the Title Nine catalog makes me feel so inadequate

[SadieKate]

I love your silly blurb, Queen. So descriptive of all our lives.

I called them once trying to figure out an item I was considering to complain that they didn't include brand names. They said in a high and mighty tone that many of their clients preferred it that way so they wouldn't get hung up on labels. Yeah, right. Some brands fit me, some don't. Some brands of fleece pill, some don't. It's a load of crap. I want the brand name so I can look up the materials and performance details as I'm buying these clothes to perform not just look good.

Now, if we could get TE to expand into the same clothing areas, I'll be an even more loyal customer.

[runnergirl]

Wow, I feel the opposite! Compared to the Assos model or the trashy cat model, the title 9 women are huge. Look at the pole vaulter on page 27, she's over 30, not wearing makeup, has scars on her knees, and legs which are muscular, not emaciated. Sure, I'll never look like the women they have modeling swimsuits, but I SO appreciate that they use women that actually DO the sports they're shown doing. Most athletic apparel companies (cycling companies especially), use models who couldn't pedal a bike 2 miles. They may be too far in the other direction, but I'd rather see "super women" role models in their catalog than emaciated anorexic (normal) models.

[Grog]

Wow, I feel the opposite! Compared to the Assos model or the trashy cat model, the title 9 women are huge. Look at the pole vaulter on page 27, she's over 30, not wearing makeup, has scars on her knees, and legs which are muscular, not emaciated. Sure, I'll never look like the women they have modeling swimsuits, but I SO appreciate that they use women that actually DO the sports they're shown doing. Most athletic apparel companies (cycling companies especially), use models who couldn't pedal a bike 2 miles. They may be too far in the other direction, but I'd rather see "super women" role models in their catalog than emaciated anorexic (normal) models.

I kind of feel like Runnergirl. Isn't it inspiring to see over-achieving women in strong positions once in a while?

[Veronica]

I do like that they are real women. And I agree they do seem to be real athletes. But, they do seem like super women as Jo pointed out. I don't have kids and between my job, training for my doubles and sleeping, I don't have a lot of time for learning another language or creating handbags. I barely have time to keep my house in reasonable order.

As far as their clothes... I'm one of those frumpy chicks who has to wear "mom jeans" 'cause my waist is too small for my thighs. I've tried a few of their pants and skirts and had to send them back. I do have a skort from them I love and some loose fitting tights.

V.

[CorsairMac]

I haven't seen their catalogue but I have to agree with the general posts here:

I too am happy to see women in their field and read about their achievements but I would love just once in while to see the avg joe woman (avg jane?)....ya know, the one with no college degree, working hard to make ends meet maybe single or not, maybe working a dead-end job even but she's still working every day, maybe single parent, has a body that Rubens would've used in his paintings instead of Victoria Secrets - coz let me tell ya, if she looks good on those Clothes - I would .....welll ok...maybe not look Good.....but I would know they would work for me!
(course I'm also the one that wants to see a car commercial where - just once - it isn't a professional driver on a closed course!)


and Queen - I was in stitches reading your "bio", but I gotta tell ya hun - with the field you work in, you're one of those amazing women in my eyes!

[maillotpois]

As far as their clothes... I'm one of those frumpy chicks who has to wear "mom jeans" 'cause my waist is too small for my thighs.

V.

LOL!! I have the SAME issue!! And boy is it hard to find jeans!!!

I do like to look at the T9 stuff, but I have never ordered anything from them. I prefer to go to REI and try stuff on.

[Crankin]

I dislike them for other reasons. Yea, the super achievers are a little unrealistic, but I once wrote them an email saying I would love to buy some of their clothes (after buying a couple of things), but nothing fit, because they don't carry extra smalls or petites. I know there are other women who are shorter than five foot two. I can't even wear their basic running pants or pants for the gym. They wrote me back a snotty email saying essentially that no one had ever complained before. So, I never bought anything from them again. I went to their store when I was in Boulder a couple of years ago. It was nothing special. Athleta now has almost all of their pants in petites and they carry extra smalls in their shirts. I spend my money there or at Terry.
Speaking of super achievers, has anyone seen the magazine called something like Her Sports? I bought it at EMS and it was full of great articles, but also full of women who were as old as me or older, taught 5 Pilates classes a week, surfed, ran marathons, tris, etc. I don't think I couold live up to that...

