Today was the grand opening of a new Nordstrom Rack store in Pasadena. It opened in a former Wickes furniture store at 3363 Foothill Drive - at the Hastings Village Shopping center. I had high hopes for this store, particularly as it was going into such a large space, and because it is located in a nice-ish area of Pasadena.
However, I was extremely disappointed. At least they HAD a women's plus-size departmentn (unlike the Glendale store), but that department consisted of FOUR racks... in a TWO-LEVEL store. And what was on those racks? The old lady-ish clothes carried by Nordstrom - the Foxcroft types of clothes. Those and the vaguely ethnic-looking, cheaply made prints that look like burlap sacks. None of the good stuff from Nordstrom - and quite a bit of their merchandise seemed to be sourced from other, non-Nordstrom stores. As a whole, this new Nordstrom Rack doesn't seem to carry much, if any, of the higher end designers/brands stocked by most Nordstrom stores. The accessories department was particularly bad.
The inside of the store, after being under construction for months, was surprisingly low-rent looking. It looked dingy and cheap - like a Marshall's or a TJ Maxx. It's very close to my house, but unfortunately, I doubt I'll ever shop there. I'm going to keep making that 35-40 minute drive out to Topanga every time I feel a "Rack" craving. *Sigh*
Thursday, October 8, 2009
Monday, August 31, 2009
Ideeli - Calvin Klein Plus Size sale
Yay! Ideeli, one of the several sample/designer sale sites I belong to, is currently having a Calvin Klein plus-size sale. And they did it in a very smart way. They have one sale for "normal sizes" (actually several - one for outerwear, one for sportswear and one for suits), and another, separate sale for "special sizes" which combines petites and plus sizes. So, you don't have to go digging through one main sale to hunt down the plus sizes. The sale only runs through tomorrow night (Tuesday, September 1).
If you need an invite, you can use this link:
Invite
They have a few shirts, a skirt, a pair of pants, and a jacket. Not a lot, but an excellent start!
If you need an invite, you can use this link:
Invite
They have a few shirts, a skirt, a pair of pants, and a jacket. Not a lot, but an excellent start!
Monday, July 6, 2009
Plus-size Department Names
I think it's kind of funny how women's plus-sized departments often have completely different names. Most stores carry "regular" sizes in their "misses" or "ladies" department. Sometimes those departments are further split into other easy-to-understand divisions like sportswear or activewear or dresses.
Not so with plus-sizes!
At Nordstrom, we shop in "Encore." This sort of makes sense to me, because, as I always say, "there's more of us!" Hence, Encore! Kind of patronizing, yes, but most larger women are somewhat familiar with this. At Saks, we are "Salon Z." Why? Because we are relegated to the basement and are the last priority for buyers and store CSRs? At cheaper places, we are destined to shop in "Women's World." (Because it's rounder?) Personally, I find "Plus sizes" to be the easiest term to follow and find when shopping in a new store.
I just got back from a trip to Vancouver. I went into their large department store there, The Bay (because I was pretty sure a nicer retailer like Holt Renfrew would not even come CLOSE to carrying anything in my size), and at first I was perplexed. I went right to the store directory next to the main escalator. I did not see any mention of plus-size or "women's" as opposed to "ladies" (are ladies more feminine than women?). But I did notice a department name I had NEVER heard of before.
What was that name?
Above average.
Yay! It's the best name yet!
I encountered regular size women shopping there, confused as to why nothing seemed to be in their size. I heard the weary department CSR mention not once but several times in the 15 minutes I was there explain "this is our PLUS SIZE department." So not even Canadians realize fat women are above average!
I still think it's nice, though.
Not so with plus-sizes!
At Nordstrom, we shop in "Encore." This sort of makes sense to me, because, as I always say, "there's more of us!" Hence, Encore! Kind of patronizing, yes, but most larger women are somewhat familiar with this. At Saks, we are "Salon Z." Why? Because we are relegated to the basement and are the last priority for buyers and store CSRs? At cheaper places, we are destined to shop in "Women's World." (Because it's rounder?) Personally, I find "Plus sizes" to be the easiest term to follow and find when shopping in a new store.
