VS "Love Your Body" Commerical Rant

Katanthus

Some people think that women are getting upset because "their body shape is not represented", which is incorrect.. women get upset, because companies such as VS cater to one specific group.

I will not walk in any of their stores ever again, and neither will most of my friends. I wanted to buy a bra (36C at the time), and was told "oh no, we don't put THAT size out on display". I replied, "so, what you are saying is, you don't want women who actually HAVE breasts to be seen buying bras?" If I wanted an ironing board cover, I would go to Bed Bath and Beyond.

When you consider over 61% of Americans are overweight or obese, their marketing department needs an overhaul.

EatClean_WashUrNuts

SMH....question....Which of you are "too big" for VS because of a medical issue? Just want to make sure tht y'all are pissed off at VS for the right reason, and not your own actions.

trophywife24

I'm not a fan of Dove's campagins, at all. I get what they're trying to do but the whole "real women have curves" thing that they're pimping out is vomitus. Real women have vagina's, period.

DrMAvDPhD

Why do we think that retailers should have to tailor to us at every size? VS obviously found that they are more profitable if they only produce a certain range of sizes. It isn't a personal insult, it's just business. Don't tie your self-satisfaction to a marketing ploy.

I don't understand that. There are more plus sized women in this country than there used to be, so why wouldn't they want us to shop there? More customers = more money. I don't see the disconnect here.

It isn't that simple, that's why you can get 4 year and master's degrees in things like marketing, advertising, and manufacturing.

For every size that a company carries, they have to have different spaces, different equipment, and more people to produce them. VS picked their most profitable sizes and continued to produce them, and cut the ones that weren't selling enough to be worth the expense. Large companies like VS have staff dedicated to analyzing profit, they don't just flush money down the drain. If they chose to stop carrying your size, there is a reason.

kjjunior

http://themetapicture.com/the-difference-between-victorias-secret-and-dove/

Victoria Secret commercials make me want to throw up. Dove commercials make me want to buy their product. Don't the marketing people realize that we're smart enough to know buying their bras aren't going to make us look super sexy and skinny? I mean...seriously.

IrishHarpy1

Yeah, I went into a VS years ago and was told they didn't carry "my size"... it made me embarrassed and angry, and I swore I would never shop there again.

Fast forward to now: I have (literally) worked my *kitten* off, and fit into their things. I don't care *who* their target audience is -- I don't watch their fashion shows, and can't tell you the last time I saw one of their commercials. What I *do* know is that I deserve pretty underthings, and that is my store of choice.

Maybe I've developed enough self-esteem not to be offended by a retailer's advertising. It's a little like being ticked off at a Porsche commercial because you can't afford one, isn't it?

IpuffyheartHeelsinthegym

I love the dove one... I have never been able to fit in VS anything!

on the flip side of the VS one, the Dove one makes me feel like myself and women my size not real women.... so, it goes both ways. VS is focusing on their targte audience whle Dove is making it seem onlly bigger is beautiful and that is crap. All women are beautiful. Period.

This was something I posted earlier and thought I'd share here with you all, because I think it seems fitting. "Curves don't have to be negative. I have curves and I'm loving them. You see, I never used to have curves. I used to be a walking stick figure. Then, I started eating better and more food, working out, which caused me to lose body fat therefore creating curves. So see? Curves can be positive. ♥ ~ Bry"

Erisad

And this one is meant for the OP: This is the second time (that I am aware of) that you started an entire thread to complain about VS. Seriously, get over it already!

It's been a while since I started the other one though and I considered not starting this one because of it but I just wanted to get my opinion out there since it was about the ad more than the store. So am I not allowed to speak my mind just because I mentioned it before? Where is that in the MFP rules? You don't have to read this thread if you don't want to, I'm not forcing people to read it. Ugh.

Feel free to speak your mind but honestly you need to learn to separate marketing from self worth if this gets to you so bad. And I am just as entitled to speak my mind as you are.

Honestly, with the frame I have, I'll never be thin so the odds of me ever being able to look like those on TV is pretty much impossible. And since VS is the only lingerie store in the area, I don't really have a lot of options if I wanted to get sexy lingerie. So I gotta settle for the ones in department stores as they are the only ones that carry my size. Hopefully when I move (within the next year or so) I'll be closer to other lingerie stores so it won't bother me as much. >.<

DrMAvDPhD

When you consider over 61% of Americans are overweight or obese, their marketing department needs an overhaul.

I think its funny that you think you know better than the experts VS hires and all money they spend researching. Have I missed something? Is VS near bankruptcy? Seems like they are doing just fine in the niche they've chosen for themselves. Stop being butt-hurt about them not having your size.

AND FYI they don't carry my bra size either, yet somehow I still feel whole.

