And also, what DO I sound like? Do you think the way you speak shows your ethnic heritage, even if you don’t have an accent? Do tell!

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Parts of Yorkville Village are ready for Toronto Fashion Week (this was taken last week – there’s more Fashion Week-related stuff now)

Unlike most people size diversity for me isn’t just about extending sizes (whether it be availability in stores OR models), but height as well.  Recently, I commented on an Instagram photo of a trench coat from a well-known Canadian contemporary brand.  The coat was long – about midi-length (mid-calf) on the model.  I commented on the post, asking if it was “short person friendly” and whether someone like me would likely need to get it hemmed.  I also wrote that I thought it would be nice for brands in general to show people of varying heights.  They kind of answered my question by giving me the coat’s measurements, but it really didn’t satisfy me.  It also doesn’t help that most size diversity activists dismiss my issues just because I’m currently still very tiny in terms of clothing size.  It’s to the point that I’ve pretty much given up (I used to have a blog about being short called Shorty Stories) for the most part.  It’s not like they’re going to listen, anyway.

A post shared by Cynthia Cheng Mintz (@cynthiacmintz) on Feb 5, 2018 at 11:37am PST

A mirror selfie taken before I was measured (yeah, I know, not the best pic of me)

So here we are at Toronto Fashion Week.  It starts today (Monday) and runs until Wednesday.  Yorkville Village is pretty much decked out, with some entrances blocked for pedestrians because of the shows.  There’s also a pop-up, Reset Fashion, featuring many Canadian brands (including one REALLY COOL service called Passen – it helps you find brands which best fit your body type based on your measurements) near Palm Lane.  I didn’t buy anything – there weren’t many brands featuring basics – but was measured by Passen.  I had to change into blacks to be measured, but their pieces – particularly their tops – were too big for me.  Luckily, I had a camisole, which was form fitting enough.  The leggings were a bit loose, but I was told that it didn’t really matter.  I don’t have my actual 3-D model yet – the service will officially launch in the next few months – but I’m looking forward to being able to know not only about which brands, but which styles within which brands fit me best!  And the best thing is this:  it’s a Canadian based company.  I hope these guys get a deal if they ever go on Dragon’s Den!

A post shared by Cynthia Cheng Mintz (@cynthiacmintz) on Sep 12, 2017 at 3:39pm PDT

An outfit post taken back in September.  I’m seen wearing Rachel Sin to my alma mater’s 150th Anniversary gala.

Anyway, while the shows are this week, I’m really not sure if I’m going to go to any. It partially has to do with timing and weather (mostly weather – February isn’t exactly my favourite time of the year and I often prefer to stay in one spot), but also because of my issues with certain aspects of the industry, which I really want to see changed. Basically, I’d like to see the fashion industry accept varying heights. It will just help the consumer better understand how things might fit on their body types, which includes height. Brands (especially independent designers) can take advantage of social media and perhaps post images which say something like “this is one of our favourite customers, Jen. Jen is 5’1″ and a size 12 and just bought a pair of our versatile slim fit pants for work. She’s smiling because the pants have a 28″ inseam and she won’t need to have them altered!” I mentioned the whole height thing to a designer today, and she looked at me as if I was crazy (when I mentioned to her that I have a love-hate relationship with fashion). So no, I doubt designers would even consider something like this!

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Just two pairs of my shoes

It’s no different for clothing.  I had a Holt Renfrew gift card and was eager to spend it before it expired.  So off I went to the store.  I found an item which I liked very much and asked for my size.  Unfortunately, it was not available at the location I went to.  The only store which carried a small was in Edmonton, which meant that it needed to be shipped over.  I asked if extra small was available, and the associate claimed that extra small didn’t exist in the line.  I wasn’t sure about that, but went along with his claim as I was fairly interested in the dress (a wrap dress, which can be altered easily) – the purchase could always be reversed if a smaller size is found.  At the end, yes, extra small WAS available, so the dress was “returned.”  As the brand was leased, I wasn’t able to use the gift card anyway (I ended up buying skincare products with said cards)

A closer look at the size!

Holt Renfrew has been lacking in smaller sizes recently.  This isn’t something I understand, as Holt’s is supposed to compete with Saks and Nordstrom and both carry a larger volume of clothing smaller than a size 4 or 6.  The market is there – in Toronto, especially.  Luxury stores in Toronto (and Vancouver) have a sizable East Asian clientele, who are typically smaller-framed.  Of course, most are not sizes 0 or 2, or even size 4, but more from the demographic would be on the smallest end of the size spectrum than other populations.  By carrying fewer small sizes, then Holt Renfrew is losing business to its competitors.  It’s Business 101.  This isn’t just clothing, but shoes as well.  And the shoe issue is more difficult than clothing as most brands don’t even MAKE my size.  I’ve come to terms with that, and I just don’t bother shopping from those brands (no use complaining.  They’re not going to care when it’s such a small demographic).  Their loss.

So why don’t I shop exclusively in Asia?  Because I live in Canada and rarely make trips over the Pacific – my last trip to Hong Kong was in 2011.  And while Asia may have more items in my size, I am not interested in purchasing online and having to pay expensive shipping and duty charges.  And that’s IF they even ship here (and not to mention, take credit cards with a Canadian address).  Of course, my other option is to go vintage, but one also needs to be able to style vintage clothing so that it won’t look too…costume-y.

I know that I shouldn’t be ranting like this.  As a small person, I have “size privilege.”  However, we are talking about business and demographics in this case.  I know the bulk of Holt Renfrew’s customers are probably in the sizes 6-10 range, and thus, they need to these individuals’ needs.  However, if more people skew these sizes rather than, say, 10-14, then more people are also going to be looking for sizes 0-4.  And despite my so-called “privilege,” being “too small” also puts one at a disadvantage, whether people who skew larger understand or not.  Stores just don’t order enough, and if you get there “too late” – even if the item isn’t on sale yet – you are out of luck.  And usually, the pieces aren’t even all that old.

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My Yelp review

The store was fairly empty, and there were signs indicating things were 50% off all over.  Yes, it’s sales season, but the store ALWAYS seems to have huge discounts (we are talking around 40%).  It isn’t an outlet (or at least there’s no indication that it is) and yes, the store is ALWAYS mostly empty.  Perhaps the woman’s rudeness is the reason why.  She’s a turn-off to customers.  In fact, the woman’s attitude reminds me of that scene in Pretty Woman where Vivian (Julia Roberts) was told that there wasn’t anything for her in the store.  She wasn’t THAT rude to me, but her attitude definitely made me feel like I was five years old and in trouble.  For what?  Browsing?  I stared at her right in the eye and told her she was being extremely rude to me and walked out.

The Google review

Since the incident earlier, I have taken to social media, writing not only an account on my personal Facebook page, but also Instagrammed a screenshot of my post, tagging the store and the mall.  The image was Tweeted out and I posted an account on the company’s Facebook page as well.  Finally, I gave the place negative reviews both on Yelp and Google.  I don’t know if the woman will receive any warning or discipline, but let this be a note to anyone who considers shopping there.

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