I'm in the middle of making up some gift guides that I'll be posting on thanksgiving-ish, but I just had to pop in and say how blown away I am by Pinup Girl Clothing. I've been aware of them for a long time, and have seen their stuff featured on a fair number of vintage and retro blogs, but as they're pretty far out of my price range and not reeeeeally my style, I haven't poked around on the site in several years. When I did used to look at them (when I was in high school, so a good while ago), their plus size selection was pretty minimal, and what was offered in higher sizing was often displayed like this:
As is most common with sites that are not catering exclusively to plus sizes. Which is all fine and good, but I have no idea how that's actually going to look on me. I don't look anything like that mannequin, nor do I look like the typical alternative, a straight sized model, or the token "plus" model who is something like a size 10. Today, I wound up on their site through another blogger and found this:
WHABAM. Actual plus sized models with non-"ideal" plus sized features- and she's not the only one. Modcloth made recent waves with their extended sizing and no photoshop pledge, and while they do a great job of utilizing larger sized models, they do have a tendency to be the same shape, or worse, only display a garment on a dressform. One of the issues I have with the still burgeoning body acceptance movement is that we still get hung up on a "ideal" plus sized body- typically curvy bust and hips with a small waist and flat stomach. If you're going for total body acceptance, it shouldn't fall into the pattern of idealizing one body type, or only allowing one type represent the whole. I am very impressed with Pinup Girl Couture for really putting their money where their mouth is.
I had heard in passing about their #coutureforeverybody campaign, and being a cranky sue, I assumed it was just a PR move. However, the above three photos are essentially the same dress on totally differently shaped women. Anyone who has shopped online for clothing knows how much of a pain in the ass it is to try and guess what something is going to look like on themselves versus on the model, regardless of size. The fact that Pinup Girl Clothing actually lists what size the models is wearing is a nice way to judge (especially since places like Modcloth don't even list measurements other than length. I still do not understand that at all.)
Anyway, I just had to drop in and rant about how happy this whole company makes me just because they have bothered to cater to larger sizes (which is still rare), and actually do it right. It makes me want to stand in the street yelling LOOK HOW GOOD THEY LOOK AHHHHH
It's so fantastic to see the same garment on multiple women who wear the same size, but have different shaped bodies. I wish that was a standard practise across the board with all fashion companies. I know that the it wouldn't be seen as cost effective by many, but objectively, I think it could be, for surely, it would help cut down on returns and unhappy customers who may decide not to purchase from a given brand again because a piece didn't work out for them.
ReplyDeleteHappy Thanksgiving wishes, dear lady!
♥ Jessica
Yeah, they all look great, except for that last pic. Er, no, she's pretty but... that skirt's not a good style on her. I also wish they would stop promoting those insanely high shoes.
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