Department Stores Shutting Petite Section

[AlphaFrog]

Originally posted by Taualumna
Do you know how many people at the University of Toronto don't realize that we exist (and all houses have letters on their doors)?

Now that sounds like a problem you can handle. Go out and spread the word on UofT's campus. Run along now, there's GDI's to educate.

[FeeFee]

Once again, I'm CTHU @ this thread. Too dayum funny!!!

[Peaches-n-Cream]

Originally posted by Taualumna
They accept it because they don't have an alternative if they want foreign brands. If petite sizes are made more readily available, they will certainly buy petite sizes.

Here is the problem. Petite sizes are available, but women aren't buying them which is the reason department stores will shut down the petite sections. Why aren't they buying petite sizes? Maybe because they aren't fashionable. Maybe women would prefer to have an article of clothing custom made or a misses size altered to fit them perfectly.

If this is such a big problem for you, write letters to the department stores and fashion designers voicing your concern. Encourage your petite friends and relatives to do the same. You might get some satisfaction.

[Taualumna]

Originally posted by Peaches-n-Cream
Here is the problem. Petite sizes are available, but women aren't buying them which is the reason department stores will shut down the petite sections. Why aren't they buying petite sizes? Maybe because they aren't fashionable. Maybe women would prefer to have an article of clothing custom made or a misses size altered to fit them perfectly.

If this is such a big problem for you, write letters to the department stores and fashion designers voicing your concern. Encourage your petite friends and relatives to do the same. You might get some satisfaction.

This is already being done. I am starting out with the petition (see signature) and will go from there.

Again, I am really surprised by this. Would you react this way if I wore size 22? Everyone praises plus sized women for challenging the standard, but when a shorter woman does the same, THIS happens.

[PM_Mama00]

Originally posted by pinkiebell1001
Sometimes I HATE being short! AND short+fat=not good, lol. I've gotten to the point that I only buy jeans from Lane Bryant, and even their petite stuff is long on me, but It's something I can live with. One question though...do any of yall wear the L.B. flares? I have like 4 pairs of them, and for whatever reason the lighter pairs aren't as ...snug, I guess is the word I'm looking for...as the darker wash ones, at least that's the case with me. Does anyone else find that as well?

I know this post was like 100 pages ago...

LB pants are horrible. I'm 5'2 and petites are about 3-6 inches too long. I'm wearing the lighter flairs right now and they seem more snug than the darker pair. I can shrink the lighter pair and they look normal, but the darker pair just won't shrink and both are considered "stretch". Try Torrid. Their pants fit a lot better even though their capris are pretty much pants on me.

[PM_Mama00]

Originally posted by Taualumna


Again, I am really surprised by this. Would you react this way if I wore size 22? Everyone praises plus sized women for challenging the standard, but when a shorter woman does the same, THIS happens.

WTF are you talking about? We get praised? FUCK NO (excuse the language). We get made fun of even more. I don't know what planet you're living on but come back down to reality.

[ISUKappa]

Jebus. I would say it's only been in the last 50 or so years that mass-produced, mass-market clothing has been the main source of clothing for most people; prior to that people either made everything themselves or had it made/tailored to fit. Tailoring is definitely not a new concept. And I would say it's only been in the last 10 years that plus-sizes have been given more attention due to market demand (not challenging the standard as you put it).

And don't even bring Europe or Asia into the argument; their cuts and styles are completely different than what we have in the states becuase the average body type in those countries is COMPLETELY DIFFERENT THAN WHAT WE HAVE HERE!!! If the styles from Europe fit you so well, then why don't you buy all your clothes there and quit your martyr parade?

For. Real. I could go on and on about how I can't find clothes as a tall person with big feet but I won't because I've learned to work with what I do find instead of demanding everyone change to suit my needs.

[Taualumna]

Originally posted by PM_Mama00
WTF are you talking about? We get praised? FUCK NO (excuse the language). We get made fun of even more. I don't know what planet you're living on but come back down to reality.

When you read about body/size acceptance, it is almost always about accepting a larger body size. You hardly ever hear about accepting someone who is very small. It is "more okay" to tell a very slim person (regardless of height) to "eat a cheeseburger" than it is to tell a larger person to go on a diet. Many people say that size 0 or 2 is an "unrealistic" size and they don't realize that it's just as insulting as calling someone who wears a size 12 "fat." Height-wise, short people have sometimes been mistaken for children. Don't you think it's insulting to ask a 20-something woman if she is "looking for Mommy" or being denied services, even after presenting a very real ID card?


ISUKappa: The issue here is that petite women aren't demanding petite sizes, or at least, not in department stores (the NYTimes article did say that Banana Republic seems to be doing okay with petites). Maybe we just aren't voicing enough.

ETA: Ideally, I'd like to see petite sizes in European brands. European brands may be slim enough for people who have my frame size, but the length is still missy.

[AlphaFrog]

Originally posted by Taualumna
Would you react this way if I wore size 22? Everyone praises plus sized women for challenging the standard, but when a shorter woman does the same, THIS happens.

Trust me, if you were ranting about size 22 Rudey and Bobby would be all over this thread and it would be a train-wreck.

[Taualumna]

Originally posted by AXiD670
And there's the flaw in your argument. You can't assume that the European women will buy the petite sizes just b/c they're available.

They would if they're educated about it and if the clothes look nice.

[SmartBlondeGPhB]

I have one word for you, NORDSTROM.

