Plus Size
Plus size refers to men and women of large build. The misconceived notion that skinny is beauty is not only unfounded, but criminal, for it is the single biggest source of all the insecurity experienced by every woman. From their teenage years to the time they come of age, the female gender is brainwashed to believe that they should be skinny to attract perfect love; this is untrue and the media should be held accountable for deceiving women and in some instances causing them irreparable harm.
This website will attempt to restore as well as to enhance that eroded confidence by discussion, blogging and suggesting stores that specialize in apparell as well as support groups for the
pretty hefty belles.
For starters, in Africa, the cradle of life, skinny women are considered deprived, untrustworthy and above all, very poor cooks. Men prefer women with some meat on them. It is widely considered a sign of wealth and prosperity as well as good health. The kind of women men take pride in introducing to their, mothers, to their parents.
Plus-size clothing
Plus-size clothing is a general term given to clothing sized specifically for men and women of large build. Most people agree that plus-size refers specifically to clothing labelled size (US) 14 / (UK) 16 and upwards for women, and for sizes over XL for men. Previously called Outsize in some countries, this term was gradually dropped during the 1990s. A synonymous term for men's plus-size clothing is big and tall. The modern and trendy girls such as Monique and Queen Latifah prefer to consider themselves as
Full Women or Pretty Hefty
Oprah Winfrey, the TV mogul and most prominent of all self-made-billionaires has finally settled down and embraced the fact that she is big boned, and belongs to this
pretty hefty group of women.
The ubiquitous truth is that no matter what costly procedures nor rigorous diets she tortures herself with, she is most comfortable in this group. This is not to say that she has thrown caution to the wind, oh no, not by a long shot; it just means that she can comfortably enjoy a steak entree just as well as a fruit salad without choking on the food from the bile of regret that once overwhelmed her.
Garment size labelling
In North America, Australia and many European countries, plus-size clothing is labelled either numerically (14,16,18, etc); by using the letters 'X' and 'XL' and a numeral together (i.e. X, 1X, 2X, XL, 1XL, 2XL, etc); or with the designer's own system of sizing which is conceived with the philosophy of reducing stigma attached to body size [1]. The majority of brands employing the 'X' sizing policy produce garments up to size 3X/3XL. The 'XL' is an abbreviation of 'Extra Large'. Sometimes the letter 'W' appears after the numeral (i.e. 14W) as an abbreviation for 'Women', however this is a trait of mainly U.S. designers and is not an internationally-adopted practice.
Extended sizes
Garments over a size 24 or 3X are often referred to as 'Extended Size' or 'Supersize'. This style of size labelling also prevails on garments for men. As many plus-size brands do not offer sizes above 3X in stores, catalog and shopping via the internet has increased fashion options for the extended- or super- size garment customer.
Garment fit and construction
Plus-size clothing patterns have traditionally been graded up from a smaller construction pattern, however many retailers are using statistical data collected from their own measuring projects, and from specialized Body Scan Data collection projects to modernize the fit and construction of their garments. U.S. companies Lane Bryant and Catherines teamed up over a three-year period to source data to modernize the companies' garment construction. Fourteen thousand women were measured in what was the most extensive female sizing study in the U.S. in over 60 years.
Market
The U.S.A.
Although statistical data suggests that the average women's size in the U.S. is size 14 with over 60% of the female population wearing that size or higher, American retailers continue to predominately cater to smaller-sized customers. This exclusive attitude is beginning to change as companies realize vast growth in profits in the plus-size garment sector, and in year 2000 plus-size items were 30% of the total women's retail market. The longest-established and therefore most recognizable plus-size brand is Lane Bryant, part of the Charming Shoppes group which has four plus size brands serving the national market.
The fastest growing sector of the plus-size garment industry is junior or youth designs, and many brands are seeking ways to evolve into a younger customer base from what is traditionally viewed as a rather conservative and old-fashioned aethetic and clientele. Market-leader Torrid evolved from the Hot Topic company, and continues to sell products such as ironic slogan and musician t-shirts, and punk/goth/rock clothing that appeals to customers seeking to express themselves outside of mainstream popular culture.
Australia
The Australian plus-size clothing market has been growing since at least 1994, with major department stores such as David Jones, Myer, and Target producing their own brand ranges, and an increase in the number of individual boutiques and national chain store outlets across the country. Sizing in Australia is not syncronous with the US; plus size garments are considered to be size 14 and upward, which is the equivalent of a US size 12.
Major Australian brands for plus-size clothing include: Maggie T, My Size, City Chic (formerly Big City Chic), Sara, Autograph, Embody Denim, Taking Shape, Basque Woman, BeMe for Rockmans, and Free People.
United Kingdom
In the UK there are over sixty brands for plus-size women's clothing, with chain stores such as Evans and Ann Harvey, and high street department stores carrying extended sizes in many of their brands. In the U.K. plus-size is generally thought of as beginning at size 16, which is roughly equivalent to a US14.
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