Silk dresses: do we need a super large size?

When the plus size model category was first introduced around 1980, to style clothing for larger women, models were undoubtedly larger than average, but in the 21st century, with women growing steadily in the intervening years, the extra size is now no more than average. The fashion industry has been reluctant to increase the size of plus size models, so is it time to consider the introduction of a super plus size to bring elegance and style to a new generation of big and beautiful women?

British standard sizes for women’s clothing were introduced in 1982. At the time, the average woman was still a size 12, so plus size models in size 14 and 16 dresses could meet the fashion needs of the average woman. most women above average size. However, by 2010, the proportion of size 12 women had dropped to 31 percent and nearly 40 percent of women were reported to be size 16 and above. So the size 16 plus size models had come to represent the average woman, and large numbers of larger women were once again left without a category designation to inspire fashion designers to cater to their needs. Women’s vital statistics have changed, but the fashion industry is clinging to the Twiggy era of the 1960s, and its nod to larger women is still stuck in the 1980s.

This drift has occurred despite some efforts by fashion retailers to accommodate changes in body size. In Great Britain, there is no legal requirement to adhere to British standards for women’s clothing. Women who have not changed in body size for several years have noticed that their clothing has become baggier to the point that they have eventually gone down in size. This is because manufacturers have made each size slightly larger: a UK high street retailer increased its size 16 from 38-31.5-41 inches in 2003 to 39.5-33-43 inches in the present (2015). This hidden help may be appreciated by some larger women, but still leaves a large proportion above the size of the standard plus size fashion model.

The British National Health Service (NHS) has warned that the prevalence of obesity among adults in England increased from 15% to 25% between 1993 and 2013. The rate of increase has slowed since 2001, but the trend continues being ascending. Both women and men who are overweight or obese are aware of the dangers to their health and most strive to reduce them. However, whether they are struggling to get back to a healthy BMI or have an intractable problem, they deserve the opportunity to purchase fashionable clothing that enhances their natural beauty. If plus size cannot be redefined upwards, this opportunity should be provided by introducing a new category of plus size, perhaps with a special more flattering name.