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News & ArtsWednesday, June 29, 2011
??!! / Retail The Fat Ladies in the Window: Lindy West Investigates!
Posted by Lindy West on Wed, Jun 29, 2011 at 4:33 PM
- (Click to enlarge. HAR!!!)
I (Lindy West, Girl Reporter) spoke to an extremely nice and cautious employee of Barneys New York at Pacific Place (who asked not to be identified), who told me, "I don't know that there's any real message," and directed me to the artist's website (describing her as "a larger Russian woman"—apparently this is large in the Barneys universe), explaining, "Without the context it does just look like random cartoon ladies, but if you actually look at the drawings in context it makes a lot more sense." I asked what the drawings meant in context. "There's just a lot of great imagery," I was told. I asked if the displays might be construed as insensitive. "Your observation—you wouldn't be the first to have that," the Barneys employee said, "but yeah. I mean, for people who aren't in on the joke, I can see how it could be offensive, but..."
"I'm still not totally clear on what the joke is," I said. "Yeah, I'm not either," admitted the Barneys employee. "That's why i don't want to say anything."
Personally, I actually feel the opposite of the Barneys employee—I don't think the artist's drawings are offensive in and of themselves; in fact they are rather cute. It's the context that made me do a "GWUUUUHHHH???" It is certainly Barneys New York's prerogative not to carry plus-size clothing. Not a problem. No big deal (no pun intended, etc etc). But fat women are acutely aware that it's difficult for them to find fashionable clothing (choices are limited to about three stores—get ten fat women in a room [HIDE THE DORITOS!] and six of them will be wearing the same dress) and physically impossible for them to buy high-end designer pieces. But does Barneys New York have to broadcast, as a big fat punchline (a self-described "joke") stenciled on their store windows, the disappointment and mild humiliation that awaits any foolish fat woman who dares to enter their store and attempt to purchase some stupid $4,000 shorts?
2
See, there's no way I would have gotten the "joke" without your explanation, because those cartoon women would definitely fit in a size 10-12. I would have thought they were freaking out over the price tag or something.
5
I am totally not in on "the joke." I've also never set foot in a Barney's store. Even if they had my size and offered me my own private pattern-maker and designer, and my choice of the best fabrics from Italian mills, I would not be able to suppress my good sense. My inner-Luisita would be muttering "I could sew that for only $1000!" "I could sew that for $500 and it would look a lot better too." "I could sew that and I'd finish the goddamn seams, too!"
But there is no way that window display is anything but nasty. Sorry. Just plain nasty. Poop on Barneys NY. It's official! They have shown themselves to be big doody heads.
But there is no way that window display is anything but nasty. Sorry. Just plain nasty. Poop on Barneys NY. It's official! They have shown themselves to be big doody heads.
6
Perhaps this will become a whole series of "progressive and self-deprecating political statements"? If so, the next one should be two scarecrow-thin women sticking their fingers down their throats and vomiting up huge wads of cash
8
man what is with WOMEN being so SENSITIVE. stop being so FAT if you're offended! its just a JOKE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1111
10
Where's the "Who cares?" button? Seriously, Barney's is stupid and only stupid people who like to throw away money shop there. They're hardly the example I would choose to promote progressive ideas about beauty and femininity.
11
My goodness. I didn't know Barneys has a website where they interview the artists they choose for their windows. Here's an excerpt:
BNY: So many of your paintings depict graphic, curvaceous women. How does the female form inspire you?http://thewindow.barneys.com/in-the-barn…
EK: There are several layers to my engagement with this form. This type of representation stems from a long tradition: from Etruscan and Greek art to Rubens, Matisse and Picasso, women have always looked plentiful (perhaps because such forms would give the artist more to work with?). I’m sure there’s a better reason. Also, it has to do with exaggeration. The women in my paintings are all about to burst. It is probably some sort of existential bursting, but filtered through comedy. Humor is a way of coping with the idea of the body’s eventual demise, as well as the ongoing absurdities of life. I’m not implying that “hefting” equals funny. The humor is more in their interaction and reference to comics and cartoons. Body type can be easily politicized, but to me this is not a moral issue. I always separate reality from representation.
12
Oh, I've stepped into a Barney's, in Beverly Hills, no less, and laughed hysterically at the prices on the handbags, before doing a turn out the door.
