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Showing posts with label size diversity. Show all posts
Showing posts with label size diversity. Show all posts
"I'm sorry that people are so jealous of me. But I can't help it that I'm popular." ~ Gretchen Wieners, Mean Girls
Last week was a real eye opener for me that made me reflect on my feelings about the fashion industry and my place in it.
I got invited to cover The Femmy Awards and Gala, taking place at Cipriani 42nd St. This event was sponsored by The Underfashion Club, a non-profit fashion industry group dedicated to "all facets of the intimate apparel industry: foundations, daywear, sleepwear, robes, and loungewear".
As someone who is considered media via my job at PLUS Model Magazine, I will admit I get some amazing opportunities to attend events like the Femmy Awards.
So I decided to put on a red dress (from Catherines) that had been sitting in my closet for the last 6 weeks. I was sick with bronchitis for about 5 weeks so my 2019 actually started on 1/25. Wearing red is always something that gives me some extra uumph, which was needed for this night.
See, this was not a plus size event. The theme of this year's awards and gala was body positivity and plus supermodel Emme was hosting (YES!), BUT this was an event where there would be media and some heavy hitters from the Intimate Apparel industry. Folks from Kohl's, Dillard's and other major brands were in attendance.
They were also having a design contest featuring six Fashion Institute of Technology students studying intimate apparel. For the first time, students’ designs were on exhibit via mannequins from size 7 to size 2X, in keeping with the theme of “Body Positivity.” The three top finalists won $5,000 and an all-expense paid trip to Paris.
I was basically walking into a huge event, not knowing a soul and possibly being the biggest girl in the room. Of course, in Fearlessly Just Me fashion, I did just that.
People stared and looked but not for the reasons I was used to. It was because I was wearing red in a sea of black and because people wondered who I was. I mean, I'm a gorgeous big girl wearing a body con red dress with short hair. And I'm walking up in there, like I own the place, lol.
The Intimates Apparel industry is a tight-knit community too, I learned later that evening. And they accepted me with open arms, actually intrigued by the plus size industry and how they can bridge that gap between mainstream/straight size and plus sizes.
Words cannot explain how included I felt and it had nothing to do with seeing someone else who looked like me. It had to do with being seen as more than a plus size woman. They saw me as someone who was their equal, someone in the media who came to the table confident, humble, professional and engaging.
My size was actually an asset in this situation as they now had access to someone who was visibly plus, looked fabulous and proved that plus size women can be stylish too and know their stuff. People came up to me, introduced themselves, asked where my dress was from and just wanted to know about ME.
I left that evening with a clutch full of business cards, including a few requests to be interviewed or featured on their website. As I walked out of Cipriani and to my waiting Uber, I skipped and danced a little, with a smile on my face.
I feel like we are now experiencing a shift in the industry where plus sizes are becoming mainstream. If you're a size 20 and under, you have become mainstream as almost all plus size brands and companies who expand on sizing, always offer up to a size 20. Those who offer above a size 24 are considered radical and really pushing boundaries in an industry where many brands think women above a size 20 don't shop or buy stylish clothing.
Why should my size speak for how I should dress? Why should there be an immediate asumption that separates how women view style and fashion according to their size?
As a size 26/28, I should not feel like I am outsized and not accepted by my own community and industry. But I do.
I just want to be around women who get me. But I also want to be around people who are looking past my size and seeing who I am as a person and what I bring to this industry as I have a seat at the table.
The use of the words "curvy" and "curve" have become the norm. And I feel like women like me have become lost in the shuffle.
I can't shop everywhere I want and while the fashion industry is changing, when I am vocal about my struggles with shopping, women smaller than me try to challenge that by saying they experience the same issue. NO.
I feel like I have to remind them that their situation is totally different than mine. If you're under a size 20, you can shop in mainstream stores like The Gap, NY & Company and countless others. I recognize that smaller women have their own fit issues but they have more options than I do when it comes to fashion.
Most plus size brands stop at a size 3X and 24. So while I get excited when a brand expands their sizing into plus sizes, I can't help but feel a little deflated when I see they are still not carrying my size.
