This is an area under debate right now and some people are clearly struggling with it. They know that plus size is popular and a hot topic of discussion and they want to participate and comment on the plus size market. But what is “Plus Size”, what does it mean and how do we see it?
The words “Plus Size” are used to refer to clothing for larger people, there is a wide field of debate around what is considered large, where do you start? Size, 10, 12, 14 or 16?. So the debate is also associated with health issues, as many people consider larger people to be automatically unhealthy (this is not true). The fashion industry is totally focused on how people look and older people are not on the mainstream fashion radar. This is unfortunate as many people are larger than the models the fashion industry generally wears (so they are expected to buy clothing modeled on slimmer women). Interestingly, the fashion industry is associated with thinness, which itself can also lead to health problems. It seems that people (both large and thin) slightly outside the “norm” are viewed and treated differently although, interestingly, in certain circumstances, both are perceived as “unhealthy”.
However, these perceptions are being challenged somewhat as people are getting bigger and what used to be considered “plus size” is now much more common than ever before. Dress sizes have gotten larger over the years, but have remained labeled as previously known as “dressing sizes” to help customers feel good about themselves. Usually, fashion markets are driven by trend-setting designers. His work is an art form and is displayed in an artistic manner. Ready to wear on the street is inspired by these trends, although there are also designers who set their own trends for their market.
Ready to Wear is worn by much broader age and size groups than those shown on the Haute Couture runways, and many of the trends seen on the runway don’t necessarily transfer well to the mainstream market. So while the “Plus Size” market may not be popular with the “media”, they do represent a good portion of the people who buy clothes.
The term “Plus Size” is commonly used in the US, but is less common here in the UK. It’s a commonly used search term on Google, but it’s not really used that well here in the UK. The media really don’t know how to handle it and this was never clearer when we saw the cover of Vogue Italia from June 2011. It features 3 beautiful women photographed in lingerie. These women are plus-size models and while it’s wonderful that Vogue featured them on its cover, it’s a shame they felt the need to photograph them half-naked and with one of them in a somewhat inappropriate pose.
Editor-in-chief Franca Sozzani launched Vogue Curvy in February, and Vogue Italia’s June 2011 cover was aimed at helping promote Vogue’s new affinity for plus-size women. It’s great that Sozzani has launched Vogue Curvy, is she acknowledging this mainstream fashion that there are many curvy or plus-size women out there and they demand that their fashion needs and desires be met? On an equally positive note, Sozzani is also campaigning against websites that actively promote anorexia, which the fashion industry has been blamed for fostering in the past. Well done to her for taking an active stance on this issue. In time, perhaps the fashion media will focus on fashion and not the size of the person wearing it. After all, everyone has the potential to be elegant and beautiful, regardless of their size.
The blog “The Cut” also published an article “Nobody seems to know what a plus size model really is” and featured some quotes from Madeline Figueroa-Jones, editor-in-chief of Plus Model magazine. Interestingly, “The Cut” featured a photograph of one of Plus Model magazine’s covers and of all the covers they could have chosen, they chose a cover featuring models in lingerie and posing provocatively. Plus Model magazine has a lot of covers showing bigger women in beautiful clothes. So it was a shame that these two highly visited websites chose to cheapen plus-size women a bit by showing them in skimpy (albeit well-photographed) lingerie.
Both Vogue and The Cut could have chosen photographs showing plus size women in beautiful clothes and illustrating the fact that larger women can look just as fabulous as other women and that fashion should be about fashion and not about body size. . Designers might also see the world slightly differently and if they were brave, they might see curvy women as an opportunity to design curve-flattering clothing and allow them to make a different and new fashion statement. At Vida Moda we say that curves are required to look good in clothes! It’s part of our mission to find beautiful clothing for older women that flatters them and makes them feel and look wonderful.
Vogue Italia cover image June 2011 courtesy of The NewsFeed and Vogue Italia
Designer Fashion Sizes 16-24 from Vida Moda Stylish European Plus Size Designer Clothing Collections for Women Browse our online store for clothing for curvy women.
