Today as I tried to shave down some of the inbox clutter, one of the newsletters I get lured me to its lead story with an interesting headline, all about a fashion show in Times Square designed to remind the world that beauty can be non-traditional as sexy "comes in all sizes."
I've always been an optimistic, "glass half-full" kinda person, but even I know titles like that don't really mean that every size is included. Usually, they mean they've focused on plus-sized women, forgetting all about the "others" who usually don't get very much attention, either - like the very petite or the really tall.
I get it: Our society has a way of stamping a particular look as THE standard of beauty - a box that only a handful of people actually fit into. Most of us wouldn't ever be able to fit the Fashion Week runway looks even if we could afford them because they don't come in our size. But trust me - even when tall and svelte is seen as the pedestaled shinny apple, the fashion industry's idea of "long" shirts and pants always leave much of my forearms and shins uncovered. Always.
How big you are or aren't shouldn't be the issue, but it always seems to be.
I'm all for expanding that worn definition of "standard beauty" by including women who wear larger sizes and even members of the trans community who may need clothing that is nearly impossible to find off the rack, I really am. I just think it's important to also think about the others who can't find crap to fit them, either, like:
I get it: Our society has a way of stamping a particular look as THE standard of beauty - a box that only a handful of people actually fit into. Most of us wouldn't ever be able to fit the Fashion Week runway looks even if we could afford them because they don't come in our size. But trust me - even when tall and svelte is seen as the pedestaled shinny apple, the fashion industry's idea of "long" shirts and pants always leave much of my forearms and shins uncovered. Always.
How big you are or aren't shouldn't be the issue, but it always seems to be.
I'm all for expanding that worn definition of "standard beauty" by including women who wear larger sizes and even members of the trans community who may need clothing that is nearly impossible to find off the rack, I really am. I just think it's important to also think about the others who can't find crap to fit them, either, like:
- The A-Cup women
- Females without much junk in the trunk
- Pregnant women who hate anchors, cartoon animals or bows
- Ladies who like clothing traditionally labeled "mens wear" (ties, suit jackets, boxy jeans, trousers with functional pockets, Oxford shirts, etc.)
- Women who don't wear heels
- Women with small or large feet who do wear heels
- Anyone with an inseam over 34"
- Anyone with an inseam under 24"
- Folks with long limbs who only need extra material for length, not necessarily girth
- Women who don't want to flash cleavage in a cocktail dress or evening gown
- Jeans that actually freaking fit but don't cost a tuition payment to own
- Pants that still cover your ankles when you sit down
