Mid Size Fashion: Positive or Negative Impacts?
May 2022
Kelly Brennan
Mac Rose, known as @officialmacrose on Tik Tok, posted a viral video in 2020 explaining flattering items to wear if you might be uncomfortable with your lower abdomen. Citing examples like A-line skirts, shift dresses with a belt, mom jeans, and elastic pleated linen pants.
If you’re on Tik Tok, you probably know all of the latest trends popping up including the current trend of body inclusivity for “mid-size” bodies. “Mid-size” is when you’re not skinny, but you’re not plus size either. You’re just an average body build. Before this trend came about, there were “straight” sizes (size 0 to a size 12), and “plus” sizes (anything above a size 14). But now, there are “straight” sizes (size 0 to a size 8), “mid” sizes (size 10 to a size 16), and “plus” sizes (anything above a size 18). Since this “mid-size” category concept is fairly new, there aren’t enough brands catering to this specific community.
Within the past two years, influencers have popped up with the label of a “mid-size” fashion influencer. People like @officialmacrose @chloe_xandria and @fittybritty have popped up on Tik Tok spreading the word to the masses about this “new” body type called “mid-size.” These influencers show mid-size fashion on their average bodies and explain how to style things for your body type. Many people have commented on these videos saying that this is the first time they’ve ever seen their body type online.
And while the new mid-size category may seem very body-positive, some believe that it’s actually harmful to other communities. Is this trend shaming plus size women by not wanting to be lumped into that “fat” category?
Is it fatphobic for women size 10-16 to be afraid of being part of a “plus” size community or too “fat” to be in the “skinny” community that they feel pressured to create a whole new community for average sized women? There’s differing opinions on the mid-size trend.
The mid-size trend is an extension of the body diversity movement that was created for plus-size women. Big changes have happened in the body inclusivity movement such as big chains like Target carrying XXL sizes and jeans above a size 18, but most brands still don’t stock clothes for these plus size bodies. Plus-size women are afraid that there won’t be brands or fashion choices for their size group. People are concerned for plus-size women during this emergence of the “mid-size” movement because there have always been brands who cater to women sizes 10-16, and there will always be brands catering to that size category, but there’s not enough for plus-size women. Georgia Aspinall in Grazia Magazine says, “If you’re a size 20, only seeing plus-size clothing modeled on size 16 bodies – how does one feel when the clothes don’t look the same on you?”
New Jersey college student Emily Melvin, who identifies as a plus size woman, shared her thoughts about this topic: “I think using [the term] mid-size is still great, but it at times feels like a phrase people will use that’s just a sigh of relief that they aren’t plus size, which obviously has a negative connotation.” She continues, “Claiming to be mid-size is a healthy indicator, I think, because it is an accurate representation of those bodies, but it still manages to hold some resistance towards plus size people.”
Melvin says, “I think if companies become more aware of people wanting to celebrate mid-sizes more, I'm afraid the companies will cater more to those sizes and then continue to just push larger sizes to the side. Despite everyone having body struggles, mid-size people still almost always have the luxury of going into any store and finding clothes they like in their size. They typically do not need to go to specific stores for just their size.”
The other side of the argument is that every body type and size deserves representation. Although “mid-size” people do not face the same stigmas and shame that plus-sized bodies do, they are still worthy of representation and love. Style consultant Kasey Dugan who owns the company Bella Figura says, “Inclusivity movements are important, period! We need more representation.”
Donna Salamone, an associate at plus size store Lane Bryant, says, “I personally feel [...] that it is empowering to walk into a store and find an outfit that is made to fit your body type! I have experienced this with many clients looking for the right fit and they are so happy when they walk out of the store feeling happy and confident in the many items they found. It’s all about feeling good about who you are no matter what size you are!”
Melvin comments saying, “I think that it is important to have that third label of mid-size. Although I am not really a fan of labeling and limiting people to a box, I think in this case it works, because buying clothing labels us based on size constantly. I think the term mid-size is good because it gives a sort of gray area for people who are not small but not plus size. [...] [Now people] have room to feel acknowledged and not have to worry about being plus size.”
When Rihanna launched Savage X Fenty, plus-size and mid-size bodies became involved on the runway for the first time. This was one of the first companies to go against the Victoria’s Secret model of fashion runways and start to show body inclusivity and positivity. Although Victoria’s Secret has gotten better with their inclusivity after their multiple fat-phobic scandals, the company still can’t compare to Savage X Fenty. For example, Savage X Fenty carries a T-Shirt bra in sizes 30A all the way to a 46H whereas Victoria’s Secret carries the same type of bra in sizes 32A to a 40F. Similarly, Savage X Fenty carries a cheeky underwear from size extra small to a 3X whereas Victoria’s Secret carries from size extra small to an XXL. Although these are big steps in the fashion industry, this is still only a small step in the right direction.
Dugan from Bella Figura, offers different styling packages featuring color analysis and David Kibbe ‘80s style profiling. “I think, as a whole, there are a lot of toxic body misconceptions out there that we need to unlearn,” said Dugan. “I think it’s hard for a lot of different body types to find clothes today — especially well-made clothes that are meant to last. Clothes should be like good furniture. We should all have less of it, and be spending more on it. They’re investments.”
Alexandra Pastore reports that, “True Fit’s global connected data which analyzes data from nearly 200 million shoppers and 16,000 brands and retailers on the platform, revealed recently that most retailers now carry upwards of 90 percent of their catalog in mid-size ranges — a sign that the company says retailers are becoming more size-inclusive.” And with the rise in inclusive fashion, the question arises: is this a lucrative business to be in? Pastore reports the statistics of the midsize fashion industry: “As a growing category in the U.S., the percentage of midsize sales increased from 52 percent in 2020, compared to 44 percent in 2017.”
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