Fat Fashion Feft: City Chic Responded, now I respond to them (about bloody time ) with added snark

First of I should of written this earlier but I'm a busy individual with a full time job and weekends devoted to drinking cask wine and catching up on my stories  various philanthropic ventures and so pointing out things which I think are injustices in the plus size fashion world just fell to the back burner but I am back and I have time to spare before Jersey Shore Joan Sutherland in Lakme comes on the television.

Anyway if you missed out the previous episodes on Why Kiki? Why? I wrote this  then I tweeted this then the amaxing Zoe from Axis of Fat wrote this then some lovely folk linked me on here and then City Chic responded. Easy huh?

And here is their response.

Thanks so much for your feedback, we are flattered that you think of our brand with fantastic designers like JIBRI. We support all plus fashion brands and want the fashion industry to include plus designers more in the industry to give them opportunity to grow their business.

My name is Lucy Doyle and I am the senior Designer at City chic, and I am also a size 18 and wear all of our clothes. I am very passionate about the plus size industry and our brand and our customers. The first response in our facebook page was from our social media team, I would like to give my response to the blog post.

In relation to the inspiration for the Plus Size ruffle Front Halter you are saying we “Copied” from Jibri I can assure you that this was not the case. The styling in black and white is classic, the halter neck shape and fitted body are shapes that work for our customer and the pleating trim is a very important trend this season. Any likeness to another design is purely coincidental and in some ways not surprising as the elements of this style are both classic and on trend.

As you can see at the links below, this fashion trend has been very strong in the regular size fashion brands this season with brands like BCBG MAX AZRIA (Bottom of Form) adopting this style.

http://bit.ly/c1CmCd
http://bit.ly/a2SDCl
http://bit.ly/a4ZqP2

We ordered this garment in March this year as we predicted this as a trend for the season. Jibri bough this out on June the 28th and by this stage we had almost completed sampling. It was not physically possible for us to have copied the garment as you state as we had designed this before JIBRI offered it for sale.
The fact that you consider us to be as on trend and fashion forward as an up and coming designer is flattering for city chic. I review each piece of our range and focus on getting the trend and fit right for our customer, and it is great to know we are up there with the top designers.

In regards to price the $90 US price does not include tax and would relate to about $100 AUD after exchange rate. If you then add the 10% GST we need to charge in Australia it would be $110. Our price at $79.95 is 30% cheaper to provide you the same quality in a retail store environment that involves significantly greater cost than on-line only retailing.

We take all feedback very seriously at City Chic and want to say thanks for being part of the plus fashion industry.

Lucy 


Now back to a normal font... now maybe a little bolder



Dear Lucy, and the rest of City Chic and any other kind people reading hey! thanks for taking the time to respond to my rantings.




Yes theres no such thing as copyright in design, and yes suggesting that you stole the design was probably strong phrase to use but there are the reasons why I was pissed off.


I was am upset because deep down inside my optimistic self would like to think that designers like yourself would be immersed as much as I am (and countless others)  in the plus size fashion market space would be aware of what the other brands both independent and chain store are bringing out into the market and taking considered measures to make sure that nobody is stepping on anybody's toes, The plus size fashion industry is small and "Stupid Optimistic Kiki" thought there was some kind of bond between the brands as you are all catering for a far too long neglected demographic.  Not to mention Bloggers that you have tried to affiliate and align with your brand and about four hundred other bloggers have referred to this design and designer several times well before the June 28th date that you refer to in your response, here, here, here and here (just do a google blog search for Jibri theres a bucket load)


I'm just going to assume someone in your design department saw it once forgot about it and then thought about it again earlier this year. I know you believe something to the contrary but logical ol me would prefer to think of it that way, and it's really the nicest and most plausible outcome.


Oh yeah while I'm here can someone talk to someone in the "naming of clothing department" because this pair of  skinny jeans should not have the same name as another Australian designers plus size skinny jeans


Love 


Kiki


P.S can you send me some free stuff, you know you wanna.

Fat Fashion Feft : Why Kiki? Why? says NO!

Holy Fuckbuckets I am so pissed off right now I'm writing this on my tiny phone screen on the way home from work GAHHHHH!

Look at this top from City Chic's new Spanish Rose line! it's cute, sassy, versatile and oh wait... It's fucking stolen!!!!!!

City Chic: Bumba Shirt $79.95

Does it look familiar? Oh yeah it's a blatant rip off of Independent Plus Size designer Jibri's trademark halter shirt.

Jibri Ruffle Halter Shirt. $90 usd

Now you are probably thinking "oh Kiki! you are just being all mean about City Chic because you are grumpy because you have low blood sugar and you really just want a cookie" and then I would scream "piss off! who asked you? where's this cookie?"

