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.