I received a comment on my “Real Woman Dollar Conundrum” piece from a few months back. The commenter’s name is Exxie.
Comment:
I was a manager for LB when they were owned by The Limited Inc. and things have not changed much since they were purchased by Charming Shoppes Inc. They offer the nicest clothes in Plus sizes unless you want to go somewhere like Saks Fifth Avenue. Yeah, the prices can be high, but they have great sales and offers like the Real Woman Dollars. Sizing can differ from line to line as is the norm with any designer, you just have to find the ones that fit you properly. I don’t understand where you are going with the whole emotional shopping thing, body image affects people of all sizes, it’s like the big ladies think they deserve special allowances, better prices, etc.
There is always Wal-Mart if you think LB prices are too high….or Weight Watchers
Bold emphases belong to me, natch.
Now, I’m sorry if there are some of you that have a problem with the fact that I have something to say about the way we spend money, and the way companies treat us when we do it. I think if we’re to spend money, it’s important to look at all aspects of the place where we spend it. Coming into the plus size fashion game, I heard a lot about Lane Bryant. After finally experiencing the stores and purchasing items, I’m really not impressed.
But that’s me. If you’re a fan of LB, more power to you. Everyone’s got a brand they’re loyal to — I just haven’t found mine yet. 
I don’t think that LB is the best out there for plus sizes — but it is popular. I think that is in part because some of our numbers believe that we should accept whatever’s out there. Again, if LB serves your needs, then I’m literally not talking to you. But if you’re left wondering what else is out there…oh, my friend, this journey is far from over.
To say, “the big ladies think they deserve…” smacks highly of someone who is sitting outside of plus size fashion. Perhaps the plethora of options you’re seeing in a normal size may make it difficult for you to see what plus size women are going through.
By the way, I’m not oblivious to what my slenderer sisters go through — I hear their complaints and they hear mine. We’re both trying to figure the road out — my apologies if you’re already reached enlightenment.
And the final insult of, “There is always Wal-Mart if you think LB prices are too high…or Weight Watchers” is cruel, inappropriate, and makes me wonder why you would step into a plus size woman’s site and spit such filth. If I’m alone in this, that doesn’t dull my anger — on the contrary. This is the fight for recognition coming to my door.
If plus size women don’t stand up to this type of attitude, then Ms. Exxie is right. There is always Wal-Mart. But I’m not going to walk into 2007 and have this attitude.
Last note, before I let this one go. My post was critiquing a sales method — my very first sentence said that my shopping experience was decent. What part of Ms. Exxie’s comment actually wants to try to discuss my actual post, instead of playing the LB cheerleader?
Being a marketer as well as a writer, I’m often curious to see a 360 degree profile of what my audience is doing — buying, selling, eating, drinking, wearing, living. Knowing what you readers like and dislike makes both of the hats I wear much, much, easier to deal with.
That said, I’m putting my marketing cap on.
Deluxegrrl is supported by advertisements, truth, and the American Way. OK, primarily by advertisements. One type of advertisement I’m looking at is called Cost Per Action (CPA) or Pay Per Lead (PPL). As you can see, there are little text ads from Google — those are Pay Per Click (PPC). PPC ads pay decently, but they don’t tell me as much about you as I would have hoped for.
PPL ads are pretty direct — you either click on them and take action, or you don’t. I get a small incentive for the action you take, which further powers this blog (bandwidth, primarily - this site is beginning to take off, and my hosting account knows it 
) and keeps my lovely accountant happy.
I’m a fan of relevance — if there are ads on this page, they should be fairly relevant. I’ve turned down sponsors because they don’t quite match the tone and audience of this site. I believe you can keep the lights on without resorting to just any old thing.
So, I’m looking at some CPA networks, and looking at their offerings, the biggest thing in the women’s category is weight loss. Considering this is a plus-size audience, weight is and always will be a sensitive issue (hence why there hasn’t been much discussion on it here). Is weight loss an actual interest of this bunch?
That’s the main question I have: is ‘weight loss’ an actual interest? I’ve been dying to touch on some of the crazy diet notions, talk up some organic stuff, and …well, you’ll see My goal in 2007 is to really reach out to all of you — something that I haven’t quite been successful at in 2006.
That’s my fault. 2006 has been sort of up-and-down for me, Reversia Media (the company behind the pink-and-purple blog you all love so much), and my family/extended family. Death, screwed up hands (I lost sensation in three of my fingers for 2 solid weeks, and I still don’t have sensation in my index finger yet), unemployment, unexpected moves, divorces (not mine 
), and overall life have made 2006 sheer trouble for Deluxegrrl, and I’m hoping that 2007 is a lot brighter.
