When reading the news of what hot new stores are opening, I always get my hopes up thinking that maybe some of these balling investors have decided to invest millions of dollars into curve targeted stores like they have done for sites like Eloquii that just raised $15 million according to PR Newswire. Yes, we have Lane Bryant, Torrid, Ashley Stewart, and sections, Dressbarn, Topshop, and Forever 21, but there are devastatingly limited options when it comes to shopping in a brick-and-mortar store as a curvy woman. Plus compared the options available in-store versus the online retailers like ASOS, Topshop, Eloquii, Fashion to Figure, Simply Be, Ideeli, Monif C., etc. it’s embarrassing to realize how little is available for you to actually go and try on in stores.
UK retailer Evans just completely re-vamped their curve department, including inspiring women from all over the world and listening to their customers’ needs and wants. And according to RagTrader, Australian online retailer Harlow is now moving to brick-and-mortar stores in Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane saying, “We have found that not enough of these women are comfortable buying online, because each of them has a differing body shape, and with the added issue of sizes not being consistent from brand to brand, they prefer to try items on, especially the first time they buy from you.”
Totally preaching to the choir on this one. The internet is a great tool, and we all need it; but buying clothes online? Not the best process because one size doesn’t fit all. We’ve complained over and over again about collaborations selling particular pieces in stores and leaving it up to online sales to meet the needs of curvy women. It just makes it even worse when you see retailers oversees recognizing that women of all sizes deserve access to clothing whether it be in their neighborhood or online.
Let’s hope this non-trendlet catches fire.