topic Re: Why describe so much in the negative? in Suggestion Box

Why describe so much in the negative?

GingerPeach — Sat, 10 Mar 2018 16:38:08 GMT

Here's what I mean:

QVC hosts have the habit of, or maybe they were taught to, describe garments by touting the fact that these clothes are amazing because they have the ability to hide all the horrors on our bodies.

Doesn't this run contrary to supporting someone's confidence and self-esteem?

It seems to me descriptions of garments might be just as effective if the positive features of the garment, such as good hand feel, or well-cut, or flattering color, were emphasized. In addition (and I know they do this sometimes), talk about how a feature emphasizes something nice about the wearer.

I am tired of hearing, nonstop, how we are all supposed to have "lumps and bumps." And then you hear or see that phrase repeated by callers and online reviewers who seem to have picked up that thought as if it's totally normal. It's reallly not healthy to accentuate the negative so constantly.

Re: Why describe so much in the negative?

blackhole99 — Sat, 10 Mar 2018 16:46:28 GMT

The hosts and vendors are playing on all our insecurities to get us to buy the products.

Re: Why describe so much in the negative?

SeaMaiden — Sat, 10 Mar 2018 16:47:57 GMT

@GingerPeachwrote:
Here's what I mean:

QVC hosts have the habit of, or maybe they were taught to, describe garments by touting the fact that these clothes are amazing because they have the ability to hide all the horrors on our bodies.

Doesn't this run contrary to supporting someone's confidence and self-esteem?

It seems to me descriptions of garments might be just as effective if the positive features of the garment, such as good hand feel, or well-cut, or flattering color, were emphasized. In addition (and I know they do this sometimes), talk about how a feature emphasizes something nice about the wearer.

I am tired of hearing, nonstop, how we are all supposed to have "lumps and bumps." And then you hear or see that phrase repeated by callers and online reviewers who seem to have picked up that thought as if it's totally normal. It's reallly not healthy to accentuate the negative so constantly.

@GingerPeach ITA! I think they are trying to make people feel better.... but what it does is to make people think that being out of shape and overweight is OK.... JUST COVER IT ALL UP!

I am also tired of hearing about covering up the chicken wings and the bits and pieces.... the belly fat... the muffin top and the worse is calling " FAT" CURVES instead of just sayin what it all is.... fat out of shape and overweight.

Re: Why describe so much in the negative?

GingerPeach — Sat, 10 Mar 2018 16:49:33 GMT

@blackhole99wrote:
The hosts and vendors are playing on all our insecurities to get us to buy the products.

I understand that, @blackhole99. My point is that it's unhealthy.

Re: Why describe so much in the negative?

Annabellethecat66 — Sat, 10 Mar 2018 16:50:25 GMT

I don't know if they do that. Never noticed. However, I will agree that women so often point out their flaws (if you want to call them that). I'm as guilty as everyone.

I remember reading a celebrity (or model) saying her mom taught her to love all of her body. She said (paraphrasing), "My mom taught me to say, 'Hello arms! I love you. Hello legs! I love you!" And so on.

The premise is to love your body. It doesn't mean we can't (or shouldn't) loose weight or work on something that WE FEEL needs improving. I think (to me) it means to not be so hard (or critical) about ourselves.

When I went to college and wrote for the school newspaper I remember writing an article asking people what phrase or thought brings them back to their core. In other words....well...here's mine...

"I cried because I had no shoes until I met a girl who had no feet".

This reminds me that, in order to accept myself, flaws and all, I must remember to be grateful what what I DO have.

We all have room for improvements. I tell my girls we are all salespeople. We sell ourselves to others. If we approach with a frown, that's what we'll get in return. Same thing with our body. If we are good to it, it will support us. If we mess up (I'm dealing with that right now), we need to do what we can to heal/fit/improve and move on.

Seems simple...SURE? Ha! Not at all. Wish I could do it every day, but it's always a struggle, but one with amazing rewards.

@GingerPeach You are way ahead of most people because you understand so many things...have a great day.

Re: Why describe so much in the negative?

GingerPeach — Sat, 10 Mar 2018 16:55:59 GMT

@Annabellethecat66 wrote:

@Homegirl You are way ahead of most people because you understand so many things...have a great day.

@Annabellethecat66

Thank you. That is one great compliment, my friend! You and me both, right?

Next time you watch, listen for the old "lumps and bumps" phrase. You won't have to wait long before it's spoken. (Although to be fair, I do think there are some hosts that don't. I am not a 24/7 watcher, but I don't recall Jennifer Coffey ever saying it.)

Re: Why describe so much in the negative?

SXMGirl — Sat, 10 Mar 2018 16:58:06 GMT

The negativity, unfortunately, is focused to sell, and that is in all products. Skin care and makeup to make us look younger and wrinkle free, clothes to make us look taller/thinner, food plans to lose weight, and other products to make us safer, etc.

Luckily, I am not around people who are negative about themselves, but I grew up hearing negativity all of the time. I imagine most people did; those who did not are very lucky.

I would like to see the stylists embrace the person they are dressing and not focus so much on the styles that are being sold that day. However, if I was a vendor, I would like to see my clothes on the people who wear them best. Hosts that have their own shows have to deal with that, even if they don't/won't wear those clothes in their real life. I think Shawn is the only one who really wears what she wants.

Re: Why describe so much in the negative?

