What's New, Yorker?

So, my letter got published in the New Yorker!!!!
I initially thought they edited it a little weird to make it sound like you can buy plus sized clothes at the brick and mortar Old Navy (you can't). But it turns out, I left out a very important "don't" in one sentence.  Oops.

But I got my dig in at Michael Kors, so...

Yeah!

Here's the letter as it appeared in the New Yorker:

I was delighted to read about people devoted to the business of making larger women fashionable. As for the chicken-and-egg problem of customers not wanting, buyers not ordering, and designers not creating, it seems clear that the trouble originates with designers and bleeds down to retailers. If Michael Kors does not advertise his own line, why would a department store be eager to provide those clothes to customers? If a plus-size magazine exists only online because it can’t find advertisers, then how can those designers cultivate the interest needed to get their clothes into stores? In the plus-size section of any department store, you will likely find a handful of women desperately looking for something that is missing. Whether it’s the Lane Bryant-designated “Ava” type, who needs something other than a peasant top and soft pants for a business trip, or a “Jennifer,” who wants to look as good as her straight-size friend when they meet for dinner on Friday, there aren’t many options. And, when bathing suits or winter coats come in, the overflow of additional stock typically encroaches on the already small area devoted to women of size. Online retail has helped better meet consumers’ needs, but it does not offer the same quality of service that one finds at stores that, like Old Navy, actually put out plus sizes where women can see them and, more important, try them on. Ultimately, I am hopeful that the ever-increasing demand will necessitate a bigger, better supply.

Allison Breyer Everett

Nashville, Tenn.

Here's the letter as it was sent to the New Yorker (with the addition of the missing "don't"):

As a curvy, or full-figured, or plus-size woman - whatever the buzz word is this season - I was delighted to read about people devoted to the business of making larger women fashionable.

As to the chicken and egg problem of customers not wanting/buyers not ordering/designers not creating, It originates with designers, and bleeds into retailers.  If Michael Kors can't endorse its line, why would a department store be excited to provide those clothes to their customer?  If a plus-sized magazine exists only online because it can't find advertisers, then how are those designers building the excitement needed to get their clothes in stores, let alone generate sales?

In any plus size department of any department store, you'll likely find a handful of women desperately looking for something that is missing.  Whether it's the (Lane Bryant designated) "Ava" type who needs something other than a peasant top and soft pants for a business trip, or a "Jennifer" who wants to look as good as her straight sized friend when they meet for dinner on Friday, there aren't many options.  And when summer bathing suits or winter coats come in, the overflow usual takes the already small area devoted to women of size, and shrinks and crowds it further.

Online retail has helped better meet consumers' needs, but it creates a crutch for brick-and-mortar clothiers like Old Navy who (DON'T) offer plus sizes, but don't actually put them in stores where women could eyeball them, or, more importantly, try them on.  

Ultimately, the ever increasing demand will necessitate a bigger, better supply. The past decade has shown progress, and events like these, along with the media coverage like this article help make a big, fat, curvy difference.

Best regards,

Allison Breyer Everett