Rosie O'Donnell Dissed By Favorite Designer Eileen Fisher

WWD:

"On behalf of every plus-sized woman in the world, I just want to thank you,'" O'Donnell recalled. "And I want to ask you why do you only have the [plus] sizes down in SoHo?'"

According to O'Donnell's account, the praise seemed lost on Fisher, who responded to O'Donnell's query by saying, "That's not really our demographic...you know, we sell a lot of size two." O'Donnell said she then remarked, "Oh yeah, the plus-size two." And Fisher countered, "No, the regular size two."

Read the whole story: WWD

Comments

[MaryC3]

Very, very weird that EFisher did not just simply thank Rosie for her longtime support and her enthusiastic mentions of the clothing line. ????

I am surprised that EFisher has not responded on this story.
I doubt that if it is helpful to her business with any "demographic."

Rosie, You had me checking them out at one point and I liked the line too, but the pricing of the EF clothes always was a little too high for many of us. Hah!

[Azmom]

Many, Many women in this country are over weight. Eileen Fisher did nothing to help her line nor whatever image she's going for.

No thanks, Eileen.

[bibimimi]

Imagine if it was Hillary Clinton doing the gushing instead of Rosie. Would Ms. Fisher respond the same way?

[darkwaterwoman]

This is sad, but typical. "Not our demographic." Plus-sizes are not our demographic, they are just kind of along for the ride, we really design for size 2's. Why would anyone who is selling something and wants all the money they can get say such a thing? Her PR guru should kick her in the shins. The money that plus-sized women carry around is just as green. But then again, the fashion industry is proud that it does not serve women past a certain size, PROUD. Making fashion for anything above a size 12 is like taking sloppy seconds to any designer who wants to elevate their reputation. Remember the HP blogger who wrote a few days ago that designers feel that flesh gets in the way of the clothes? This is so true! So don't get it twisted: the clothes are the point, not the humans who wear them. So, if you happen to be the fleshy type, never doubt that the designer thinks you are ruining their clothes with your grotesque body and they would rather you not wear them at all. This is a sickness...

[TCC]

I am not a woman, but I will be sure to remember this and share it with my wife. We weren't customers before just due to happenstance, but you can be sure we won't be customers ever.

[SharonaMonk]

Really, I can't imagine who could afford to buy her overpriced clothing these days. More power to them.

[MNmommy]

Scratching Eileen Fisher off my list of favs.

How rude.

And her clothing runs HUGE.

[deeppeace]

Eileen who?

And why is it rude to state that she sells more 2s than XXs? Did she snicker and point when she said it?

[oonamanoona]

That info is at the top of the page. Can't you read?

[Tulka2]

On a more essential note.... demographers say between 60 million and 100 million women are missing in the world today. Gone. Vanished. Not standing where they are supposed to be. Oppressed to death. Only in the west are there more women than men. Nicholas Kristof and his wife, WuDunn have written a wonderful new book about the state of women in today's world. Check it out.

http://www.halftheskymovement.org/

You go, Rosie.

[Josh Popichak]

Wow, Eileen Fisher really is a cold-hearted witch if what Rosie says is true.

[cgracec]

Wow, so apparently rude designers aren't just old men. The old hags are just as b!tchy too. Yikes.

[santafesam]

Such incredible obnoxious rudeness. I'll think twice before buying EF designs in the future.

[deeppeace]

I can't believe anyone's even heard of her.

[oonamanoona]

Perhaps other's have more interest in design than you do.

[itolduso]

This year, more than 4 million women will be abused in this country........ forget about what you're wearing Rosie.....these women need a voice.

[Alvin4NY]

Read up on Rosie and her charities, she is a voice.

[xansam]

going to pass this along, she can kiss a lot of business goodbye.

[rivergirl301]

Unfortunately, a lot of people will like her even more for trying to disassociate herself from plus-sized clothing.

[ChelleAgain]

It's sorta like Mad Men when Pete Campbell figured out that Admiral T.V.s were popular among blacks and wanted to run with it only to find out the clients didn't want that association. I suppose some people ill eschew $s for what they deem to be prestige.

[jennylynn]

There goes Fisher's sales right down to zero.

[ontariogirl]

Zero is now the new size 8...

[katmeyster]

Since designers think plus-size begins as size 12, and the average-sized American woman is size 14, there is some obvious disconnect going on here. As someone who is on the cusp between "average" and "plus" I find clothes shopping a horrendous experience. I'm old enough to not want sized-up junior clothes, and young enough to not want old-lady clothes. I find almost nothing to purchase that is made for my body type, and is age appropriate. There are millions of women in my category, who have money to spend -- and yet little to buy. I end up wearing boring pants and dress shirts most of the time to work, and jeans and shirts otherwise. It seems strange that designers are so tied to their size 2 mentality that they are willing to give up profit. And yes, they may deign to make clothes in larger sizes, but they are just sized-up size 2s that look ridiculous on non-raffish models. Very few clothes are actually designed for the average woman.

[ohmetoo]

Well I'll join in with you here. Yes the choices are so limited unless you are built like a straw. There is plenty of money lying about for size and style appropriate clothing, but where are the designers? Are they tied up in their egos not their potential clients needs? Thanks KATZMEISTER and thanks to Rosie for opening my eyes to EF! WOW who knew.

[AnglScarlett]

I know, I can't believe plus sizes start at 12. I'm a size 10, and have been since the 80's when i was a teen and then 89 when I turned 20. Back then we used to shop a lot at 5,7,9. That was considered the hot back then, and since I am well-proportioned I had a really good figure. Today, I think I'm considered plump by a few types: other women and fashion designers.

Fun fact: men still think I have a great bod. You can't buy into that noise. It really is just noise. I could never be a size 0 nor do I desire to be.

[atienne]

I hear ya ladies! I don't feel 'plus sized' at size 12. I don't have cellulite, high blood pressure, etc. I fit just fine into seats, etc. but the fashion industry says there is a plus amount to me?? Whatever! To the fashion industry, I'm a cow but men and weirdly, teenaged boys say the same about me! (My daughter's teen male friends have referred to me as 'hot') weird but nice compliment because despite what these designers say...they do not define us!

[tnlcallen]

I'm with you there. I think women are beautiful in whatever shape they come in.

[happycat]

It is not just women who are on the cusp of being plus-sized or women who are plus-sized having problems finding clothes today. I am on the thin side (size 6/8) and in my late 30s, and I too have trouble finding clothes that fit right and are age appropriate. Who was the genius who invented the pencil and toothpick pants that are all the rage? Who the heck looks good in them besides a size 2 woman? Plus, pencil skirts are in, thigh high boots and tank tops. I cannot wear any of those things either.

[laaambchop]

agree...they seem to think mickJagger butt's are all the rage....