Saks to carry up to size 20 in genuine designer brands!! - YouLookFab Forum

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Saks to carry up to size 20 in genuine designer brands!!

Michelle

(website)

Veteran

I just read about a very interesting pilot project being launched at the flagship location of Saks. Starting this fall, they're going to start offering extended sizes in true designer brands (We're talking Chanel, Cavali, Yves St. Laurent etc). Sizes used to stop at 10 in these brands, but all will be offered up to 14 wwith some going as high as 20. If the pilot project is successful, it may expand to other locations. Here are all the details:
http://ny.racked.com/archives/.....s.php#more

Personally I think this is a great sign of broadening attitudes in the high-end fashion game, but I am beyond biased and incapable of an objective opinion in this case. What do others think? Is this a sign of lowering standards among the fashion elite? A disingenuous marketing ploy that will ultimately rank up there with the overuse of the word "organic?" A total shocker that you never expected?

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16 replies

Latest reply was from RoseandJoan

Sparky

Veteran

Well, it's about time. I'd love to think they've decided to become a market leader and cater to this enormously untapped, potentially lucrative demographic. I wonder how Saks brokered this deal with all the designers?

Katja

(website)

That's fantastic - the more retailers who embrace the full range of sizes, the better.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

*happy dance*

Its about time. Thanks, Michelle!

Michelle

(website)

Veteran

*ducks behind Angie to start a happy dance congo line*
I literally squeeled when I read this. Now I just *really* hope it takes! I can't contribute with dollars, but if they have a forum for online feedback I'm all over it.

taylor

Veteran

Plenty of women in all sizes with enough money to spend on designer clothes. You would think they would have tapped that market long ago.

women this size and with money to spend on Chanel will be very happy!!

Tara

(website)

Veteran

Yes I was fascinated to hear about this the other day!
It is very exciting and will open high end fashion up to a much wider market.

From a marketing perspective it is a very clever and potentially lucrative move.

bj1111

Veteran

cynical me thinks this is corporate america (that own these fashion houses) finally realizing what a cash machine it would be to cater to currently underserved markets. it's a great way for saks to build brand loyalty, where it has been lagging behind other high end stores such as neimans and barneys in sales and cachet (at least in our neck of the woods)

i see it as in line with the re-design of talbots to hit a younger market.

Maya

Veteran

Well, I don't think there is any doubt that it is done to cater to an underserved market. Stores don't stock items to be PC or spare people's feelings. They want to make a profit.

I'm actually not surprised at all that high end clothing is typically not made in larger sizes. Countless studies show a correlation between income and weight, with the wealthy coming out thinner than their less fortunate counterparts....by quite a startling margin.

I have never believed that most retailers actively discriminate against certain sizes because it would not make sense from a profit standpoint. If they're not selling certain sizes, it's because those sizes simply don't sell well enough to justify the investment. That's also why petites and very small sizes are in short supply. I obviously have no experience, but common sense tells me this is the case. It's all about money and profit.

In any case I hope this works out, although I'd rather see it start at a more reasonable/accessible point. I'm afraid if this pilot program doesn't work out, which is very likely because who has that kind of money right now?--it will actually do more harm than good. Other retailers will see it as an excuse not to accommodate this market.

marianna

Veteran

Sounds good to me! Someone figured out that not all plus size women are poor slobs! I'll take a Chanel jacket in a size 16, please.

Michelle

(website)

Veteran

Maya, I have the same fear...that failure with this pilot project will put the skids on similar ventures for years to come. But I do believe the high-end designers are the place to start. They're the literal trendsetters for the entire industry, and designers and retail chains alike take their cues from the major fashion houses like Chanel, Valentino, YSL etc. If *they* get on board with larger sizes and experience success there, I think the chances are high that others will follow suit. There are an acceptable number of style options at more moderate price points. It's the higher-qquality market that needs a shakeup in terms of accommodating people my size.
Another interesting point. A Chanel size 14 can hardly be considered plus-sized in the true sense of the word. Purists will argue that this size expansion project is simply paying lipservice to the plus-sized market, but I strongly disagree. Any form of progress is a step in the right direction. That said, i don't think for a moment that they're doing this for altruistic purposes. I've read countless places that the size 12-and-up demographic is growing all the time, so it certainly is in their best interest to try and capitalize on the profits that are bound to exist there. I'm sure there are larger girls out there who would drop an absurd amount of money on a Chanel dress just because she could never in her wildest dreams have fit in one before.

Michelle

(website)

Veteran

Marianna, reserve one for me while you're paying for yours, k?

Rosie

Veteran

I keep reading about this and it will be very interesting to see what is stocked and whether the cuts are similar or different than the smaller sizes. I have already seen many, many people excited about this. There are only a very small handful of high-quality designer "plus" lines, and the people who have the $$ definitely pay for them. They also probably pay a lot of money for custom pieces. I see plenty of 14+ middle-aged women in the society pages ans shopping high-end department stores.

Frankly, plus-sizes are hot right now so I am sure to a certain extent companies are just capitalizing on that; however, I don't care. I want to see these clothes!! Hopefully they will be snatched up so fast that companies will make more and keep doing it.

Katja

(website)

I'm remembering an article maybe a couple of years ago about the challenges in scaling couture and high end RTW design up for larger sizes - I think it talked about Marina Rinaldi...

When I have a little more time I'll see if I can find it again.

chewyspaghetti

Veteran

Katja- there was another recent article that discussed this aspect of sizing up to plus sizes. However, a couture size 12-14 can hardly be compared to actual plus sizes.

Rosie

Veteran

There have been plenty of companies that have items in sizes up to 20 that are not per se plus cuts. It will be interesting to see whether the clothes in Saks are cut differently or are just larger - there is a difference.

RoseandJoan

Veteran

I had read that Michael Kors was expanding his size range, I guess the demographics are shifting and designers will not want to lose track of their shifting market.