Is Eileen Fisher Ditching Plus-Size Clothing? Rosie O'Donnell Says So
Filed under: News
A (size 2?) look from Eileen Fisher's current collection. Photo: EileenFisher.com
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.
rose 11-04-2009 @ 8:52PM
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.
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ckandrus2001 11-04-2009 @ 9:32PM
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
I couldn't have said it better myself....same old Rosie causing trouble
sarah 11-04-2009 @ 9:25PM
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
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Cat 11-04-2009 @ 9:45PM
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.
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artherapycenter 11-04-2009 @ 9:52PM
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!
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icdou007 11-04-2009 @ 10:03PM
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!
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turbogtrmstr 11-04-2009 @ 10:09PM
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.
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keyingatmach5 11-04-2009 @ 10:11PM
dodah001 I'm not a fan of Rosie, but you are ignorant.
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Jackielhk 11-04-2009 @ 10:30PM
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.
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ger 11-04-2009 @ 11:27PM
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??
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mckenz707 11-04-2009 @ 11:35PM
CAN'T ROSIE GO TO OMAR THE TENT MAKER AND HAVE HER CLOTHES MADE>>>??????
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Nancy 11-04-2009 @ 11:56PM
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!
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Denise 11-05-2009 @ 11:38AM
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!
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WWP 11-05-2009 @ 1:42AM
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.
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Phil 11-05-2009 @ 2:02AM
Rosie O'Donnel needs to stay with her best designer Hefty. for they made the best thing to put trash in.
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Kim 11-11-2009 @ 3:50PM
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!
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Karen W. 11-11-2009 @ 11:22PM
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.
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KarenG 11-13-2009 @ 9:23PM
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.
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Pat 11-15-2009 @ 7:47PM
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.