The rich don't give a crap about the rest of us. Just a reminder.
The rich don't give a crap about the rest of us. Just a reminder.
14
Honestly, from the angle those are photographed, it looks like delightfully-curvy women wearing skimpy, sexy clothes. I don't get any sense of "they're trying it on and it doesn't fit". Perhaps a better angle would illustrate your point better?
17
These windows are like Woody Allen movies or the cartoons in the New Yorker: not funny, not relevant to 98% of the population. Who cares what it means? Life is too short.
18
Who cares? Why is the "film editor" writing about mall windows and her Facebook problems? How about reviewing a film once in awhile...please Stranger, find someone to actually review films again....
19
I thought this was hilarious anti-vapid-costly-signalling-consumerist graffiti when I saw it, but they PAID for it? wtf.
21
FYI, there are clothing stores that cater exclusively to heavy gals. I think one has "Bryant" in the name.
22
so, like, i realize that it defeats the point of fat acceptance to look at a woman and go O MY FG, SHE IS SO NOT FAT, HOW CAN YOU EVEN SAY, but i just clicked on that russian lady, and i cannot suppress my shock that this woman would be called "larger." it's not about the word fat being a compliment or an insult and me trying to valiantly defend her attractive quotient (AQ). it's just about words meaning things and that description being wrong. larger than what? a toddler? a fingernail paring? you, personally, barneys lady?
words mean things. that's the problem here, i guess, at its crux.
anyway, this cartoon-on-the-barneys-window thing is dangerous territory. it's as though they're deliberately obfuscating their point, which i suspect it "har har, you are fat and can't wear our great clothes that you care about and definitely wish you could wear." gotta bad feeling about this. don't like it.
words mean things. that's the problem here, i guess, at its crux.
anyway, this cartoon-on-the-barneys-window thing is dangerous territory. it's as though they're deliberately obfuscating their point, which i suspect it "har har, you are fat and can't wear our great clothes that you care about and definitely wish you could wear." gotta bad feeling about this. don't like it.
23
What's with all the fat chicks in Seattle? My missus still wears the same slim clothes she bought at barneys 20 yrs ago, and that's after squeezing out some puppies. Seriously Seattle women, put the beers down and shed 40lbs.
24
Lindy,
I scoured the Barney's website for a pair of the a fore-mentioned $4000 shorts.
They don't exist.
Not on the website, anyway. I think I saw the most expensive pair of shorts for around $500. Which is ridiculous in my opinion.
But then I remember that there are many places in this country where the idea of paying $3.00+ for cup of coffee is absurd and is carried aloft as some sort of anti-liberal rallying cry. Which is also fucking stupid.
All of which makes me realize how the internet sure makes it easy to craft horseshit hyperbole on a slow news day merely to generate some sort of self-perceived pseudo-underclass outrage.
Congratulations.
I scoured the Barney's website for a pair of the a fore-mentioned $4000 shorts.
They don't exist.
Not on the website, anyway. I think I saw the most expensive pair of shorts for around $500. Which is ridiculous in my opinion.
But then I remember that there are many places in this country where the idea of paying $3.00+ for cup of coffee is absurd and is carried aloft as some sort of anti-liberal rallying cry. Which is also fucking stupid.
All of which makes me realize how the internet sure makes it easy to craft horseshit hyperbole on a slow news day merely to generate some sort of self-perceived pseudo-underclass outrage.
Congratulations.
25
Went to the Barneys sale in New York that everyone makes such a big deal about and guess what? $1000 for a suit is not a sale bitches!
But if you're in Barneys bulimic target demographic, hatin' on the fatties sends you on a buying spree.
But if you're in Barneys bulimic target demographic, hatin' on the fatties sends you on a buying spree.
26
BTW, Lindy you are not fat and you'd be even smaller if you didn't review burger joints and pick bacon pieces out of "inedible" salads.
33
"They're hardly the example I would choose to promote progressive ideas about beauty and femininity."
You mean a they're not a shop for fat and/or ugly birds? Good luck with that Progressive womyn's shop, you can call it 'The Fisherman's Wife'. Put in a tattoo parlor called 'Stretchable Tatts' and you have the Seattle womyn's perfect shop
You mean a they're not a shop for fat and/or ugly birds? Good luck with that Progressive womyn's shop, you can call it 'The Fisherman's Wife'. Put in a tattoo parlor called 'Stretchable Tatts' and you have the Seattle womyn's perfect shop
35
Call the anarchists! They seem to love smashing windows.
