“J. C. Penney has always trafficked in knockoffs that aren’t quite up to Canal Street’s illegal standards. It was never “get the look for less” so much as “get something vaguely shaped like the designer thing you want, but cut much more conservatively, made in all-petroleum materials, and with a too-similar wannabe logo that announces your inferiority to evil classmates as surely as if you were cursed to be followed around by a tuba section.” —Cintra Wilson in The New York Times.
2
posted by nycshoegal
Aug 12, 2009 11:30AM
personally this was my fave sentence:
"Why would this dowdy Middle American entity waddle into Midtown in its big old shorts and flip-flops without even bothering to update its ancient Helvetica Light logo, which for anyone who grew up with the company is encrusted with decades of tacky, boring, even traumatically parental, associations?"
3
posted by Reenie
Aug 12, 2009 11:49AM
Honestly this is kind of how I feel about Banana Republic, minus the cheap materials part. Every time I walk past their window, I see things that would actually be cute if they didn't remove every distinctive or "risky" detail. Sorry if there are BR fans out there.
8
posted by guest
Aug 12, 2009 1:28PM
this article makes me want to take a scalding hot shower then change into a burlap sack. if style has anything to do with picking on/dominating others that happen to have less money or more body fat than you, i want nothing to do with it. articles like this are venomous and give fashion a bad name.
9
posted by guest
Aug 12, 2009 1:33PM
Wow, this Cintra person is DESPERATE to sound like a cool kid!
A pathetic attempt at trying to sound intelligent and above it all, resulting in an article that lowers the overall IQ of The Times. There must be REAL writers who are out of work and can fill this person's position!
10
posted by guest
Aug 12, 2009 1:34PM
#7 (this is #4)
1. Sorry, thought you were CW since it sounded as if you were taking credit for the article.
2. I don't find elitism, tired observations, and inexplicable anger to be hilarious.
3. Just because you or I don't shop there, it doesn't mean that JC Penney or its customers "deserve" to be picked on.
I mean, pick on the store and its shoppers all you like, it's a free country. But do it like Cintra did and you'll just sound like a miserable bitch.
12
posted by guest
Aug 12, 2009 1:46PM
Dear #10,
I never, ever, ridicule where people shop. I did, however, find this article to be quite funny. I too was shocked by how venomous it was coming from the Times. Please, I've probably bought something from JC Penney before in my life . . . I just don't remember when. BUT, I do love some Target, so don't get all huffy. I'll rock some Payless if it's cute. That is all ;) No hard feelings for you implying I might be a miserable bitch. Have a Lovely day #10!
13
posted by guest
Aug 12, 2009 1:49PM
#12 (this #4 and 10)
I was not at all trying to imply that YOU are a miserable bitch, so sorry for that. Nor am I huffy. :P
I am glad you acknowledged CW's venom. SHE is the one I'm criticizing (and it's rather sad, because her tartness was funny once), so you have a great day as well.
14
posted by guest
Aug 12, 2009 1:50PM
This article is very smart. It's also very mean, and degrading. I will never understand why it's necessary for people in the Fashion Industry to completely shit on everyone who isn't wearing (or can't afford) Lanvin, or Balenciaga. They act as if these people are Gods, when Nicholas Ghesquire admitted himself to copying another Designer's print! Yet he's still heralded as a genius.
And the size aspect of it? How dare these people embrace Beth Ditto and make her feel loved and welcomed, and then go back and complain about a store that actually offers clothes for these people who are NOT a size 2! "If I were a size 18, I would have rejoiced." How disgusting.
Lastly, people...wake the fuck up! I don't get it. I don't understand how an industry that is so seemingly progressive is so...archaic. In so many ways. How sad.
16
posted by guest
Aug 12, 2009 2:17PM
The moment that fashion becomes about ridiculing those who are of a lower social background it only becomes a crutch on which to support one's inferior confidence level.
