As Editor-in-Chief of Italian Vogue since 1988, Franca Sozzani has always recognized the importance of keeping up with the times. She recently joined Twitter and when she chose to relaunch her magazine’s website this past February, she included a new section called Vogue Curvy, which highlights plus-size fashion and models as well as voluptuous female celebrities.
For example, website section “Glam and Curvy” kicked off with a profile of British singer Annie Lennox’s daughter Lola, whose 16th birthday celebration in London took a heavy, if unintended, toll on her father’s home. “Curvy Icons” meanwhile caught up with actress Liv Tyler, who reveals her cinematic idol is former queen of French curves Brigitte Bardot. The “Curvy Blog” highlighted a fashion show in London put on by English designer Mark Fast, described as being someone who “loves curves,” while a “Curvy News” item celebrated television’s focus on women such as Oprah Winfrey and Italy’s Antonella Clerici.
Together with Vogue Black, another new Italian Vogue website section that focuses on black fashion and models, Sozzani is to be congratulated for more accurately reflecting a world that encompasses many different ethnicities and body types. To wit, a video under “Stores” follows curvy Chicago blogger Gabi Gregg on a neighborhood shopping spree, which in turn becomes a bold platform for commenters to discuss their own plus-size views and needs. “I don’t get why you wouldn’t also feature plus size stores…” notes commenter Valerie.”If you stick to ‘regular’ size shops I don’t really see the point.”
QUESTION: Do you think Vogue Curvy will encourage top designers to create luxury fashions for curvy women?
$10 Gift card awarded to the first 50 approved comments! Please allow 24-48 hours for your unique gift card to be created and emailed to you.
{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }
I agree that it is a step in the right direction but it is still going to take time. Especially with Hollywood and designers still labeling women at size 14 as plus size. This is ridiculous. This sets a dangerous precedence for young women to not live in a healthy manner so as to fit some outdated industry standard. There is a big difference between having healthy curves and being overweight.
Beautiful women come in all sizes and packages! If the media and fashion world begin to show pictures of plus-sized women looking fabulous and fashionable and in a positive light, maybe young women will be more willing to embrace and appreciate their own shapes. It saddens me to see so many young women today suffering from low self-esteem and distorted body image. You have to love yourself!
I think more and more designers are realizing that there are a lot of plus sized ladies who are willing to spend money to get stylish fashions and I hope this will be a trend in the future.
SHIRLEY
I certainly agree with the other comments. Seeing a very skinny model in clothing doesn’t help us at all to imagine how it would look on us of larger sizes. I think those of us larger are great to put on a swim suit and get into a pool. We are doing what is really great for our health.