Plus Size Fashion: A Letter To Small Brands
It is 2020, and the fashion industry has made some amazing improvements in the last years. More women of color, specifically Black women, are walking the runway above a size 0. Rihanna’s Savage Fenty line is a prime example of this. Diversity, not just race and skin tone but even body shape. Something that many lingerie shops have a hard time doing; for such a very long time, plus-sized women have been overlooked when it comes down to being in the fashion industry or even just being represented at all. Being plus-sized is looked at as unhealthy, and people are always screaming “love yourself and your body,” and in the same sentence promoting weight loss. As a society, we are progressing, but numerous faults also come to play when fashion brands expand beyond a large size.
- Representation
A woman standing in a dress with a coke bottle shaped figure is not being inclusive. A lot of brands tend to use the same people with the same shape. You are advertising only part of the entire brand, but why? For one to some people, it is for the appeal. They attract more customers by having socially accepted people wearing their clothes. Although the brand provides clothing wear up to a size 2xl, you won’t find plus size women on the site. Women want to know what they are going to look like in the clothing, that’s why many stores have dressing rooms. Having someone look like you in all aspects relieves an unwanted burden.
- “True to Size”
Clothes are either too small, true to size, or too big. Many brands don’t include reviews of other customers, especially revealing if the size is too small or too big. It is very crucial when knowing if a clothing item is the correct size. You know some clothes may be “cut small” or “run large”. If you are advertising a large that can run small, it is essential always to include that information on sites.
We All Don’t Have Large Breasts! A lot of plus sized women have smaller bust size!
I am a size 12–14, and I have small breasts, but many clothes that I have purchased have been bigger in that area. Brands need to understand this concept.
Why am I Paying More?
I understand, with certain brands the way manufacturing works, you have more fabric, which would cause it to be more expensive than that of a smaller size. It is easy for brands to lose money when trying to charge customers the same size as the smaller shirt, so why not charge everyone the same price.
The Struggle of Finding Good Jeans..
Finding good quality jeans is a struggle being a plus-size woman, and I mean good quality. A lot of the time jeans split open in the thigh area, or a belt buckle ends up popping off. Being comfortable in your skin becomes harder when noticing that brands are not consideringALL body types. Finding the right pair of jeans becomes a struggle, and boom now you’re throwing on a pair of sweats and calling it a day.
People with upcoming brands and businesses who plan to include plus sizes must do the needed research before. To sell a product, you must get the customers’ attention and continue to keep them happy. There is absolutely nothing wrong with expanding but doing it the right way shows how important it is to bring diversity to the playing field. We want to see more representation of plus size women not just women with “curves”, we want to see real and honest reviews, pictures always help, we want to pay the same price as everyone else, and we want to above all feel and be appreciated by the many brands we shop with on a daily!
