The Triumph of the Size 12's

I wake up on Thursdays and my mind does a happy dance! The New York Times features ThursdayStyles and the Home Sections ...



I know that there will be something waiting for me that, for the most part, might be a bit fluffy, but will be a stretch in one way or another. This Thursday did not disappoint as what to my wondering eye did appear but Crystal Renn above the fold!



For those of you who are not familiar with Ms. Renn, she is the, "from a high-fashion standpoint, 'far and away' the most successful model in the plus-size division of Ford Models". Interestingly enough she is a size 12 and is sometimes photoshopped to appear as large as a size 20! Weird but in the land of the photog it is just the obverse of those size 2's being photoshopped to be size 0.



Ralph Lauren and all the other designers who insist upon using the waif have caused a backlash against fashion images of the super thin (photshopped or not) and this has inadvertantly opened the door for more realistic women being involved on the catwalk. BRAVA!



The other day my partner in crime and I were at our local upscale merchandiser in W'Ville - won't name names but it does rhyme with Boney Stalker - and could find very little for a size 12. I personally know that DVF, the maven of femininity, makes a size 12... no where to be found. Tory Burch .. same thing ... her flats were well represented in extended sizes ... just no clothing for those fashionistas who have a life beyond counting every calorie and mets per exercise.



I asked about "extended" sizing and was told that the jeans section had items to fit everybody - and was told that they only carry the clothing is sizes that will sell. P-I-C got some great J Brand Jeans that day but nothing else - she had her eye on a TB dress but the largest size was a medium (they had 2 of those, 1 small and 1 extra-small) ... no DVF wrap dresses but they did have several size small mini shift/caftans ... we were disappointed but as we were leaving P-I-C pointed out that is the way it is there ALWAYS.



We have encountered this "size-ism" all over - in San Diego we stopped in a shop where all the larger sizes were kept in the back and the customer had to ask for them - so, basically the place was stocked with 0-8's - rather discouraging to be thought of as large at a size 10.



Back to Crystal Renn - she has published a memoir entitled " Hungry" - she describes how is it bizarre that normal in the new overweight ...and I have to agree with this - this is something that I and countless others live with every day. Ladies it is just as easy to be miserable at a size 2 than at a 12. I think what is important is that we become vocal about being given options for clothing that is designed well and with us in mind. That being said, it is important to put our money where our mouths are.



Crystal has opted not be make herself crazy and that is something that I aspire to do myself - wouldn't it be fabulous to just love it all? Wouldn't it be great to just see ourselves as beautiful and capable and not be chained to the angst of having a roll or two? I for one will be filling out the feedback cards from now on and let them know that it would be really great to see a size 12, 14 or 16 on the racks ... who knows? If they stock it, maybe Crystal will come!