We're getting bigger, and sizes are getting smaller

Between demographics and "vanity sizing", it's quite surprising when a woman with an average size body can't wear clothes from the likes of Gucci.  Gucci's decision is a strategic one -- they want to offer up clothes only to a narrow slice of the population.  To the rest of us who want to wear Gucci, the choice is clear.  Accessories.  And from Gucci's perspective, selling us bags is preferable to selling us clothes because the profit margins are better.

In an even more perverse stroke, we see in this article in Newsweek, that some designers are beginning to offer "subzero" sizes.  Namely, they are seeking to fit those women who are too tiny to fit into a size 0.  Nicole Miller is among the designers introducing the smaller sizes.  Apparently, there were enough complaints from women wearing size 0 who had to do alterations to their Nicole Miller clothes, that the designer decided to expand her line down a size.  It's interesting to note that Nicole Miller, whose dresses cost between $300 and $600, only offers clothes through size 12. 

Does this mean that size 00s have louder, more persuasive voices than size 14s?  Or does it mean that designers feel comfortable ignoring the needs of larger women?

Angelina Jolie looking spectacular in Nicole Miller