I just got back from a trip to Vancouver. I went into their large department store there, The Bay (because I was pretty sure a nicer retailer like Holt Renfrew would not even come CLOSE to carrying anything in my size), and at first I was perplexed. I went right to the store directory next to the main escalator. I did not see any mention of plus-size or "women's" as opposed to "ladies" (are ladies more feminine than women?). But I did notice a department name I had NEVER heard of before.
What was that name?
Above average.
Yay! It's the best name yet!
I encountered regular size women shopping there, confused as to why nothing seemed to be in their size. I heard the weary department CSR mention not once but several times in the 15 minutes I was there explain "this is our PLUS SIZE department." So not even Canadians realize fat women are above average!
I still think it's nice, though.
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
Active/Gym/Outdoor Wear
We all know that, despite the fact that more and more people are overweight in this country, it is NOT OK to be fat. This is especially true in LA. Well, what if you want to do something about your weight? You know, get out there and exercise or pick up an outdoor hobby? Awesome!
But what do you WEAR while doing your new physical activities?
This is a problem I come up against over and over again. Most stores do not stock plus-sized workout wear or outdoor wear. Even stores like Lane Bryant, which ONLY sell plus-sized clothes, generally have none or very few active-wear items. And the ones they do carry are poorly made and more designed for lounging than for any serious physical activity. I kind of find this unforgivable.
I love going to REI. They do have some plus-sized clothing options on their website, but they do not stock ANY in their stores. This is really difficult. Last fall I was gearing up for a trip to Jackson Hole Wyoming where I planned on going rafting and hiking among other activities. The weather was such that there could be snow in the mornings and 70 degrees by the afternoon. I needed a jacket and active layers that would work in this setting. I went to REI, but they had no plus-sized items in-store. I ended up ordering a jacket from their online plus-size line and picking it up at the store. Unfortunately, it ran a bit small, but it still worked. I then had to find light-weight shirt and short layers I could wear for my planned activities. I ended up, after a LOT of time spent shopping online and in-person, at Target... in the MEN'S department. They have men's active wear up to a size XXXL, I believe. Or, at the least, an XXL. But women's? They generally stop at L. Not even XL. Just L.
So I ended up with a moisture wicking, light-weight long-sleeve shirt and waterproof shorts, both from the men's department. Both were adequate, but did not really fit me right. The arms were too long, the shoulders too big, but the chest too small. But you take what you can get.
I didn't really think this was an awesome option, so I have since done more research and discovered Danskin. They have a great (online... of course) store with a big selection of women's plus-sized workout wear and active wear. I've bought quite a bit from them, and other than the fact that their shirts seem to be made for people quite a bit shorter than I am, I have been really happy. They have frequent sales and promotions, and their stuff is great for the gym. I also recently took up kayaking, and they had a waterproof sleeveless shirt with a built-in bra that I bought. It is PERFECT for kayaking. I only wish I had purchased more of them, because they no longer stock them.
But still, I am left wanting. It is so difficult for larger women to find appropriate clothing for exercise and outdoor activity. Even if you can find clothes for the gym, what do you wear when hiking? Biking? Kayaking? Rafting? Many of these activities really call for specialized clothing that just is NOT available in women's plus sizes. Or if it is, it's a special order from some manufacturer you've never heard of and it costs a fortune. I bought an SPF50 lightweight waterproof jacket for kayaking from a retailer on Amazon. It cost me $69 and came from a company called Coolibar. I love it, but it took me days of searching Amazon to even find it!
Society doesn't want to deal with large women. But when we're ready to do something to either lose weight or just get out there and get active and healthier, there is very little support for us. And I think that's just sad.
