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Tuesday, April 14, 2009

GETTING TO THE SOLE OF THE MATTER

Here is my issue as a member of the curvy and plus sized community my clothing circle is narrow. I like certain stores and I am a brand loyalist that gets me into trouble especially when I look for a certain shoe but can't find what I am really seeking. I have been on fetish sites, sites that cater to drag queens, rock-a-billy sites the gambit here's my problem all these shoes are either not everyday wear type shoes are they scream fetish. Why not just come out in a full latex outfit, no disrespect to the latex lovers.

My issue is that I spend my hard earned money where I think I can get the best value and it is no secret that I love Torrid however since they are about the only clothing store that caters to a certain demographic style wise they don't seem to really care about their customers. I emailed Torrid thinking that they would be receptive but I was shut down and told that because their is not a big callout for Double Wide Width shoes that they weren't even going to bother looking into it, and the buyer had the nerve to thank me for being a loyal customer. It is always like this when a company has a toehold in a market they feel that one customer's voice doesn't make a difference. I went to twitter and I asked the curvy fashionista's what would they suggest and they suggested that I blog the issue and put some wheels in motion.

Well here is my wheel and I am setting it in motion I don't appreciate being shut down especially when I am the voice of the customer, especially when I spend obscene amounts of money in Torrid. I don't even knock them for using substandard materials in their clothing that easily fall apart, tear and rip, but they charge an arm and a leg for some of their items when you can find those same articles of clothing at the five dollar plus size stores made with the same shoddy materials. I think it's a shame when plus sized fashionista's don't have a wide range of options especially when it comes to quality high heeled shoes wedges and sandals particularly. Since I happen to be genetically made with a double wide foot it is virtually impossible to find a cute midrange high heeled shoe option that accommodates my foot, but I am positive that I am not the only woman in the world genetically made like that. It’s particularly irksome to me when there seems to be way more options for women who have Double Narrow feet style wise. It has always been a challenge to find a great looking high heeled shoe when it comes to my foot that is why my first love is sneakers. In sneakers you have a greater choice when it comes to style and widths how come the women shoe makers don’t get that? Who do I need to speak to, to make my voice heard because frankly I’m fed up with having this issue when it comes to my shoe options.

I know I am not the only woman with a Double Wide width foot that is tired of seeing limited style options. I understand the fashion industry is trend based and the purpose is to make money in it. I understand that using quality materials cost more and having to use materials for Wider Width Shoes can cost more I get that but what I am saying is isn’t there a way to bring a better variety to a fraction of women who want style, comfort, AND options concerning her shoes? Where there is a will there is a way and if all these fashion designers are supposed to be on the cutting frontier edge then Double Wide Width shoes must be the outer regions of space!

IF you feel what I’m saying ladies please for yourselves, for your daughters, for your granddaughters, for the women in your lives, for the women of today and tomorrow please stand up and be noticed. If this is not your particular issue it could be a issue tomorrow that you might need to address something of yours and wouldn’t you want the support of others? I am not saying be belligerent I am not saying bombard Torrid, I’m not even saying boycott but pass this blog along to everyone you know Forward it, send it around the web. Please give my voice a chance to be heard. Give me the momentum I need to let this company see that I am not just one voice but the voice of many. You don’t even have to like Torrid, as I have found out many curvy women don’t, but please do it for me. Let’s start with Torrid and then with the rest of the fashion world, I am tired of being ignored and having limited options shoved down my throat. My money is earned way too hard for the fashion collective to just dictate what I get to wear.

GIVE ME CHOICES, LISTEN TO MY VOICE, AND GET IN TOUCH WITH YOUR CUSTOMERS FASHION INDUSTRY THIS IS YOUR WAKE UP CALL.

Thank you for taking the time to read this blog/email/forward or however you received it please pass it on.

Email the shoe and jewelry buyer as well if you have the time please don’t be belligerent of nasty just a polite email will do I appreciate it ladies, and gents truly.

The Torrid shoe and jewelry buyers email address: Tania Licker TLicker@torrid.com
Let her know that this is her callout for finding Double Wide shoe options.

7 comments:

  1. girl i think thicker women and women with curves go through this all the time. once my cash flow increases i definitely want to step my game up. right now i just stick with the best i can do.

    although i want to tone my body up more, sometimes i am too big for regular stores (like express and the limited) but i am too small for lane bryant so i always have to pick carefully and pray it looks good when i try it on.

    another issue i have is that i have a hard time finding knee or midlength boots (another reason i am ready to be down south or in cali so i can rock my fresh pedi and flip flops).

    i am a size 9 sometimes a 9w, and i have thick legs so if the boot fits over my foot, once i get mid-calf i cant zip it over my leg. one time i even broke the zipper on pair of 9 west boots i spent $150 on (i was wearing them out for the 3 third time). after that i kinda gave up. size 10/11 fit my leg perfectly but of course the foot part was too big. i understand your frustration but the only thing i can do my love it to quote mary and say "work what you got".

    since i have learned to appreciate myself i dont let the stores get me down like i used to. we have to get extra creative and put in extra effort

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  2. on more thing lady, you may cuss me out but if a product or company does not serve you well the best thing you can do is to take your money else where.

    alot of my earthy friends make their own shoes and clothes. i dont have that kind of talent or time but there are options out there. also if you have a knack for sewing i want you to check out a web site / group called thread-bangers on youtube. they were featured on the local news not to long ago.

    since the recession americans have been doing all kinds of things to save so these to white kids who are into fashion and sewing post a different web video weekly and they have MILLIONS of viewers. they were showing people how to make new clothes from old ones, hook up shoes and make bathing suits and everything! that's what i'm talking about!...

    i can tell you are fashion diva so dont let anyone or anything stop your shine gurl!

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  3. @Dulce I have a whole list of stores I haven't shopped at yet because I was just shopping at torrid but since their response had me so disappointed I decided that I am going to shop other places. But I have a whole list compiled, you might want to goggle the plus size calf boots I know their is a specific store that sells them. Dressing well is an investment.

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  4. @Dulce it used to be a time when girls came up know the domestic arts now who teaches that? Not even high schools anymore and I think its a shame I don't know to sew shit I wish I did I would be making and manufacturing long jeans skirts for plus size divas.

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  5. @Dulce you're right that's why I am taking my business else where torrid has seen their last dollar from me, I'm going to be sad about it for a little while but...I'll get over it.

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  6. @Dulce cali is mad expensive but I'm sure you already know what and since you are a nurse I'm sure you will be able to make your own wages. So you should be cool.

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  7. girl you are right. i had a sweetheart for a home economics teacher in 8th grade but those bad @$$ kids used to make her cry and throw chairs out the window so even though I got the award for best student, I did not learn much.

    and of course the double and loop stitch techniques I did pick up went out the window with the chairs... I just might have to add a sewing class to my never ending list of goals

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