Shopping and the feeling you don't belong.

This Sunday I braved a local mall to help a chick friend of mine find structure undergarments. In fat girl speak we were looking for the all popular spanx, the things you wear over your undies and under a dress to suck you in and look slimier.

My friend is between sizes (12-14) so we had the opportunity to go to a few normal size stores so she could look for things. While in a Jcpenny's intimate apparel department looking at different choices I noticed a whole rack of these suction garments labeled under the name "no fat shopping". I wish the camera on my phone worked so I could show you the tag.
I almost screamed in frustration at the stupid marketing that stores seem to have. Like these magical things will somehow constrict you body so far it will appear there is no fat on you. PLEASE! I was seriously offended.
I am all for wanting clothes to hang properly and look their best on me, but to go so far as what that tag said is just shameful.

Since we didn't find exactly what she was looking for at penny's we wandered back in to the mall. Naturally  torrid whom had the real brand of spanx. She found a pair that fit her and was happy with the way it looked under the dress she is wearing to a friends wedding.
While I do have issues with Torrid for their lack of style options, the bad quality of the clothes they offer at the  high prices they charge; I will say that the staff they hire is always very helpful and polite. In an age where customer service seems to be falling by the way side, it is refreshing to see one store doing right by its customers.

This brings me to my friends hunt for a bra.. She didn't realize she could have looked at torrid since they carry her size (38c), we went to Fredrick's of hollywood. Talk about rude service! They told her that they don't carry her size (cause magically 38C isn't a normal size?)  and would help her look through the racks to confirm this (she buys bras from the store normally so she knew they were full of crap). I did however look and found her several options. Nothing but lazy rude service all they way. At least she didn't get told she has to shop at their online store to purchase their goods, like I have been told in the past.

I find going to the mall to be exhausting mentally. I don't like the treatment I get in most stores, even if I'm just there with a friend. I know the sales people are trying to figure out how to tell me they don't carry my size (this really did happen in H&M; Was waiting for a friend to try clothes on, browsing the racks for more things for her. I had and employee come tell me that the arm full of things I had wouldn't fit me. Like no shit I don't wear a size large, they aren't for me! I really wanted to ask why they don't carry they BIB line that europe has; but then I remembered that this sales person is but a peon.)

As my friend and I left the mall she was telling me how she receives horrible service every time she goes to buy bras, no matter what store she goes into. She says she is getting a complex about her size; It wasn't helpful but I couldn't help but laugh, since I'm about 10 sizes bigger than her.

All I got to say is if your going to work retail, remember that the customer is who put money in your pay check. Don't discriminate against a person, because you don't think they belong in your store. Bottom line nicer you are to me the more likely I'll be spending money at your store. And you piss off one fat girl you piss off a lot of us. 'cause us fatties, yeah we all talk to one another.

Kisses!
Raven