But, to end on a higher note, let me recommend REI's outdoor school. In April, I took their introductory kayaking outing/class, and I was terrified I would be too fat to fit in a kayak or would somehow be singled out with special treatment that would make me feel conspicuous and huge. But, no! They handled it expertly. If you've been thinking about doing something like this but have been scared, fear no more! When you sign up for the class (via phone), they'll ask you about height and weight. And then they make sure that they bring a variety of kayaks and equipment that will allow EVERYONE on the trip to have items from which to choose. I tried 3 different kayaks, including a sit-inside variety, and I fit into all of them! The class instructors were excellent, and I never once felt fat or conspicuous. Now, if only I could find some more clothes to kayak in!
But what do you WEAR while doing your new physical activities?
This is a problem I come up against over and over again. Most stores do not stock plus-sized workout wear or outdoor wear. Even stores like Lane Bryant, which ONLY sell plus-sized clothes, generally have none or very few active-wear items. And the ones they do carry are poorly made and more designed for lounging than for any serious physical activity. I kind of find this unforgivable.
I love going to REI. They do have some plus-sized clothing options on their website, but they do not stock ANY in their stores. This is really difficult. Last fall I was gearing up for a trip to Jackson Hole Wyoming where I planned on going rafting and hiking among other activities. The weather was such that there could be snow in the mornings and 70 degrees by the afternoon. I needed a jacket and active layers that would work in this setting. I went to REI, but they had no plus-sized items in-store. I ended up ordering a jacket from their online plus-size line and picking it up at the store. Unfortunately, it ran a bit small, but it still worked. I then had to find light-weight shirt and short layers I could wear for my planned activities. I ended up, after a LOT of time spent shopping online and in-person, at Target... in the MEN'S department. They have men's active wear up to a size XXXL, I believe. Or, at the least, an XXL. But women's? They generally stop at L. Not even XL. Just L.
So I ended up with a moisture wicking, light-weight long-sleeve shirt and waterproof shorts, both from the men's department. Both were adequate, but did not really fit me right. The arms were too long, the shoulders too big, but the chest too small. But you take what you can get.
I didn't really think this was an awesome option, so I have since done more research and discovered Danskin. They have a great (online... of course) store with a big selection of women's plus-sized workout wear and active wear. I've bought quite a bit from them, and other than the fact that their shirts seem to be made for people quite a bit shorter than I am, I have been really happy. They have frequent sales and promotions, and their stuff is great for the gym. I also recently took up kayaking, and they had a waterproof sleeveless shirt with a built-in bra that I bought. It is PERFECT for kayaking. I only wish I had purchased more of them, because they no longer stock them.
But still, I am left wanting. It is so difficult for larger women to find appropriate clothing for exercise and outdoor activity. Even if you can find clothes for the gym, what do you wear when hiking? Biking? Kayaking? Rafting? Many of these activities really call for specialized clothing that just is NOT available in women's plus sizes. Or if it is, it's a special order from some manufacturer you've never heard of and it costs a fortune. I bought an SPF50 lightweight waterproof jacket for kayaking from a retailer on Amazon. It cost me $69 and came from a company called Coolibar. I love it, but it took me days of searching Amazon to even find it!
Society doesn't want to deal with large women. But when we're ready to do something to either lose weight or just get out there and get active and healthier, there is very little support for us. And I think that's just sad.
But, to end on a higher note, let me recommend REI's outdoor school. In April, I took their introductory kayaking outing/class, and I was terrified I would be too fat to fit in a kayak or would somehow be singled out with special treatment that would make me feel conspicuous and huge. But, no! They handled it expertly. If you've been thinking about doing something like this but have been scared, fear no more! When you sign up for the class (via phone), they'll ask you about height and weight. And then they make sure that they bring a variety of kayaks and equipment that will allow EVERYONE on the trip to have items from which to choose. I tried 3 different kayaks, including a sit-inside variety, and I fit into all of them! The class instructors were excellent, and I never once felt fat or conspicuous. Now, if only I could find some more clothes to kayak in!
