A few days ago, I was texting my friend while she was shopping at the popular department store “Forever 21.” She was asking for advice about buying a shirt she tried on and she sent me a photo in it. It was a cute shirt and it seemed to fit her well, so naturally I encouraged her purchase it. A few moments later, she texted me saying the shirt was plus size.
Now, of course there is nothing wrong with plus-size clothing — she was just surprised because she has never had to wear it before. She is of a perfectly healthy weight and height — so what exactly does Forever 21 mean when they use the term “plus” to label items of clothing?
When I hear the word “plus” alone, I think of something that is “extra.” So what does this say when you use it in a context that is describing clothing? It is pretty much suggesting that you maybe have “too much” fat on your body or “too much” length on your waist. By doctor’s standards, it would seem that the person in the clothing is overweight and needs to eliminate it for health related issues…but this clearly did not seem to be the case upon examining my friend and the “plus-size” shirt she fit into.
To further explore what Forever 21 considers to be “plus size,” I decided to go and try on some articles of clothing there myself. As a disclaimer: I am normally a 00 waist and extra small in tops. I am 4’11” with fairly small boobs and can literally fit into clothes from The Children’s Place. I am a healthy weight according to my doctor, but I am very small.
You’re probably thinking that there is no way I was not swimming in these clothes — that’s what I would assume too. However, I was shocked to discover how well the clothes fit my body.
This shirt was size 1X and I was seriously considering buying it. It was not skin tight, but it did fit me well.
OK, this one was kind of long on me. But, I am not even 5' so I can barely find regular clothes that are right in that aspect.
It was just ridiculous at this point.
This one was a little baggy, but Forever 21's clothing tends to shrink after one wash.
I didn't have too much luck fitting nicely into things like dresses or pants...but if someone only a couple of sizes bigger than me were to try this on it would fit.
This whole process was pretty infuriating.
Forever 21 and the fashion industry overall has created an image of what the “perfect” or even “average” body should look like, thus isolating anyone who does not meet those standards. Obviously, stores need to make clothes that fit everyone, but is there really a need to give them a whole new name and make people feel like they are not normal? People who fit into these clothes are perfectly healthy, meanwhile, they may want to try and lose weight just so they can achieve fitting into the "regular"-sized clothing...especially considering the plus-size section of any clothing store is very limited.
"Plus size" is a made-up category that this industry has formed to create the illusion that there is such a thing as a "perfect body." The clothes are made to fit their models, most of which do not achieve their body type naturally. Deeming something "plus size" is simply degrading and misleading. It is just a constant reminder of what society wants you to be.