As someone who is considered media via my job at PLUS Model Magazine, I will admit I get some amazing opportunities to attend events like the Femmy Awards.
So I decided to put on a red dress (from Catherines) that had been sitting in my closet for the last 6 weeks. I was sick with bronchitis for about 5 weeks so my 2019 actually started on 1/25. Wearing red is always something that gives me some extra uumph, which was needed for this night.
See, this was not a plus size event. The theme of this year's awards and gala was body positivity and plus supermodel Emme was hosting (YES!), BUT this was an event where there would be media and some heavy hitters from the Intimate Apparel industry. Folks from Kohl's, Dillard's and other major brands were in attendance.
They were also having a design contest featuring six Fashion Institute of Technology students studying intimate apparel. For the first time, students’ designs were on exhibit via mannequins from size 7 to size 2X, in keeping with the theme of “Body Positivity.” The three top finalists won $5,000 and an all-expense paid trip to Paris.
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| Me with the gorgeous Emme |
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| Emme hosting the Femmy Awards 2019 |
I was basically walking into a huge event, not knowing a soul and possibly being the biggest girl in the room. Of course, in Fearlessly Just Me fashion, I did just that.
People stared and looked but not for the reasons I was used to. It was because I was wearing red in a sea of black and because people wondered who I was. I mean, I'm a gorgeous big girl wearing a body con red dress with short hair. And I'm walking up in there, like I own the place, lol.
The Intimates Apparel industry is a tight-knit community too, I learned later that evening. And they accepted me with open arms, actually intrigued by the plus size industry and how they can bridge that gap between mainstream/straight size and plus sizes.
Words cannot explain how included I felt and it had nothing to do with seeing someone else who looked like me. It had to do with being seen as more than a plus size woman. They saw me as someone who was their equal, someone in the media who came to the table confident, humble, professional and engaging.
My size was actually an asset in this situation as they now had access to someone who was visibly plus, looked fabulous and proved that plus size women can be stylish too and know their stuff. People came up to me, introduced themselves, asked where my dress was from and just wanted to know about ME.
I left that evening with a clutch full of business cards, including a few requests to be interviewed or featured on their website. As I walked out of Cipriani and to my waiting Uber, I skipped and danced a little, with a smile on my face.
I feel like we are now experiencing a shift in the industry where plus sizes are becoming mainstream. If you're a size 20 and under, you have become mainstream as almost all plus size brands and companies who expand on sizing, always offer up to a size 20. Those who offer above a size 24 are considered radical and really pushing boundaries in an industry where many brands think women above a size 20 don't shop or buy stylish clothing.
Why should my size speak for how I should dress? Why should there be an immediate asumption that separates how women view style and fashion according to their size?
As a size 26/28, I should not feel like I am outsized and not accepted by my own community and industry. But I do.
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| TCF Style Expo 2018 - Size 24+ panel |
I just want to be around women who get me. But I also want to be around people who are looking past my size and seeing who I am as a person and what I bring to this industry as I have a seat at the table.
The use of the words "curvy" and "curve" have become the norm. And I feel like women like me have become lost in the shuffle.
I can't shop everywhere I want and while the fashion industry is changing, when I am vocal about my struggles with shopping, women smaller than me try to challenge that by saying they experience the same issue. NO.
I feel like I have to remind them that their situation is totally different than mine. If you're under a size 20, you can shop in mainstream stores like The Gap, NY & Company and countless others. I recognize that smaller women have their own fit issues but they have more options than I do when it comes to fashion.
Most plus size brands stop at a size 3X and 24. So while I get excited when a brand expands their sizing into plus sizes, I can't help but feel a little deflated when I see they are still not carrying my size.
Having empathy for other bodies is a part of being body positive. Admitting your own privilege instead of playing the victim is a sign of growth and truly being someone who believes that all bodies are beautiful.
The Femmy Awards taught me some valuable lessons. It showed me that you don't have to be around people who look like you, to fit in. At the end of the day, I am more than a plus size woman and have much more to offer as a human being.