Monday, June 15, 2009
Rachel Pally and other Plus-size designer lines
It's always great when a well-known and respected designer also puts out a plus-size line. I appreciate having good fashion choices. However, this usually presents problems. In the case of many plus size lines, they are only carried online or in the FPS departments of large department stores. I'm thinking of brands like Calvin Klein. There are some really great, standalone Calvin Klein stores around LA, but as far as I know, NONE of them carry any plus-size items. This makes absolutely no sense when you step into a two-story store COMPLETELY devoted to ONE designer who you KNOW has a plus-size line, and they carry none of those items. It's almost like the designer wants the existence of the plus-size line to be a secret.
It's only available in the ghettoized "women's" or "encore" or "Salon Z" departments of Nordstrom, Bloomingdale's, Saks, or Macy's. (Oh, and you can forget about EVER shopping at Neiman Marcus.... to my knowledge they do not even HAVE such a department). These departments are usually near the department where you pay your bill or the employee restroom or the children's department or the china department. You know, the parts of the stores where the THIN people don't need to be nauseated by the mere existence of women weighing more than 200 pounds.
But back to Rachel Pally. Much has been made of the fact that Nordstrom carries the so-called White Label of Rachel Pally. I went to probably the largest Nordstrom in the LA area this past weekend (in Canoga Park at Westfield Topanga), and asked them where the Rachel Pally items were. The sales woman said they don't carry it in-store. WHAT?!?!?!?! It's prominently displayed on their website, but NOT in stores? This is worse than the ghettoized locations of the FPS departments. This almost seems like the designer or Nordstrom wants the existence of a plus-sized line to be a secret. I don't know about you, but as a larger woman, I am much MORE likely to NEED to try something on before purchasing.... especially if it's a new brand or designer to me. Sometimes I'm a 1X, sometimes I'm a 2X, and, yuck, sometimes I'm even a 3X. Usually a 2X, but you never know for sure. So, why, then, is it more than likely the case that it is HARDER to find plus-size designer items in stores? Why don't stores and designers get this?
Luckily, Nordstrom Rack always has some Rachel Pally if you dig for it. This makes me wonder where it is coming from - if seemingly, none of the local Nordstrom stores stock it. Returns by women who bought without being able to try on first, perhaps? I can only assume so, and here is my Rachel Pally-specific rant. Her clothes are NOT designed well for the larger woman. Yes, I bought one of her shirts, but I tried on EIGHT items of Rachel Pally. The other SEVEN looked horrific on me. So horrific as in I could not take them off fast enough. So horrific as in I would not come out of the dressing room to show my husband. Many of her clothes are jersey material, which is fine. That can be a great, draping, flattering fabric on the larger woman. But not the way Rachel Pally designs. Her jersey is cheap (which is shocking considering the prices of her garments - $168 regular price for a shirt) with unfinished hems. The material is also SUPER SUPER CLINGY AND ELASTICIZED. I don't know about your bodies, but mine is NOT PERFECTLY SMOOTH. Yes, fat does tend to fold. It's yucky, and I wish it didn't, but it's a fact. Therefore, when you design a plus size line, WHY is everything clinging to the body? Now some fabrics I can wear if they're clingy. I'm not objecting to form-fitting plus-size clothes. In many cases, they look MUCH better than loose, shapeless, burlappy sack-like clothing you see so many larger women wearing. But NOT when the clothes are made of cheap jersey cotton!
I applaud designers for putting out plus-size lines, but more consideration needs to go into it. They can't just be making the sizes of their "normal" lines bigger. They have to take into account the unique body issues we larger women present. I think Michael Kors does a good job of this. Even on the days when I feel my fattest and most unattractive, I can usually wear a Michael Kors shirt and feel reasonably decent in it. (I wouldn't object to slightly LONGER tops, though.... I am 5'10".) I wish all designers learned this lesson. Sigh. But I guess you take what you can get.
It's only available in the ghettoized "women's" or "encore" or "Salon Z" departments of Nordstrom, Bloomingdale's, Saks, or Macy's. (Oh, and you can forget about EVER shopping at Neiman Marcus.... to my knowledge they do not even HAVE such a department). These departments are usually near the department where you pay your bill or the employee restroom or the children's department or the china department. You know, the parts of the stores where the THIN people don't need to be nauseated by the mere existence of women weighing more than 200 pounds.
