Note from Di:
La Grande Dame is a fabulous store for those of you craving the high-end goodies for your plus size wardrobe. The ladies behind the enterprise are also taking a wonderful step up: they’re acting as advocates for their plus-sized clientele, and seeking out designers with the courage and actual talent to dress the roundly shaped women of the world. I just had to offer them an interview based on that.
Q: I can see what triggered this – the inequity between the small and large sizes. What were responses that you got from sales representatives when you brought up larger sizes?
LGD ANSWER: You know, it really depends on the brand. We have had some companies that did not previously make plus sized clothing agree to do it for us, for example, Amai Unmei did a terrific job of getting fit models and really working to create a beautiful product that fits well. Unfortunately, other companies have not been as open and have said different variations of ”we don’t make clothes that big” or “our styles don’t translate into plus size”.
Q: Have you gotten a response from the companies that you’ve contacted requesting larger clothing?
LGD Answer: We are waiting to contact the highest profile designers until we have more support and have really determined that we have a market for them. I don’t want to go to Marc Jacobs and say “Why don’t you make plus size? We would buy it!” and then not be able to back that statement up with a sizeable order.” We need to get La Grande Dame and our customers ready to commit to a real, sizable, designer order”.
Q: How can other people join in and help? Are you considering doing a letter-writing campaign or anything similar?
LGD Answer: There are two great ways to get involved. The first way is so simple but it really will make a difference. People need to put their money where there mouths are. People complain that there are NO options for beautiful, plus sized clothing. There are – customers need to support the companies that are out there providing beautiful plus sized clothing. None of us can survive if people are not buying the clothes.
Second, we need everyone to send us emails with their favorite designers, who would you like to see make plus sized clothing? How much do you spend each year on clothes? Would you buy designer clothing if it was available to you?
Q: What are the most common reasons given for not offering larger sizes?
LGD Answer: 1) Plus sized women won’t buy it. 2) Plus sized women don’t care about how they look. 3) Our styles don’t translate into plus sizes. 4) It is too hard to figure out sizing.
5) We want to focus on what we are good at.
Q: What about smaller, independent designers? How do they fit into your boutique plan?
LGD Answer: We love working with smaller, independent designers! As long as they can meet their commitments. Unfortunately, we have seen smaller designers over promise and then not be able to deliver quality and quantity we were sold in a timely manner. We have worked with a couple of smaller designers already – including Momo – a favorite of our customers.