It also showed me that there are people out there who want to be educated more on the state of plus size fashion and that as a visibly plus size woman who does not have access to all plus size fashion, I have a strong voice that can help with that.
While I may encounter the "You can't sit with us" mentality at times, I want to focus more on where I do sit and use that opportunity to educate, engage and network. Not being able to sit at every table doesn't limit my worth in this world or stop the work I am doing.
I'm more focused on inpiring the next generation of designers to embrace designing for ALL sizes and not just a range that excludes women who want to dress just like their thinner sisters.
As I chatted with the six design student finalists from F.I.T., I had hope for the fashion industry in becoming more inclusive. They all spoke so passionately about wanting to design for plus sizes with many of them even offering to create a dress for me! I never thought I'd feel or experience this in my lifetime but I am!
I'm excited to see what the generation of fashion holds for ALL women, especially those of us that are excluded at times from the plus size range AND the conversation.
You can find my Catherines red dress here and it's on sale for $40, up to size 5X including petites. (I'm wearing a size 3X petite)
You can follow those amazing F.I.T. fashion design students below on Instagram - hit them up if you need some custom lingerie or dresses:
Aura Alvarez: @aurahalvarez
Breanna Childers: @bre_childers
Laurel Yau: @yauleru
Dorshelle Guillaume: @dorshelleguillaume
Jessica Trusio: @jesstrusio
Sierra White: @intimatelysierra
Let's support and educate the next generation of fashion.
“You’ll learn, as you get older, that rules are made to be broken. Be bold enough to live life on your terms, and never, ever apologize for it." ~ Mandy Hale
From a Size 4X Perspective: The Amanda Uprichard Capsule Collection for Gwynnie Bee
Monday, March 20, 2017
Fashion should be fun and accessible. ~ Anna Sui
**FYI, this is NOT a sponsored post. The opinions expressed are my own; I was not paid to write this blog post.**
I'll be honest... I never thought I'd see designer fashion available in plus sizes in my lifetime.
Fashion has evolved leaps and bounds since I was a child and teen fashionista but until recently, I admired high-end fashion from afar. I always felt like I was in a museum looking at an exhibit that I could admire and love but could not touch.
But now because of designers like Christian Siriano who are open to designing for plus size women, that day I have been waiting for is here.
Thank goodness for Lane Bryant partnering with Siriano and other designers like Isabel Toledo, Sophie Theallet and recently Prabal Gurung. Not only is the fashion available but it is accessible to girls like me who are above a size 24 and can't afford high fashion prices.
Siriano has a special place in my heart. I'm not just a Project Runway junkie but I also admire his hustle in making his designs mainstream not just via clothing but shoes too. He partnered with Payless a few years ago and let me tell you... his shoes and bags are LIFE. And they're budget-friendly.
Gwynnie Bee also has answered my high-end fashion prayers with their capsule collections with Rachel Antonoff and now Amanda Uprichard, both available in sizes L to 5X!
And with my job at Gwynnie Bee as a First Fit Model and Reviewer, I love being able to try the designer pieces and tell other women how they fit and feel. We are ALL worthy of fashion and I want to inspire women to have fun and express themselves via fashion.
The Amanda Uprichard capsule collection just launched and I am so excited about it. It's only five pieces but I love ALL 5. There's prints, there's a sporty look and beautiful colors that have me dreaming of spring. I was so happy I got to try on all five pieces and review them.
I know how important it is to show diversity in fashion because simply we all want to know how something will look on a body like ours. I know I hate when I see a size 12 model wearing something I want to buy because I know that it will not look the same on me. There is space for that size 12 model but a range of models should be shown, especially if the clothing is offered in sizes above a 24 and 3X. This is why I take my job at Gwynnie Bee seriously.
With that said, here's a look at the Amanda Uprichard collection for Gwynnie Bee from a size 12 (L) perspective and a size 26/28 (4X) perspective - my measurements are 57-51-68:
#1: Wharton Dress in Splash Print
This dress is made from scuba fabric so it has stretch but it offers some structure. It's comfortable and fits so well. And I felt like I was wearing a piece of watercolor art.
