Comments on: Who’s Your Customer?

By: Pascale schmidt

Pascale schmidt — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 18:13:58 +0000

Some designers seem to live in a bubble with their assistants yessing them to death…They have lost sense of the real world and this comment from Eileen Fisher illustrates that….

By: Prêt à Porter P

Prêt à Porter P — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 02:42:00 +0000

Who doesnt wouldn’t want their clothes on tall, thin, beautiful, chic women, but the reality is not many people fit this mold. The designer should have just graciously accepted the compliment. “Thank you” and move on.

By: midwestfashionista

midwestfashionista — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 16:42:56 +0000

My mom, 86, LOVES Eileen Fisher and I also own a couple of her pieces, jacket and slacks and tshirt top. The clothes are very comfortable by all accounts.

By: fashionherald

fashionherald — Sat, 13 Feb 2010 20:57:07 +0000

Team Rosie. And yes, Eileen Fisher sounds clueless. I have an older sister that loves Eileen Fisher, but she’s not fat. She likes the cut and comfort.
This reminded me of when we’d do Bill Blass trunk shows in DC, and we’d hear about him sitting with the ladies for lunch, drinking, and telling some they were too big to wear his clothes. But still, they adored him.

By: Chelsea

Chelsea — Sat, 13 Feb 2010 16:56:01 +0000

What a disconnect there is between some designers and their customer base.

By: Cafe Fashionista

Cafe Fashionista — Sat, 13 Feb 2010 03:11:52 +0000

I think it’s really tragic that someone would have the gall to say something like that to anyone. The moment I hear something like that I lose all respect for the designer, the brand, the collection, the line…anything and everything. No matter how big you become in any field of work, it is never okay to treat people so disrespectfully. :(

By: Toby Wollin

Toby Wollin — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 15:22:28 +0000

Although I am certain on Team Rosie here – I also have to point out that Eileen Fisher is just verbalizing what the vast majority of department stores at every price point communicate by the way they arrange their departments and display their plus sized clothing. What counts in the fashion world is:
Youth
Thinness
If you are older and/or not thin, you will find your clothing where? Not on the main floor and not displayed up front. Although I think Eileen Fisher made a huge mistake, she is no different than any other designer out there that ‘just do happens’ to have an extended range. By the same token, if the person who had made the comment was Janene Garofalo (who is extremely petite), I’m sure that Eileen Fisher would have said the same thing – short women are not a demographic that designers are interested in, either. So, though I think Ms Fisher was extremely rude and perhaps delusional – I also think she’s no different than any other designer out there.

By: Kristen

Kristen — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 03:59:27 +0000

I am definitely going to have to side with Team Rosie on this one. In this market, or anytime really, it is a bad idea to ‘bite the hand that feeds you”… she clearly doesn’t know her client base much.

To answer your question… I do not own any Eileen Fisher and nor does my mother. (i think it’s too on the conservative side for both of us!)

By: Eyeliah

Eyeliah — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 03:49:35 +0000

wow, sounds like she really didn’t think before she spoke!

By: Kionon

Kionon — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 02:33:19 +0000

Frankly, I think you’re right that Eileen Fisher herself is no longer in command of her own fashion design army. Why work for a living if you can live off the equivalent of royalties? If anything Eileen Fisher should be thanking Rosie for the endorsement, which cost Fisher NOTHING, and used it to discuss the issue of size in fashion. It could have been a watershed moment where a designer actively recognises the purchasing power of the plus size demographic.

Instead, she shot herself in the foot. Way to go, Eileen.

By: Lenya Jones

Lenya Jones — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 22:47:33 +0000

I have a friend (age 55, size 16) who is a big Eileen Fisher fan but I’ve emailed her this post, bet you that changes pretty quickly. I’m for Team Rosie!

By: Berry G

Berry G — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 20:35:04 +0000

Team Rosie! For sure! This totally reminds me of Lagerfields comments about not wanting plus size people in couture.

I will say Eileen Fisher does have some beautiful clothes but no I have never shopped there, however my Aunt (age 52) size 10 does shop there quite a bit.