Retailers Trimming The Fat: Is Weight Loss A Solution For Plus Size Gals To Remain Fashionable?

Just read an article online about the fact that a lot of clothing makers are scaling back on their production of plus size clothing.  The recession has been hitting all retailers and they are searching for ways to bring costs under control to ride out this storm. 

Everywhere you look, from magazines, to ezines, to blogs and list-serves, everyone is discussing some aspect of weight loss.  We are predominated by thoughts about how we look and what labels we are wearing.  If what you focus on grows, why aren’t we all thin?  I don’t get it- Plus sized people are the norm—just check out the stats at the Centers For Disease Control [www.cdc.gov] What I read there is that 62% of women in the United States wear a size 14 [or larger] and on average weighs 164 pounds!  So those size 2, tall thin Victoria Secret Models are NOT the norm!! Could have fooled me judging from most magazine covers!  It’s not just women either- 66% of all people over age 20 are overweight or obese, meaning the majority of us can benefit from some degree of weight loss.  Our kids are not faring much better, 19% of kids age 6-11 and 17% of those 12-19 years of age are overweight. 

This isn’t exactly great news for the plus size gal who wants to wear clothing suitable to the style of the moment and to flatter her figure.  I know, been there done that.  Back in the late 70’s—geez, fat preteens had NO choice—I painfully recall my first trip into a very frumpy Lane Bryant---and the polyester pants I had to deal with.  Per the New York Post June 1 edition, although people are cutting back on costs in all areas, those who are plus sized appear to be cutting back proportionally more on clothing than their thinner associates (8% vs. 3%).  Ok, so I am blessed with no longer HAVING to buy plus-sized clothing—I feel for my sista’s tho. 

Their (NYP) possible reason really made no sense to me, why would one believe that those who are plus sized might be more willing to cut clothing costs to help with family expenses than those who are not plus sized?  Are plus sized women more family oriented, less concerned about weight loss and fashion, or could it be that plus sized clothing simply costs more money, making this a purely economic issue??

Plus size clothing costs 10% more to produce although, in my mind, they more than make that up in added costs to the consumer-if you haven’t checked the price tags on plus size clothing, unless you shop at your local big box store, it’s a lot more than $2-$3 more for “extended sizes” they offer and with everything else, labels sell and the costlier brands are more fashionable.

Frankly I think these retailers are cutting off their noses to spite their faces.  America is NOT getting any thinner, despite all the education and information out there on healthy eating and exercise.  Our health care costs going through the roof attest to that fact and that we as a nation spend the most $$ healthcare and are one of the least healthy nations in the world.

It’s not reasonable to simply say that we all need to lose weight.  More than half the population in the US is in the “need for weight loss” category.  There are weight loss solutions out there, just ask me. Rant finished.