Bethanny, this party comes at a great time for shopping in the plus-size universe. There is even a new word for plus size – Curve, as in curvy – and it will hopefully help take some of the stigma out of the extended sizes section over time. The next generations of consumers are demanding body positivity be addressed in stores, and in the larger conversation. We have much to learn from them.
For fashion and styling advice for this season, we turned to a celebrity and veteran of the Curvy fashion movement: Meredith Shaw, the host of Breakfast Television, who has done a holiday collection collaboration with Canadian plus-size retailer PENN. Shaw has appeared in Vogue, she has walked the runway in Toronto, and she has emerged as an advocate for all body types.
Shaw, whose PENN collection mixes practicality with holiday nostalgia, told us how to shift our perspective on who is allowed to wear what. “If you are having trouble having ‘fun’ with fashion,” she says, “please give yourself some grace. We are battling against years of very strongly held beliefs and quite frankly, limited product availability, that dictates that the only fun to be had in fashion exists if you have a smaller body.” In other words Bethanny, don’t let anyone, or anything, limit your possibilities.
The best part of holiday dressing, says Shaw, is that yes, it is trend-based, but it is also a season that really embraces the classics. “Velvet, sequin, silk, tartan, metallics and leather are all timeless,” she says. But quality counts: “One thing to keep in mind though, as we age, is silhouette and fabric quality. A beautiful long velvet blazer paired with a slightly sheer bodycon dress is an example of something that would be both ageless and on trend this season (both of those pieces are available in my PENN collection!).”
She also points to another favourite piece, a black velvet three-piece suit with tuxedo stripe and satin detailing that comes in three pant lengths (petite, regular and tall). “This is a first for PENN. and I’m so thrilled to be championing that change.”
Making extended sizes does not mean just sizing up along a standardized chart. Good design means accommodating the fact that all our bodies are different in proportion. The reality is that many “mainstream” brands segregate out the plus (and sometimes the petite) sections, with entirely different, often less fashionable, options. Recent examples of big brands with solid offerings in extended sizing include Reitmans, Reformation and Anthropologie. Simons is a great one-stop department store with a huge range of sizing. Eloquii is an online brand that ships to Canada and has some cool stuff, though it takes some sifting through. Look for future drops of the Roxy Earle x Joe Fresh collaboration, as there can be terrific pieces there.
But for every step forward, there is one step back. Lindsay McAllister is the founder and owner of Laluxe Femme, one of Canada’s only exclusively plus size, sustainable clothing boutiques. McAllister is an activist and advocate for marginalized communities. “Unfortunately, we have seen a decline in major retailers, such as Old Navy, offering plus sizes in stores in recent years, in many cases after making a public commitment to do the exact opposite.” The extended sizes didn’t catch on fast enough, she says, and they couldn’t produce the sales numbers their investors required.
To counter the size-washing trend, McAllister opened her own plus-size, sustainably-focused boutique – Laluxe Femme in Wellington, Ontario, for sizes XL to 4X and beyond – to fill the gap in the market for quality, ethically made, plus size clothing. “When 67 percent of the population is an XL or above, and the average size of a woman in North America is a 16 or 18, we all deserve to shop in-store, not just online.” Most small boutiques, McAllister says, only sell sizes small, medium and large, which makes up less than 30% of the population.
McAllister has tips for how to choose an elegant outfit without going outside your comfort zone. When in doubt,
go for black, but don’t neglect texture. “This holiday season one of the biggest trends is texture,” she says. “So while you may see a lot of neutral colours, especially black, the fabrics are made of super soft velvet, beautiful tactile paisley fabrics, lots of faux fur, silks and many sequins.”
And never underestimate the power of accessorizing to make an outfit feel like your own. “Someone who has a fabulous sense of style knows what they want to say with their wardrobe and knows how to play with contrast,” says Shaw. “If your outfit is matte then your accessories should have some sparkle, if your silhouette is very feminine then perhaps your outerwear should lean more menswear inspired. The other finishing tip I have for holiday dressing is hosiery – don’t sleep on some of the gorgeous inclusive options out there, from lace to sparkle, herringbone to colour, it can immediately elevate any festive look.”
So Bethanny, do go out and buy something new! If you aren’t ready to go straight into sequins, that’s okay too. Start with a basic black palette, and instead go big with your accessories. Fashion should be fun for everyone, and we are at a crossroads right now where consumer demand is pushing the industry to improve. It will still be one step forward, two steps back, but let’s support the brands putting the effort in. Their success means success for all of us.
Always asking questions,
—Leanne Delap
