Old Navy Removes Plus Size Line from Stores

Store Pledges to Keep Clothing Online, Bloggers Say No Thanks

Old Navy will be removing its Women's Plus line, providing sizes 16W -26W, from its stores. While Old Navy will still be offering the clothing online, many women say they will no longer spend money at the retailer in response to this decision.

In a form letter sent in response to complaints, the retailer states "After much evaluation, and as difficult a decision as it was, we will be removing the Women's Plus line from all of our Old Navy stores. Please accept our sincere apologies for any disappointment this
may cause you."

The Women's Plus line, which originally was offered online and in 50 stores, expanded to 175 stores before the decision to remove the plus size clothing to offer it only online. Although the decision was made last year, the issue gained new scrutiny after Mia Amber, a plus size model and actress posted her disappointment with the decision online.

Via Myspace, Ms. Amber offered her opinion on Old Navy's decision. "They should make an effort to fix the problem and find out why they [Old Navy] weren't doing well instead of banishing us to the internet."

Live Journal community Fatshionista and blog Big Fat Deal also wrote about the decision. Both communities cited statistics that the majority of women in America are overweight and suggested that the lines failure might be due to poor sizing and little advertising.

Commenters on both sites are pledging to write to Old Navy in an attempt to reverse the move of the plus size line to online only. Many noted that Old Navy is one of the few stores where they can shop for all members of their family. Other commenters noted the difficulty in finding affordable plus size clothing.

"Plus sizes are not that easy to find," says one commenter in her email to Old Navy posted on Big Fat Deal, "Old Navy has been a wonderful alternative, providing reasonable pricing with plus sizes. There have been times when I've bought an entire season's worth of plus-sized clothing from your stores."

Another commenter noted that "while I love their clothes when they fit, the sizes can be so inconsistent as to make it impossible for me to order anything on-line. Guess they lose my business!"