Wednesday, October 01, 2008

From the Desk of the GM: Dear NHL Merchandise Department...



Thanks for the effort, but you still fail.

I really wish there was someway for me to see the sales figures on these items, because I remain perplexed as to why the league insists on pushing that crap on us ladies. I just want a jersey. Not a "fashion" jersey. I don't plan on walking any runways or going to high society parties in it...I just want a bloody jersey that fits that doesn't make me look like a box or I'm drowning in fabric. You know what, I'll even make a compromise. I don't even care if it's figure flattering, I don't have much of a figure to flatter anyways, all I ask is for a selection that doesn't make it seem like my only aim in wearing the apparel is trying to impress other people and that I really don't care about my team at all.

Here's a tip: the teams have their individual colours for a reason. They're a way to be identified and to be differentiated from others. You put the logos in baby pink and blue, you're taking away a part of the team's identity and lumping us all together in one, unintelligent mass of pastels.

I understand there's a market out there for that kind of stuff. Great, if it's what you like then by all means go nuts. Hey, the men-folk seem to love it (with all due respect though, you're not the one that would have to wear it). The NHL has all types of fans and I'm happy for that fact but you're walking a fine line when you decide to ignore your most passionate and dedicated fans in this way.

I also don't want to pay $40 for something I can do with a Bedazzler. In fact, when I'm wearing team apparel, I don't want it to look like it's been anywhere near a Bedazzler. I don't need sparkles, ruffles and lace to let everybody know how girly and lady-like I am. I'm assuming that's what me actually being a lady is for.

Of course, my good friend Wrap says it best:

Dudes coming up with this merch; have you ever met a woman? And I mean the type who actually enthusiastically enjoys hockey. I get the vibe you are going home and asking your girlfriend who really loves to read Us Weekly and getting her hair extensions done with her sorority sisters what she would put on the shirts.


I promise you, NHL, we exist. Perhaps you'd know it if you didn't decide that you'd only like to get feedback from your male fans in your latest e-mail survey (I'm sure you all know what I'm talking about).

You have to know we exist, right? I mean by now somebody has to have tipped you off about us, if the hoards of us at the arenas haven't given it away already. Maybe we're not as visibly noticeable because we refuse to wear what you offer us to buy. See how that works?

I've ranted about this endlessly before. I can continue ranting until I'm blue in the face but I'm sure we both would prefer it if I didn't. You should be glad, wonderful Merchandising Department, that we're the type of fans that wouldn't love hockey any less because of it.

Cross-Posted to Scarlett Ice.

14 comments:

wrap around curl said...

Thanks for the love, Sherry!

Cat said...

I'll kind of admit that I like those jerseys, but would probably not buy one, just because I have my women's-cut regular jersey and that suits me just fine.

I just wanted to comment and tell you that I spit water all over myself when I read this: "Perhaps you'd know it if you didn't decide that you'd only like to get feedback from your male fans in your latest e-mail survey (I'm sure you all know what I'm talking about)."

Dare said...

What has always irritated me is that not only are the pink jerseys ridiculously ugly, the women's jerseys that actually have team colours that I've seen are horribly made - instead of stitched on logos, you get the iron on crap. What? Are women too stupid to notice the difference? I don't get it.

"Women's" - http://shop.nhl.com/product/index.jsp?productId=3172401&clickid=body_bestsell_img
"Men's" - http://shop.nhl.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2626999&clickid=body_bestsell_img

Ugh.

wrap around curl said...

@ dare; I didn't know that the womens jerseys in team colors are ironed on logos. That is infuriating.

elise said...

I showed the pink jerseys to my 15-year-old sister yesterday. She's not a hockey fan at all and is a total fashionista and she informed me that she also thought they were completely hideous and that she would never ever wear one.

Anonymous said...

I hate them. I absolutely hate them.

Kerri said...

eh.

I like the pink jersey's. I have one. Yeah, I said it.

That said, I like my regular jersey's better, because I like team colors and having my favorite players' names on the back. And it's just cooler, really. And forget "woman cuts"- I like the men's replica's. I'm not going to a game to show off my waist line.

One of my biggest complaints always has been that the women section is ugly, though. How come I see adorable MLB and NFL clothes for girls, which stays true to the team's colors and doesn't just have a teeny tiny symbol (like Alyssa Milano's clothes) or some added sequins or something?

Kerri said...

Oh, and why does the NHL think it's OK to iron the symbols on the women's jerseys (as stated above) AND on replicas that you spend like 200 bucks on? I'm sorry, I want stitching. It USED to be that way, before this Reebok Edge thing happened. Now everything is crap and they charge you more for it.

Nadine said...

Great HLOG minds think alike. I ranted on this over on Flyers.Femme last even as well. I simply couldn't believe it when I opened the booklet (hello, NHL, go green and just send me a link, 'kay?) and saw this freakin' stuff.

Not.happy.

DCSportsChick said...

That's effing gross. Ew.

Shan said...

I think the various styles are fine, but they should use the team colours, not stupid pink and baby blue where it doesn't belong. That's idiotic.

Shan said...

And yes, printed logos suck. Crests FTW.

Anonymous said...

I think it's good that there's something for every fan...I have a women's cut jersey in the team colour and don't really mind that it's a screened-on logo. It actually moves better and falls nicely and what not. As much as I care about my team, I also care how something is going to look and fit me, especially if I am spending the bucks for it. Wearing what the pros wear isn't the point to me - wearing my team colours and team logo is, and I think that's the point. I wouldn't wear the pink because of it, but the ladies' team colour version is not as bad as everyone is making it out to be.

Hockey_Princess said...

I agree, really not loving the pink and blue. If I was to buy a jersey I would want the team colour not some baby colours.

One day my friend saw the pink and blue jeresys and told me about them, thinking I would love them...she did not expect me to fly off the handles about how much I hated them.

That being said I wonder if there is a way that we could pool together and get women's jerseys in the team colours...