But fat women are acutely aware that it's . . . physically impossible for them to buy high-end designer pieces.
Not being able to spend money on absurdly-priced clothing seems to me like a positive aspect being a fat woman.
But fat women are acutely aware that it's . . . physically impossible for them to buy high-end designer pieces.
Not being able to spend money on absurdly-priced clothing seems to me like a positive aspect being a fat woman.
36
@35
Yeah, and not living to old age is a positive aspect of having AIDS.
Carry on purchasing your shapeless dumpy clothes at lane giant and fashion bug.
Yeah, and not living to old age is a positive aspect of having AIDS.
Carry on purchasing your shapeless dumpy clothes at lane giant and fashion bug.
37
I like the cartoon ladies, and I don't think they are fat. They're definitely zaftig. That is not a bad thing
40
@ 25 - Oh, if you're getting a $1000 suit at that sale, you're getting a good deal. The issue isn't whether the suit is worth more than $1000 (it is); it's whether you need a $1000 suit.
Believe me, I wish I couldn't tell the difference.
Believe me, I wish I couldn't tell the difference.
41
@9 Word. I had the hardest time finding a size 22 prom dress last week. Granted it was to play rugby in, BUT STILL.
FYI big girls- "Two Big Blondes" in the CD. They'll hook you up!
FYI big girls- "Two Big Blondes" in the CD. They'll hook you up!
44
wow Lindy, that was real cool how you interrogated a random salesperson who has no creative control over the store's window art about the company's fat-aesthetic. but hey, big-womyn pride, amirite?
45
@44 of course Lindy "(12 year old) girl reporter", can't actually be bothered to interview someone who had actual control...that would take some effort. Better to just whine about how her coworkers and the world don't understand the travails of "hello I'm fat", than do anything thar resembles reporting or writing or...oh never mind I'm tired...hey there's a bear!
46
I think the artist is making a comment about Barney's, and getting Barney's to pay for it and show it at Barney's, which, in context is what it fairly interesting. The artist is also a good draughtsperson, too.
47
Wow, the store actually paid for that to be there? When I saw the picture I thought it was a graffiti. Though I'm not really cool with graffiti I'll admit I found it an amusing mockery of the impossible sizes of these stores. Sort of a direct-action editorial cartoon.
But if this was actually commissioned by the corporation itself...well fuck. Several times Lindy I thought you were overreacting to slights or discussions of weight, but here I gotta say you're being way too nice. These people delight in making the store as overweight-unfriendly as they possibly can. I'm not overweight and though I've never been to Barneys, I have been to upscale stores apparently catered to obscenely rich 14 year-old girls. Thin ones. Saying that it might be a self-deprecating joke, instead of a fat-deprecating joke directed at the thin rich women who constitute their client base and can snigger as they go in, strikes me as an awfully generous reading.
But if this was actually commissioned by the corporation itself...well fuck. Several times Lindy I thought you were overreacting to slights or discussions of weight, but here I gotta say you're being way too nice. These people delight in making the store as overweight-unfriendly as they possibly can. I'm not overweight and though I've never been to Barneys, I have been to upscale stores apparently catered to obscenely rich 14 year-old girls. Thin ones. Saying that it might be a self-deprecating joke, instead of a fat-deprecating joke directed at the thin rich women who constitute their client base and can snigger as they go in, strikes me as an awfully generous reading.
48
Fuck Barney's and their stupid fucking moron skinny ass skanky cunt customers who would pay $4000 for a pair of shorts. Go to Target, pay $25 and send the other $3975 to Habitat for Humanity or the food bank or any other of the several hundred other charities that would love to have an extra $4K!
49
"Get ten fat women in a room... and six of them will be wearing the same dress"
I'm glad I'm a "larger" chick myself so I can quote this all the time without sounding like an asshole. Cause it is TRUTH.
I'm glad I'm a "larger" chick myself so I can quote this all the time without sounding like an asshole. Cause it is TRUTH.
