Tag Archives: cintra wilson

Fashion Writer Smackdown, Take 87

Nina CarboneNovember 6, 2009 //

Remember that NY Times style writer Cintra Wilson, who claimed JC Penney was nothing but a “dowdy Middle American entity” catering to fat, overweight people (i.e., anyone over a size 2)? Well, the press is still giving her flack for it. (To which I say, rightly so, considering all the ignorance she’s spewed. Hell, the much-lauded-by-the-fashion-industry Olsens are now designing for the retailer!) The latest smackdown is courtesy of The Awl, who not only make their own trip to JC Penney and report back, but also hilariously point out that she’s the Tucker Max of fashion columnists, due to her over-usage of the word “fat.” Here’s what they found, contrary to what Wilson wrote … Keep reading »

NY Times Tells Writer It’s Not OK To Call J.C. Penney Shoppers “Fat”

Erin FlahertyAugust 24, 2009 //

Remember the J.C. Penny scandal of the week before last? Recap: New York Times style writer Cintra Wilson managed to offend the masses by calling Middle Americans fat, J.C. Penney shoppers fat, and even managed to insult their mannequins with the barb, “[J. C. Penney] has the most obese mannequins I have ever seen. They probably need special insulin-based epoxy injections just to make their limbs stay on.” She apologized for her behavior once with the rawtha dismissive: “You know I didn’t mean it that way, so please remove the knot from your panties and when you’re ready, join me for a cigarette and several Pucker martinis,” followed by a more “heartfelt,” “I very much regret that my J. C. Penney article in the Times caused any wounded feelings whatsoever, particularly to people who already feel they take more than their share of abuse from our very shallow and ridiculous society. I sincerely apologize.” Er, yeeaahhh… Keep reading »

Are Fashion Experts Out Of Touch With Middle America?

Erin FlahertyAugust 14, 2009 //

OK, sure, I think we all know what the resounding answer is. But how out of touch are they? New York Times Fashion & Style writer Cintra Wilson has been catching an internet’s worth of flack lately regarding an article she penned about the new J.C. Penney store, which has just opened in midtown Manhattan. Now, anyone who’s ever tentatively stepped a Lanvin-clad flat a few miles outside of New York City knows that a J.C. Penney store opening is nothing to write home about, but, apparently, it’s a big huge deal in a town filled with Pradas and Chanels and Louis Vuittons. Not surprisingly, Wilson found little to like about the store, which she referred to as a “dowdy Middle American entity.” When she couldn’t find anything in her size, which is “2,” she delivered a shocker. Keep reading »