But this isn't ooh City Chic's " let's make something inspired by Sass and Bide because they'll never make a plus size version" this isn't "let's remake a version of a Roland Mouret galaxy dress that's not only plus sized but cheaper too so we can make a great style accessible to the masses"

This is the theft of the design of small Plus sized retailer who provided this shirt custom made at a reasonable price in a variety of Plus sizes and then has the sheer gall to offer the Mass produced option at close to the exact price! No extension of the sizes offered by Jibri no original print or colourway just plain theft.

Now most of you will probably read this go yeah that kinda sucks and continue to shop there because of the lack of plus size options (or maybe you are holding out on the criticism so they will send you stuff to review...ducks) But if you are the slightest bit peeved pass the word on about this so that people know that Jibri provides great unique styles for fats and That City Chic didn't come up with this design.

To quote Derryn Hinch;

SHAME City Chic SHAME




Edited to add:

Thanks for the publicity and linkage folks I was wondering why all of a sudden more than two people a day were visiting here;

I particularly love the part of City Chic's comment "it's here for you to have, not only for plus sized ladies to wear, but at a fraction of the price!!!"
All I can say is that the Style was already being offered to Plus size ladies  and yes $79.95 from $90 (usd to aud is a frickin dream conversion rate at the moment) is a fraction (is it a decent saving on the original?) so you are right thankyou City Chic for offering me an item that is ten bucks cheaper.

And yes I am aware that there is no such thing as copyright in fashion and the use of the word Rip Off is probably not appropriate (and probably neither is the use of blatant theft but I'm a blogger and whatever for Journalistic integrity and shit) but it doesn't mean it's right or fair, it's one thing to be inspired by Chanel/ Gucci/ Insert big fashion house here, it's completely another to be inspired to design and to "style" a clothing item by a lone small business designer that had been heavily promoted by Bloggers that your brand itself has tried to align itself with.

Welcome to all you lovely people who are visiting me for the first time today alot of you that are clicking here from the Facebook link 

I don't have much else to say about this but while you are here come have a look at some interesting links to the left and some wonderful communities that are related to being Plus sized

- the fat-o-sphere http://feeds.feedburner.com/FatFuNotesFromTheFatospherehttp://community.livejournal.com/fatshionista/ or the Fatshionista flickr pool  

Or that you can find a variety of Plus size stores from Overseas and order more and get it delivered for cheaper from Evans.co.uk, ASOS.com, Yoursclothing.co.uk, Dorothy Perkins, Torrid and Faith 21 or even something Custom made on Etsy and could get a whole outfit delivered for the price of a mini dress from City Chic.

Better still swing by these great Aussie brands

http://www.dreamdiva.com.au/

http://entitled.com.au/

http://www.embodydenim.com.au/

http://www.monroefashion.com.au/store/

http://www.autographfashion.com.au/

http://www.mline.com.au/

There is a surprising lot of choice out there beyond City Chic and trust me when I say City Chic will get better if you start shopping around more.

- Posted using BlogPress from my phone

Location:,Enmore,Australia

City Chic: April 2010 the Good, the Bad and the Ugly

The Good.

Mini Feather Fringe Skirt, Chiffon Frill Button Through Top and Peplum Long Sleeved Cardigan with Shoulder Pads 

All from City Chic

Ahh lovely, the skirt whilst possibly Minge visible is unique and cute, the top whilst it reeks of the fat-famous lily0808168 ruffle dress it is cute and sensible and it straddles several trends; The cardigan is my most lustworthy item I like the cut and how Fashion Hayley has been rocking it.

 The Bad. 

 Wide Leg Jean, Zip Me Skinny Jean,Corset Bootleg Jeans and Acid Wash Skinny Jeans

all from City Chic

Apparently City Chic customers in particular the ones who purchase denim have genetically stopped growing at a size 20-22, which led to so much of a financial ruin for City Chic in creating a size 24 for the abnormally sized City Chic customer it had to be removed.

Whilst it shouldn't effect me as I don't often buy denim from City Chic But it sucks because 

1. They offer pants up to a size 24 but not denim on their website Seriously WTF?
2. They are obviously trying to be competitive with the other Youth Orientated Plus Size branding like Evans and Torrid (blogger partners, fashion parades, online promotions have you Booked Crystal Renn yet?) and yes whilst understandably behind the Big Guys with a typically more expensive product, Australian Isolation, and a limited size range, Is reducing your highest size online in denim really going to help?
3. I feel sorry for fat anomalies who will not be able to purchase your jeans any more, the size 18 girls with the 24 arse and thighs who would adjust them with some crafty know how ( I myself have to buy 24-26-28 jeans and pin in the waist to accommodate my calves) and even your size 24 customers who had become quite accustomed to purchasing your jeans every few months as they wore out from being worn to death 
4. Every other "relevant" plus sized brand in Australia goes up to a 24 or has extended it's range to a 24

eh now I'm nit-picking but City Chic has the power to be a MAJOR brand in Australia and the world and in order to do that it has to step up it's game.

