Letters to the Editor
nancyh
Published Letters: 155 Editor's Choice: 5
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Second hand info
[Read the article: Do not go gentle into that Eileen Fisher]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]This is admittedly second hand. There were only a few bricks and mortar stores and none in my neck of the woods. In addition, they were not linked on the Gap website like the other Gap group stores (Gap, Baby Gap etc) and they did not do the heavy Gap-like advertising. So, I think that one problem was that they never developed a presence in the market.
The second problem was the clothes (kind of a biggie). There is a Gap aesthetic that is somewhat variable from season to season, but there is a thread of continuity that ensures brand recognition. From what I read and saw 4th and Towne never figured that out. So, there were some pieces that looked like Chico’s and other pieces that looked Gapish and others that were just sort of dumpy.
I think the problem is that nobody has really figured out what a hip 40+ year old should look like. So, instead of a top-down “this season you should wear plaid” approach (which we all complain about, but hey if we could dress ourselves. . . ) they tried to put together a collection that reflected a number of different aesthetics. This ultimately didn’t work because there was no identifiable “brand.”
What some bright designer needs to do is figure out how to design for the over 40-look more like Cheryl Crowe than Bea Arthur set (and by the way, nothing wrong with Bea or looking like Bea, but Bea already has a place to shop). Most of my girl friends fall into this category and we would like someone to take our money.
As to why Gap did not figure this out, I have no clue.
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problems when you change the system
[Read the article: Old boys' network invests in female entrepreneurs]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]I would not be so quick to belittle small changes. Unless you are planning to change the entire economic, tribal/social systems, then small changes are probablyl best.
I recently read a book (can't remember the name heard about it on Salon) that talked about the HIV epidemic in Africa and offered observations about how stupid we are when we leave our culture and try to make changes in other cultures.
This author talked about women who had started small businesses only to lose their profits when their husbands got wind of the economic windfall. Other women were raped and robbed.
I am not saying that microfinance is a bad thing (overall it has been quite successful I think), but maybe it is better to make a few extra dollars selling beans and rice without drawing too much attention to yourself than it is to have sudden success that puts you at odds with the established social system.
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Could we get back to the point?
[Read the article: More on "drunkorexia"]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]I think making eating disorders more public is a double edged sword. It is positive in the sense that most people know about it and presumably are more likely to recognize if a friend or child has a problem.
The downside is that somewhere out there are women with eating disorders who have read this and are now adding "drunkerexia" to their behavioral repetoire.
And just to be clear, anorexia is the most deadly form of psychopathology and is fueled by self-loathing. So thanks to the previous posters who have just confirmed the suspician of psychologically vulnerable young women who believe that they are worthless. But, hey-hope you get those tax breaks.
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Congratulations on the two-fer!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
[Read the article: More on "drunkorexia"]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]Managing to insult women with eating disorders (or maybe you were encouraging EDs) and obese women-because you know, there are no fat men.
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4,300$ @#%
[Read the article: Quote of the day]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]All I can say is that for his sake, I hope he never gave her shit about how much she spent on shoes.
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hillarious!!!!
[Read the article: Are you offended by a tampon ad with a beaver?]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]LOVE IT. For those offended-lighten up.
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oh PLEAAASEEEE
[Read the article: Are you offended by a tampon ad with a beaver?]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]It is just a visual pun. The reason that they chose a beaver is that they couldn't anthropomorphize a "Va-jay-jay" or a "Hoo haa."
Honestly, I am with the other posters and find it charming that they frame menstruation in terms of having a positive-friendly relationship with your nethers. Beats the hell out of all the products the sell to perfume, prune, and freshen.
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Or, how 'bout girls kicking some ass for themselves
[Read the article: News roundup: Girly drinks and peeping toms]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]Where is Buffy when you need her?
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Young women and feminism
[Read the article: Wait a minute: Iron whose shirt?]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]I work in the social sciences (traslate uberliberal). Yet I frequently have conversations that start with the young woman in question stating "I am not a feminist, but. . ." Or, "I am feminist, but not *that* kind of feminist (translate, I don't hate men/shave my legs/am not a lesbian)." Or, "I really don't pay attention to politics" These kind of comments make me want to SCREAM.
As women, we have gotten so complacent and allowed feminism to be defined by others (aka Rush Dimbulb's Feminazis) and set up as a straw-man (ok straw-woman) that has to be knocked down before a woman is taken seriously.
It is not only time for women to reclaim the mantle of feminism, but also time for feminists to take charge of defining themselves as a heterogeneous group that includes married women, singles, and divorced women, stay-at-home moms, working women, lesbians, and men.
As for Hillary. I just cannot support her for Pres. I wish she could win, but she can't. This is in large part because she carries some very heavy baggage (Bill), in part because she has made some political mistakes (Iraq), and in part because some will not vote for her as a woman. Given the state of the world and the country, in this election I am a Democrat first and a woman second.