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The future of plus size

Carol

(website)

Veteran

I've noticed lately on a few clothing websites, like H and M, plus-size models and regular models are used together in the same sections (shirts, pants, etc.) so that there is no mention of "plus-size jean skirt," etc. when the plus-size model is featured. Instead the item ranges from say, XS to 4X, without separating into "regular" and "plus."

I like this a lot, seeing as how humanity actually comes in a wide variety of sizes.

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Body Type

23 replies

Latest reply was from Kari

Roberta

Veteran

I'm really happy with this trend too. Your post made me think about what retailers have to do to represent their clothes without letting us handle them or try them on. Multiple angles, multiple models, suggested combinations with other items, measurements, fiber contents . . . It's a lot compared to steaming a top and putting it on a hanger.

Back to your point - I always flip through to see if there is an image in a model closer to my size. Several retailers give the measurements and height and sizes of the two models. I particularly appreciate the height information, as I can then guess where the sweater or jacket will actually hit me.

The Gap does this really well (https://www.gap.com/browse/pro.....X2JwRVRGcz)

I also thought about which brands will probably NEVER do this. Boden, despite its recent groveling and its good range of sizes, will likely never show a plus size model, although they are pretty good about showing a range of ages. They also encourage customers to post selfies, which means you occasionally see a larger (or shorter) woman.

Remember when you had to pay more if you were over a size 14? That made me grind my teeth.

Peri

Veteran

Athleta does this too and it feels even more significant since they lean to atheleisure and workout/yoga. They are giving the message that healthy can be any size, and every size deserves the clothing to participate.

rachylou

Veteran

I’ve noticed this too… and also in-store at my Target. I also quite like it. Friends can shop together. I get to see everything out there.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

I appreciate this, too, for all the reasons you and Roberta and Peri mention. It's great to see.

kkards

Veteran

QVC is/has always been a leader in this. Almost from the beginning they showed a wide range of sizes on a wide range of bodies of different ages as well
But yes many brands, if they offer a range of sizes, now offer a range of bodies they show them on. Unfortunately there are still a lot of brands that have not explored offerings in an extended range of sizes.

Carol

(website)

Veteran

Roberta--you know, it's funny--although I am closer to plus size I am always looking at the thin model as a comparison to my body. Wishful thinking! Sure, I can wear that bodycon dress!

Peri--that is interesting. That is a brand I have not checked out. I do like the idea that a woman can be fit and also not thin (which men have been able to do for a long time). One can exercise and still have curves.

rachylou--my ex-husband, overweight, used to feel humiliated when shopping, as he often couldn't find things larger than a L or XL. He wore an XL in shirts, but had trouble with pants, I think. It is nice to think that everyone can shop together now.

Suz--absolutely!

kkards--those shows are massively addicting, and I didn't know they've done that for awhile. Makes it more tempting to buy if you see it in your size!

Jaime

(website)

Veteran

I've seen this too and it is a great step. I appreciate seeing alternate versions of how to look. Not sure how it affects sizing, because I have read there are distinct problems of just proportionally scaling up to create bigger sizes, but that is a separate issue I suppose.

Janet

(website)

Veteran

Yes, I like how brands like Universal Standard and Athleta show items on varying sizes. More, please!

It sometimes drives me nuts that some brands will show fits on a size 0-2 body and a size 14-16 body, and nothing in between. I can’t relate to either of those and I’m left guessing how something might work on my very average shape by sort of trying to envision the middle ground. It gives me more empathy for those who truly rarely see their size or shape represented when they shop!

Carol

(website)

Veteran

Jaime--that is a great point--I did not think about the differences in fabric/pattern.

Janet--that is true, even if someone's a 4, it's pretty off "average." I have the opposite problem--I see a size 2 women and think I look like that.

Helena

Veteran

Imagine the marketing looking like us rather than us feeling we're supposed to look like the marketing! What a concept! Hooray for this progress and thanks for sharing xx

catherine

Veteran

This might be progress, so I’m happy to see it. It’s always been baffling that retailers create an experience that separates us into categories.

Sal

Veteran

I like the trend too - several brands here show clothing on two or three models across different sizes. I also like it if they state the height of the model.

