Full-figured women: Attention must be paid

Hurray for Christopher & Banks Corp.! The chain is set to open a new format that will feature merchandise from its nameplate division as well as its plus-sized offshoot, C.J. Banks. The company expects the concept, debuting in Scranton, Pa., will be the prototype for all its new stores. This comes at a time when other retailers, including Ann Taylor, have abandoned larger sizes entirely or, as in the case of Bloomingdale’s, reduced the space allotted to them.

I’ve never understood why mainstream retailers don’t give the plus-sized shopper the attention she deserves (the average American woman, by the way, wears a size 14 according to recent figures). But I’m happy to see that women of a certain size are finally speaking up. The first-ever Full-Figured Fashion Week was held last week in New York City, and it featured a mix of plus-sized fashion shows, panel discussions, and guest appearances from “curvy” celebrities. The attendees included marketing professionals, fashion buyers, designers and plus-sized fashionistas. You don’t have to be thin to love fashion. But that’s something that many retailers (with a few exceptions, including teen fave Torrid) still don’t get.