Another good idea. Psych!

Is the term plus size really already out of date. Or are retailers trying to down play stigmas by renaming the fashion for large girls? I am quite comfortable with the term plus size; so comfortable in fact I can not even find something sarcastic to comment on it. So why the new phrases. Whatever is going on, I certainly just don't care for it. Lately I have been seeing several other terms for what has been previously tagged as "plus size". I have seen "extended sizes"(Alloy), "additional sizes" (Modcloth), and worst of all "Special Sizes" (Delia's, JCPenny, and several more). Really? Special sizes? That just makes me one of two things... that lovely characture of the developmentally disabled that has come to be known as "special ed" or two that age old cliche used to make fat girls feel more confident "your special too!" The last thing I am looking from my retail experience is to be harassed by the signs that would say special sizes. Who thought that was a good idea? The same phrase is also applied to maternity, because apparently that phrase has too many stigmas attached to it as well. This is one of those moments that I am outraged that people sitting in offices (in my head this equals men in suits) are making these decisions for us! Why was I not consulted?
On a bit of different note, I am now coming to understand why plus size clothing has not been marketed more widely from trendier young brands like Urban Outfitters. According to the UK's Telegraph there are several reasons behind this:

• Companies know that producing new plus size lines are commercially expensive to design and manufacture yet go to a significantly smaller amount of consumers.
  

• Concerns about "normal" customers not wanting to be associated with "fat" customers. Not wearing their clothes or shopping in the same store.

I was quite surprised to read this. I am sure there are some people who are so overly weight conscious that seeing a plus size girl shopping in the same store as them may hurt their self esteem. But, is there really enough of those types of people to stop your business from taking on a larger (in two senses) customer base? The sad truth is it must be the case. For what other reason could there be for shops like American Eagle, Wet Seal, Forever 21 to sell their extended sized-plus size clothing exclusively online? Shops are keeping the fat girls in the house, shopping from the internet and not in there stores shopping like everyone else. Again, I am happy that these resources are available it just makes my blood boil to see such flagrant disrespect in every mall in America. I have what I consider to be a good idea. I think someone should start a company that partners with stores like Urban Outfitters and H&M and sell their designs in plus sizes. Then everyone wins! Plus size girls get the fabulous fashions available to the masses and Little Ms. Diet can still feel comfortable in the stores. It may sound like I get a little heated about these things...because I do. Only the first of what I am sure to be several rants of this nature. Thank you for reading!