Size Inclusivity in Fashion Still Falls Short, So Why Are We Still Asking?

Marie’s notes:
Every once in a while, a piece arrives in my inbox that says the quiet part out loud, but this isn’t a whisper, it declares. Written by an independent designer navigating the realities of size inclusivity in fashion, this editorial challenges where we place our attention, money, and loyalty.

If you’ve ever wondered why access still feels limited, or why some brands don’t seem interested in evolving, this is a perspective worth sitting down with.

I went to a shopping mall the other day, and it was a ghost town.

This was the Beverly Center. Where you used to have to go all the way around to park. The store had a waiting list. There was energy. request.

now? Empty.

Food courts, movie theaters, shops…it’s quiet. Sephora wasn’t crowded either.

And with foot traffic so low and retailers struggling to attract foot traffic, you wonder why size inclusivity in fashion still feels like an afterthought.

Because here’s an inconvenient truth.

They’re not that interested in us.

via GIPHY

Marie’s notes:
This line may sting, but it clarifies a lot. For years, we’ve been asking brands to expand, be inclusive, and be recognized. But what happens when we go from asking questions to making different choices? What changes when we stop centering brands that we’ve already decided are not part of their vision?

The ongoing gap in size inclusivity in fashion

Over the years, we’ve seen brands come up with a thousand reasons why they can’t expand beyond a size 16 or 18, why they don’t feature models over a size 10, why it’s “too complicated” or “too expensive” or why it’s “not on brand.”

But let’s be honest.

When we imagine the clothes they wear on the runway, they’re not looking at us.

They’re looking at Kate Moss, not Kate Upton.
And often their vision goes beyond size, race, and ability.

It’s not necessarily overt hostility. It’s quieter and just as restrictive.

Indifferent.

They don’t care if we find a way to dress them.
They don’t care enough to design for us.

Still, I see my plus size sisters begging.

We are asking to be included.
Campaign to raise awareness.
Trying to convince brands to change.

Stop.

If a brand isn’t convinced they want to meet you, they won’t be able to serve you well.

Instead, focus on what already exists.

There’s a brand out there that’s a talented, intentional design house that understands curves. We create clothing from scratch to fit our bodies. It’s about fit, fabric, movement, and real life.

A whole ecosystem is forming around us.

Follow platforms like The Curvy Fashionista. Ask a question in a thread, on TikTok, or on Instagram and see how quickly your feed fills up with choices.

Please support them.

Because right now, while many of these brands are fighting for survival, we are trying to convince traditional brands like Dolce & Gabbana to care.

So maybe it’s time to stop asking for a seat at other people’s tables.

and start building, and protectour own.

Because we have a plus-size economy. It’s not perfect, but it’s real…and it will exist whether mainstream size inclusivity in fashion fully catches up or not.

Why not?

We risk losing the very brands that already define us.

And that would be the real loss…not to be excluded by them, but to not be able to support the people who have been here all along and designed with us in mind.

This shift is simple, but powerful.

Go to a place where you are valued.
Spend time where you are being considered.
Support those who have already chosen you.

Because that’s the moment I stopped chasing…

This is the moment when things start to change.

Marie’s notes:
This is a shift we’ve been circling around for a while. The plus size market is not a question mark, it’s an ecosystem. And while legacy brands continue to think, independent designers are already doing the work, designing, testing, refining, and representing our bodies as they really are.

The opportunity in front of us is not only about visibility, but also about sustainability. Who survives, grows, and thrives depends on how we collectively decide where to spend our money, support, and participate.

So the question is: Are we still looking to be chosen, or have we finally chosen again?

Tracy Christian is a veteran talent agent with over 25 years of experience in the entertainment industry. She is president of TCA Mgmt, a premium specialty talent agency representing trained character actors, producers, and writers. Forbes, The Hollywood Reporter, Essence, Black Enterprise…Christian joins a list as diverse as producer Mona Scott Young, Academy Award winner Octavia Spencer, Emmy and Golden Globe winners Elisabeth Moss and Jeremy Piven, Emmy nominees Michael Kenneth Williams, Jamie Hector, Grammy winner Toni Braxton, and industry veteran Tisha Campbell. Christian is bicoastal and has lived in both Los Angeles and New Jersey.

After years of struggling to find clothes that fit his lifestyle, Christian Sante Gracea luxury plus size clothing line. Christian serves as both founder and lead designer. The line has been featured in multiple fashion magazines and blogs including The Curvy Fashionista, Fashion Bomb Daily, Who What Wear, Refinery 29, and Time Magazine.