems fairly remarkable that now, in a city of about 620,000 — in an era of weight-obsession and Biggest Losers — there isn’t.
At least not one that I know of.
See, here’s what happened: Not long ago, a reader wrote in saying that she likes reading about small businesses and is totally down with spending her dollars with independent shopkeepers, but she’s having just one problem: She can’t find any who are offering what she likes in the size she needs. She told me she’s a 16/18 at 5’9" and then she preempted what she was guessing would be your response (in her words, “put down the fork and get off our asses so we can fit into the 10”) by saying “being too heavy isn’t healthy, but a whole bunch of us want to look the best we can during the struggle.”
The query comes at an interesting time. Designers and buyers are increasingly aware that larger men and women do want to look good — stylish, modern, and on-trend. (Pardon the fifth grade vocabulary, but, Duh.)
Marc Jacobs and reps from his company have recently been talking up a new line that will cater to the size-14-and-over crowd, a decision that was apparently very closely linked to Twitter and Facebook comments. A few days ago in Paris, John Paul Gaultier dressed the ample-and-proud Beth Ditto in strips of beige and oil-slick silk and sent her out as the opening look. Other non-size-4s followed. And Saks says they’re going to be bringing in more sizes — read: bigger sizes. The fashion media loves both of these stories: social media as muse, design democracy, and etc etc. But I imagine that women like the Wear What When reader are a little impatient with it all. I mean, how much time did you spend figuring out what you were going to wear last Saturday night? And if your choices were cut in half by a lack of good options?
Seattle is not without some options in this department. Friends and colleagues mentioned a couple of shops in the area where loose, boxy-cut, vaguely Asian designer-inspired garments – often made of linen or similar fabrics – come in size 14-and-up. But my sense is that those stores are not exactly what this reader is looking for. “Seattle has a ton of cool shops for women who want to dress funky, creative, and local—if those women are size zip to 10,” she wrote. “I browse in those kinds of stores and see unique pieces that would look fantastic on my roommate. We just want the same stuff the other girls get to wear, sold local, sized and proportioned for those of us with boobs and bellies.”
Do you know something that she and I don’t? Can you send this woman to an independently owned shop where full-figures can get inside the best fall looks? Because she’s not alone. When I talked with Tara Lynn, the stunningly beautiful Seattle-based model pictured here — and on the cover and in pages of French Elle, she too lamented the lack of local shopping options.
What do we think, Seattle? Can someone do it? Will someone do it?
Before I turn it over to you — and really, we want your suggestions here — I think it’s a good time to post some thoughts I’ve been having about the whole shopping local thing. While I am still 100% a believer and a practice-what-I-preacher, I am more and more aware of and sensitive to those who earn their living (and spend their extra cash in local restaurants and record stores and on magazine subscriptions) working in outposts of national and international chains. If Salesman A at [insert Name of Department Store or Big Name Brand here] gets a good commission on the [you pick: housewares, shoes, whatever] you buy from him, isn’t that in some sense shopping local, too? And another good point was raised by a friend I recently made at one such national chain: Don’t we like having the best national brands on our streets, snuggled in next to the indies and moms-and-pops. Doesn’t it make us feel a little more cosmopolitan and worldly? Like so many things, it all comes down to moderation.
So you tell us: Where — independently owned or otherwise — can a girl with a bit of an added dimension feel good about what she’s going to wear next Saturday night?
Tags: Where to Find It
While we’re at it, can we talk about an independent shoe shop that carries a size 12?
Oh, I love it. Yes – that is totally a concern also. I have two great friends that I refer to as my Big Footed Ladies. They are right up there with you in the 12 range … I know that Nealy at A Mano makes it a point to stock larger sizes whenever they are available – her stock often includes 11s but I’m not sure about 12! shopamano.com
I have an answer, it’s not a complete one, but it gets me by. Pink Ginger, tucked away on some random street in UQA has been a lifesaver! I’m wearing a pair of jeans from there right now. The store carries sizes Small to 3x, and everything is actually CUTE, or gasp SEXY. I know, right? And the owner actually wants to help you find something that works. She’s great. I swear I don’t work there, I just really really like this place!
Hey Shannon, thanks so much! that’s great. Just found them online: http://www.pinkgingerseattle.com/ I’ll go soon and check out the scene! – funny, yeah, I see at least one Yelper commenting on how hard it is to find
-guess I won’t feel too bad for not knowing about it then!Cicada carries evening and party dresses up to 1x (approx size 18).
