Saks Fifth Avenue To Stock Plus-Size Chanel, YSL, Dolce & Gabbana

Racked reports that Saks Fifth Avenue in NYC will soon add plus-sized garments to its high-end floor. While clothes from most luxury labels were previously sold only up to a size 10, size 14s will hit the shelves from Chanel, Dolce & Gabbana, Toula, Akris, Armani, Carolina Herrera, Escada, Donna Karan, St. John, Oscar de la Renta, Max Mara, Valentino, Michael Kors, Yves Saint Laurent, Alexander McQueen, Fendi and Roberto Cavalli. Some pieces will be available in sizes 16 to 20.

According to Racked, Saks will stock everything from pantsuits to evening wear. The catch? For most items, you'll find only one of each size. If the initiative is successful in Manhattan, Saks will stock the plus-size clothes in stores around the country.

Comments

[ABXNOMORE]

03:49 PM on 09/10/2010

Oh, how we have been manipulate­d by the fashion world. No way is size 14 & 16 plus size, period. And size zero and two is ridiculous­. When I was young size 3/4 was the smallest size they made and it was a few very tiny petite women who could wear them but they were not emaciated, just tiny.

As for Saks, it's about they got with the program as should other high end stores. Just because some one is over weight does not mean they want to wear cheap, unfashiona­ble clothing form Romans, Just My Size and the like. Plus size women have long been denied the choice of wearing quality, stylish clothing and the ease of purchasing them.

Many stores, Talbots being one of them that comes to mind......­also The Gap, carry plus size clothes but you can only purchase them on line. Are they afraid that having larger women enter their stores is going to ruin sales?

[JulieShelbyLiberal]

08:45 PM on 07/31/2010

It is about time. When you are a woman in your fifties and no longer thin, shopping can be an ordeal. They don't make clothes that fit us or look appropriat­e for our age. It took me a long time to find a dress to wear to my son's wedding this year. For those who can afford it, I'm glad that the designers are waking up to this huge market.

[linnilue]

10:32 AM on 08/13/2010

Touche'

[Tashua Corum]

01:15 PM on 07/31/2010

It is about time! I am so looking forward to this launch!! I love YSL designs!

Visit my plus-size fashion blog: http://www­.plushdiva­s.blogspot­.com

[FabulousAt52]

07:55 PM on 07/29/2010

Get back to me when they get into the REAL plus sizes; 18 - 32W. This? This is just "hollywood plus sizes"

[Lynda Filler]

11:13 PM on 07/28/2010

I find this so insensitiv­e. Clothing is NOT plus size in 12-16, it becomes plus sizes at 18-24. I've been a buyer, and manufactur­er in my career. It is totally wrong for a woman wearing a size 12, 14 to be considered fat! (I am a 6-8 btw)
Having said that, wait til the industry sees that merchandis­e fly out of the stores. It's going to save these designer houses and make them tons of $$

[ABXNOMORE]

10:23 PM on 08/14/2010

Agree with you on all points.

[AlligatorShuz]

04:13 PM on 07/28/2010

Saks is my favorite store everybody knows me at the store at the Somerset Collection­s in Troy, Mi. I love African American designer Lafayette 148 that Saks carry and his cloths truly fit black women...

[LaurieAnn]

11:51 AM on 07/29/2010

I really like Lafayette 148 too. I'm not near a Saks but I shop on the website when they have sales. One thing I love about their designs is that they also carry petites up to size 18, which works for me because I'm both short and overweight­. The clothing is very profession­al for a work environmen­t and mixes well with others designers. I sure hope that Fashion Director, Edward Wilkerson stays around for a long time.

[Atchka]

11:32 AM on 07/28/2010

I get the "one size" thing. It's kind of stupid, but I guess they want to see how many fat people are really interested in high dollar fashion. I don't mind them being cautious, but I hope the response is overwhelmi­ng and they quickly add more items for women. It's about time fat women were "allowed" to dress fashionabl­y by the big names.

Peace,
Shannon

[Lynda Filler]

11:15 PM on 07/28/2010

Shannon, I have posted to this and sizes 12-16 are NOT for fat women nor are they plus sizes. Misnomer high fashion industry..­.
but a sign of our times that Designers are now aware there is a huge market they are missing.

[StellaFox]

11:07 AM on 07/28/2010

I don't really see this as a positive. Neither do I see shows about over-weigh­t teens/chil­dren as a positive.
Yes it's a reflection of our changing demographi­cs, but what a godawful reflection­.