At the same time, I agree whole-heartedly with guest 14. Perhaps if brands such as those in JC Pennies and stores of the like wouldn't make clothing sizes from 14 to 30 perhaps american women would get the message that they are unhealthy, out of shape and make ammends to their diet and excersise regimen. We shouldn't have to embrace morbid obescity because it may be a "norm" to some people. we should embrace moderation and good health.
17
posted by Jean Voltaire
Aug 12, 2009 2:39PM
I ADORE JCPenney! It is so revolutionary! The I Love Charlotte Ronson collection? GROUNDBREAKING! And how amazing was the store opening party? So many celebs and photographers! God I am so glad I don't have to make trips to Jersey for a slice of Penney Heaven!
18
posted by guest
Aug 12, 2009 2:45PM
(this is #8 again)
i agree with you #16, except please remember that you can't tell a person's health by looking at them. a person could be a size 12 and run a marathon, or a size 18 and still have low blood pressure and good cholesterol. it's up to a person's doctor to determine whether they're healthy or not.
i'm also an advocate of moderation and good health, but it's easy to shield one's prejudices with a veil of concern. (i'm not saying this is at all what you're doing, i just wanted to bring up the point because it's relevant to the article.) i get sick of hearing obvious hatred attempted to be rationalized with "they'll get diabetes!!" this could be similar to one's prejudices towards j.c. penny shoppers being veiled with an attempt to take a moral high road. if on the inside, a person has as much anger as cintra obviously does, it doesn't make you a better person to make a fuss about the ethics of fast fashion.
19
posted by RashomonRebel
Aug 12, 2009 2:57PM
When it comes to clothing, I either go to the Salvation Army (saw a bunch of vintage Helmut Lang at 112 4th ave. the other day) and Goodwill (103 W. 25th is the best) or I go to Barneys and IF when I have extra disposable income.
I have never ever shopped in the middle.
20
posted by guest
Aug 12, 2009 3:09PM
I found this article completely unnecessary and ridiculous, especially coming from the Times and not an actual fashion publication. I especially loved the digs at cheap and petroleum-based fabrics - because I've found plenty of very expensive clothes at Neiman Marcus, Saks, etc. that on closer examination turn out to be to made from synthetic, petroleum-based fabrics. I'm no big fan of J.C. Penney, but I've shopped there before and actually purchased some items and incorporated them into my wardrobe. When will people learn that paying hundreds or thousands of dollars for something doesn't automatically make it more fashionable, better quality, or superior to an item that can be purchased for a fraction of the price? As this mean-spirited article proves, money certainly doesn't buy class.
21
posted by guest
Aug 12, 2009 3:46PM
in all fairness, i did not think cintra wilson came off as nasty or derogatory in the article. in fact, she was complimenting JCP for being smart and establishing themselves as a place that not only accepts people of larger sizes, but makes them feel "svelte".
her acid language is just her style of writing (she had biting remarks for alexander mcqueen as well...it's not something against 'cheap' clothing), and her articles never fail to amuse.
22
posted by guest
Aug 12, 2009 3:48PM
To #20 (and many others) You clearly have no sense of humor or knowledge of fashion writing. If taken fully in earnest, sure perhaps the article is a tad "mean-spirited" but that is not how it's intended to be read. With such hyper-sensitivity I can't imagine what would happen if you read gawker.com.
24
posted by guest
Aug 12, 2009 4:09PM
(this is #8/20, again)
22, i actually do read gawker :) that made me giggle because i was just reading it's sister site, jezebel. i actually have a thick skin for most things, a tendency to laugh at the inappropriate, but this is just one of those issues that makes me say *enough!*
26
posted by guest
Aug 12, 2009 4:32PM
I get "fashion" but this article was mean spirited. Sorry, it was. Not just towards JC Penney but towards those who might shop there. But when all is said and done, Cintra, whoever she is must be quite insignificant and while she would ask "who is Allen" I would ask, who is she?
