What is size inclusivity? Lots of brands are talking about how inclusive and diverse they are, but are they really? Are you “woke” for carrying up to a size 3X? Let’s talk about it.
As I was looking for a dress to wear in my graduation pictures, I found myself going through quite a few different websites in order to find something. Shopping is hard enough when you’re plus size but even harder when you have a very specific image in mind. When my go-to stores didn’t have what I was looking for, I decided to try somewhere new.
As I was shopping, I found a dress I loved so I scrolled down to see what sizes were available. Instead of the typical “1X”, “2X”, etc., the sizes that were offered were “X”, “A”, “B” and “C”. Obviously confused, I clicked on the size guide. “X” stands for “Xquisite” and is equal to an XL, “A” stands for “Amazing” and is equal to a 1X, “B” stands for “Beautiful” and is equal to a size 2X and “C” stands for “Captivating” and is equal to a size 3X.
If this was consistent in the branding across both straight sizes and plus sizes, that would be one thing. However, their straight sizes are just called XS, S, M and L. By providing this strange type of sizing for only the plus-size pieces, it comes off fatphobic. As if fat and plus-size women are just so insecure that the thought of us having a garment in our wardrobe would be devastating. I can see what the intention was, but it absolutely is not doing what it intended to.
Related: Combatting Fast Fashion as a Plus-Size Woman
Additionally, many stores that claim to be “diverse” and “inclusive” just aren’t. Carrying up to a size 2X or 3X isn’t enough. A friend recently took to her Instagram stories to talk about how she went into one of these stores to grab a few pairs of panties and there wasn’t a single pair in a size XL in the entire store. If it’s this hard for someone of that size to find something, imagine how hard it is for someone who is a 5X.
Even I’m guilty of praising said brands for offering larger sizes because that meant I could shop there. However, as I am growing and learning more about my own internalized fatphobia, I have realized that I was just contributing to the issue.
Even when I worked at a plus-size clothing store, we often did not stock much in anything above a size 3X, despite the fact we carried up to a 6X. If someone came in looking for a larger size, we would often just have to offer to order it online and have it shipped to the store for them.
While I am plus-sized, I have realized recently the insane amount of privilege I have by wearing a “smaller” size in the plus-size range. I’ve had my share of experiences going into a straight-size store and not being able to find anything. But being plus size and going into a store that is supposed to be made for you and still not being able to find your size is something I can’t imagine. It’s already hard enough to make it in this world as a fat woman and the fashion industry just makes it worse.
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Dear fashion industry, your fatphobia is showing. Please do better.
Sincerely, plus size women everywhere