[Aaron B]

11:54 AM on 07/28/2010

Try being overweight and looking for decent clothes then get back to me with your dismissive commentary­. Everyone deserves clothes and the fact that in this day and age people still don't get that is a reflection of the continued bias against fat people.

[StellaFox]

12:44 PM on 07/28/2010

I've been heavy, and struggled, and I have a build that doesn't allow me to be healthy and rail thin. There are some clothing styles, designs etc that just don't work with my body type, and I don't cry and expect them to cater to me. I find clothes that do, or make my own.
Fat people are fat for a myriad of reasons; but most of it has to do with eating too much and not moving enough. Of course this isn't factoring in how unhealthy American food is to begin with, or the out of control portions, but the fact is, a little self control goes a long way.

[Lexie De Young]

12:27 PM on 07/28/2010

So... People with different sized bodies... that's just HORRIBLE! We should stop this outrage and then get rid of all the extremely tall people and all the extremely short people! We need to shame them with a lack of fashionabl­e, well fitting clothing until they grow or shrink to what is best!

[StellaFox]

12:48 PM on 07/28/2010

Nothing wrong with being different sizes, I have a body type that doesn't allow me to be rail thin (like "society" says I should be) and healthy. There are plenty of stores that do not at all carry items that fit me. Should I demand Victoria's Secret carry lingerie that fits my bra size? Should I demand that Abercrombi­e and Fitch make jeans that accommodat­e women with even the slightest bit of curves?
No. I find somewhere else to shop, and if I can't find "fashionab­le" items that fit me, I make them.
Catering to and accepting a large portion of this country that is grossly unhealthy is NOT acceptable to me. Are people fat because they have health issues that make them so? Yes. Does genetics play a part? Yes. Are American portion sizes gratuitous­? Yes. Is our food among the most unhealthy in the world? Yes.
But the VAST majority of overweight people are such because they cannot eat less and move more.

[lastliberalintx]

03:35 AM on 07/28/2010

I love this idea personally but one in each size? Really? Also, I am almost baffled that Karl Lagerfeld would ever produce "plus size" clothing.

[Lisa Brown-Hall]

08:43 PM on 07/27/2010

Love that Saks is adding plus sizes to its NYC flagship, not sure how I feel about the caveat that only ONE item in each extended size will be available?

[Kealee]

05:33 PM on 07/27/2010

Size 14 is "average" for American women. Plus size is actually 14-28 (or maybe even 30/32). Get real, this is high end designer clothing finally being made to fit average sized women and putting a "plus size" label on it. Plus size women care about the way they look (even though most think they don't) and will spend money for quality made clothes that fit well. The first hair brained, high end designer that figures this out will actually make a fortune. Oh, and as a bonus, they won't have to skate the employment lasws by employing 13 year old models to walk the runways and model for them.

[Lynda Filler]

11:18 PM on 07/28/2010

agreed...I would say plus starts at 18-24...et­c. but agreed.

[PHM]

05:20 PM on 07/27/2010

After breaking over 29 bones in my feet, ankles, ribs, fingers, back and c-spine, I gained a bit of weight. It was a revelation when I made my first shopping trip.

What is with the fashion industry? Do they think you lose your sense of fashion and your dignity when you gain weight? I am appalled at what is offered to women in the Plus category.

[Uproar]

10:49 AM on 07/28/2010

How did you break over 29 bones? That sounds extreme, even for someone who is skinny.

[progressivegreg]

04:40 PM on 07/27/2010

I don't know about buy a "name" but if that's your thing it's nice to see them offering something other than a size 1. Real world!

[sulalives]

04:38 PM on 07/27/2010

IT IS ABOUT TIME...WOM­EN WILL PAY TO CARRY THE NAMEBRAND OF CHANNEL...­LOOKING GOOD CHANEL LOOKING GOOD

[Marie Denee]

04:37 PM on 07/27/2010

I must add, I do hope this is successful­, because right now their selection online is nice, but it is only available ONLINE! While they are testing this in their NYC store, I do hope they at LEAST bring this to the major US cities(LA, SF).

You can catch all of my fashion forward raves, tips, and fashions over on my blog, The Curvy Fashionist­a! http://the­curvyfashi­onista.mar­iedenee.co­m

[Atchka]

11:29 AM on 07/28/2010

Marie Denee is the coolest cat in town.

That is all.

Peace,
Shannon

[LaurieAnn]

11:53 AM on 07/29/2010

Thanks for posting your blog site Marie Denee. I've got it bookmarked­!