fat language geeking

[firecat]

[slightly different version posted to fatshionista]

In a post on fatshionista, I asked folks where they draw the line between "regular" and "very" big for the purpose of clothes-buying, and a lot of folks expressed distaste for the term "supersize."

The history behind the term, as far as I know, is this - it came into being before fast food places started calling their offerings "supersize," and it was a way of saying "very big" that was meant to be positive because of the positive connotations of the word "super".

Anyway, I'd love suggestions for what other words to use to describe clothes that are big enough for people who can't shop for clothes at malls and regular department stores and regular clothing catalogs because those clothes are too small.

The reason I care is (a) I want to know what to call the sizes of clothing that are big enough for us on my clothing resource page, and (b) I'm a language geek.

Comments

[ona-tangent.livejournal.com]

I don't know what to call it, but I don't like "supersize" OR "plus size". "Women's clothes, size 30+" of "Men's and women's clothes in non-standard sizes" or something that doesn't create a seperate category for larger people. Similarly, I don't like that Misses and Womens mean different things either. If you're a 10, you're a misses, but if you have an ass, you're a WOMAN. That bugs me.

I appreciate your resource list. I have recently grown into a 30 and am having a hell of a time finding clothes, much less fashionable clothes. I've been walking around for squeezed and hunched into exclusively Lane Bryant 28 hoping like heck that they start making their clothes bigger.

[firecat]

I'm glad you like the list. I've done some updating the past few days, so you might be able to find a few more resources for size 30.

[sarafoop.livejournal.com]

Have you tried Avenue? A lot of their stuff goes up to 30/32 which is about where I am. They have a fair number of "plain" styles that I really like - solid color tees, jeans, etc, plus a nice selection of work-appropriate outfits and some trendier stuff. I started shopping there exclusively when the LB 26/28 stuff stopped fitting me.

[beaq.livejournal.com]

"Big Enough"?

[firecat]

I like it!

[rmjwell.livejournal.com]

For my own needs I say "big AND tall" making certain to stress the conjunctive if I'm dealing with someone on the phone. In person my physical presence makes the term prety self-evident.

I try to stay away from euphemisims as they tend to sound patronizing to me no matter who is saying them --me or the clothing rep-- in our conversation.

[raphaela.livejournal.com]

I would say Grand, because grand can have good connotations. Someone should open a store and call it Grand Dames.

[starcat-jewel.livejournal.com]

Ooh, I like that idea!

I got Russ to do a T-shirt with the slogan "Woman of Substance", but it's never sold significantly. I guess too many modern-day large women don't recognize the background of the phrase.

[firecat]

I used to belong to a size-friendly health club called Women of Substance. Unfortunately it died. :-(

[loracs.livejournal.com]

I understand both sides of the issue, but I still prefer Supersize. It has a positive history, it's short, descriptive, in other words elegant. I'm not inclined to let the fast food industry take MY language. We've turned "fat" and "queer" into a positive, why not take back this one.
just call me SUPERSIZE!

[firecat]

I like supersize because it's what I'm used to. And yeah, I don't want to give it up because of some dolt who made a movie about french fries.

[hobbitbabe.livejournal.com]

Supersize made sense to me.

I usually describe myself as short and medium-sized. Which of course doesn't mean that I actually wear M size ... it means that I can shop at both Tan-Jay and Lane Bryant.

[sistercoyote.livejournal.com]

Have I mentioned recently that you r0><><0r my s0><><0rs?

Also, I hope you don't mind but I linked both this conversation and the one in fatshionista to curvaceous_knit.

[firecat]

Double thanks!

[divinebird.livejournal.com]

My favorite description EVER was in a little consignment shop in Northampton, MA..."Goddess Sized". I always thought, 'YEAH, I AM a goddess! YEAH!' I use the term even today, years after seeing it there. ;)

They also had a fantastic poster of the so-called 'fat Barbie' on the wall. XD

(came here by way of curvaceous_knit)

[firecat]

I like it!