On a gorgeous, sunny day in New York City Monday, a group of fashionable men and women gathered on a roof deck at the United Nations to ogle Christian Siriano’s latest collection.
But the show was different than those Siriano has staged in the past. This time, the models sauntering down the runway in bold, bright colors and sexy silhouettes included Ashley Graham, Candice Huffine, and Precious Lee, to name a few. It was a who’s who of the hottest plus-size models in the game right now.
Siriano showed off his limited edition collection for Lane Bryant on this bevy of beautiful models, who are slowly but surely becoming household names. Graham famously covered the 2016 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue, while Lee made history with a sexy inside-cover fold-out ad for Lane Bryant in the same issue. They were joined on the runway by bloggers and actress Danielle Brooks of “Orange Is The New Black,” who serves as the face of the collection’s ad campaign.
Backstage, the mood was buzzy and exciting, as it is before any major fashion show. Looking around the room at the impressive roster of women, it seemed especially blasphemous that many designers claim there simply aren’t enough plus-size models to hire. Then, right on cue, Lee raised an interesting point to The Huffington Post.
“Designers say the sample size is the reason you don’t see larger women in clothing campaigns,” she said. “Well, what’s the point of that for beauty? For cosmetics, for accessories, for sunglasses, shoes?”
And it’s a valid point. Christian Louboutin made waves when he cast plus-size model Clementine Desseaux as the face of the label’s beauty campaign in Dec. 2015, but far and wide within the beauty industry, there’s a disconnect — perhaps an even greater disconnect than in fashion. Lee says designers need to own up to it.
A video posted by Christian Louboutin (@louboutinworld) on <time style=”font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;” datetime=”2015-12-09T21:05:37+00:00″>Dec 9, 2015 at 1:05pm PSTtime>
Lee, who called the runway show “a big step for Lane Bryant, to go out on a limb and do something that no other plus-size companies are doing,” has been modeling for years. She told HuffPost that even people on jobs she is cast for sometimes need an education on working with plus models.
Post-show realness.
“One of the most insulting things for plus-size models that I’ve discussed with some colleagues is that people are so surprised when a girl who isn’t a size 2/4 knows how to move and doesn’t need to be told exactly what to do. OK, I get it, it’s flattering, but it’s also like, there are girls who have been doing this for over fifteen years. Why would you be shocked that I know how to find good light and take a good selfie? Whoop-de-do, that’s not the most amazing thing.”
Of course, we can’t talk about finding good light and knowing exactly what to do without mentioning Ashley Graham. The supermodel, who has had one hell of a 2016 so far, said Siriano’s collaboration with Lane Bryant is important in the movement toward inclusivity.
“It was so important that Lane Bryant collaborated with someone so high-end, to prove that it doesn’t matter what size or shape you are, you can still make clothes our size that are sexy and flattering — everything any woman would want,” she said.
But for all the progress made in the past few years, Graham says the only real way to make change happen is to keep it going: “There is power in numbers.”
There’s no denying that Graham herself has been responsible for a big part of the shift.
“Being on the cover of Sports Illustrated was a huge eye-opener, not only for myself, not just for the plus industry, but the industry as a whole. It was like, ‘Hey guys, we’re not kidding, we’re not going to conform to what the beauty standards have been for so long. We are a part of the new beauty standards,'” she said.
If these are the new beauty standards, sign us up.
This is awesome! All of the models look stunning! Beautiful clothing 🙂
This is great! The models are all very beautiful! I love that designer are now showcasing the beauties of plus size models!
What a unique post. Plus size models are becoming a trend. It’s good because it makes people more comfortable about themselves. I wonder if there has been a decrease about suicide and other crimes lately. A lot of people are opening up in this new generation, which is especially a good thing.
I remember that guy from that show with Heidi Klum. He had won. He was sooo good.
I LOVE that he empowers our beautiful women of curves! It’s about time.
These are lovely!
Beautiful! Brilliant colors and gorgeous women.
I read this the other day! Fantastic!!! Great that we are seeing some different sizes of models.
I like those plus sized models on how they represent themselves as a woman and encourage plus sized models to love themselves. I am a size medium and it does not matter as long you treat other people with kindness and respect.
Beauty at its best! All the ladies and their outfits, gorgeous 🙂
All of these are very beautiful! The clothes and the ladies that is. I love this because they shouldn’t be making you not eat certain things to be a model. I hate that about some of these companies that have models.
I would so wear some of these outfits! It’s about time we have plus sized models. So happy to hear about this.
Wow! I hadn’t heard about this show. This is amazing and it’s about time!
I really enjoy the bright colors. It looks like a fabulous collection and a fun event.
Finally….I cannot stand those super thin sick looking models. People do have to eat to survive…great post!!
It’s about time! This is so wonderful to see and I am hoping that it becomes more of the norm. These women are beautiful and deserve to be seen and celebrated just like all women should be.
Everyone looks fabulous, what gorgeous colors! So bright and spring-like!
I love this! Let’s celebrate beauty in all its forms – these women are simply gorgeous and seemingly as beautiful inside as out.
🙂
Traci
Beauty standards or not, it’s all about women over fashion as opposed to vice versa. I love those dresses up there.
Viva le Plus Size! Really cool post & respect to you for posting this.
Stay awesome 🙂
It’s about time they started realizing curves are sexy! Love this.
The models are beautiful. I am a plus size and this post is very empowering.
That is the beauty, love this post I enjoy reading this, Glad you share this with us
So much beauty! Their dresses are sooo gorgeous!
I just bought a pair of CS shoes last weekend and this post got me excited! 🙂
This makes me feel better as a woman. I am plus size but people feel I’m too small to be plus size but too big to be regular size. Seeing how these woman slayed it makes me feel better.
Real beauty! Amazing! I love when this happens
This makes me happy. Now maybe girls wont starve themselves to become a model.
I love that the fashion industry is breaking their own rules and letting women take over the runway, regardless of their size. This is amazing and empowering!
These models are gorgeous! Their clothes are amazing too 🙂