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Is Eileen Fisher Ditching Plus-Size Clothing? Rosie O'Donnell Says So

by Bee-Shyuan Chang (Subscribe to Bee-Shyuan Chang's posts)
Posted Nov 4th 2009 at 2:15PM  
20 Comments
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A look from Eileen Fisher.

A (size 2?) look from Eileen Fisher's current collection. Photo: EileenFisher.com

Talk about losing your biggest fan!

Not only is Eileen Fisher being accused of abandoning her loyal over-50 followers since launching a younger image with her latest collection and ad campaign, but now it seems the designer may not be on board with plus-size clothing anymore either.

Rosie O'Donnell, who often publicly declared her love for Eileen Fisher, is now calling the one-sided love affair quits after a recent chat with the designer, according to WWD.

The very outspoken O'Donnell says the conversation (which she recounted on her Sirius XM radio show and was transcribed by the paper) went like this:

"I see [Fisher] and say, 'I love you, and you have helped me. You can't imagine how much stress I had in my life because of clothing but once I found you three years ago everything changed. On behalf of every plus-sized woman in the world, I just want to thank you,'" O'Donnell said. "And I want to ask you why do you only have the [plus] sizes down in SoHo [NYC]?"

The designer dismissed the accolades, answering, "That's not really our demographic... you know, we sell a lot of size two."

"So, you're trying to design for everyone and you don't really want the association with the plus-size people?," O'Donnell asked.

"Well, it's just not the image that we're going for," Fisher replied.

Rosie has since given up Eileen Fisher for good, saying, "It was like someone stabbed me in the heart."

WWD tried calling the designer several times for her side of the story, but Fisher has yet to return any of the phone calls.

What's your reaction to Rosie O'Donnell's version of the conversation? Do you believe this is what was said? Leave a comment (upper left)!

Eileen Fisher isn't the only retailer trying to change its image. This American sportswear line is shaking things up, too.
Read All Comments
Filed under: News
Tags: celebrity feuds, CelebrityFeuds, Eileen Fisher, EileenFisher, plus size, plus size clothing, Plus-size, Plus-size clothing, Plus-sizeClothing, PlusSize, PlusSizeClothing, Rosie ODonnell, RosieOdonnell, Sirius XM, SiriusXm
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READER COMMENTS

(20)Add A Comment

rose, 11-04-2009, 8:52PM

2 stars vote downvote upReport
rose

Typical Rosie! When noone is paying attention to her she has to put herself in the spotlight by being loud, obnoxious, brash. Anything to get attention. I once was a Rosie fan but she feels it her job to reprimand everyone who doesn't share her views or ideas. No wonder her girlfriend left her. I would hate being in a relationship with someone like her. She has a history of not getting along with others, lets see there was Donald Trump, Barbara Walters now Eileen Fisher. I'm sure there were others but I can't remember them all.

Reply »

ckandrus2001, 11-04-2009, 9:32PM

Half a star vote downvote upReport
ckandrus2001

You mean just like Sarah Palin? Yes, that sounds just like Sarah, doesn't it. Doesn't play well with others and loves being the center of attention.

»

pam, 11-05-2009, 5:48AM

1 star vote downvote upReport
pam

I couldn't have said it better myself....same old Rosie causing trouble

»

sarah, 11-04-2009, 9:25PM

3 stars vote downvote upReport
sarah

for people who have weight problems it is hard to find NICE clothing. something that makes us look like a women and not like a sack. everyone is turning to the young and VERY UNHEALTHY WEIGHT( zombies look ) I can understand where Rosie is coming from. If it is hard for the famous to get clothes what do the everday people do

Reply »

Cat, 11-04-2009, 9:45PM

2 stars vote downvote upReport
Cat

I think Rosie is a big whiner who doesn't get her way and then whines to everyone. She needs to accept her size and the choices she makes and know that she isn't like so many of us. She shouldn't expect others to cater to her because of who she is. She can't have it both ways. I'm really tired of her.

Reply »

artherapycenter, 11-04-2009, 9:52PM

3 stars vote downvote upReport
artherapycenter

Rosie, i feel your pain-sort of. I am 51, a size 6-8, 5'9'' so you'd think I could find something decent to wear. I finally have the $ to spend but wouln't be caught dead in the too tight, weird looking junk I see in stores. I get it that the 80's are over but women my age look ridiculous in most clothes these days. i can see where some women give up and go the frumpy route!

Reply »

icdou007, 11-04-2009, 10:03PM

3 stars vote downvote upReport
icdou007

This time I have to say I agree with Rosie. Why...........I'm so tired of fat people getting the shaft, like they asked to be that way, some don't. I would go first to the designer who made for both sizes, skinny and heavy, I'm so tired of going into stores and seeing hundreds of clothes for " The Norm" and a small section way off in the back for the plus size. THAT IS SO BAD, LIKE SAYING GO SHOP OVER IN THAT CORNER BECAUSE YOU HAVE A PIMPLE TO DAY OR ARE UGLY. We must stop this. I don't want to be mean, but look at the picture of the designer? Lets not be so fast to point the finger. They bitch and moan about knockoffs, yet they make nothing for the average woman, and they want to stay in fashion like the rest. GET IT!