#2: Cricket Maxi Dress in Blacklight Stripe
I loved this dress! So comfy and lightweight. Perfect for vacation or on the beach. The tulip front hem is pretty. Just be careful when sitting so you don't reveal TOO much. On me, it was a true maxi length so for taller girls, it may not hit you at the ankle.
#3: Forever Top in Aqua
The color of this top is GORGEOUS. There's no stretch to the fabric but it still fit well and I loved the lightweight feel of the fabric. And it wasn't snug at the hips.
#4: Forever Top in Spring Tartan
For some reason, I had to size up in this top and not the aqua one. But this fit well and I love the fun take on plaid. I would pair this with jeans or a red cigarette pant and a fun flat.
#5: Game Day Dress in Black
I AM IN LOVE WITH THIS DRESS. It's sporty but so feminine. And it has pockets. It has no stretch but the 4X fit me well. The length is a little short for me (especially when I sit down) but I would just wear some capri leggings underneath. I also love the tie waist and how it's not snug in the upper arms.
Overall, I give the Amanda Uprichard capsule collection two thumbs up. And this makes me excited for what's next in designer fashion for plus sizes.
If you're not a Gwynnie Bee member, you can sign up for 30 days free and try the collection yourself. Just click here to sign up.
What do you think of this collection? Let me know below in the comments -- also feel free to ask me any other fit questions about the pieces. #fashionisforeveryone
Beauty begins the moment you decide to be yourself ~ Coco Chanel
For me, knowing my worth is more than knowing what I deserve in a romantic partner or in friendships. It's also knowing that I am worthy of fashion and of dressing the body I am in NOW, not twenty pounds from now. Life can end at any second so I am trying to live out each minute by having the most magical love affair with myself.
I will admit, though... The one thing that has bothered me for years is how I can't really shop with my friends in the same store. With many of the brands that I gravitate towards when it comes to style and aesthetic, they usually stop at a size 3X or 24. And sometimes that's a junior plus 3X.
Recently, Universal Standard gave me the gift of being able to shop with my friends and feel "normal". And it was a day I will never forget.
One rainy day in NYC, my girl Alysse of the blog Ready to Stare was in town and asked me if I wanted to tag along with her to Universal Standard's showroom, where she was picking up a few pieces.
When I think of quality fashion that fits my style while offering me new style options to try to get me out of my comfort zone, I think of Universal Standard. So of course, I said YES!
I love Universal Standard's minimalist vibe - their pieces are so chic and seasonless. I have been a big fan of theirs since the beginning. Also, for them to offer up to size 28 is MAJOR because there are not many luxury plus fashion brands (or many brands period) who offer fashion on this level in MY size.
You can easily make an appointment online to visit and shop the showroom and that time is yours to go fashion crazy and try as many styles as you want.
The feeling I felt while I was there was pure bliss. We all tried on the same pieces, modeling in front of the full length mirror and admiring each other's looks. Our girl Ushshi came by and tried on some pieces too.
Best part of it all? We were all laughing and having a great time, while offering compliments to each other. It really felt like a sisterhood and made my heart smile.
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| Alysse and I are wearing the Knot Top |
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| I'm wearing the Volga Jersey Caplette |
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| Alysse and I are wearing the Meridian Zip Pullover |
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| Ushshi is wearing the Geneva Dress in black |
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| Alysse and I are wearing The Candice Tee |
For me, this was more than a shopping trip. It was a life changing experience. I have been on this journey to finding my tribe and this day helped me see that sometimes you find your "people" in the most unexpected places.
Next time Alysse is in New York, we are already planning our next trip to the Universal Standard showroom. The entire US team is simply wonderful and they truly want plus women to have the same fashion that our thinner sisters have access to.
This weekend, if you are in the NYC area, you should definitely check out Universal Standard. They are having a Sip & Shop event at their showroom where you can get a first look at their Spring 2017 collection and hang with plus size fashion blogger Kelly Augustine.
Find out more here.
Thank you Universal Standard for giving me that moment of normalcy and fabulousness in my life. I will be back!
Click here to read Alysse's blog post on this magical day and us being able to shop together in the same place.
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