I was online today doing some browsing when I saw a hashtag #BoycottingTarget and I had to find out why. So apparently, designer Altuzarra is collaborating with Target to release some pieces, but none of them go past a size 16. Therefore, the plus-size community is furious, reasonably. Disclaimer: I don’t like the word plus-size, but I’m using it here because that’s what they use.
Altuzarra For Target (Image via Target)
Maybe it’s because I’m not in the fashion industry, but I tend to assume that not all brands will come in all sizes, but at the same time, I think it’s imprudent for a brand to not represent most women. Even financially, it seems very imprudent to not represent most women. Most women want to look pretty, so I don’t see why a brand’s sizing will be so narrow. Whether a brand is a believer or not, women come in so many sizes, so why limit yourself to only a certain kind?
But like I said, I don’t expect brands to have all sizes. I don’t even know if it’s possible to have all sizes because I’m thinking about the very small and very large women who may fall on the end of the spectrum, but American women average size 14 to 16, so not having sizes past 16 is crazy. But should it warrant a boycott?
I’m not a big Target shopper, and it’s been months since I stepped into one, so the idea of me boycotting it is laughable, even to me. My size isn’t one of the ones that isn’t available in this collaboration, but if it were (and if I was a regular Target consumer), I still wouldn’t boycott Target because (1) Altuzarra isn’t the only brand I can buy (2) Target isn’t the only store to shop for clothes in [I only have 2 simple dresses from Target in my closet], and (3) Boycotting is stressful to me. In fact, the moment I decide to boycott is the moment I will start having heart palpitations and an irresistible pull to go to Target. It’s the same thing that happens when I consciously decide to stop eating candy. All of a sudden, I have to have candy. Without the restriction, however, I haven’t had candy in forever.
If Altuzarra and/or Target has made the decision to not sell clothes past size 16, it is without a doubt their loss. But here’s the thing: Remember I told you about how I need to revamp my closet? Like I have so many clothes that I don’t like or don’t wear. I have started – very gradually – to buy clothes that I like, but I’m very particular about buying only what I love. The other day, I ordered a black and white stripe cocktail dress. When it came, I did not like it as much as I did online, so I’m returning it. No, I don’t want to learn to love it.
I had no idea who or what Altuzarra was until I read about boycotting Target for him/her/it. So I decided to check it out, and all this hash tag #BoycottingTarget has accomplished in my life is knowledge of Altuzarra (his name is Joseph Altuzarra) and a deep desire to have some of these clothes hanging in my closet. What I know now for sure, by His grace, is that come September 14th, I’ll be at Target, not boycotting it.
These are some of my favorite pieces:
Favorite Altuzarra For Target Pieces
The collection will be available at select Target stores. Check out the entire collection here.
What do you think of the boycott?
I’m with you on this. Designers have a choice to restrict their cloths to certain sizes. Ashley Stewart sells size 12 or is it 14 upwards. They have really nice dresses but I would never suggest that other people boycott them or their parent company because they don’t carry my size.