All people are beautiful, this is not something that can be discussed. On the day that the world-famous annual Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show was canceled, it became clear to everyone that something had changed for good in fashion. After decades of the reign of models stylized to the extreme and thinness as a synonym of the attractive and the desirable, the world said ‘enough’. It is not just an aesthetic issue, but also an ethical manifesto: each person is born with certain physical attributes, and no one should be ashamed of their body or develop any complexes just because trendsetters have decided that the image of what beauty is doesn’t fit the reality of how the human body looks. People are diverse, different from each other, and in that diversity lies beauty.
Today we want to collect some good examples of real beauty standards and send a positive and empowering message. We want to celebrate the birth of a more plural and kinder fashion, one in which we can be proud to take part in and whose values we identify with. We position ourselves on the side of diversity and we do so knowing that this is just another step towards the lifestyle of the future.
Minority at the beginning
The so-called “ideal” female form has had its own evolutionary track that has gotten society to where it is today. In the 19th century, a curvier female body was viewed as normal and admired. At the turn of the 20th century, that all changed: thinness as an archetype of perfection started taking shape until it reached its peak with the supermodels of the 90s and early 2000s. In response to this, designers like Lane Bryant were some of the first to manufacture clothes designed for women of different body types. Her husband even conducted research and surveyed over four thousand women only to find that women do actually have various shapes and sizes that differed greatly from that of the commercialized idea of a woman’s body.
It wasn’t until the 80s that the word “plus-size” was given a strict definition of being a size fourteen and up. At the same time, the criticism of major fashion publications began. Society started to notice the lack of representation of curvy women in their favorite fashion magazines. Thankfully, publications such as Mode magazine (1997–2001) came on the scene as the first to dedicate their content to plus-sized women, covering all topics from fashion to beauty to wellness. Long before this issue came to the fore of public debate, many women in this community were already striving to break down the barriers imposed by mainstream thinking.
Now that this movement for natural beauty has gained traction, it’s no longer strange to find models with diverse bodies in ads and ad campaigns, and agencies increasingly cast girls who differ from the 20-year-old, 90–60–90 type. This is something that we have been able to verify in different brands of cosmetics and fashion, among them some as well known as Sephora, Nivea, or L’Oréal, which to a greater or lesser extent have joined this movement for total inclusivity. Having included a growing number of ethnically diverse models in their campaigns over the past few decades, the industry giants are finally approaching the frontier of size.
Confident women who inspire
Since the plus-size industry has evolved and changed to where it is today, we are able to turn to so many inspiring and powerful women who preach the message of body positivity. In a world where we feel pressure to be perfect, it is incredibly refreshing to see women who show us that you can celebrate your body and be confident no matter what society tells you. Especially for young girls who are constantly consuming content on social media and are deeply influenced by it, having these kinds of role models will teach them to feel good in the skin they are in and support other women.
Staiy looks to many women who are pioneers in the plus-size industry and are making strides in the fight for diversity and inclusion, like Candice Huffine. She is a curve model that has graced the covers of Vogue worldwide and walked the runways of brands like Tommy Hilfiger and Christian Siriano. She is constantly using her social media platforms to promote body positivity, her incredible style and acceptance with her bright personality. In 2016, she was training for the Boston Marathon and found that she couldn’t find activewear that was comfortable and wearable for curvy women. This inspired her to create her own activewear brand DAY/WON. She found herself at a crossroads to not only create an inclusive brand but also create a brand that was sustainable. DAY/WON now has sizes ranging from 0–32 and sustainability initiatives that create zero waste. Women like Candice are true advocates for the lifestyle for the future that we promote at Staiy.
Looking forward
Beauty comes in many forms, and it is essential to ensure that all people identify with the models that the fashion industry promotes. We do not need a new model of perfect beauty, but we should simply embrace it in all of its shapes. This is about overcoming an outdated idea of beauty that has led brands to focus on homogeneous body typologies in their campaigns.
Finding in the media people with different bodies, of various ages, with a number of skin tones, diverse genres, and different functional characteristics helps promote acceptance and inclusion. A girl shouldn’t have to feel ashamed just because her body doesn’t look like the runway models. In 2020 we can finally see a Venus ad casting a black woman with pregnancy stretch marks, and that is of itself a victory. Getting all people to identify with those who advertise the products they want to purchase, and who are shown as examples of what is desirable, is not only profitable for fashion and beauty brands but is above all a necessary struggle for the progress of our society. That is why today we decided to talk about who has contributed to paving this fight and send a message of positivity. Just stay yourself.
