NEW & NOW
Key pieces that mix and mingle and work together beautifully this season
Our customers say
Our customers say
Absolutely LOVE my Teddy Bear Coat — Cozy and cool. I get so many compliments!
Our customers say
The New Whitney Morgan bag collection is so chic — I’ve got one for each of my fall coats.
Blog posts
Redefining Beauty Standards at NYFW
New York Fashion Week has become a platform for an important conversation about diversity, inclusivity, and breaking traditional beauty standards in the fashion industry. Among the brands making waves in this movement is Selkie, which recently stole the spotlight with a runway show that featured models of all sizes, skin tones, ages, and gender identities, including a wheelchair user. Social media influencers like Remi Bader and Mandy Lee have applauded Selkie for setting a new standard in fashion inclusivity, while the industry as a whole faces scrutiny for its lack of representation. Despite some challenges and setbacks, the demand for diversity in fashion is on the rise, reflecting changing consumer preferences and a potentially lucrative market for inclusivity in the years ahead.
FIT Launches Plus-Size Design Course Led by Designer Mallorie Dunn
The fashion landscape has gradually shifted towards greater size inclusivity. In 2014, Eloquii gained independence, H&M expanded their online size range in 2013, and Target introduced Ava & Viv in 2015. Even Anthropologie joined the plus-size market in 2019. Nevertheless, societal attitudes seemed to regress with the resurgence of Y2K fashion, an obsession with extreme diet culture, and the popularity of weight loss medications in 2023. This transformation clashed with the reality that approximately 68% of American women wear size 14 or above, while only a minuscule percentage of fashion week looks cater to this demographic, driven by fatphobia and sustainability concerns. Mallorie Dunn, the founder of SmartGlamour, recognized this discrepancy and took action. Launching SmartGlamour in 2014, she provided customizable, size-inclusive clothing, aiming to address the issues plaguing the fashion industry, including its exclusivity and discriminatory attitudes. Dunn's dedication extended to her teaching roles at FIT, where she offered courses in small business production and inclusive patternmaking, both of which sought to empower the next generation of designers to create clothing accessible to all. Recognizing that fast fashion, epitomized by brands like Shein, often filled the void for stylish plus-size clothing, Dunn's dual approach held significance. By teaching these techniques, she aimed to catalyze a ripple effect, expanding the choices available to plus-size individuals and liberating them from the constraints of fast fashion.
Plus-Size Female Shoppers ‘Deserve Better’
Even though approximately two-thirds of American women wear a size 14 or larger, the fashion industry continues to neglect and marginalize plus-size women.
The underlying issue is straightforward, and it's not due to higher costs or increased complexity – these justifications have circulated for years. The scarcity of clothing options for plus-size women arises from the misguided assumption made by brands and retailers that larger women will simply accept whatever limited choices are offered, based on historical buying patterns.
As highlighted by Ms. Endicott in her essay, this status quo is no longer acceptable. Women are actively seeking alternative avenues to express their fashion preferences, ensuring that clothing not only accommodates their bodies but also aligns with their unique styles and budgets. These alternatives include making their own garments and seeking out independent designers and boutique establishments.
While there is still a substantial journey ahead, a glimmer of hope emerges. New designers and stores are stepping up to fill the void left by major retailers that tentatively dabble in the plus-size market only to quickly retreat. This shift reflects a growing recognition of the diverse needs and preferences of consumers and signifies a promising move towards greater inclusivity within the fashion industry.
