Target Stumbles and Confuses Pregnant and Plus Size Listings

The now infamous Target ad depicting a pregnant model promoting a Plus Size dress

When the fastest growing segment in women’s apparel is the Plus Size market and you keep offending them, then you have an epic marketing problem. That’s what Target is experiencing this week after posting an image of a pregnant woman on their website modeling what was labeled as a Plus Size maxi dress.   When you post something so potentially offensive to a large segment of your buying public with handy social media “share ” icons under the image, then look out! The image has now been corrected but not without igniting a social firestorm.  Jezebel and the Huffington Post were both quick to point out the error.  Jezebel noted that Plus Size is not the same as Pregnant.  Right on.  But my favorite reaction was  from The Curvy Fashionista, Marie Denee.  Of the the mislabeling, she posted to her Facebook group, ” I really want Target Style to be amazing, but it’s constant “missteps” and their frustrating and offensive antics in the plus size arena make it sooo hard…”  Over 600 of The Curvy Fashionista’s  Facebook fans  liked that comment.  Some even added that they had seen Target mix maternity clothes and Plus Size clothes in their stores.   Even though this was clearly a mistake, it sounds like a bit of education is needed for Target employees.  Gee, I wonder if Target has any New Year’s resolutions about Plus-Size fashion marketing? I’d say #AskMarieDenee might be a good one.