I got this skirt at Forever 21 the other day, because I needed a new skirt (my favorite one of all time is on it's death bed, I'm trying not to mourn too much). I didn't realize at first, while I was shopping, that I was in fact in the "Faith 21" department, which is Forever 21's plus size line. I kind of knew something was up when it looked like most of the stuff there would fit me/was kinda too big for me.
I don't consider myself to be a "plus size" girl, though I guess Forever 21 does. I am and always have been on the L/XL side of the size scale, and my weight fluctuates (when I feel like going to the gym and when I don't). I have always struggled to find pants that fit me well, because my body type isn't the norm (aka, I have no butt or waist) but I feel like that would be a problem regardless of my size. What I'm trying to say is that I've never really had to shop at specialty plus size stores. Most of my favorite items are from Gap, Urban Outfitters, and Target.
HOWEVER, there are some stores that I really can't shop at, as a "full figured" person. Forever 21 has some great flowy tops and elastic waisted skirts that I've been able to get away with, but anything fitted or zippered is out of the question. But I guess that's changed now, with the creation of Faith 21. I'm kind of excited about it, because I really like me some cheap and trendy clothes. But on the other hand, I hate that they have to design a whole different line for "plus size" girls. I want the stuff that's all over the store, not the specially-made-to-flatter-a-fat-person looks from Faith 21. And I hate that the line is separated into a special section in the store, because, as much as I shouldn't be, I'm embarrassed to be one of two people in that section who can't shop in the "normal" part of the store.
I guess my point is that I really appreciate Forever 21's effort to accommodate more customers, but I wish they could just produce all their clothes in bigger sizes. I hate that I have to go off to a segregated part of the store and pick from a smaller selection just because I don't fit into the constraints of what Forever 21 thinks is a normal size. I consider myself to be pretty normal, and it's tough on my (already struggling) self-esteem to be sectioned off and labeled as "plus size." It's only a plus size because they say so, and they really don't have to.
Despite all this, I'll probably continue to shop Faith 21. Because, unlike most other trendy stores, they're at least making cute clothes in my size, no matter the label they put on it.
