Today, I would add: Thank you Nordstrom's, for listening.

April-
I specified 12-18 straight sizes because some plus size manufacturers carry that size range (or part of it). Plus sizes and straight sizes are cut differently. Often, I need a size or two up in a straight size garment (which is not available), but the plus size version does not fit. The armholes are too deep and it's too long/voluminous. Many straight size manufacturers only make up to a 10 or 12, and many plus size manufacturers don't start until a 16 or 18, so if you are in this size range (as the majority of American women are according to research) you are caught right between the options. This is one of the reasons that I buy so much at Target and Old Navy. They actually have my size!

Dang. Just wrote a huge screed here and lost it when the connection dropped. I'm going to try and summarise it.

• Probably controversial, but I'd like to see the end of fast fashion. It was fun while it lasted but it's not sustainable and it's steadily killing fashion culture.
• Instead, perhaps retailers could focus on supplying quality basics in a range of sizes and colours, with a focus on good design.
• If you're going to do high fashion, do it less frequently and in smaller runs. Copy less, curate more. I'd rather see four good collections in a year than 400 bad ones. Make me wait for something I'll really cherish.
• Market less, engage more. Focus on lifestyle rather than trends. Appreciate the diversity of your client base. Design products with a range of ages, lifestyles and body shapes in mind. We're not all Forever 21.
• Stop greenwashing and get real about sustainability and supply chain issues. If you're making disposable clothing, take responsibility for all stages of the garment life cycle.
• Make womenswear to the same quality standards as menswear. I don't care if it looked amazing on the rack, if it falls apart after two wears I'll hate you for it.

There's a mantra in design/development planning that goes something like this: Good, Fast or Cheap? Choose two, because you can't have all three. Good and fast won't be cheap, cheap and fast won't be good. You can see where this is going. Fashion needs to slow down.

ETA: Suz, that too. Amen.

Actually Liz, fast fashion houses H&M and Zara are VERY sustainable companies - ironic, I know - but very true. They rank top of the list for sustainable fashion. It's quite mind blowing.

Angie, I should clarify. I know they're trying and I applaud them for that. It's a very complex business and I appreciate how futile it is to hold retailers to an unrealistic standard when the whole machine is so close to breaking point.

On the other hand, the fast fashion model is built around selling large volumes of low cost garments with a limited lifespan which can't be realistically recycled or otherwise disposed of in the volumes they're currently being produced. This is a very valid criticism, it's an enormous environmental burden, hence the accusations of greenwashing aimed at H&M.

To put it another way, I think large retailers like H&M (who are far from the biggest offender here) could do a great deal more for sustainability by reframing the business model and actively helping to rethink the way we consume clothes. For example, I'm quite certain Uniqlo are no better in terms of environmental policy at the front end, but I deeply appreciate their commitment to supplying a well designed, durable product with a focus on lifestyle rather than the current fashion cycle.

Anyway. I hope I haven't derailed the thread into a discussion about sustainability in fashion, because as usual I'm overthinking all this. Please carry on.

approprio, you've hit the nail on the head as to why I still buy things from Uniqlo. A product that fits well, is durable, and outlasts trends is inherently more green than something that falls apart or becomes dated in a season or two. Their commitment to quality construction at a truly accessible price means a lot to me, from an ethics standpoint.

I agree with everything Approprio said...
It can be important to remember that getting sustainability rankings does not necessarily equate with truly being sustainable... lots of semantics, internally set industry benchmarks etc. I could go on but I still want to focus on the clothes here really :-).
I think the part of fast fashion beyond that which annoys me is that by the time you have the new thing home, the next collection is in store. I remember when collections were a few times a year. My mum would plan what she wanted, she would buy what I see now was a capsule and it remained the collection for 'the season'. It just annoys me that now all that would be has beens on sale racks... its like eating burgers instead of a nice meal with friends. Why can't everyday people have that from the normal brands... I think that means I want the pleasure of buying to come back not just the fast hype.

This post and comments were so good. I enjoyed reading every single one of the comments. I was thrilled to realize I was not alone in my frustrations.

Oh yes I have already weighed in on brick and mortar stores clothes- pinning up their tops on the mannequins. Though that's a minor annoyance compared to the quality thing.

I want to find updates clasics in great fabrics. Maybe that means fresher styles from Pennington or better fabrics from Zara --don't know.

And longer " short" dresses. I'm not tall, but I cannot find a dress that covers the top of my kneecaps.

I'm with chewyspaghetti on sizing. I'm now a size 12 & above. I basically live in leggings & one pair of Madewell jeans.
This week i broke down & bought some joggers in XL & few sweatshirts. Everything else is too demoralizing.
I'm saving money, because I'm not shopping.

Retailers; please make maternity pants in petite sizes, because not everyone can do a 31 inch inseam, and in cuts other than bootcut, and more colors than black.

I wish manufacturers would sell womens jeans and pants the way they do mens: by waist x inseam. I don't need a petite rise, just a shorter inseam. Part of the reason I have mostly Lucky jeans these days (besides the fact they fit my body type well) is that many of their styles come in multiple inseam lengths. Why should I have to pay to get my jeans hemmed when a guy can buy, for example, 34 in waist pants in a 30, 32, 34, and 36 inseam off the rack?

Please use names that actually describe the color. What is "phantom"? I know it's dark, but beyond that, I have no idea.

B&M stores: get rid of the cheap fluorescent light bulbs and install LEDs in daylight spectrum. When I look in the mirror and see that ugly fluorescent color cast on skin, I look awful, your clothes look unflattering and I buy nothing.

Yes! And please have good lighting in the fitting room! I'm looking at you, Allsaints: the dark, club-like lighting is good for the sales floor but not so much when I'm trying things on!