But back to Rachel Pally. Much has been made of the fact that Nordstrom carries the so-called White Label of Rachel Pally. I went to probably the largest Nordstrom in the LA area this past weekend (in Canoga Park at Westfield Topanga), and asked them where the Rachel Pally items were. The sales woman said they don't carry it in-store. WHAT?!?!?!?! It's prominently displayed on their website, but NOT in stores? This is worse than the ghettoized locations of the FPS departments. This almost seems like the designer or Nordstrom wants the existence of a plus-sized line to be a secret. I don't know about you, but as a larger woman, I am much MORE likely to NEED to try something on before purchasing.... especially if it's a new brand or designer to me. Sometimes I'm a 1X, sometimes I'm a 2X, and, yuck, sometimes I'm even a 3X. Usually a 2X, but you never know for sure. So, why, then, is it more than likely the case that it is HARDER to find plus-size designer items in stores? Why don't stores and designers get this?
Luckily, Nordstrom Rack always has some Rachel Pally if you dig for it. This makes me wonder where it is coming from - if seemingly, none of the local Nordstrom stores stock it. Returns by women who bought without being able to try on first, perhaps? I can only assume so, and here is my Rachel Pally-specific rant. Her clothes are NOT designed well for the larger woman. Yes, I bought one of her shirts, but I tried on EIGHT items of Rachel Pally. The other SEVEN looked horrific on me. So horrific as in I could not take them off fast enough. So horrific as in I would not come out of the dressing room to show my husband. Many of her clothes are jersey material, which is fine. That can be a great, draping, flattering fabric on the larger woman. But not the way Rachel Pally designs. Her jersey is cheap (which is shocking considering the prices of her garments - $168 regular price for a shirt) with unfinished hems. The material is also SUPER SUPER CLINGY AND ELASTICIZED. I don't know about your bodies, but mine is NOT PERFECTLY SMOOTH. Yes, fat does tend to fold. It's yucky, and I wish it didn't, but it's a fact. Therefore, when you design a plus size line, WHY is everything clinging to the body? Now some fabrics I can wear if they're clingy. I'm not objecting to form-fitting plus-size clothes. In many cases, they look MUCH better than loose, shapeless, burlappy sack-like clothing you see so many larger women wearing. But NOT when the clothes are made of cheap jersey cotton!
I applaud designers for putting out plus-size lines, but more consideration needs to go into it. They can't just be making the sizes of their "normal" lines bigger. They have to take into account the unique body issues we larger women present. I think Michael Kors does a good job of this. Even on the days when I feel my fattest and most unattractive, I can usually wear a Michael Kors shirt and feel reasonably decent in it. (I wouldn't object to slightly LONGER tops, though.... I am 5'10".) I wish all designers learned this lesson. Sigh. But I guess you take what you can get.
Saturday, June 13, 2009
Nordstrom Rack
I LOVE Nordstrom Rack. People at work ask me where I buy my clothes, because they think I spend enormous amounts of money on them. But, I don't! I buy a lot of stuff at Nordstrom Rack. However, it's good to know that not all Nordstrom Racks are created equal. Some of them do not even have a plus size department. At all! They always find room to carry petites, though.... But I digress. My closest Nordstrom Rack is in Glendale. But Glendale is one of those stores without a women's plus size department (or FPS as I prefer to call it). In frustration, I called them one day to ask why they didn't have one. They told me they used to, but they decided to make more floor space to carry more merchandise, so plus sizes went out the window. The woman I talked to actually sounded sympathetic, so I asked her which Nordstrom Rack had the best plus size department. Without a moment's hesitation, she responded "Topanga. Definitely Topanga."
SHE WAS RIGHT!!! I have been going to Norstrom Rack Topanga since shortly after they opened a couple of years ago. The good stuff comes in cycles, but you can almost ALWAYS find something amazing there. They did just rearrange their floor space, and it seems to me that the plus size department may have shrunk slightly. But, it's ok, because what seems to have gone away is the non-Nordstrom store, non-designer merchandise. It's like they weeded out 50% of the crap for us!
