Plus Sized Fashion Isn't What It Used To Be

There's a song by British pop singer Mika called Big Girl, You Are Beautiful, celebrating the sexiness of larger ladies. It could also be a title for the changes finally happening in the fashion industry.

For ages now feminists and culture critics have made the case that the fashion industry fosters unattainable expectations of women, and that anyone bigger than a supermodel has been left out in the cold, having to settle for frumpy, dowdy clothes from plus-size stores. This is certainly true, but the good news is, it is changing. No longer is it a contradiction to be plus-sized and stylish.

It's useful to remember that at its highest level, the fashion industry is all about putting on a show. The tall and willowy look favoured in fashion models partly reflects the fact that this body type is well-suited to the performance aspect of a runway show. It is as theatrically unrealistic as a glamorous set on a Broadway show or in a Hollywood movie. In their runway shows, major fashion designers set the trends and looks for the season, and these trends make their way down through the clothing industry through ready-to-wear collections and imitations created for hip stores for middle-class consumers like H&M.

On the other hand, it is still true that for years it was hard for women with larger body types to find clothes that embraced their need for more than just comfort and utility. However, it's fair to say that the fashion industry, despite its flaws, is working harder than ever to develop looks for full-figured women that are designed to flatter their figure and reflect the most important contemporary trends. This change in attitude is reflected in popular television programs like Project Runway, where contestants have held design challenges featuring plus-sized women, and Americas Next Top Model, which has featured plus-sized models in recent seasons.

Shopping for plus-size clothing isnt the depressing chore it used to be. First of all, the fashion industry is putting more energy into creating looks that are designed for bigger sizes, while still reflecting the current styles and trends. Also, there are more options than ever for plus-sized consumers, partly because of the internet. Its withing everyones reach to research trends online, and then literally shop the world from the comfort of your own home, finding styles and clothing lines that capture todays trends while being suited to your particular size and shape.

What you wear affects your sense of self-worth and attractiveness. After many decades of feeling left out, full-figured women are finally starting to see that fact acknowledged by the fashion industry, and can more easily than ever find clothes that make them feel stylish and elegant.