Some of the brands are better than others at the diversity of sizes - I bet helps reduce the return rate:)

Anonymous

I like when they do that too- it just makes more sense when it's the same garment.

Joy

Veteran

My rant is one-size-fits-all. It does not. Most of the time it is too big for me. I suspect the same is true at the other end of the spectrum.

judy

Veteran

I've really appreciated seeing the increasing diversity in models and sizes. It's a step in the right direction for sure, and there's probably so much more to go too.

Joy, I agree that "one size fits most" can be tricky when us humans come in all shapes and sizes! Recently I ordered from a couple of companies that do one size...it was t shirts and some sweatshirt cardigans. I tend to like oversize things, so they worked well for me. Also, I don't (can't!) obsess about whether or not I got the right size !

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

I appreciate this too, Carol!

That said, it hasn't always worked well for retailers - especially not in brick 'n mortar stores - so they go back to separating the size categories.

And what Jaime said.

lyn67

Veteran

Yes, have noticed, me too-and love that! I just don't understand why retailers don't understand we rather want to see clothes on models closer to our own size so one would think they would be directly interested to employ models of various sizes! We even have an online polish retailer here in EU where after entering the size of the item wanted to purchase the pictie will change accordingly (from a regullar to a plus or curvy size-only, but not for each size in between)-still very helpful, I think!

Carol

(website)

Veteran

Helena--great idea! Thank you.

catherine--true, especially since for a long time, plus-size models hovered around the average American women's size.

Sal--I have also noticed that--it is great to be able to see a piece on different body types.

suntiger--it does make more sense--it makes fashion feel like one thing rather that certain styles for larger people, certain styles for smaller people.

Joy--I haven't probably tried enough of those to be sure, but I'm pretty medium, so maybe they fit me well.

Carol

(website)

Veteran

judy--absolutely. and there probably is so much more to go.

Angie--yes, I never knew there could be a difference in pattern--I assumed they'd just proportion up the measurements.

lyn67--cool, I have not seen that--the changing of picture according to size. That seems like a good "next step" for many retailers.

Zaeobi

(website)

Veteran

Yes, I like how Universal Standard have been pioneers in this since their inception (everything from sizes 00-40 on the same page, & often with different models automatically like @lyn67 states).

Jaime

(website)

Veteran

I just listened to an excellent podcast on this topic:
https://www.articlesofinterest.....plus-sizes

bella

(website)

Veteran

Since the pandemic, I've been shopping a lot online, and most of my purchases come from a local online retailer, an umbrella site for all kinds of retailers, a local version of Amazon if you will. The website has a reward system that incentivizes customers to post photos in their product reviews.

While the product pictures are not that great, tons of comments with images show the actual product in action. When I am looking at clothing reviews, these are especially helpful and on more than one occasion have helped me decide in favor of or against a particular clothing item. Reading the comments here made me realize that this is probably the reason why I've been drawn to this website for my online purchases (along of course with some other things like free and easy returns, easy to navigate and sort, ability to bundle my purchases from different retailers and pay a flat fee). So a big yes to showing pictures of clothes on different sizes and body shapes!

Kari

Veteran

Since a couple folks mentioned it, here is why just scaling up from a garment that’s based around a sample size 2 does not generally work well for much larger bodies if you aren’t adjusting patterns to real bodies who represent/are close to how your customers are shaped.

You end up with very weird features like giant armholes or a super small bust, or the fit looking VERY different on the actual body as it’s never been fit to a human, just graded up from a much smaller pattern.

https://qz.com/932354/the-stup.....t-so-badly

https://www.self.com/story/ext.....sizing-fit

From the first article:

“ that the sizes closest to the fit model sell the best, since they usually offer customers the best fit and look good in the dressing room. The further away from the fit model’s size that you get, the worse the fit becomes and less likely customers are to buy the garment. Brands interpret those low sales as meaning they don’t have an audience of larger-size customers, which convinces them it’s not worth investing the resources in appealing to that audience—such as by also hiring a larger-sized fit model. That’s why the fit problems in larger sizes continue.

It’s similar to the way brick-and-mortar stores may come to believe customers who wear larger sizes don’t shop there, when what’s keeping the customers at bay is actually a poor shopping experience for them.”