The average American woman now wears a size 16. So why are mainstream clothing retailers ignoring her? I’m a typical woman in America, fluctuating between a size 14 and 16, depending on the brand. It’s beyond frustrating that finding clothes in my size feels like searching for a unicorn in a haystack.
Seriously, clothing brands, is producing sizes 14 and 16 really that difficult? Every time I hit the stores, I notice that the size 12, 14, and XL racks are as bare as my fridge after a midnight snack. This isn’t just a fluke—these sizes are flying off the shelves! So why not make more? Just toss them out there like confetti! And let’s not even get started on the whole “plus-size” label.
What does “plus-size” even mean? If we’re going to have special labels, shouldn’t they represent the actual sizes of most women in this country? How about we simply create clothes for the average woman and skip the unnecessary labeling? I can read a tag just fine without needing a neon sign announcing my size!
Another thought: why not feature models who actually wear these sizes? They won’t scare away the other models; in fact, they can share the spotlight beautifully! Brands like Express, Banana Republic, and The Gap carry sizes up to 14, 16, and XXL, but have you ever seen someone who fits those sizes gracing their advertisements?
Tim Gunn, fashion guru, pointed out in a brilliant op-ed that there are over 100 million plus-size women in America, yet many designers still refuse to cater to them. He described shopping for size 14-plus clothing as “insulting and demoralizing,” and I couldn’t agree more. It’s like they’re broadcasting, “Look at us, we acknowledge your size, but you’re still stuck in the ‘plus’ aisle.”
Let’s be real—no one sees size zero or two under a sign that reads “Really Thin Women.” If brands like Express and Banana Republic carry up to size 16, why don’t they showcase models that reflect that? And if H&M has a “plus-size” collection, why does it stop at size 12? It’s baffling!
We need representation! Target Australia recently showcased a brilliant swimsuit ad featuring women of all shapes and sizes. How about we put all these different sizes on the same rack? It’s not rocket science.
As Gunn aptly put it, “This is now the shape of women in this nation, and designers need to wrap their minds around it.” We’re ready to spend our money. Mainstream designers, please listen: feature our sizes, give us representation, and watch us flock to your stores.
In summary, the average woman deserves better representation in fashion. With more women wearing sizes 14 and 16 than ever before, clothing brands must step up, ditch outdated labels, and embrace all body types. Let’s make shopping an inclusive experience for everyone.
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