Super interesting, this makes me want to shop.

Super interesting, this makes me want to shop.

Let's look at it another way – The average American woman is a size 12 or bigger. Plus size clothing is being made more and more UNattractive. Tops too short, pants too low, horizontal stripes, big patterns, clingy material that shows off every roll, sleeveless/capped sleeves/those little short slash sleeves that show off batwings and make a fat arm look bigger. And even when it is attractive it's made out of cheap material that forms holes within a day's worth of wear.

So why would anyone want to buy clothing that will make them look like a laughing stock? Maybe more would be spent on clothing if it was more attractive for the body type and not so cheaply made.

Let's look at it another way – The average American woman is a size 12 or bigger. Plus size clothing is being made more and more UNattractive. Tops too short, pants too low, horizontal stripes, big patterns, clingy material that shows off every roll, sleeveless/capped sleeves/those little short slash sleeves that show off batwings and make a fat arm look bigger. And even when it is attractive it's made out of cheap material that forms holes within a day's worth of wear.

So why would anyone want to buy clothing that will make them look like a laughing stock? Maybe more would be spent on clothing if it was more attractive for the body type and not so cheaply made.

“So the next time you complain about the price of a $40 top at the Gap, just imagine this: It was probably $40 in 1982″…and probably made in the USA.

Made in China items have helped cost, but who knows what the consequences will total up to for that savings. I wouldn't be surprised if our generation had high cancer numbers due to chemicals coming off cheaply made clothing or something else crazy.

Oh come on. Most things were not produced in the US in 1982. That's why there was a huge “Buy Made in the USA” campaign in the 1980s.

Not saying that it's right, but it's called capitalism. If someone can supply something of great demand for cheaper, then they're going to make the money.

Oh come on. Most things were not produced in the US in 1982. That's why there was a huge “Buy Made in the USA” campaign in the 1980s.

Not saying that it's right, but it's called capitalism. If someone can supply something of great demand for cheaper, then they're going to make the money.

Oh come on. Most things were not produced in the US in 1982. That's why there was a huge “Buy Made in the USA” campaign in the 1980s.

Not saying that it's right, but it's called capitalism. If someone can supply something of great demand for cheaper, then they're going to make the money.

Oh come on. Most things were not produced in the US in 1982. That's why there was a huge “Buy Made in the USA” campaign in the 1980s.

Not saying that it's right, but it's called capitalism. If someone can supply something of great demand for cheaper, then they're going to make the money.

welcome to the future: quantity not quality! ;)

theworkinggirlesp.blogspot.com

welcome to the future: quantity not quality! ;)

theworkinggirlesp.blogspot.com

I know this story isn't about the Gap, but 15-20 years ago the Gap did make better quality clothes and were higher priced for a reason, they were targeting professional adults. It seems to me that NOW their target audience is teenagers. So I don't shop there, because of their politics and their poor quality product.

I think this article shows how people are most likely to spend money on things they can't have.
Online shopping, shopping centers and mega-malls (although slowing dying now) have made all types of clothing accessible to everyone.

Remember when Calvin and Wranglers where the “it” designer jeans? They still make great jeans, but by making their brand more assessable and affordable has also made them less desirable. Plus other brands expanded into all designing areas that where once limited to certain brands.

So really it's Gap's fault (for example) that we're not buying the $40 t-shirt. Not only did they expand their availability but they have failed to make their t-shirts more interesting, desirable, compared to others on the market since 1982.

Yes, clothing spending has gone down since 1980, as has spending for cars, food and appliances, but costs for housing, health care and education have sky-rocketed, while median income has remained pretty much the same. Household income is higher because most households now have two income earners. But yay $9 T-shirts.

If you want background, google Elizabeth Warren, a former Harvard bankruptcy law professor ( now Chair of the Congressional Oversight Panel created to oversee the banking bailouts ) who has written and spoken about this a lot.

just so you know (to all those people that don't shop at the gap). They don't even sell $40 t-shirts. they usually hover around 15$ unless you're getting one with embellishments or from the red collection. No more than 30, pre-whatever discount sale is going on.

Less is being spent on clothes today maybe because there are just too many priorities that have to be taken cared of. An average person would most likely save the money for future use rather than spend it o a dress that will become our of fashion a month later. Because of the mass production of clothes from some countries, prices have also gone down so less expense.