And also: How do we get some natural fibers?

First off, are there any women above a size 10 on most retailers’ design teams? I’ve got a feeling that a size 12 would be able to make better plus-size clothing than a size 2. But that’s just me.

Secondly, why did Old Navy go online-only for plus sizes? I can see how some stores would be pretty small and not have the space, but you can’t tell me that the three-story store on State Street in Chicago or the five-story flagship in Manhattan can’t spare a corner for larger jeans.

Finally: What kinds of focus groups does the industry use, and where are they located? For larger women, I’d suggest using focus groups in Chicago and in the south as well as in New York and Los Angeles. (Hell, I’d suggest that for all sizes, but God knows Chicagoans and Southerners are fatter than average.)

1. Plus size lines don’t sell because the majority are fairly ugly. Blunt? Oh yes, but true. There’s always unfallibly a flaw in skinny women designing clothes for plus sized girls. They pick patterns they THINK will look good, cuts they THINK flatter, and styles they THINK women will love and then pout and wonder why they don’t.

Plus sized women don’t want your flowy tops nor your inexplicably tight across the tummy tops. We know what we want, what looks good, and how we want to look to others.

2. Cost is everything. If a plus sized women can get it for cheaper and better elsewhere then she won’t be stopping by your store. One of the reasons Torrid does so well is because they are more brave and do sell things most designers shy away from. Bright colored pants? Oh no! Corset tops? My God! They know most plus size women are comfortable with their bodies and don’t wish to be relegated to the ‘cute t-shirt’ field. Secondly their prices are fairly great and they also have fairly constant sales.

3. If you’re not selling…then the problem’s with you. Sorry to be blunt about this but it’s true. Admittedly there is a divide in appearance across a certain age range. Women who grew up feeling ashamed of their bodies will probably flock to bedsheet shirts with puppies and flowers on them. Women of the younger generation who have generally been treated well despite their weight want to be slightly more fashionable. Anyone in advertising and buisness knows you can sell anything so long as you go about it the right way. If you’ve got a ‘great’ product but it’s staying on the shelves then you’re doing something wrong.