& The Ugly 

Faux Fur Vest Available at City Chic

GAH! stylist must be shot immediately, then the photographer who took the photo needs to be hog-tied then the web developer who put this online to make my eyes bleed needs to be locked in a basement; and I cannot even write what I would do to the designer who dreamt up this abomination! 

I have blocked the poor models eyes out to protect her dignity but I have included a link if you unlike me wish to purchase this item. Poor girl she's soo cute too and Aussie non white plus size models are few and far between, City Chic you better not have fucked up her career.

Shit I Want: Australian Plus size: Dream Diva

Red One Shoulder dress with Bow, Strapless Printed Dress with Belt and Flower Applique detail Party Dress
all from Dream Diva

I've been jonesing for a party dress to faff about town in and to absorb all the cider that I spill onto myself when I faff about town. And so far only Dream Diva has been hitting the mark of suitably tasteful-yet-fun-flirty-without-showing-my-minge-style dresses that I have been in search for since forever.

Oh and If I'm going to buy me a dress I should get some thing to cover my arse


Sequinned Mesh Skirt, Black Straight Leg, Zipper Detailed Pants and Black Waist Tie Skirt
all still from Dream Diva

Oh and and it's not a plus-size shopping spree without showing you the traditional Plus Size Fug



Deep V Foil Print Top, Centre Panel Halter Top
and Cross over Halter Top all Dream Diva

Not my bag, but there has to be a fat someone, somewhere that likes stupidly cut tops that cannot be worn with a bra or foil prints.

Reasons I hate buying stuff from Torrid #432094

The website navigation often sucks balls (like with a vacuum cleaner not the endearing blow-job kind of way) : the above are not the flare legged jeans I requested.

what I hate about plus size fashion in Australia: Kmart part two

All above styles available from Now Plus at Kmart

INT: K-mart Australia's Plus Size Headquarters

K-mart Guy 1:
oh my god! we have to start improving out plus size range this whole fatshionista movement is getting huge, everyone wants plus size clothes in fashionable and current styles what are we going to do?

K-mart Guy 2:
  I know, it's crazy I don't think we can keep up all we have are these shapeless sacks, how are we going to convince plus size women that these are on trend?

Kmart Guy 3:
ooh look what I found a stud gun and a million bronze studs y'know like the ones other brands put all over their clothes aout four years ago.

Kmart Guy 2:
oh yes and studs on clothes was a completely fashionable trend two years ago, I think they ere calling it punk or Emo or some other jazz like that.

Kmart Guy 1 :
I don't know this seems like a bit like we are shortchanging our plus size market

Kmart Guy 3:
  yeah but they are fat

Kmart Guy 1:
I suppose you're right I mean what can they do shop somewhere else?

Kmart Guy 1, 2 & 3:
all laugh heartily and pat each others on the back 

The Problem with Plus Size Cothing in Australia: Part Two (kmart edition)

I don't mind Kmart in Australia, it's a basic go to store for basics at a reasonable price it's close to my house and near where I get my groceries so I'm in there often, and all being said my local kmart has a decent selection of clothing  but not nearly enough of it while it still churns out aisles of polyester crap!

I have seen these pants sitting there year after year after year in every department store in Australia in the same colours, the same fabric and the same 3/4-7/8 length, and every-time I look at them I die a little inside.

I swear this looks like a bird went and shat all over an already bad floral print shirt (or it may be my photographic skills enhancing the the shittiness of this shirt)

Yes because as a fat girl I like to advertise the fact that I love to eat cookies and until I can save up enough money to get this phrase tattooed onto my forehead theres this t-shirt

And when I'm not advertising the fact that I'm a fat chick into cookies, I like to wear this t-shirt to show potential suitors that I am a sexual predator..I mean cougar in training! I mean there is nothing a woman can do to command more respect from her peers than to refer to herself as a cougar and be humble enough to admit that as a cougar she needs more training, and hug would be nice too.

DearTorrid WTF????

Purple Bright Sublimation Print Poppy Bubble Tube Dress

 

whoever styled this outfit should be shot, repeatedly,

 

White Peace Heart Lace-Hemmed Tank

I mean it looks like someone went through their scrap fabric pile and put all the rejected bits of fabric together, the print doesn't even go all over the fabric! I'm all for colour and clashing prints and textures but please Mr.Torrid designer, get someone to actually look at your designs before you ship them off to china to get some poor 16 year old sweatshop worker to make 50,000 of these

                                     Lip Service White Neon Paint Splatter Print Underbust Vest 

 This top manages to offend not only my eyes but also my sense of smell, don't know why it just does,  tis a shame because she is a gorgeous girl and her tits are spectacular