H&M To Offer Limited Extended Sizes....

So they're launching a one-off line called Inclusive, which will cater to plus sized women.  My issue with them?  I actually have several.  First of all, why are they calling it "Inclusive" if it's just for plus sized women?  Doesn't inclusive mean that they're open to everyone?  So yes, this means that they should have petite sizes as well.  Petites, as in 5'4" and below, not smaller sizes, period. 



So yes, once again, the petite woman is being snubbed, likely because the need for petite sizing is pretty much unknown outside of the UK and North America.  It doesn't really matter, anyway, since this H&M line is not going to be in brick and mortar stores but online.  The North American H&M sites don't have e-commerce.  Too bad, because the clothes look really pretty - nicer than a lot of what they have in their regular line.

UPDATE:  Apparently, the size range will also include regular sizes.  According to reports, the Inclusive line will range from size 32 to 54, which translates to size 2 to 24 in North America speak.

Short Body Image and Size Diversity Rant

Non-standard size (but not petite in height either) model, Crystal Renn

I read another body image related post in a blog I follow, so I felt like I should write a post here about it.  I don't know about you, but I'm sick and tired of all those body image activists who claim that they want diversity, but in reality, only want to see more size 12 or so models in magazines and on the runway.  Yes, that may be adding to the body types when it comes to what's pretty/beautiful, but it is not diverse.  If you're only going to have Crystal Renn (above) on the runway with a sea of 5'11" size 0 models, it's called tokenism.  In order to be diverse, you have to have a lot of different types.  Unfortunately, short women, or even average heighted women don't factor in to most body diversity activists' interests.  To them, it's all about the dress size, and one that is larger than, say, a US size 4 (UK 8). 

I realize that I see a lot of people my size in magazines, but the people in magazines aren't usually in FASHION SPREADS.  I see people my size in magazines like In Touch or US Weekly because people my size in the public eye are musicians or actresses.  Sure, they get to be in fashion and lifestyle magazines too, but they're not usually doing fashion.  They're cover girls with an interview inside.  Once in a while, you'll see them at some sort of charity fashion show.  That's pretty much it.  Size diversity should encompass every size, height and frame included.

/rant

(Look for another body image/specialty size related post coming soon.  It will be on both this site and DelectablyChic!.  I just need to gather more information on exclusively specialty size designers and what people think of them!)

Fashion/Media Challenge Follow-up

Three years ago, I posted a video challenging the fashion industry to use more non-traditional models and to profile non-traditional designers (i.e. plus, petite, petite-plus). Here is the new, follow-up vid:



Don't you think that it's sad so little has been done?

Original post in previous post.

Exactly why we are having issues...

I posted a message on the wall of someone related to the fashion industry about petites and body image. I've received a few replies including comments about how we aren't ostricized like women of size, etc and even going as far as saying that being short isn't a "body image" issue and that we don't "suffer" for being short. What do you think? Would you agree with that person? Do you think that's the reason why no one takes us seriously?

Fashion industry and size

A recent New York Times article mentioned the fact that model Coco Rocha is being booked less this season because she is now a size four and considered "too fat" by industry standards. WTF!!!! Really, it's up to the designers to make changes. We can complain all we want, but there won't be any changes unless the designers change.

Note: A similar post (with this very video) is up in Prospere Magazine as well.

Update: Coco Rocha has a post about this very topic

What's Normal Anyway?

All those threads on Jezebel, other blogs and even comments from other people about body image and what "normal" is (apparently not size 0 or 2) has been a little more than upsetting. As short women (especially short, small-framed women), we are, apparently "not normal." And if we try to say anything about it, we are shot down. I still tend to comment on these postings, but I know that it'll turn into a flame-fest or people shooting me down. We apparently can't really say how we feel without hateful comments. We can't be taken seriously, which is probably why it's so difficult to get petite designers any publicity. Even shows about petite people (who aren't all that petite, btw - e.g. ANTM Cycle 13) tend to make fun of us.

I don't get it. Whenever one Googles "body image," the links tend to be about eating disorders. Facebook has a lot of anti-size zero/pro-size 14 groups and pages, which tend to have thousands of members/fans. Petite groups/pages have far fewer. Don't you think it's time for petite women to actually take a stand? Or do we not care? And if we don't care, why? There are plenty of celebrities who're quite short, yet no one has ever complained. Apparently, they aren't "supposed to." But if we don't say anything, we're always going to be called "the little ones" rather than be considered "normal people." Especially if we're size 0.