CoderGal

I use to buy their stuff online every year. I was in ny so I visited a store. I was pumped. I was in a rush and I ran to the dressing room to try the one I liked on. The girl told me I didnt have the right size. I argued i sized myself and have been fitted in 2 other stores and to just let me try it on. She wouldnt let me. Basically told me we didn't know what we were doing and used her talking to kids voice. I stood there like an idiot as she got me a 32A. I told her it wasnt going to fit and I was in a hurry. She insisted so I quadraboobed my way into the teeny bra. I then yelled at her that it didnt fit. She stormed into the dressing room without asking and kinda jumped back in fright I think haha. The bra was trying to make a boob out of my underboob and my nips were popping out over the top...so she agreed to get me the size I wanted and so i asked her for a few more types of bras and ran out of there before she came back. It was kind of an embarassing degrading experience. F victoria secret I well never buy from there again.

IronmanPanda

DrMAvDPhD

And this one is meant for the OP: This is the second time (that I am aware of) that you started an entire thread to complain about VS. Seriously, get over it already!

It's been a while since I started the other one though and I considered not starting this one because of it but I just wanted to get my opinion out there since it was about the ad more than the store. So am I not allowed to speak my mind just because I mentioned it before? Where is that in the MFP rules? You don't have to read this thread if you don't want to, I'm not forcing people to read it. Ugh.

Feel free to speak your mind but honestly you need to learn to separate marketing from self worth if this gets to you so bad. And I am just as entitled to speak my mind as you are.

Honestly, with the frame I have, I'll never be thin so the odds of me ever being able to look like those on TV is pretty much impossible. And since VS is the only lingerie store in the area, I don't really have a lot of options if I wanted to get sexy lingerie. So I gotta settle for the ones in department stores as they are the only ones that carry my size. Hopefully when I move (within the next year or so) I'll be closer to other lingerie stores so it won't bother me as much. >.<

Same lame excuses as last time so I'll give you the same advice a bunch of people did on the last thread.

You clearly have the internet. Take your measurements, buy online. It's what I do.

Erisad

I'm not a fan of Dove's campagins, at all. I get what they're trying to do but the whole "real women have curves" thing that they're pimping out is vomitus. Real women have vagina's, period.

Lol but they can't sell product with a slogan like that. Unless they're selling tampons or pads.

neh310

I have not seen the commercial. I went into my local VS store 2 months ago and bought a bra - 40D - and it fits perfectly. That is with my one breast being a lot (seemingly to me) larger than the other. On the other hand, the panties (sz L) do not fit at all. Well unless I want to squeeze into them which is not cute and not comfortable. I can fit into Large pajamas from VS - but not their clothes. My only point is that not everyone is one size fits all. Not every last sz 16 person fits into the same clothing the same way. For me, seeing something I want to wear but can't fit into serves as a sort of inspiration, not something to be mad about. I have 8 sz 16 jeans in my closet, and only 5 of them fit well (the rest are a little snug) but sz 18 jeans are normally too big and not flattering anymore. I'm sure that my whole body can be in between sizes at different times. :bigsmile:

bleacheblonde

Completely agree!! And no, it's not that I want them to carry huge stuff for obese women. Its the fact that they are very clear about the narrow range of what they consider acceptable, especially in their physical stores. You can get a much wider range of sizes shopping on their website than you can in the store.

Oh, and this comment:
"Thread full of women upset that their exact body type isn't represented in every single commercial."

NO. That is not the issue (although maybe it is for some people). Have you seen all the VS models? They are all pretty much exactly the same: very thin. All of them. No exceptions. They even think Kate friggin' Upton is too fat (excuse me, I mean "curvy") to represent their brand. So no, I'm not upset that my exact body type is not represented. But I do get upset that they preach "love your body" but then the only bodies they show are skinny. Pretty contradictory.

Jacwhite22

I have nothing to add. I thought this was posted in chit chat, fun and games......

Bumdrahp

And this one is meant for the OP: This is the second time (that I am aware of) that you started an entire thread to complain about VS. Seriously, get over it already!

It's been a while since I started the other one though and I considered not starting this one because of it but I just wanted to get my opinion out there since it was about the ad more than the store. So am I not allowed to speak my mind just because I mentioned it before? Where is that in the MFP rules? You don't have to read this thread if you don't want to, I'm not forcing people to read it. Ugh.

Feel free to speak your mind but honestly you need to learn to separate marketing from self worth if this gets to you so bad. And I am just as entitled to speak my mind as you are.

Honestly, with the frame I have, I'll never be thin so the odds of me ever being able to look like those on TV is pretty much impossible. And since VS is the only lingerie store in the area, I don't really have a lot of options if I wanted to get sexy lingerie. So I gotta settle for the ones in department stores as they are the only ones that carry my size. Hopefully when I move (within the next year or so) I'll be closer to other lingerie stores so it won't bother me as much. >.<

Same lame excuses as last time so I'll give you the same advice a bunch of people did on the last thread.