28
posted by guest
Aug 12, 2009 6:11PM
Don't know why someone else is claiming to be me (#20), but in response to #22: I actually do have a sense of humor, which is generally on the snarky/sarcastic side. For example, I love Dlisted - it's "mean" without taking itself seriously, unlike this article. There's just nothing funny in this article, unless you think being superior/condescending/a raving bitch is "humor." And I read fashion writing literally every day. I'm just tired of fashion writing and fashionistas who equate "fashion" with nothing more than size-0, pricey labels. Not hard to be fashionable when you can afford thousand-dollar labels. The main point of my post was to point out that the author criticizes Penneys for something that is common in designer labels as well (i.e. synthetic fabrics). If you took certain items out of "masstige" stores, slapped a fancy label on them, and jacked the price up 5000%, I'm sure you and other self-absorbed, judgmental people would line up to buy them.
33
posted by guest
Aug 12, 2009 9:03PM
Look, I'm skinny and I don't shop at JC Penny because a) they do seem to sell clothes for people bigger than me and b) they also seem to sell clothes that are really, really ugly (compared to other stores in the same price range like Target) but COME ON. This article is unnecessarily catty and elitist for no apparent reason and what is WITH all this hatred towards fat people anyway? I especially like the comment about how stores shouldn't sell clothes from sizes 14 to 30 because then maybe American women will get better diets and exercise more. So, because they're fat they shouldn't be able to buy clothes at all? Because THAT makes sense.
36
posted by poseur
Aug 13, 2009 12:00AM
I didnt think this article was mean. However the fact that fashionista chose to remove the next sentence that was a little positive about them, which made it completely different.
That part of the times always is always about the new york shops. Yes, JC Penney in nyc is interesting whether you like it or not. She's commenting about what you will find there, how the store is, from her perspective. and that's how that section usually is. i cant say i haven't enjoyed the times when a&f opened in 5th ave and the article was complaining mostly about the decibel of the music...
I don't think it is a mean article, and JC Penney is also filling a void, with the not super petite sizes, a little affordable clothes etc...
after reading this, i know i'm going to go and check the store out.
37
posted by guest
Aug 13, 2009 10:27AM
To #33- seriously, how stupid do you think I am? In my mall alone we have are atleast 4 ENTIRE stores catering to the plus sizes. This is NOT NORMAL. Why should there be that many stores devouted to women who can't put down the cookies and get their ass on a treadmill?
39
posted by guest
Aug 13, 2009 1:47PM
Okay. This is why articles like this make me angry.
1) They don't truly get at the real problem of obesity, instead making fun of it. Not productive.
2) Cintra is NOT the richest person in the world, and for her to take this elitist position about clothing and handbags is ridiculous. I'm waiting to see her several homes with pools and ocean view. I'm waiting to see her closet of off the runway pieces. I HOPE she does not wear any Hanes V-Neck Tshirts and only goes for the "real thing."
Again. Cintra takes this position of perfection and superiority when it's just not appealing or true. If she wants to shop all luxury designer and not worry about JC Penney why didn't SHE buy the space? Why didn't SHE save the city? Where is all HER money to fix this so-called problem?
People like this need to get a life, solve humanity's problem...do something besides writing snarky pieces that can easily be turned around on them.
40
posted by guest
Aug 14, 2009 6:05PM
I'm from middle america and I have to say "Team Cintra, All the Way." Penney's participates in a global industry that is destructive to the environment and exploits the poorer peoples of the world. Furthermore, enough with the skinny bashing. If you're fat, deal with it and stop lashing out at everyone else. Enough with the excuses (but its my genes...) get some freaking self control and stop feeling so entitled. Jesus. That article was spot on. Every critic of Cintra is clearly dealing with some kind of insecurity, either physical or financial. Boo freaking hoo.
posted by guest
Aug 12, 2009 11:14AM
Lol!