My sister has a new blog about the sartorial travails of the not-talls in an expanding world. Now, women’s shopping is just plain harder for women than men, but I do think the difficulty of finding clothes when you’re short cuts across gender. Consider how many “Big and Tall” stores dot the strip malls of America, and then consider how many “Short and Scrawny” stores there are. The bell curve is symmetrical, isn’t it? (Probably not, when over 60% of Americans are overweight or obese… call it a “bell curve with a pot belly”).
True, the boxy cuts of men’s clothing makes them easier to tailor, but I can never wear my shirts untucked because they end up looking like smocks. (Along similar lines, Amy considers wearing a tube top as a skanky dress). But at least I can get custom-made shirts, while I don’t think women really have that option.
Anyway, as a 5’5″ guy with a 4’10″ partner and sister (um, that’s a 4’10″ partner and a 4’10″ sister — not the same person), I have a personal interest in seeing more shopping choices for those of us on the short end of the stick. Personally, I think it’s prejudice rather than market forces, if only because the former is fixable and the latter not. (Journalists feel no compuction beginning sentences about short businessman or politicians with “Despite his stature…”).
Some Small Sense (at Blogspot)