The Know: Luxury Designers Go Plus Size!

August 5, 2010     Posted in Cool Stuff, Fashion, Style


By Jill

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If you love fashion, you know what it’s like to count down to Fashion Week, excited to watch the trends for next year come parading down the runway and trying to envision how you’re going to interpret the style and make it your own. And then you look forward to said new trends hitting the shelves, combing through the racks and trying them on.

Until they don’t fit.

Because, let’s face it, most of this country cannot fit into the small sizes designers produce. Even more, it seems that sizes are getting smaller and smaller and what once fit you as a size ten, you can no longer even pull up over your legs!

But that may not be the case much longer. Much like fashion magazines, it looks like designers are starting to get the hint. (Let me take a moment to say MAZEL TOV! What took you so long?!) Starting this fall, Saks is going to start carrying extended sizes from designer faves like Chanel, YSL, Dolce & Gabanna, Fendi, Roberto Cavalli and Alexander McQueen. (Sizes will range from a 14 up to a size 20 depending on the line). OK, so most of us can’t afford those pricey labels, but we all know trickle down theory: what top designers do, the rest of the fashion industry does soon after. That means more fierce fashion in a range of sizes that will fit every woman, not just the size zero celebrities walking the red carpet.

And what’s more, it looks like Marc Jacobs may be joining the plus-size party in about a year! Marc’s business partner Robert Duffy Tweeted over the weekend saying:

“Your right. We gotta do larger sizes. I’m with you. As soon as I get back to NY. I’m on it! It will take me about a year. But stay with us”

Despite the fact that Robert’s grammar is a bit off (you’d think a businessman would know the difference between ‘your’ and ‘you’re’), this is most definitely something worth knowing about. And celebrating! FINALLY designers are getting the memo that the majority of us who pour over their designs season after season can’t even wear them without looking like a sausage casing. But not for long, ladies! Pretty soon girls of all sizes can rock a Chanel frock or a Marc Jacobs trench!

It’s about damn time.

9 Comments on "The Know: Luxury Designers Go Plus Size!"

  1. Anne says:
    Thu, 5th Aug 201011:17 am 

    I would just like to say that the sizes out there now fit more than just the "size zero celebrities walking the red carpet." I take offense at the idea that just because someone is not plus sized, either because they are naturally thin or because they work hard to maintain a health body weight, are somehow not as 'real' as plus sized women. I am happy that fashionable and good-quality clothing will be available to women of more sizes, but the people buying them are no more or less 'real' than the women who fit from 00-12.

  2. A says:
    Fri, 6th Aug 201010:53 am 

    Agree with Anne. I hate the "real people don't look like that" line of thought. Theres people in ALL shapes and sizes, so yes, some people (and they are real) do look like that. Real people are every size, not just plus size. However this is great that plus size women can now also dress in luxury.

  3. cissy yee says:
    Fri, 6th Aug 20105:37 pm 

    I agree with the above comments.

    Also, I kind of think that they are promoting being over-weight, which isn't healthy. =/

    It's one thing to be naturally heavy-set while still eating well and exercising, but it's quite another to pig out on greasy food, making your heart be in trouble.

  4. Anne says:
    Fri, 13th Aug 201012:17 pm 

    One other thing, I really hope that they take body shape into consideration. Too often you see 'plus-size' clothes that are just larger versions of smaller sizes. I mean, people get all in a huff when places like American Apparel don't have short-shorts or tapered pants (shudder) in a size 20, but I think designers should really think about what is flattering on the body shape of the women they are designing for.

  5. sarasuperid says:
    Mon, 16th Aug 201010:41 am 

    It is not promoting overweight-ness to provide clothing for people who are overweight. Clothing is not a reward for your size or health. It is a requirement to interact with society. One must not go about naked or in sweatpants all the time.

    If one is a person living in high society, it is a requirement that one wear the clothing of high society. Considering that there are plenty of people overweight and not overweight in sizes over 10 in all levels of society, then it follows that designers are wise make clothing to fill those requirements.

    Designers are driven by the market, and the market is asking for clothing in larger sizes. The designers would be unwise not to supply where there is plenty of money waiting.

    In the middle class society level, some designers have stepped up to the plate and made lots of money catering to more sizes. Torrid, Faith (for forever 21) and others are capitalizing on this, and it works up and down, Walmart and Chanel will both increase their offerings to supply a proven market.

    Once, again, clothing is not a reward, it is a necessity. And people of all sizes will continuing wearing clothing, its up to the companies to make sure they are making the money off those sales rather than someone else. Its competition plain and simple. Not a sick and twisted reward and punishment system based on size.

  6. shauney says:
    Wed, 18th Aug 20104:07 pm 

    i disagree with those comments!!!!!

    i am a healthy size 18 woman who could run a marathon , there not promoting fabulous full figured ladys they are embracing it and maybe you should to. people have had to watch modells on the cat walk for years that are size 00.to a 4 finally this year city chic had a full figure spot on the runway.

    so stop being immature about a plus size range.

  7. Christine says:
    Thu, 19th Aug 20101:50 am 

    As a plus sized woman who occasionally does buy designer clothes, I have to say, yes, they are out there but size is not quite the same as in more mainstream lines.

    All designers cut differently. What is a size 16 in a certain Italian designer is actually more like a size 12. Obviously, cut and fit and fabric play a huge part in whether any individual item will fit.

    Most of the designers above having nothing that will fit me (I'm a size 14). I am overweight, but I have a size 14 friend who is 6', with a very hourglass figure who is not overweight. Why shouldn't she have access to designer clothes?

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