I notice more and more women becoming vocal about the models used to present plus size clothing, particularly lingerie and swimwear. It took years for mainstream companies to realize that plus size women needed good quality, fashionable clothing just like their smaller counterparts. And now that many labels have added the plus sizing to their collections, they really need to pay more attention to who models the lingerie or swimwear.
So here is the deal people. Plus size women need to see the garments on plus size women. Do not insult us by showing tiny fit women in skimpy bathing suits, runway models in sexy bras and panties, and club sets clearly made for size two women! We get sick and tired of being reminded
that we are slightly bigger and if companies truly want to make a difference and sell more product, they need to listen to a large segment of the female market which is the plus size niche.
I really had to laugh the other day when I read a post on a beachwear site. The post itself was great, as the author was indignant that although the swimwear company she reviewed offered plus sizes, the models they used were very small and well sculpted. Another fashion site continued the debate by adding that the company obviously was not thinking when it chose such perfect bodies to display size 2X bikinis. The site went on to say that people do not want to see two hundred pound women in bikinis. On the contrary, that is the point and the basis for the outcry from plus size women. If they are to take a company seriously and buy their swimwear or lingerie, they need to see it on like women. Who cares whether someone else does not want to see larger women? The person with the money is the plus size lady buying the suit.
Anyway, now that I have started this debate, I plan to write another article featuring lingerie and swimwear companies who take this niche seriously and use plus size lingerie models in their photo shoots.
I’m so torn on this topic. I can understand and support everything you’ve said, but I’ve read countless reports of companies trying to sell clothing and lingerie with plus-sized models and watching their profits drop as a result. I think Hips & Curves does a great job of showing how glamorous plus-sized lingerie can be, and modeling is on gorgeous, size-appropriate models.
I totally agree with this post! Companies use perfect models to sell their stuff but on my opinion, these are not real women per se. Real women are way voluptuous than these models. No offense to models, they are great, but the women who needs these stuff more needs voluptuous and big women models to strut the stuff. Personally id appreciate it more! and would probably buy more!
I am a plus size woman, so when I buy from a company I like to see what the lingerie looks like on a plus size woman. However, the whole bikini thing…. I as a plus size woman have no desire to wear a bikini and I don’t think they should make bikinis for women larger than an XL… and even then….. Plus, it’s one thing to wear sexy revealing lingerie for your man (who obviously finds your curves sexy) but it’s quite another thing to be trapsing around in a bikini where you’re offending other people around you. I have a friend who is a 3x and insists on wearing only bikinis in the summer… and it makes me sick!
I may be plus sized… but I have a taste AND modesty.
As far as companies using plus size models, there are a few notable ones. Aviana uses almost all plus-size models, while Carnival, Playtex and Grenier have used some. From a marketing/sales perspective, I think that companies would benefit from utilizing some larger-sized models, even for just a small percentage of their product line. Personally (and I’m the male half of our business), I feel that what’s more important than the size of the model is the proportion of the model. As long as there is some consistency in the chest : waist : hip ratio (the ratio that makes for the “curves”), it doesn’t matter much what size the model is. I respectfully disagree with Sara. While yes, I’ve seen what you’ve described, I’ve also seen gorgeous curvy plus-sized women on the beach in bikinis. On the other hand, I’ve also observed many skinny androgynous bikini-clad eyesores on the beach. In other words, it’s more than size and weight….
All I really want to do right now is state a few facts that apparently are not so well known. When you put a plus size women on say a lingerie package, bigger women are MORE inclined to buy it. MEN will buy the packaging with the skinny woman on it even if his girl is plus size. WOMEN BUY LINGERIE MORE THEN MEN DO.
so maybe companies should take a better look at that.. BUT also like one lingerie company I sell at work.. they have skinny girls for the regular sized lingerie then they have a plus size of the SAME outfits with a plus size girl on the cover.
WHY WOULDN’T THAT BE ACCEPTABLE FOR MOST COMPANIES?
I’m not so sure you’re right there. I mean — yes, women buy most lingerie — but online for example, I’m quite sure men are at least VERY CLOSE. Men might not buy lingerie that’s been shown by plus size models — I’m not sure, but there’s probably some sort of marketing research being done about this, no?
It’s a tough one!
I agree, the plus size models look awesome! Need more like the model shown above. Nobody knows who she is and that’s a shame, she’s gorgeous whether she’s a plus model or not!
WHAT IS GOING ON!!!
VERY PROUD TO BE FLUFFY!!!
Female
African American
235lbs Wonderful Pounds
5’9-1/2
BIGGGG GIRRRLLL
IF I AM BUYING A PRODUCT SEXY,BUSINESS OR WHATEVER THE MODEL SHOULD LOOK LIKE LIKE ME (SIZE WISE)! PERIOD. For those of you who are stuck in the stone ages, don’t MOOMOOFY the rest of us. You want me to buy it, show me that i should. Some of you need to do some soul searching and get a spine. SARA, WHY ARE YOU BASHING!! YES YOU ARE!! IF SHE IS YOUR FRIEND THEN LOVE HER NO MATTER WHAT!! A GUY NO MATTER WHAT WILL NEVER BASH HIS BUDDY!!! I wear 4 and 5 inch stilletos(spelling) every chance I get to work, play whatever. Your friend is not molesting someones child, murdering a family, waterboarding prisoners etc. I am crying as I write this. It amazes me that some women feel the need to inflict their lack of self confidence on someone who has plenty. LADIES WE ARE A MARKET!! BEAUTIFUL, ROBUST, SEXY, SENSUAL ETC. WE DESERVE TO HAVE CLOTHES THAT WORK FOR US!!! MIKE AND MARTY THANK YOU!!!Its a shame I cant post a picture. BTW sweetie I own a bikini!!!
a guys opinion …… i just got here because i am searching for lingerie for my wife for a special birthday and special aniversary trip. it is rediculous to see tiny, extremely fit young ladies for modeling plus size. i want to see what it is going to look like on my girl so i will know if i like it and to try to determine if she is going to feel good about wearing it for me. as guys we might not know the exact size or measurements or even exact weight of our girl but we will know when we see the body type that is close to that of the lady we live with and love. for God’s sakes, help men out here. it is an insult to think we are stupid enough to believe our girl is going to look 5’2″ tall and 95 lbs when she puts on lingerie just because it is modeled by a YOUNG, VERY FIT women that do not represent about 95% of the women in this country. i justed googled “real plus size models for lingerie” to get here. now a 50 year old guy, who could never go into a lingerie store, goes back to searching for a sexy gift(which she would never buy for herself) for the lady i love .
I want to see clothes on plus size models so I know how they will look on me…and I HAVE seen BEAUTIFUL plus size models so I don’t understand why they don’t use them more. Also, while I agree that I won’t look great in a bikini, I DO WANT ONE to wear in the privacy of my own back yard. And if there are large ladies who WANT to wear them in public, it should be OUR CHOICE. (have you ever seen a less than perfect man walking around in a tiny speedo? again, THEIR CHOICE). My point is, we deserve to make our own decisions. If you don’t want to look, look elsewhere, but give me the styles and choices that everyone else has!
I think the lingerie companies should use plus size models for their plus sizes. I have a website for plus size lingerie and people are always me why the images I use are not plus size women. Myself, I would like to know what it’s going to look like on someone like myself…not someone that’s not even close to being a plus size.
Thanks for the post…