Well, even if I wanted to, which I can’t say I do, I couldn’t buy any of the Gap’s designer edition pieces by Vena Cava or Alexander Wang. Why? Because the dresses and pants only go up to size 10. Apparently the pieces run large, but still…
Who’s to say who or what made the Gap or the designers only produce garments up to a size 10. I really thought the age of “I don’t want larger women wearing my clothes” was over, especially if you’re designing for the Gap. Seriously, how much more mainstream can you get? if you don’t want “normal” or “average” sized women wearing your clothes, why design for the Gap?
I really can’t come up with a logical explanation for why the Gap/Alexander Wang/Vena Cava only designed up to a size 10. You can always find things at the Gap in sizes up to 16, no problem….maybe they didn’t have enough money to add sizes 12 – 16? Right.
All I can say is that I’m disappointed. Even if I wasn’t a size 12, I would still be disappointed. Only producing up to a size 10 or 8 is something I would absolutely expect from the designers themselves, or perhaps if they were doing a collaboration with Kirna Zabete or something. But NOT the Gap. Shame on ALL of them.
Then again, the Gap’s CFDA designer collaborations haven’t been raging successes so far…I wonder why…
Am I wrong here? What do you think?
{ 6 comments… read them below or add one }
What is it with the current obsession with numbers??? Honestly, I have not changed size in who knows how long (pretty much since high school). I’m tall with hips, so I was a size 12 for much of my life. A few years ago, though, I noticed that even though I had not lost weight, suddenly 12 was too big, and I was a size 10. These days, same as I ever was, size 8 is my best bet. Sweet lord. The vanity of numbers.
Grechen, I’d put money down that the size 10 at the Gap will fit you just fine.
This makes me livid as well. I can’t wear VC as it’s sold in boutiques so I thought “hey at least I can buy something VC-designed at the Gap”…but no.
Not sure if you saw this but there are some interesting points raised.
thanks for the link rebecca – i read both articles and while i can understand the “mean” argument, and that plus-sizes cost more to produce, i only accept that excuse to a certain extent. i mean, why does an XL cost the same as an XS? is there disproportionately more fabric in an 18 as opposed to a 10 than in an XL vs XS? maybe…but i somehow doubt it.
No, you’re not wrong for being disappointed. It’s a form of discrimination, in a roundabout way. I don’t think making clothes only to Size 10 is realistic at all. Maybe they don’t really want to turn a profit? It doesn’t sound as if they do.
Send e-mails and/or letters to the powers-that-be at GAP, expressing your displeasure. Not only will you be heard, but you will likely get a gift card or two. More often than not, the squeaky wheel DOES get the grease!
Just saw this article in yesterday’s NYTimes and thought you and your readers might find it interesting: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/18/fashion/18plus.html?_r=1&8dpc
Go, Beth Ditto!
thanks so much for the link laura – i agree, beth ditto is awesome for laying it all out for topshop LOL
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