53
I just saw these window displays this morning and was really confused, but I think you did miss the joke. On another window, there are decals of two women with weird faces on their dresses that seems like a weird sexual innuendo. I think the large women with small clothes image is actually making fun of the store not making fun of the women, and it's not tone deaf because the whole point of the image is to draw attention to the crass business of shopping for teeny tiny clothes to begin with.
54
I am Joshua's total lack of compassion. You should try being a 28 year old male with a 28 inch waist and NOT shop at Barney's. Seriously. Target sells clown pants and Urban Outfitters sells denim leggings. Where the hell do I buy reasonable looking pants?
55
Barney's proved their complete stupidity a few years ago by displaying phrases like "Go Green" and "Green is the New Black" in bright lights in all their windows. This little brain fart (do rich people fart?) doesn't surprise me at all.
Now back to more important matters, like finding those damn Doritos!
Now back to more important matters, like finding those damn Doritos!
57
my take? As a size 12. . . I get totally peeved when everything is a size '0' . . . and built for women shaped like little boys.
So yeah, I saw myself in the cartoon getting pissed at yet another piece of clothing that's either "menswear" or "military" or "boyfriend" styled . . . and size '0.' wtf!? urgh.
So yeah, I saw myself in the cartoon getting pissed at yet another piece of clothing that's either "menswear" or "military" or "boyfriend" styled . . . and size '0.' wtf!? urgh.
58
At first, I thought they were making fun of fatties, and sending a no-fatties-need-apply vibe. Then I went to the artist's website, which shows her art, featuring plus-size women looking great and doing strong and/or beautiful things (see 'Arm-Wrestling' ) I think that if you recognized the artist's work, it would seem that the artist is poking fun at Barney's and it's tiny clothes, and making a statment about society that prefers skinny women and would consider Marilyn Monroe to be a cow. Of course, the artist is obscure, and her website isn't part of the window display. So, to sum up, my guess is the display's purpose is to a) stir up controversy featuring the name "Barney's" and b) promote the artist.
That said, I don't shop at Barney's, but they're a high-end retailer, like, for example, Nordstrom, and they practice "vanity sizing'. That means that if you actually need a size two, and not a four marked two, you can't buy them outside the teen department, where they are often cheap and trashy. That pisses me off, as it makes me go around in baggy pants, making me look even more like a prepubescent boy than I already do.
That said, I don't shop at Barney's, but they're a high-end retailer, like, for example, Nordstrom, and they practice "vanity sizing'. That means that if you actually need a size two, and not a four marked two, you can't buy them outside the teen department, where they are often cheap and trashy. That pisses me off, as it makes me go around in baggy pants, making me look even more like a prepubescent boy than I already do.
59
There's clearly a great business opportunity out there selling high fashion [and high-priced] clothes to plus-size women.
If the U.S. Government were to end Corporate Welfare, perhaps our great nation's entrepreneurs could focus on satisfying this need, rather than hiring lobbyists to kiss Congressional a-- to accompany a relative pittance in campaign contributions.
If Barney's chooses not to cater to plus-size women, well, those plus-size women will spend their money elsewhere, where it is welcome, and some smart businessperson will do very well serving this market.
Who cares if the media ignores such a company? 'No need to hire publicists to kiss reporters' a--es either, as word-of-mouth - for free - is the most credible advertising anyway. Media bias against people of size doesn't affect the cash register.
If the U.S. Government were to end Corporate Welfare, perhaps our great nation's entrepreneurs could focus on satisfying this need, rather than hiring lobbyists to kiss Congressional a-- to accompany a relative pittance in campaign contributions.
If Barney's chooses not to cater to plus-size women, well, those plus-size women will spend their money elsewhere, where it is welcome, and some smart businessperson will do very well serving this market.
Who cares if the media ignores such a company? 'No need to hire publicists to kiss reporters' a--es either, as word-of-mouth - for free - is the most credible advertising anyway. Media bias against people of size doesn't affect the cash register.
61
@ 57 - Yes, that's the way to respond to our society's fat-phobia. By calling thin women without much in the way of breasts "little boys." How enlightened and progressive of you.
Also, please stop abusing ellipses.
Also, please stop abusing ellipses.
62
you don't have to be plus sized to be frustrated by cute things that don't fit. its a universal experience. and those women in the drawing arn't fat. they're just feminine. its like an r.crumb thing. cartoons.
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