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Fashion has long failed to showcase body diversity. The industry may pay lip service to size inclusivity, but the recent fall 2022 runway shows (ahem, Valentino) told a different story, with many major fashion houses continuing to tokenize plus-size models.
Inclusivity improvements are slowly happening, thanks to efforts from the plus-size community — including influencers like Kristine Thompson and Remi Bader and entrepreneurs and models like Ashley Graham and Gabi Gregg). Still, more work needs to be done.
If you’re curvy, you understand firsthand how the fashion industry has historically been reluctant to offer inclusive, stylish options for your frame. The curvy bridal-apparel market is especially sparse. Offerings are rarely available in extended sizing, and thin women tend to dominate major brands’ marketing and advertisements — creating narratives that are damaging for brides-to-be
According to the International Journal of Fashion Design, Technology, and Education, the average size of American women is between 16 and 18. Many fashion brands, however, only going up to a 12 — excluding curvier women from the tradition of finding a wedding dress.
Fortunately, a new crop of bridal brands are working toward offering extended-size bridal wear. If you happen to be searching for a wedding dress (congrats, by the way!) and want to shop from designers who cater to a wider range of body types, keep reading for our roundup of the best bridal brands that offer extended sizing. These dresses are definitely worth saying yes to.
— Additional reporting by India Yaffe and Shelcy Joseph