You clearly have the internet. Take your measurements, buy online. It's what I do.

This may come across like I am a B*tch, but why do you sound like you are almost angry with her?! LOL.. chill out.


Not everyone likes to order their clothing online. I KNOW I DON'T because nothing EVER fits right, I Need to try everything on.

That being said, you can always return it if it doesn't fit, but it's a long tedious process.

neh310

I'm not a fan of Dove's campagins, at all. I get what they're trying to do but the whole "real women have curves" thing that they're pimping out is vomitus. Real women have vagina's, period.

Lol but they can't sell product with a slogan like that. Unless they're selling tampons or pads.

HA HA this made me laugh right out loud!!

fbmandy55

Yeah... the bottom pic is definitely hotter. Because its real.

You don't think they photoshopped the cellulite out?

Are the VS models androids then, you think?

Everyone knows that VS airbrushes and photoshops the snot out of their model's photos. If the bottom is airbrushed it at least represents average women or a VARIETY of shapes and sizes, all beautiful.. not a fantasy of what real people look like.

Erisad

And this one is meant for the OP: This is the second time (that I am aware of) that you started an entire thread to complain about VS. Seriously, get over it already!

It's been a while since I started the other one though and I considered not starting this one because of it but I just wanted to get my opinion out there since it was about the ad more than the store. So am I not allowed to speak my mind just because I mentioned it before? Where is that in the MFP rules? You don't have to read this thread if you don't want to, I'm not forcing people to read it. Ugh.

Feel free to speak your mind but honestly you need to learn to separate marketing from self worth if this gets to you so bad. And I am just as entitled to speak my mind as you are.

Honestly, with the frame I have, I'll never be thin so the odds of me ever being able to look like those on TV is pretty much impossible. And since VS is the only lingerie store in the area, I don't really have a lot of options if I wanted to get sexy lingerie. So I gotta settle for the ones in department stores as they are the only ones that carry my size. Hopefully when I move (within the next year or so) I'll be closer to other lingerie stores so it won't bother me as much. >.<

Same lame excuses as last time so I'll give you the same advice a bunch of people did on the last thread.

You clearly have the internet. Take your measurements, buy online. It's what I do.

So it's an excuse that I'm not willing to drive 2 hours to go to a lingerie store that has my size? I'd spend more in gas money than I did on the bra.

I have my measurements. I'm in between sizes so I don't know what I would get in specific brands without trying them on first. And I'd hate to spend money on a bra, have it arrive and have it not fit. Making returns to an online store is a pain in the *kitten* so I'd probably end up keeping it until hopefully I fit into it someday. Apparently having reasons to not take everyone's advice is making excuses. It's my money, not yours so I can spend it however I want.

DrMAvDPhD

This may come across like I am a B*tch, but why do you sound like you are almost angry with her?! LOL.. chill out.


Not everyone likes to order their clothing online. I KNOW I DON'T because nothing EVER fits right, I Need to try everything on.

That being said, you can always return it if it doesn't fit, but it's a long tedious process.

I'm not angry with her. I'm just not babying her, I'm telling her to suck it up and fix her own problems. Trust me, I don't care enough about a stranger on the internet to get worked up over it. I am actually over here laughing at most of this thread ;-)

When you wear sizes that aren't carried in most stores, you need to find alternatives. Whining to strangers on the internet doesn't solve your problem. Buying things on the internet does.

Erisad

This may come across like I am a B*tch, but why do you sound like you are almost angry with her?! LOL.. chill out.


Not everyone likes to order their clothing online. I KNOW I DON'T because nothing EVER fits right, I Need to try everything on.

That being said, you can always return it if it doesn't fit, but it's a long tedious process.

That's the tone I'm getting from her. What did I do to piss her off so bad? She can leave the thread if she wants. >.>

I order clothes from QVC because I feel confident in their sizing as my mom ordered me things from there before for birthday presents. So when I started working, I was able to know that I could get clothes that fit me from there. I still don't order bras from there though. Maybe I should. :laugh:

It is a pain in the *kitten*, which is why I'm very selective in what sites I order stuff from: Amazon (because I work for them, I know where the items come from) and QVC.

knitfastpurlyoung

I don't understand that. There are more plus sized women in this country than there used to be, so why wouldn't they want us to shop there? More customers = more money. I don't see the disconnect here.

For the same reason Bentley don't make a £10,000 cheap runaround type car. Maintaining the brand. It makes sense to target 25% of the population but be able to charge 10 times the price.

Further to this point...

I used to work in Ted Baker, and their clothes only came in UK sizes 6, 8, 10, 12.

Now I work sometimes in advertising, and I use the phrase "on-brand" and "off-brand" more than I'd like. Ted Baker considered UK sizes 14+ overweight, and therefore "off-brand". Simply put, they didn't want overweight clients wearing their clothes - clients who are walking advertisements for future clients, so they don't sell the clothes in those sizes.

