Hermenuetics

Comments

I've shopped at those stores frequently over the years. It's always impossible to find smaller sizes on clearance because they sell out so quickly, while the racks generally remain stocked with the larger ones. Sure, my own observations are hardly generalizable to every store every where, but it seems to me that, if the larger sizes weren't selling as well during economic prosperity, then there's a good reason to cut back right now!

Posted By: Jenny | June 19, 2009 10:47 AM

Very interesting. I don't shop in high end stores so my experience is very down-to-earth and off-the-rack. If I see something I like, I have to buy it as soon as it hits the stores. I almost never find clearance things in XL or XXL. I can almost always find women's styles in S or M. Juniors can often be counted on to have some left-over large sizes though.

Yeah, this is social engineering at it's finest. Want all women to look the same or be the same size? Make it hard for women of the "wrong" size to find clothes.

Posted By: Tami | June 19, 2009 11:56 AM

Great. As a young size 16 women this is just what i needed (not). It can be quite difficult to find clothes in my size that don't look like something someone middle-aged would wear unless i am willing to spend excessive amounts of money. I have left stores in tears in more than one occasion from the shame of being too fat to not fit into anything in the store. Then there is the issue that a lot of plus sizes clothes seem to be cut with the same bust-tummy-hips ratios as the smaller sizes which is incorrect for a lot of larger women.

Posted By: Joanna | June 19, 2009 9:27 PM

I thought this Blog was about women and the Bible. You need to change your Blog title since most of this chatter doesn't fit. Women come here looking for some serious insight in Scripture and in most cases you're handing them the same old magazine style social stuff.

While I do appreciate the serious Christian news, it is still social news and not not Biblical insight. I'm disappointed to say the least.

Posted By: tiro | June 20, 2009 10:53 AM

Our bodies, our appearance, how we spend our money all are vital aspects of the life we live as godly women of integrity and character. Keep up the wide variety of posts! It's a pleasure to check in each day and see what's on your minds. Always well done, always thought-provoking!

Posted By: Linda Stoll | June 21, 2009 6:52 PM

I have a hard time believing that businesses would stop making something that they made a profit on. If they have stopped selling it then either someone else will make it or it wasn't a large enough segment to sell. I think part of the issue may be that there are more specialty stores that are focusing on larger sizes. I was at the mall today and saw that there was a new lingerie store that focused on plus size women. There are also another half dozen general clothing stores in the mall that also focus on plus size women. My sister in law is in plus sizes and is frequently adding and losing weight and is always reluctant to purchase clothes that she hopes will not fit in a few months. (But she is also military and wears a uniform to work.)

Posted By: Adam S | June 21, 2009 9:21 PM

The fact of the matter is, these larger sizes cost the businesses more to produce, and yet they are supposed to sell them for the same price as other sizes, why? You don't expect a larger portion of a meal to cost the same as a smaller one at the same business, this is the same idea. If they aren't making a profit from these items, they have no obligation to sell them.

Posted By: Amiable | June 22, 2009 5:50 AM

Nice post!

Now a days lot of designs have arrived in to womens fashion style. But one of the key items every woman should have is a pair of jeans that flatters your figure and can be dressed up or down. Women in jeans looks sexy and gorgeous.

Posted By: Serena Jessy | June 22, 2009 10:16 AM

I agree with Tiro. Enough of these superficial posts. I would love to see something more substantive and related directly to living out a life in Christ. Diversity would help too. All of these posts seem to be catering to a specific demographic, one that I cannot relate to.

Posted By: Tiffany | June 22, 2009 5:55 PM

Im with Trio.

I thought this was going to be a blog to engage women on serious issues about the bible, theology, etc. There are a million fashion blogs out there. But hardly any blog for womne interested in theology.

C'mon CT dont insult smart women who care about more than shopping!

Posted By: Jennifer | June 25, 2009 1:29 PM

I find it very disappointing that they are doing this. After all, I am not overweight but in the larger part of my BMI range (23-24), but in most places that sell clothes to people my age (21), I have difficulty fitting into L and XL shirts unless I want to have modesty issues. I do not dress overly conservative compared to say the Duggar family or anything, but I don't want my tummy showing or my ahem bum crack either lol! So I can't imagine if I was size 16 looking for something! I may not think that being obese is generally healthy or anything, but I do think they should be able to find clothing!

Posted By: Sara | June 28, 2009 1:04 AM

I found this article interesting, informational, and relevant. Who says CT must only report/discuss issues that are directly related to the Bible? Those of you who complain that this article is too superficial can just read the numerous other articles CT prints. Personally, it is important to me as a Christian woman to be able to find modest yet attractive clothing.

Posted By: Stacy | June 29, 2009 9:44 AM

This distresses me. I am a size 16 on top (tall, broad-shouldered, muscular, very large bust), and finding tops that fit is a miserable ordeal. Ann Taylor was the only store I'd found that provided work clothes that fit. I guess I can forget about buying any more button-down blouses.

Posted By: Loris | June 29, 2009 11:09 AM

I have struggled with weight problems for years and have already had problems finding attractive clothing that doesn't look like a muumuu. I may be overweight but I don't have to dress like a frump. The choices for plus-sized clothing are already very limited. The chain stores like Avenue and Lane Bryant sell cheaply made clothing for astronomical prices so it's been nice to have better made clothes available from other resources.

Adam S: Your post was unnecessary as a man's point of view on women's plus-sized clothing. I don't dispute at ALL that clothing that requires more fabric should be sold at the same price as smaller sizes, and I don't think other plus-sized women do either. It would be NICE, but it certainly isn't expected, nor is it at all the norm. The jist of the column was that plus sized clothing wasn't going to be produced at all by some companies. The blurb about the lingerie company doesn't mean all plus-sized women dispute the price of plus-sized clothing. Their decision not to penalize women on the size of their clothing is an exception, not the rule.

Posted By: Michaela | June 30, 2009 2:21 PM

I have a large-size bust, and have always had trouble finding attractive clothing.... I'm only fourteen, and I'm not too overweight.... (I would say I am ten to twenty pounds overweight, but I'm joining school sports in the fall so I should be able to tone that down some. =) )I don't like having to wear clothes that, number one, don't fit well, and number two, seem like they are made for older women. I would prefer to have at least two or three outfits that are in style for once.

Posted By: Rose | July 11, 2009 11:58 AM

That's very interesting. It could also mean that plus size clothing stores aren't having as good of sales as regular sized stores. It could be a variety of things, I just don't buy into that "most plus size women are homemakers and cannot afford much" deal. That's just stereotyping plus size women.

Posted By: Plus size clothing | January 19, 2010 2:00 PM