I have shopped there all of my 36 years of life, in the petite section and have never been disappointed except when they tried an experiment of going trendy with all of their clothes and lost most of their customers. I can buy jeans, capris, skirts, pants blouses and anything else I want and the clothes are FAR from matronly. I have found the same things there that are in the regular size section too. I've even seen Lily Pulitzer (sp?) dresses.

My only gripe is that I can rarely ever buy a dress since I'm two different sizes (bigger on top).

As has been said, Taualumna I think you're the one with the problem.

[valkyrie]

Originally posted by Taualumna
Actually not knowing about petite sizes is pretty "normal" if you are not from an English speaking country. My family is from Hong Kong and the foreign brands that are there do not come in petites (even though the average woman in Hong Kong is one inch shorter than the average woman in North America). The ladies there just accept the fact that they need alterations and have never even thought to ask for petite sizes. THIS IS WHY I THINK MORE LINES SHOULD HAVE PETITES. The market is out there, so why not enter into that market?

Goodness, now that I am aware of the mass discrimination and trauma faced by petite women from all over the world, I am enraged! I will take up the fight for my differently-heighted sisters! Here is what I will do in the United States:

I will meet with high-ranking officials of INS to discuss the possibility of implementing a petite-clothing education requirement that must be completed during the citizenship process. The packet of information to be distributed to each and every person stepping foot into this country legally will include definitions of the word "petite" in every language spoken anywhere in the world, diagrams, publications highlighting stores that carry petite clothing, glossy pocket-sized maps of major metropolitan areas with all stores that carry petite clothing highlighted, and perhaps even a teeny tiny woman who can accompany them as they begin their new lives in this country and remind them that petite clothing is available, lest they forget.

Then, I will meet with the Minutemen to see if they are amenable to distributing a condensed version of the "Petite Package" to the people they catch attempting to enter this country illegally before they are returned to Mexico. For those who do make it into the country, I will engage in a leaflet campaign in border towns and will provide weekly support groups for the petite and potentially petite immigrants. Hopefully, if we also can educate the townsfolk, they will be able to spread the word if we miss anyone.

After the website petiteangst.com is up and running, I will work to have it translated into every language and marketed in every country. I will then schedule an air-drop of computers for people in remote locations, so everyone there will be able to access the website.

Hopefully, after these programs are implemented and Petite Education becomes more widespread, we can require each and every local school district in this country to provide mandatory Petite Education starting in the second grade. We must teach children that being petite is completely normal, and alert them to the petite fashion possibilities that hopefully by then will be readily available. After children reach middle school, the Advanced Petite Education program will educate them as to the height and sizing differences between countries across the world, and provide them with a handy slide rule that will provide easy reference when attempting to convert sizes and average heights into different languages and sizing systems.

The Petite Ambassador System will appoint Petite Ambassadors to each country. The duties of Petite Ambassador will be one part foreign relations, one part education, one part personal shopping, one part design skills, and 100 parts pure sass! At this point, it is unresolved whether the Petite Ambassador will wear a sash, tiara, or both. At all times, she will be a stellar example of the best that the petite women of her country have to offer.

The Affordable Petite Clothing Initiative will require that every designer manufacturing clothing in North America or that imports clothing into North America will design at least 20% of its line for petites. Fines and other penalties will be levied on violators. In the near future, it is anticipated that other NATO countries willingly will join in the Initiative.

[mulattogyrl]

Originally posted by Taualumna
When you read about body/size acceptance, it is almost always about accepting a larger body size. You hardly ever hear about accepting someone who is very small. It is "more okay" to tell a very slim person (regardless of height) to "eat a cheeseburger" than it is to tell a larger person to go on a diet. Many people say that size 0 or 2 is an "unrealistic" size and they don't realize that it's just as insulting as calling someone who wears a size 12 "fat." Height-wise, short people have sometimes been mistaken for children. Don't you think it's insulting to ask a 20-something woman if she is "looking for Mommy" or being denied services, even after presenting a very real ID card?


ISUKappa: The issue here is that petite women aren't demanding petite sizes, or at least, not in department stores (the NYTimes article did say that Banana Republic seems to be doing okay with petites). Maybe we just aren't voicing enough.

ETA: Ideally, I'd like to see petite sizes in European brands. European brands may be slim enough for people who have my frame size, but the length is still missy.

Slim people do need to eat more cheeseburgers. They need to enjoy life. How about I'm short and chubby and don't give a damn who accepts it? I'm happy with me, ufkc everybody else.

[valkyrie]

Originally posted by Taualumna
When you read about body/size acceptance, it is almost always about accepting a larger body size. You hardly ever hear about accepting someone who is very small.

Isn't this kind of like a white person complaining that there is no movement toward white acceptance in our society? When have people who are "small" been viewed with the same -- I don't know -- judgment and lack of acceptance that is faced by larger people?

[tunatartare]

Originally posted by Taualumna
They would if they're educated about it and if the clothes look nice.

And this is where I have to respectfully disagree. I have a degree in International Business and Marketing so I know a little bit about this. Don't assume anything before you've done your market research. Just because women in America are willing to buy petite sizes, that doesn't mean that European women will be. Some cultures have a mentality of not sticking out or of not drawing attention to yourself. And while you may not believe that you are drawing attention to yourself, asking a sales clerk if the store carries anything for short people because the clothes in the store don't fit you would be considered drawing too much attention to yourself for some. There is a reason for why women would rather have clothes tailored. In addition, you have already stated that European clothes fit you better. (Mazal Tov, go shop in Europe then.) That is because they're cut and proportioned differently. If that is the case, some people might not see the point in creating a line of petites.