Great info, thanks Jen! http://cicadabridal.com/
Great post Laura! I wanted to weigh in on this topic from a designer’s perspective. I had a lovely conversation with Grechen Cohen back in 2008 regarding the lack of plus sized (size 10+) eco fashion. She pretty much talked me into offering a wider range of sizes for my next collection that year. My argument for not doing so earlier was really due to cost. You see, as an indie designer, every penny counts. Since I mainly deal with organic cotton fabrics, and because I produce locally, the cost of production is extremely higher for me. At the time, I only offered a size range of XS-Large. So, Grechen suggested that I do away with the XS and introduce XL (size 10-16 depending on style). I did it and I can proudly say that our best selling piece is the SPUN “Diane” Wrap Dress which coincidentally comes in a size range of S-XL. I took the success of that season and tried it again with consequent collections. Whenever possible, I have removed the XS size and produced an XL. I know it’s not much but I honestly can’t provide a wider size range than S, M, L, XL. I wish that the cost of fabric and production was lower but this is where the consumer comes in.
I see your point about purchasing from the big box stores who can pay the local employee….but consider what happens when you purchase from a local designer. All of that money goes back into the local market, not just a portion. Also, the more I sell, the higher the demand for my pieces which will allow me to purchase fabrics/notions in greater quantities and thus lower retail prices. Which means what? Lower prices for you and more money into our economy!
Here’s a link to the post by Grechen which further elaborates on the above: http://www.greengrechen.com/2008/09/29/plus-size/plus-size-fashion-organic-cotton/
Hi there Sara – really great to hear from you, and I very much appreciate your point of view here. Super to hear from your side of the equation, and thanks for the link which further illuminates. When this particular reader wrote in, she did acknowledge the extra costs involved, etc.
And yes, I completely feel you on the whole 100% local/indie angle, I think my point was to open a door for some moderation from time to time. Sometimes you’re going to just find the thing you need at Nordstrom or Crate & Barrel and it isn’t anything to feel awful about. I say ALWAYS start with the indies and move to the chains when it’s necessary.
Love, love, LOVE that we are finally talking about this! I am definitely plus-sized and also consider myself somewhat of a fashionista. I have desperately been on the hunt for funky and stylish pieces for fall, but am SICK of only having 2-3 options, all of them big box stores (Target, Lane Bryant, OldNavy.com). I can’t wait to check out some of the places that readers write in about!! Thanks to Laura and the reader who wrote in, you read my mind!
So excited to hear about Pink Ginger, I might run up there tonight. I’m an 18/20, 1x-2x (depending on how much I’ve eaten the week before). I usually shop at the most horrible places: Lane Bryant, Avenue, Macy’s, Eddie Bauer, Old Navy, Nordstrom. Blah blah blah! We have little boutiques in West Seattle like Sweetie and Carmelia but the XL wouldn’t fit my forearm let alone my waist. Sure, I need to lose weight. But I do like to look stylish even though I’m not tiny!
Sara, some clothiers like Eddie Bauer charge more for 1x-3x sizes. I don’t love that, but I would rather that they offer the sizes and charge more than decide not to offer them at all!
Thank you SO SO much for this post! This is such a need locally! I’ll be checking out Pink Ginger asap…
Hey gals,
really really glad this post is hitting home and is helpful to all of you. Please keep reporting back about what you’re finding and what you’re still looking for. It’s obvious that plenty of people wnat to be having this discussion!
While we’re on the subject of shops and stores without adequate sizing, let’s throw in the short gals, too. I hate that so-called petite (we’re not always petite, we’re just short) sizes of anything remotely stylish stop at size 10 and pick up somewhere else in the double digits and 2 generations over to the right. I swear, someday I really want to open up a retail place called Short People, call a spade a spade, and maybe even expand to horizontally-challenged men as well, and offer realistically wearable clothing for us short people, something that doesn’t require sending out to get hemmed/tucked/pulled/etc.
Short People?? oh man, I would shop there and I’m 5’9". okay, I wouldn’t shop there. but with a name like that I would want to.
Ditto for Pink Ginger—the store owner is amazing and absolutely works hard to get sizes in above a single digit. Every time I wear something from there, I get compliments.
For size 12 feet and up, the only place I’ve seen regularly carry stuff is Experience Shoes.
I love Pink Ginger up on Queen Anne, the owner is wonderful and willing to spend time with you and try and find something that actually looks good on you. What i love about this place is that its a boutique that actually caters to women who may have a problem area or what they think is a problem area on their bodies. I also get sick of all the name brand stores and what they have to offer. It’s nice to see that you can go and shop a boutique in the city with a group of girlfriends and stay in the same store.
I always get compliments when wearing something from Pink Ginger and will continue to shop there. If Seattle women would look to Neighborhoods they may be surprised at what they can find. My understanding is that they carry size small – 24 ( 3x). I say shop local and support the small stuff .