Again, I would like to thank all of you for sharing in the ups-and-downs of Deluxegrrl, and making it an up-and-coming star in the plus size fashion niche. Your comments, links to this site, and ad-love make running this site much, much, easier.
Oh yeah. The last two paragraphs were written with my human cap on, so savor them
I swear there’s one word that everyone understands, language notwithstanding: free. We like free. No cost, zero worry, no problem, right? Rosalee Womensize Apparel, one of our great sponsors, offers a free item of clothing every month in Rosalee’s monthly giveaway.
I’ve talked about Rosalee before, and once again, Rosalee overdelivers great style that definitely caters to the plus size market (sizes 18w - 50w). Her giveaway for this month — what’s left of it, anyway — is a denim patchwork multitone jacket with embedded sequins. Now, remember that the jacket is the “it” thing this season — you can wear it to formal events, and turn yesterday’s tired outfit into tonight’s new little sizzler!
Make your entrance in this stunning little number today! How? Bring it on down to Rosalee’s Blog or the main company site, Rosalee Womensize Apparel. This jacket retials for $79.99, but you can register for the contest and get it for free! If you go onto Rosalee Womensize Apparel, be sure to fill out the “contact us” form.
Stay stylish in 2007, ladies!
As much as I love plus size fashion, I think we tend to seperate ourselves from “mainstream” fashion problems and concerns, which isn’t the best road to take. MamaVision (along with back in skinny jeans) pointed me to a newspaper article on Diane von Furstenberg’s letter to fellow members of the Council of Fashion Designers of America that it’s time to address the “global fashion issue” of too-skinny models.
I know it looks like small steps, but the fact that Ms. “Head of the Council” Furstenberg took the time to address the issue sounds like there just might be a change in the wind.
Italy, Spain, Brazil and Israel all have policies on the table about underweight models. I think it’s a good start, even though I have my doubts about using BMI. BMI’s a rather flawed model in my opinion, but it’s better than the empty void that’s been going on all these years.
What saddens me is that all of this seems to be rolling into action because of models dying from being too thin. Considering that most of those models coming down the runway look so young, I’m sure that modeldeath is going to turn a few heads. Can’t have them dying, now can you?
It does feel almost a CYA operation as well, now that I think about it. As long as they weren’t dying, was it OK to have hyper-thin women wearing your fancy couture clothing? I mean, they were helping you make money. Now that Ana & Mia are in the spotlight after a few-too-many (yes, ONE death from eating disorders is already one too many) models are now in pine boxes when they didn’t need to be, now we’re getting people saying, “Hmm, maybe the skinny model thing is a bad idea.”
No matter the category, we all have our problems. I do think that plus size women are highly political in their own right, due to what we’re going up against. However, let’s never forget that in the long run, we’re all apart of the same clothes buying, model runway-walking, companies making dollars industry.
Our clothes are just bigger. The problems haven’t left the building.
…is the gift of self-control. Seriously.
My involvement in the field notwithstanding, we’re bombarded with a whole lot of “buy it now” orders from every direction. I’m not saying to stay in your homes 365 days a year and never purchase anything (yeah, I’m talking to the online shoppers too — I keep my credit cards far, far away from my laptop). I am saying not to feel bad if you aren’t walking around busting your piggy bank.
Shopping is one of those areas that hit all the high notes — functionality, entertainment, community. We shop alone and in packs, we shop for what we need and what we could live without. Keeping perspective during this marketing overloaded holiday season is key to getting what you want, when you want it.
Why do I constantly get on this theme for the last six months? Because I believe that just because we’re plus size people, it doesn’t mean that we should kow-tow to any retailer. If Big Fashion Co. said to me, “Isabella, we’re giving you a full wardrobe in exchange for something-that-irks-my-moral-compass”, I’m going to have to pass up on that opportunity.
I’ve often heard the refrain, “Well, we should be thankful…”
Pardon my irreverence, but “thankful”? The only thing I’m thankful for is that God continues to pump oxygen through my wonderful curvy body. I can live without kimono-inspired blouses, I can’t live without oxygen.
I’m never thankful when someone snatches dollars out of my wallet. You shouldn’t be either. Instead, we should continue to be picky, and discern what’s best for us. No business can stay alive without customers.
What customer are you going to be today?
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dee·lux·GRRL n.An intelligent, dynamic female who isn't afraid to take risks, take time for herself, or create her own unique style!
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