Anna Wintour wears a size zero, but sings the fashion praises of Grammy winner Adele's plus-size fashion sense. However, what do YOU think the chances are of girls with curves gracing the pages of American Vogue? Exactly. But V Magazine is, as usual, ahead of the curve (so to speak). In their upcoming issue (#63 - on newsstands January 14th), they feature a bevy of plus-sized models in a shoot styled by Lady Gaga's stylist, Nicola Formichetti; mainstream fashion photographer Solve Sundsbo shot the ladies in everything from bustiers and bodysuits to nothing but their own skin. “62% of all American women (18 or older) wear a size 12+, and yet the plus size market is still overlooked,” says Nancy LeWinter, a former Vogue editor and current plus-sized fashion expert at OneStopPlus.com, the premier online plus-size fashion emporium. “Fashion is fashion no matter what your size."
Just ask the charismatic Gabourey Sidibe - star of "Precious" - who is singlehandedly changing hearts and minds about what it means to be an "it" girl. "I feel like a model," she explains in the February issue of Harper's Bazaar. "People always ask me, 'You have so much confidence. Where did that come from?' It came from me. One day I decided that I was beautiful, and so I carried out my life as if I was a beautiful girl. I wear colors that I really like, I wear makeup that makes me feel pretty, and it really helps. It doesn't have anything to do with how the world perceives you. What matters is what you see."
Despite the prevalence of curves in real life, in the fantasy world of fashion, they are a rare commodity. “I loved the opportunity to show that you can be beautiful and sexy outside the narrow interpretations that normally define us,” notes Sundsbo about the V shoot. While skinny models probably needn't worry for their jobs for the time being, it is refreshing to see fashion presented on more voluptuous figures. "The secret to looking great at any size is to play up what you like about your body and to balance your clothing," continues OSP's LeWinter. "The plus size market is finally receiving the recognition it deserves."
- Lesley Scott
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