No Size Fits All

Inclusive sizing for clothes is slowly becoming available in most brands, but most are still labeled plus size and either separated or only available online. This practice of 'othering' does not go unnoticed and is completely unfair to a majority of the population. Everybody deserves to feel like popular brands care about them. Not to mention that plus-sizes do not allow women the opportunity to look sexy, fun, or glamorous. There are brands that actually train their staff to discriminate against people who fit in bigger sizes than extremely skinny. These brands usually carry ‘one-size fits all’ clothing or the limited sizing of small, medium, and large.

Studies in 2016 showed that 70 percent of American women are size 14 or larger. A majority of the American population is ‘plus size’ so why are these sizes not more readily available? The same studies found that only 18 percent of the clothing sold in 2016 was considered plus-size. These proportions are way off. Most plus-size range from size 10 or 14 to size 18, but the reality is, this is still not enough sizes. The right size brands should aim for is size 24 or even 40.

At the very least, these sizes should be carried in the store so they can be tried on in person. More actions to stop the othering of these shoppers is to show models who are multiple sizes, carry the same styles in all sizes, or better yet tailor every size to the correct weight distribution of the customer. That way, everyone can feel confident in their clothing. However, it is more than simply producing extended ranges in size. Taking the word ‘plus’ out of the equation altogether is the goal. Why make 70 percent of the American population feel like they are different when they are the majority?