Pook — Sat, 10 Mar 2018 17:35:00 GMT

I don't see the big deal! Owning your body issues does not mean you still can't be confident and have self esteem! Anyone with self esteem won't have a problem accepting that they don't have a perfect body and discussing their flaws and wanting to dress to look and feel the best they can and that does include camouflaging the flaws! I know I don't dress in clothing that showcases my flaws - and we all have flaws - so why the issue with discussing these flaws and admitting we all have them!!??? The better you can look the more confident you will be! I see it as those with self esteem issues are the ones who don't want their flaws mentioned and are the most offended.

Re: Why describe so much in the negative?

LexPex — Sat, 10 Mar 2018 17:36:44 GMT

OP, I agree with you that they frequently mention how a garment hides this or that. However, I never believe them.

Healthy, unheathly??? We need to bring up our children with a positive body image and not to blame QVC, magazines, catalogs etc

Re: Why describe so much in the negative?

GingerPeach — Sat, 10 Mar 2018 17:40:39 GMT

I am not blaming QVC, @LexPex

I raised my daughter to be aware of advertisements and told her that ads could tell us whatever the ad companies wanted to, but that we, as consumers, needed to be aware of what our own needs were and how to differentiate among the messages being sent to us.

To this day, she is a careful and intelligent shopper.

Re: Why describe so much in the negative?

Sweetbay magnolia — Sat, 10 Mar 2018 18:08:02 GMT

I see your point, but it doesn't bother me. I know what I need to do.

Re: Why describe so much in the negative?

bonnielu — Sat, 10 Mar 2018 18:09:26 GMT

With technology the producer in their ear can make suggestions based on the "sell" words.They can see the bump in orders based on what is said.

I really don't watch live anymore but I can remember something about reading the "directives"the hosts are given as they speak. They no doubt knows what sells and they go at it full steam.

Re: Why describe so much in the negative?

faeriemoon — Sat, 10 Mar 2018 18:14:23 GMT

My favorite is when they offer boots in a wider calf and say it's for "athletic calfed" women. Chances are it's for women with fat legs, because most althletic calves fit in regular boots.

Re: Why describe so much in the negative?

GingerPeach — Sat, 10 Mar 2018 18:22:06 GMT

Hi @bonnielu

I know why they do it and how they do it, my point is that it's negative. Much of the audience is trained to respond to the negative but an audience can be retrained, as is being shown by the positive responses to the Dove ads.

Those ads with their positive images are successful. I would think that other advertisers, including QVC, could take note.

Re: Why describe so much in the negative?

Lisa Y — Sat, 10 Mar 2018 18:41:21 GMT

I agree with you and hear about hiding our "flaws" during clothing presentations. I, for one, don't want to hide my rearend. I want clothes that flatter my figure and will last for a long time. Just sayin....

Re: Why describe so much in the negative?

Pook — Sat, 10 Mar 2018 18:51:52 GMT

@faeriemoon I am a size 12 and have muscular athletic legs great looking legs and even when I was a size 7 I could not zip up regular boots so most real athletic legs probably need wider legs in boots. Also, there are many women with heavier legs and saying women who need wider boots just have "fat" legs is not only negative but a real slam to them meant to hit home and that is more than a little negative!!! While I don't think hosts are being negative with saying clothing hides many flaws that statement sure is!!

Re: Why describe so much in the negative?

q-girl — Sat, 10 Mar 2018 18:55:44 GMT

OK. . . . . I realize all this is just selling techniques, but there are two things that just get really under my skin anyway. First, I am 5'4" tall and wear a 1X top. Please DO NOT try to tell me that there is ANY design, cut, color, fabric, print, stripe or detail that will make me "instant skinny". Nope, nada, uh-uh, ain't gonna happen. Some garments are more flattering than others, but there is no "instant skinny" in my life, and that term grates on my last nerve.

The second one is: Please stop with all the self tanners. Everyone is aware of the danger of tannnig in the sun or with tanning beds, etc. So how about this . . . . let's stop promoting changing our skin color as a healthy look, or a healthy thing to do, and celebrate and appreciate the beauty of all women of all skin colors, from the fairest of the fair skin tone to the deepest of the deep skin tone. All are simply beautiful and don't need the sun or chemicals to change the color of their skin

Re: Why describe so much in the negative?

software — Sat, 10 Mar 2018 21:12:36 GMT

@GingerPeachwrote:
@blackhole99wrote:
The hosts and vendors are playing on all our insecurities to get us to buy the products.
I understand that, @blackhole99. My point is that it's unhealthy.

You watch QVC for health reasons?

Not trying to be contrary but @blackhole99 has it right.

If you look great and feel great about yourself, why buy stuff to make you look or feel better? QVC found their selling point. Same with ads on TV. "Want to feel better, look better, happy wife, happy husband, perfect kids"

Re: Why describe so much in the negative?

GingerPeach — Sat, 10 Mar 2018 21:31:01 GMT

Hi @software

I hardly watch QVC to feel healthy.

Witness their sales of that recent green product and all those weight loss foods, not to mention the steaks, cookies, and whatever else comes on the air.

QVC is simply another product source.

I agree we can buy products or clothes or makeup to make us feel better. That's my whole point. So why does Dove get it right and QVC misses the boat? OK, not all the time, but enough with the "lumps and bumps."

Re: Why describe so much in the negative?

BirkiLady — Sat, 10 Mar 2018 21:34:09 GMT

@q-girlDitto on your comments about the self-tanner products. A few QVC hosts are WAY too dark and it's early March. Those tanning products make those women look old - just as the sun does. Don't know why, but a couple of those hosts are aging before our eyes. Without those potions and with their normal skin tones, they would look 10-20 years younger. Don't get the madness of darkening their skin so much. Guess I cannot believe all those chemicals can be healthy for anyone on a daily basis.