By Yepoka Yeebo
DNAinfo Reporter/Producer
MIDTOWN EAST — Saks Fifth Avenue's high-end third floor will stock plus-sized items from brands like Armani, Chanel, Donna Karan and Oscar de la Renta beginning with this fall's collections, Racked reported.
Saks will be the only major retailer in New York City to carry designer plus sizes, with designer gowns and ready-to-wear suits from sizes 14 to 20 appearing with the fall and winter collections at the department store, the shopping blog reported.
Prior to this, designer sizes maxed out at 10, according to the website.
Brigitte Miles, 22, an aspiring designer from Miami browsing the third floor of Saks on Tuesday, said bigger sizes from Alexander McQueen, Yves Saint Laurent and Dolce & Gabbana would change her shopping habits.
"I would like to get more than a necklace or a jacket when I come here. I'd like to be able to get a dress, or pants," Miles said. "Designers choose not to make more plus sizes because the fabrics cost more, and it's not fashionable."
Many staff on the floor were unaware that they would soon be catering to a wider range of fashion fans.
Workers at the Louis Vuitton concession gleefully stressed that they are not included in the plans to offer larger sizes.
"They probably should carry bigger sizes, but they won't, they're French!" said one staffer.
Gail McTamaney, visiting from Virginia, said she was avoiding the existing plus size collection of non-designer clothing on the ninth floor of Saks.
"I refuse to buy expensive clothes in a size I don't plan to stay," said McTamaney, 62.
"I'm sticking to purses and makeup. I'll buy my clothes at TJ Max or Marshall's while I'm losing weight, that way I won't feel bad when I give them away," she added.
The store will only stock one of each larger size to begin with. If the New York trial is successful, larger sizes will roll out to Saks stores around the country, Racked reported.
"I don't really see the point," said Mara Campo, 34, who was shopping for a dress to wear to a friend's wedding.
"It's not like plus sized women don't get dressed up because they can't find the clothes," said Campo, "and if you want to wear an Oscar de la Renta gown, you know you can't be full bodied."