[Running Mommy]

For all you Nor cal girlz... Athleta is located in Petaluma and they have warehouse sales every once in awhile. You can get some GREAT deals. Might be worth checking into. I'd say it would also be worth a trip up for you bay area girls. You could always bring your bike and ride Healsdburg wine country after you shop...
NOW- as for T9. A couple of things.. First their stuff is super expensive. I'm sorry I'd rather put my coin into HARDWARE such as a bike or a new tri toy. The only thing I'm willing to put down some serious coin on is comfy "in the saddle all day" shorts. Also, I'm a 14-16 depending on what it is and they really don't carry that much in the way of larger sizes. I'm 5'1" but I'm built like a stump. I have huge log legs and a pouchy tummy. I'm cursed! But the xl's are hard to come by in that catalogue. And while the large may fit, I'm not into taking chances!
And yeah, I'll NEVER look like one of their models. But thats ok. I've learned to embrace my inner stumpiness!

[jobob]

They may be too far in the other direction, but I'd rather see "super women" role models in their catalog than emaciated anorexic (normal) models.

Hee hee, I agree. I'm just jealous.

If I were as creative as Queen I would have come up with my own blurb.

Maybe next time snap and I go out for martinis we'll put our remaining brain cells together...

[Selkie]

Agree--I would rather see real women with muscular bodies than super skinny models with little or no muscle tone. I also agree that the ladies seem to have it all or at least, more interesting lives than I! But then again, that's not too hard. haha.
Their prices are way too high, just like Athleta's. I occasionally treat myself. Also, I find their sizes run big and their smalls are more like mediums.
I'd love to be in the catalogue, too, and would be a model for free. I applied to be in Spinervals a couple times when they ran an open casting call but I never got picked. I'm not losing any sleep over it, but I have to admit that I could have kept up better than some of the folks Coach Troy, et. al., picked. In a way, I'm kind of glad they didn't pick me because I've noticed that occasionally, there are camera shots that subtly go down the female participants' shirts!

[VenusdeVelo]

Now that made me laugh out loud Queen.

Mickchick - we have one of the Spinervals DVDs (it's one of the new Aerobic training ones) -- and there is a (poor) girl in a Team In Training jersey and I swear the cameraman must have had the camera pointed on her butt for 5 minutes! I am sure she really enjoyed having that segment shot and put into the final cut -- it was quite blatant. Even my HB was taken back!

T9 -- I've bought a few things and they're not bad...the stuff isn't as "small" as it looks I think in the catalog. Their dresses (they're sport dresses, short sleeve, no sleeve...) I have to say are great for a day walking around town when you're on vacation and such...And I agree, much better than the Assos models. Although the new Athleta stuff is *really* cute ;-)

We always joke that you look at people that are profiled like in the T9 catalog..."Cari is a heart surgeon, and in her spare time she saves baby turtles from extinction. Cari is a perfect size 6, works out 43 hours a week between life-saving surgeries she performs. She is trained in taekwondo and a black belt in karate...she had to learn karate when she was a special forces agent while she was in med school. She sings, dances and acts, but has had to limit her theatre performances to once a month due to other commitments."

I know, I know, you love to hate them.... but, I've got to say I aspire and keep on trying...

[Trekhawk]

We always joke that you look at people that are profiled like in the T9 catalog..."Cari is a heart surgeon, and in her spare time she saves baby turtles from extinction. Cari is a perfect size 6, works out 43 hours a week between life-saving surgeries she performs. She is trained in taekwondo and a black belt in karate...she had to learn karate when she was a special forces agent while she was in med school. She sings, dances and acts, but has had to limit her theatre performances to once a month due to other commitments."

I know, I know, you love to hate them.... but, I've got to say I aspire and keep on trying...

LOL - that is so funny

[Selkie]

Now that made me laugh out loud Queen.

Mickchick - we have one of the Spinervals DVDs (it's one of the new Aerobic training ones) -- and there is a (poor) girl in a Team In Training jersey and I swear the cameraman must have had the camera pointed on her butt for 5 minutes! I am sure she really enjoyed having that segment shot and put into the final cut -- it was quite blatant. Even my HB was taken back!

That's the butt shot I was thinking about. Every time I'm doing that workout and come to that part, I cannot look at the TV screen. The cameraman also did some "down the shirt" shots of that poor soul (I think she's an accountant by trade, too!). I love the workouts and will continue to buy them but can do w/out the subtle, occasional but nonetheless 'adolescent teenage boy' camera work.

[bikerchick68]

I just started getting this cataolgue outta the blue too... like most catalogues I sit and wonder the same things... I like the stuff but have to wonder if I could fit my tree trunks into those pant legs! I didn't notice a lot of...ahem... "relaxed" leg pants in there!

Hey Queen... your blurb is awesome! I think you should mail it in with a pic!!! Who knows... maybe the next catalogue will have YOU in it