As I was perusing the news about New York Fashion week this morning I was delighted to see an article from npr.org discussing the use of plus size models on the runway. This is exciting to hear, but the cynic in me wonders why now? What has happened that has made designers finally begin to create beautiful clothing for the average sized woman?
Photo from V Magazine's January Issue on Plus Size Models
Although a part of me wonders whether the decision to use plus size models was politically or motivated or possibly even a publicity stunt, my hope is that they finally realized that real women is where the money is at. I’ve honestly never understood why fashion designers would only cater to such a small portion of women. When the average size of a woman in the U.S. is a 14, these people are just throwing money out the door.
Lane Bryant was one of the first large companies to break into the plus size fashion arena and bring real women great clothes. I remember a time when it seemed like every single item of clothing in my closet was from there. Why? Because I couldn’t find fun, trendy clothing anywhere else! Now, we’re seeing more and more plus size clothing stores pop-up online in addition to the brick and mortars.
The story on npr.org asks another great question “Is it really ‘Plus Size?’” Personally I feel that it’s a step in the right direction. Although a size 12 model still doesn’t represent a size 20 for example, she at least has more curves than a size 0. My hope is that we continue to look to realize that real women want to be fashionable and will spend our money on great clothes. If you design it… we will come!
I’d love to hear your thoughts on the subject. Would you be more interested in things like Fashion Week if there were more models our size (or at least closer to our size)?
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Plus Size Fashion News
An article on NPR mentioning that a few designers have included plus size models isn’t exactly “NY Fashion Week Goes Plus.”
Yeah it’s all good – more plus size models being included in runway shows along with the smaller size models. V Magazine, etc. Seeing more positive images of beautiful women who are size 10 and larger is very good.
But I think you have blown it a bit out of proportion.
NY Fashion Week HAS NOT gone plus size and to tell you the truth I don’t think it should. Just as it is negative to exclusively use very thin models, I think the same would be true to exclusively use plus size models.
I am interested in fashion week regardless of the sizes of the models but wouldn’t it be great to have women of all sizes represented in runway shows?
@Corinna
I appreciate your comment and totally agree that having women of all sizes represented is the key here. The headline is a bit misconstrued perhaps but I think it’s news that plus size models were featured. I didn’t mean it to imply that NY Fashion week was *only* plus size now. We all know that will never happen. :)
Gotta say it would be nice to see women of all sizes out there on the runway in houte couture!!! I’d love someone who represented me and my figure wearing some Valentino or Vera Wang. YES PLEASE! But I agree with CurvyLady, the article isn’t referring to changing NY Fashion Week to all plus sized models…rather not EXcluding them.