Reply »

turbogtrmstr, 11-04-2009, 10:09PM

3 stars vote downvote upReport
turbogtrmstr

We have to stop sterotyping certain people, we are all not a perfect skin and bones and I for one am tired of being treated like we should be put on a desert island. It is time for the plus size men and woman to stand up for themselves and demand to be treated with respect and not have clothes that look like feed bags. Heavy type people can look as good as the rest, WE DON'T WANT NEON COLORED BOWS, OR BIG PICTURES OF LIME GREEN ANIMALS OR HOT PINK PANTS. We want to be normal like the rest. STOP WITH THE CIRCUS WEAR. If I had the money, I would start a line and show you how it is done correct. I for one would not buy this designer fashion's just for the attitude. It would be nice to see some plus sizes at FASHION WEEK, and not zippers, people so skinny that if they stand sideways and stick out their tongue they look like a zipper with no boob.

Reply »

keyingatmach5, 11-04-2009, 10:11PM

3 stars vote downvote upReport
keyingatmach5

dodah001 I'm not a fan of Rosie, but you are ignorant.

Reply »

Jackielhk, 11-04-2009, 10:30PM

3 stars vote downvote upReport
Jackielhk

Then why is it that when I go shopping for clothes are all the large clothes sold out and the only ones that are left are the size 2 or 5? We all know that people are getting bigger, so why wouldn't someone want to cash in on making nice fashion for large women? Doesn't make sense to me. I'm a 16 yet I still want to buy clothes that look nice, not something my grandmother would wear.

Reply »

ger, 11-04-2009, 11:27PM

3 stars vote downvote upReport
ger

How disgusting YOU are. Calling O'Donnell a liar. What motive would she have? Has the designer said otherwise? Clearly NOT, because you certainly would have quoted that--and not called her a liar. Why are we reading you??

Reply »

Nancy, 11-04-2009, 11:56PM

3 stars vote downvote upReport
Nancy

Too bad for Ms. Fisher...how many size 2s do you know? She is giving up about 65% of American womens' business if she gives up plus sizes. The average American woman is a size 14 and almost 40% are more than that. Shop at Lane Bryant, Fashion Bug, Catherine's...they have very nice styles and good prices. Perhaps they don't carry all the designer brands, but if they don't want our business, go shop where they do! Let her go out of business with the skinny's!

Reply »

Denise, 11-05-2009, 11:38AM

3 stars vote downvote upReport
Denise

Eileen Fisher makes some lovely plus size clothing but frankly I don't see where she can justify the prices for her clothing. I can't afford $300.00 sweaters and $185.00 blouses. I shop at Macy's Womans department because they offer a lot of options (I.N.C., Jones of New York, even Ralph Lauren) that are much more reasonably priced. Sounds like Ms Fisher has gotten too big for her britches!

Reply »

WWP, 11-05-2009, 1:42AM

1 star vote downvote upReport
WWP

It's highly unlikely that any designer is going to give up a VERY lucative side of her business, espcially in this economy.

It should be noted that Rosie O'donnell also believes that 9/11 was the result of on vast right wing conspiracy....it's difficult to put any creedence in her rational thinking process and how she interprets what is said to her.

Reply »

Phil, 11-05-2009, 2:02AM

Half a star vote downvote upReport
Phil

Rosie O'Donnel needs to stay with her best designer Hefty. for they made the best thing to put trash in.

Reply »

Kim, 11-11-2009, 3:50PM

3 stars vote downvote upReport
Kim

I love eileen fisher plus and have no problem spending several hundred dollars for sweater or jacket in a fabulous fabric and design. The quality is exceptional and that makes me feel fabulous.

Seems like it would be better for here to sell under another name as many designers do with their plus size line. I understand that emaciated women don't want to wear the same brand as fat women.

It will be a sad day when she stops selling plus sizes, I just hope that the designer who takes her market share has the same fabric supplies in Prato!

Ciao!

Reply »

Karen W., 11-11-2009, 11:22PM

2 stars vote downvote upReport
Karen W.

I don't understand: there is nothing in this article to suggest that Eileen Fisher is going to do away with plus sizes. She simply said that plus size is not the image they are going for. There is a big difference between not targeting the plus size woman and discontinuing the plus size line altogether. Name me one designer that manufacturers both missy and plus and focuses their marketing efforts on plus sizes because for the life of me I can't think of one.

Reply »

KarenG, 11-13-2009, 9:23PM

3 stars vote downvote upReport
KarenG

I believe Rosie. I felt the same way about Eileen Fisher clothes and probably would have said the same thing to Eileen myself. Eileen's response is a slap in the face to people who have put their hard earned money in her pockets. Good for Rosie! I will never buy Eileen Fisher again either.

Reply »

Pat, 11-15-2009, 7:47PM

2.5 stars vote downvote upReport
Pat

I'm with you, Karen. I've been a long-time Eileen Fisher fan, and I, too, felt as if I'd had my face slapped. I've bought Eileen almost exclusively for years, but I cannot in good conscious support a line when it's obvious the designer's ashamed to have me as a customer. I'm sure Joan Vass will appreciate the $5,000-plus I spend at EF annually.

»

Marian, 9-13-2011, 9:17PM

2 stars vote downvote upReport
Marian

I'm plus size but have also been small. I ALWAYS find Eileen Fisher speaks to me no matter what the size. Her "demographic" is that it's good for everyone. I appreciate that these clothes are, in the end, what I really want. They go together, pair up nicely over the years and always look (and feel) great . Perhaps I just don't read anything about prejudice or other negative things into it...or perhaps Rosie was just sensitive about her self (and arrogant to think we all would see it this way). In any case, time has past and I hope Rosie comes back to the quality, fit and style once again. I'm betting she already has.

Reply »

 
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