Thursday, May 08, 2008

But She Got Much Back

A loyal reader forwarded me this website, a clothing company called "Little in the Middle," specializing in clothing for normal women. Specifically, the company caters to those of us "pears," who have smaller waists and larger hips and thighs.

I certainly appreciate the brand's philosophy--no more jeans gaping at the back! But, I'm staring to wonder is "Little in the Middle" as detrimental a phrase as "Big in the Bottom" when it comes to body and size acceptance?

17 comments:

Kathy Rogers said...

Speaking for the apple shapes, I'm just pissed there isn't a similar thing for us. I wouldn't care if they called it "Ginormous Stomach and No Ass" if I could find pants that fit.

But, yeah, I mean, what are the odds that your average pear woman is gonna be "little in the middle" or anywhere else anyway? "Little" is for children. Stupid name. Agreed.

April said...

I can't wear pants at all because the ones that fit in the hips are too tight in the waist. I prefer skirts, which I find much more comfortable.

Guess I'm not one of those "normal" women.

a

Anonymous said...

personally, i'm a lot more bothered by fightglobalwarming.com's logo - that the world 'losing weight' means it's healthier.

sorry to off-topic, it just reminded me.

Anonymous said...

Finally! Jeans for small waisted women up to size 14! "Normal" women! It's a revolution!

Not trying to minimize the shopping problems of my big-bottomed peers, but I think the issue has at least been tackled by other clothing brands before, while we're still waiting for the first attempt at "Ginormous Stomach and No Ass". Obviously, we aren't normal. We don't even exist.

Sheathen said...

I have a moderate stomach and no ass or hips, so I buy men's pants most of the time, and they fit really well. And best of all, standardized sizing!!!

Anwen said...

"Everything! Little in the Middle ™ is the signature style for women with small waists and slightly larger hips. Typically, hourglass or pear-shaped figures fit right into this category. "

So, not even all pear shaped/hourglass types will fit, if we're only allowed to have 'slightly' larger hips. And presumably pear/hourglass types never have big tummies, judging by the insanely-photoshopped image on the main page.

GAH at all companies which claim that their clothes are for 'normal'/'real' women when they in fact cater to a very specific body type. In fact, gah at any use of the word 'normal'. Gah, I say!

Fat Academic said...

The 'little in the middle' bit doesn't bother me because women may well be bigger either side of the middle. It is the use of the phrase "normal women" that pisses me off no end. So now women with apple shapes are not normal? Or carrot shapes or any other shape for that matter? Even if I was a little in the middle kind of gal I would be boycotting this site based on the use of 'normal women' alone.

Anonymous said...

Yeah that is obviously not a plus sized clothing company. The measurements on their survey did not go high enough for me to fill it out. I could do the waist, but my hips are 10" wider around.

I actually have more problems finding dresses as a pear shaped lady person. I got a bridesmaids dress altered this weekend. We had to take in 16 inches around the top of the gown. But the hips fit perfectly. I have this problem in any dress that I buy, in order for the bottom to fit the top must be too big. (Which would totally be okay if I could just live life in skirts and tops, but turns out they don't do that for bridesmaids.)

PTC said...

I'm still trying to figure out what "apple bottom jeans" are.

Anonymous said...

Hi, My name is Lee Ann, the owner of Little in the Middle. I appreciate all your comments and just wanted to clarify a few. We have changed the tag line to be Real Women and have the company set up to manufactur all jeans by body shape and have focused the first production on the shape for the hour glass or pear shape. Once we master all of the production issues, we are moving on to the different body shapes. Also, none of the pictures were photo shopped. These were friends of mine that were used for the photo shoot. We just finished production of jeans up to a size 22 and doing quaility testing on them. We appreciated all the feedback. It matters to us about creating a more positive body image because this is something I struggled with because of not being able to get clothes that fit me. Lee Ann

Anonymous said...

Hi Dr. Stacey,

My name is Jacob Morales and I created a project called "This is NOT a diet." When I came across your site, I was intrigued because I've heard similar statements from women in our group. We're a group that is against fad diets and we're all about making critical life changes to achieve true, lasting health! We're documenting our mission through our website and are encouraging other women and men to do the same with us!

Visit us at: http://thisisnotadiet.org

lady in blue said...

Wow, I am shocked how negative some people are about the wording of the name of this company Little in the Middle. Stop reading too much into the words and into the idea. If you know anything about fashion and take a look in the high fashion magazines you will see that they "sell" the size 2 image and try to make people think this is "NORMAL", but for a change a woman with a problem finding clothes fit her bigger hip/smaller waiste body type (pear shape as some of you may call it) came up with this FANTASTIC brand of jean to help them fit better! What is wrong with that? Now there is a product to help someone. These jeans will not fit everyone for sure, everyone is shaped different. Just like someone pear shaped can't wear mens jeans and fit right. So chill out, give the woman a break, using the wording "for real people" is meaning people NOT A SIZE 2!!!!! because most of the nation is NOT! As for the comment of obvious airbrushing, I know for a fact it is not since I am the woman in blue and this is the "real me". We are JUST NORMAL WOMEN!!!!
I have always struggled finding pants that fit because I have bigger hips. I think this an awesome idea and just because they dont fit you, doesnt mean you have to be so negative. DONT BE A HATER, life is too short, spread the love! Signed, Lady in Blue.....

Anonymous said...

Iam so glad to see that other people think the same way I do!!!!! I LOVE my LITTLE IN THE MIDDLE JEANS!!!!!! They have really given me a solution for finding a great fitting pair of jeans. Can you please try to find the possitive in what Little in the Middle is doing!!!! Breaking into the Fashion Industry to promote possitive body image and create awareness of the dangers for eating disorders, the impact this company is making by using her company to educate people and empower women who face these frustrations and your going to worry about the NAME!!! Iam sure they are not going to fit everyone, does any Jean??? So lets encourage our fellow women to continue to do things in this world to empower other women.!!
Signed,Latina

Sheila said...

Catherine's and Lane Bryant have pants and jeans in three different body shapes. They are called "right fit" and help with some waist/hip ratio issues.

Fat Academic said...

Sorry Lee Ann but "real women" is just as bad as "normal women". By using "real women" you are implying that any one who doesn't fit into your jeans isn't a "real woman". Which is flat out wrong obviously. "Real women" come in all shapes and sizes including straight up and down, little in the middle, huge on top etc etc. Language is extremely important as I am sure you would understand.

Lady in Blue: no one has an issue with the jeans themselves from what I can gather but using exclusionary language make this project just as bad as those business that promote size 0 (or 2 or whatever) as being the norm. There is no norm and there is no need to choose slogans or tag lines that are intentionally exclusionary.

the Villamor's said...

I don't think you can ever find language or wording that will please everyone. I have adopted children and was searching the internet for birthmother day ideas(it is always the day before mother's day). I have taught classes at adoption conferences about positive adoption language(PAL)-where you refer to yourself(adoptive mother) as the "real mother" and the birthmother as "birthmother" or "first mother"....all the terms are meant to help dispel myths about adoption for everyone involved in the process. While searching today I came across a website that showed how PAL was bad and wrong and manipulative. So....my point....it is hard to please everyone. Someone is always going to have a problem with a name or a slogan. Certain phrases hit nerves with different people based on their history.

Hope that came out right and I didn't offend anyone!

Danithegreat said...

what about nice pear?

I like it but it could have leery undertones