Segregation is the action of setting someone or something apart from people or things or being set apart.
Fashion is a vehicle for self-expression. One’s personality and individual style can be visible through clothing choices. This is one of the reasons why I adore fashion. Clothing gives us the opportunity to speak without using words. I like the fact that clothes allow me to be fun and flirty or serious and conservative simply by changing my outfit.
Even though I am a huge fan of fashion, there are a few things about the industry that I don’t like. In a previous post, “Stylish Plus-Size Clothing is Not an Oxymoron”, I stated how it bothers me that clothing above a size 16 is separated – if it is even carried in the store – from clothing below a size 16. Why is this practiced? Furthermore, I take issue with designers who only design certain clothing styles for sizes under 16. I think these practices separate us as women. By no means am I ungrateful to the designers who do consider the full-figured woman and share their talents and creativity with us. However, I do not believe we should be separated.
In all honesty, it goes both ways – there are clothing options that are not available for sizes below a 16 as well. I can think of two examples that I experienced; a few months ago my friend/hairstylist complimented me on a t-shirt I was wearing. It was a black and white scoop neck Bob Marley t-shirt. She asked me where I got it, and I told her – Torrid. She immediately said, “I can’t do anything with that.” Earlier this week my supervisor complimented me on the dress I had on. She said, “you wear such nice dresses, where did you get that?” I told her I got it from Eloquii. She’d never heard of it – besides, she’s a size zero…so, I suggested she check out Zara – they have really cute clothes (that I can’t fit).
Shouldn’t the consumer have the option to choose whether or not they want to purchase a particular garment? For an example, the crop top is hot and trendy now, and there has been some controversy regarding comments about who should wear it. Personally, I wouldn’t wear it. However I appreciate having the option. I am aware of the increase in cost designers face with producing clothing in larger sizes. Be that as it may, I wonder if they’ve given thought to how much their revenue would increase by providing a wider range of sizes and availability to the shopping female? Just a thought that applies to both sides of the sizing world spectrum.
I am a woman who likes to be fashionable and express my personal style with the clothes that I wear. I also consider myself to be an advocate for body positivity and self-love regardless of color, age, or size. We are all women – human beings that need and deserve love, encouragement, and respect. I care about individuals. I care about young girls not seeing their beauty and women not being confident the way they are.
I realize there are differences of opinions when it comes to what is considered to be beautiful. I am aware of the fact that beauty is subjective, but why can’t women of all shapes and sizes coexist on the same platform in the world of fashion? I think it would be a wonderful thing to have women of all sizes represented together in media showing the world that beauty is found in our differences. We are not all a size two nor are we all a size 20. But, women – and the world as a whole need to be informed that a size 2 is no better than a size 20 or vice versa. Beauty can be found and celebrated in all of us no matter our dress size.
Can you imagine how this would affect the self-esteem of females all over the world? Women would be empowered by seeing a representation of themselves being celebrated. Girls would be less likely to compare themselves to an image that is nothing like them. They would be able to identify themselves with someone who is being positively represented in media that actually looks like them. In my “Sophia Petrillo” voice – “Picture it”…shopping side by side with women of all sizes and shapes encouraging and strengthening one another to embrace their beauty. The camaraderie between women…wouldn’t it be lovely? Okay, maybe I’m a dreamer…or am I a visionary?
I am very excited about the push for plus-size acceptance and appreciation in the world, especially among those of us who are plus-size. I desire to see females that are confident within themselves defining their beauty based on what they see in the mirror and loving it – no matter her size.
Until the next time, be you and most importantly…love you.
Being uniquely you is being uniquely beautiful.
B.B.
https://www.stylishbuxombeauty.com/stylish-plus-size-clothing-is-not-an-oxymoron/
https://www.stylishbuxombeauty.com/who-is-beautiful/