Any brand will target a particular demographic, and aim to sell to them, but they also decide by default which demographics they don't want to sell to as well.

infamousmk

I just bought a VS bra last week - a 36DD .. and it is the best fitting bra I've ever owned. And they did in fact carry 38Ds, I could have selected one of those alternatively..


Here's the thing - Not every store can market to every one. VS probably does want everyone to love their bodies - who doesn't, really?? But their business model is not based on carrying sizes for every woman. There's a reason there is a Petite Sophisticate and Lane Bryant just down the main drag of the mall from VS ... There are different stores for different bodies.

If y'all are letting VS tell you how to feel about yourselves, this is a bigger problem that VS's latest campaign ad.

DrMAvDPhD

And this one is meant for the OP: This is the second time (that I am aware of) that you started an entire thread to complain about VS. Seriously, get over it already!

It's been a while since I started the other one though and I considered not starting this one because of it but I just wanted to get my opinion out there since it was about the ad more than the store. So am I not allowed to speak my mind just because I mentioned it before? Where is that in the MFP rules? You don't have to read this thread if you don't want to, I'm not forcing people to read it. Ugh.

Feel free to speak your mind but honestly you need to learn to separate marketing from self worth if this gets to you so bad. And I am just as entitled to speak my mind as you are.

Honestly, with the frame I have, I'll never be thin so the odds of me ever being able to look like those on TV is pretty much impossible. And since VS is the only lingerie store in the area, I don't really have a lot of options if I wanted to get sexy lingerie. So I gotta settle for the ones in department stores as they are the only ones that carry my size. Hopefully when I move (within the next year or so) I'll be closer to other lingerie stores so it won't bother me as much. >.<

Same lame excuses as last time so I'll give you the same advice a bunch of people did on the last thread.

You clearly have the internet. Take your measurements, buy online. It's what I do.

So it's an excuse that I'm not willing to drive 2 hours to go to a lingerie store that has my size? I'd spend more in gas money than I did on the bra.

I have my measurements. I'm in between sizes so I don't know what I would get in specific brands without trying them on first. And I'd hate to spend money on a bra, have it arrive and have it not fit. Making returns to an online store is a pain in the *kitten* so I'd probably end up keeping it until hopefully I fit into it someday. Apparently having reasons to not take everyone's advice is making excuses. It's my money, not yours so I can spend it however I want.

I seriously can't get over how funny you are. You won't drive 2 hours even once to find a bra line that fits, but you will spend 2 hours creating threads complaining about one company not carrying your size? VS isn't going to magically change its mind, if you want lingerie do something constructive about it.

Again, find a line that fits you. Either by finding places that sell it in person or trial and error over the internet. Buy lots of bras from that company in that size, online will work well for that. I highly recommend Panache, they cater well to large cups in various band sizes and I have found them to be very true to size. I tried on and purchased one bra at a specialty store I had to drive over an hour to get to, and have since ordered 4 more in various colors and styles from the internet and all fit just the same as the first.

yoovie

Not all bodies should wear all styles. many times, there is a size cap on a style because a larger size would not fit it correctly, it wont hang as it was designed to and it would not flatter the wearer.

Built in fashion police.

Thank god.

Raynne413

I buy their stuff. I like their actual clothing (only available online), but I AM irritated that I am currently wearing their size 6's that I bought three years ago, yet to buy something that fits their CURRENT sizing, I have to buy an 8. :grumble:

rml_16

Not all bodies should wear all styles. many times, there is a size cap on a style because a larger size would not fit it correctly, it wont hang as it was designed to and it would not flatter the wearer.

Built in fashion police.

Thank god.

And then there are the clothes that should most definitely have a size cap and don't. And they're usually very short and made of Spandex.

*shudder*

dad106

I just threw out a VS bra because of how uncomfortable it was... and I've pretty much scrapped all underwear I had by them too.

All I wear now is Aerie by American Eagle... Good bras, good underwear and uber cheap when on sale.

Erisad

I'm not angry with her. I'm just not babying her, I'm telling her to suck it up and fix her own problems. Trust me, I don't care enough about a stranger on the internet to get worked up over it. I am actually over here laughing at most of this thread ;-)

When you wear sizes that aren't carried in most stores, you need to find alternatives. Whining to strangers on the internet doesn't solve your problem. Buying things on the internet does.

So I'm not allowed to rant on the internet ever? Is that pretty much what you're saying? Sometimes you just want to let it all out in a rant and then you feel better about it. I'll keep that in mind. I have alternatives (they aren't super sexy or anything but at least I have something to wear), Whatever. Whatever I say at this point isn't going to matter as you'll just say I'm whining and continue to make me feel bad for ever posting in the first place.