Manolo for the Big Girl

As I was reading some of my personal favorite blogs, I came across this half-sad, half-infuriating article at Hyde and Seek.

Basically, the author not only had great difficulty finding her relatively normal size available on the floor, but the sales staff treated her with contempt when they bothered to recognize she was there at all.

Retail outlets everywhere, let me clue you in on a secret: you sell more clothes if you treat every person who comes in the door with respect. It doesn’t even take that much effort. A smile here, an offer to help someone into a dressing room there, even a bit of commiseration that the item wanted isn’t there in the size needed tells the customer that you want to help her, which makes her more likely to spend money, even if it winds up being on a purse or a pair of earrings instead of a dress or a blazer.

I’ve worked retail. I’ve sold clothes (though most of my retail career was in books). I’ve had to tell someone ‘I’m sorry, but we don’t have that in stock in your size.’ Or that I didn’t have the color she wanted…or that we didn’t carry the style she was looking for. I’ve seen people walk in with chips on their shoulders looking for a reason to blame me for everything wrong in their worlds. I’ve dealt with the people whose expectations are completely unreasonable. I know how hard working with the great unwashed America public can be.

I also know that better than ninety per cent of those people will lose the attitude if they are treated with respect. I know that it’s possible to ruin someone’s day with a sucky attitude. And I know how much difference in sales a couple smiles and a genuine attempt to be helpful can make.

How about the rest of you? What’s your worst story of retail hell (from either side of the counter)? Who’s the salesperson you’ll never forget because (s)he was so helpful? What stores have you found particularly good or bad in customer service to Big Girls?

You guys continue to rock my world to its fashionable foundations. Last week I presented you with this fierce and fabulous image:

and you responded with eight great captions.

In the end, though, there can be only one. This time it’s EvilScienceChik for this superfantastic bit of sass:

I’m sorry…did you say girls aren’t allowed in the boxing club???

I don’t know about you, but I’m letting her join any team she likes!

Congratulations, EvilScienceChik, and thanks to everyone who played!

It’s August.

In Texas.

It is HOT.

The middle of one of the hottest summers in Texas history is probably not the time to be thinking of sweaters and counting the days until I can pull my coat out of cold storage, but I am. I’m thinking about other things too (like how my firefighter is headed back to Edinburgh in 9 days which –although I’ll be in deep mourning– means I can FINALLY go back to my Lane Bryant microfiber granny panties that I know and so deeply, deeply love) but mostly I’m thinking about sweaters.

Like this Eileen Fisher super-soft hemp sweater on superduper sale at Saks.

Now, I know this sweater isn’t going to rock your world and make you eggs after, but it is really REALLY good. This is the ever-elusive Perfect Date Sweater. It’s totally that “oh, I just threw this on” sweater that you KNOW makes you look gorgeous, but not gorgeous like you tried too hard but just sort of “I always look like this” gorgeous. Plus there are so many cute things you could do with scarves or maybe one of those super-skinny belts if you’re long-waisted enough to carry it off (the key is not to belt it too tight.)

ALSO it gives you the chance to wear bright red lipstick. I am of the opinion that not nearly enough people wear bright red lipstick. So go! Buy it now for next to nothing and when it’s time to wear it, you’ll look like a million bucks!

“Quilty” by Stuart Weitman.

Are not they sweet? And they are 24% off!

Happy weekend, everyone.

xoxo

I do not know who this Dr. Rob is, but Francesca hearts him!

(Thanks to Dr. Nic for the link.)

P.S. Most of the comments to Dr. Rob’s post are fat-friendly, except those from a troll who claims to be an MD but really probably isn’t at all. Just pooh-pooh him and focus on the fascinating discussion about Cushing’s disease.

So remember that April Fools prank where I pretended to be in the pay of (shudder) Crocs and issued a heartfelt apology? You all were SO nice and forgiving…except for those of you who wanted my job.

I get it.

It’s a great job.

I get paid to boss people around on the internet, make fun of the lesser-shod mortals, wear expensive shoes and oh yeah, do a teensy little bit to spread beauty and acceptance throughout the world. I can see (and totally forgive by the way) why some of you would want this gig, and who knows what the future holds.

So here’s this week’s big question…

what would you do if you had it?

Thank you to our reader Jamie, who alerted us to the celebrations in Vienna surrounding the 100th anniversary of the discovery of Venus of Willendorf.

She is indeed the beautiful, fertile, sexy, voluptuous, original superfantastic Big Girl!

Well hel-lo there Mary Jane. What are you doing there all alone? Would you like some candy? I’ve got some in my car. No, way in the back…you’ll probably have to crawl in. What’s that? The door is locked? You what? You can’t get out? Oh…oh dear.

Seriously though, if I didn’t have to spend TWO THOUSAND DOLLARS at the body shop this week because some hateful creature destroyed my beloved Cadillac’s convertible top (which are apparently made from the tanned hides of dead baby angels) these would be mine faster than you can say catalytic converter.

I’ve been in love with the multi-strapped Mary Jane for years now, ever since I first met the Miu Miu (and to a lesser extent Chloe) double straps, and even despite the less-than-flawless styling of the Bluefly site, there’s no denying this is an incredible price for a very good shoe you’ll find yourself grabbing again and again. I particularly like them with this abstract crysanthemum dress from Lane Bryant. Pile on a few looong ropes of pearls and chains of varying lengths and you’ve got a stellar fall outfit.

Now you’ll have to excuse me, what does one wear to perform vigilante justice on an as-yet-unknown gerbil knobbler who likes to violate Cadillacs? Fendi, right?

Francesca is so very tempted by this blouse, so wonderful for the Apple-shaped woman, with it’s princess seams and sleek-ening lines and availability up to size 3X. And it costs only 65 of the American dollars!

It is available here, at the site which never ceases to amaze with its surprising plethora of choices for the Big Girl.

Didn’t we all, in the fatosphere, know this already, like, years and years ago?

It’s about time the world woke up!