Today, for less than $200, I got: an orange and white baby doll Rachel Pally top, a Michael Kors halter, a Michael Kors pleated navy top, and a Michael Kors dress. (Michael Kors knows how to design for the plus size woman).
So, although I kind of hate to give away my secret, it IS one of those tidbits of information I wish I had known sooner. Incidentally, the Nordstrom Rack at the Howard Hughes center was also mentioned as a decent plus size spot, but I used to live on the West Side, and I used to go there, and it is NOWHERE NEAR AS GOOD AS TOPANGA!!!
So, here's the lowdown:
Nordstrom Rack Topanga
21490 Victory Blvd.
Woodland Hills, CA 91367
Later, I'll go on my mini-rant about Rachel Pally....
SHE WAS RIGHT!!! I have been going to Norstrom Rack Topanga since shortly after they opened a couple of years ago. The good stuff comes in cycles, but you can almost ALWAYS find something amazing there. They did just rearrange their floor space, and it seems to me that the plus size department may have shrunk slightly. But, it's ok, because what seems to have gone away is the non-Nordstrom store, non-designer merchandise. It's like they weeded out 50% of the crap for us!
Today, for less than $200, I got: an orange and white baby doll Rachel Pally top, a Michael Kors halter, a Michael Kors pleated navy top, and a Michael Kors dress. (Michael Kors knows how to design for the plus size woman).
So, although I kind of hate to give away my secret, it IS one of those tidbits of information I wish I had known sooner. Incidentally, the Nordstrom Rack at the Howard Hughes center was also mentioned as a decent plus size spot, but I used to live on the West Side, and I used to go there, and it is NOWHERE NEAR AS GOOD AS TOPANGA!!!
So, here's the lowdown:
Nordstrom Rack Topanga
21490 Victory Blvd.
Woodland Hills, CA 91367
Later, I'll go on my mini-rant about Rachel Pally....
Tuesday, June 9, 2009
Sample Sale/Close-out Sites
I am a member of several sample sale/close-out sites (ideeli, hautelook, gilt group, ruelala). With the exception of Rue La La, these sites NEVER EVER EVER have plus size clothing available. Rue La La does so once in a great loooooong while. They had some Anne Klein suits (snapped one up!) not too long ago, and I remember a Marina Rinaldi boutique at one point as well.
But what really gets me is that even when these sites feature a designer who DOES have a plus-size line, 95% of the time, there will be NO plus-size clothing on offer. I realize they sell what they can get, but perhaps these sites could try harder to find some designer clothing for the plus-size woman who prefers NOT to shop at places like Lane Bryant, Fashion Bug, or The Avenue.
Recently, Rue La La has had Calvin Klein and Sweet Pea by Stacy Fratti sales. I wear lots of clothes by BOTH of these designers, but there were absolutely no plus size options available.
It's really annoying. As a plus size woman, you have to have the time to spend 50 times more research on clothes shopping than a woman who does not wear plus sizes. So you'd better believe that when I see something good, I snap it up immediately. And that's the thing, sale sites and designers. Doesn't my fat, fat, fat money spend just as well as the Size 0 women's money???????
But what really gets me is that even when these sites feature a designer who DOES have a plus-size line, 95% of the time, there will be NO plus-size clothing on offer. I realize they sell what they can get, but perhaps these sites could try harder to find some designer clothing for the plus-size woman who prefers NOT to shop at places like Lane Bryant, Fashion Bug, or The Avenue.
Recently, Rue La La has had Calvin Klein and Sweet Pea by Stacy Fratti sales. I wear lots of clothes by BOTH of these designers, but there were absolutely no plus size options available.
It's really annoying. As a plus size woman, you have to have the time to spend 50 times more research on clothes shopping than a woman who does not wear plus sizes. So you'd better believe that when I see something good, I snap it up immediately. And that's the thing, sale sites and designers. Doesn't my fat, fat, fat money spend just as well as the Size 0 women's money???????
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