By using this site, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.
Accept
The Curvy FashionistaThe Curvy Fashionista
Notification Show More
Aa
  • News
    News
    Looking the the latest plus size fashion and industry news around designers, influencers, and community happenings? We’ve got you covered with the latest happenings in…
    Show More
    Top News
    Celebrating 200k FB Fans- It is a Spring #TCFStyle Giveaway with Simply Be!
    Celebrating 200k FB Fans- It is a Spring #TCFStyle Giveaway with Simply Be!
    9 years ago
    Spring #TCFStyle Giveaway with Hips and Curves
    Celebrating 200k FB Fans- It is a Spring #TCFStyle Giveaway with Hips and Curves!
    9 years ago
    nordstrom size inclusive
    What’s Missing as Nordstrom (and others) Takes Note of Us, the Plus Size Consumer
    6 years ago
    Latest News
    GLAMOROUS Plus Size Capsule Wardrobe || Interview with Suzanne Vinnik, Founder of byVINNIK
    2 weeks ago
    Thank Us Later! We’ve Found the 100 BEST Plus Size Swimsuits Under $100!
    2 weeks ago
    Hittin’ the Beach? Check Out These Fun and Sexy 23 Plus Size Swim Cover Ups!
    3 weeks ago
    26 Super Sexy Plus Size Two-Piece Swimwear That Your Curves Need Now!
    3 weeks ago
  • Style
    Style
    Yes, plus size style options exist and we are here to share the latest style finds, news, updates, and plus size style tips & tricks…
    Show More
    Top News
    Plus size woman Walking
    LETS TALK: Design Elements in Plus Size Clothes that KILL ME.
    10 years ago
    Duo Boots Giveaway on The Curvy Fashionista
    #TCFTurns5 Giveaway: Step into Style With the Duo Boots Giveaway!
    9 years ago
    Celebrating 200k FB Fans- It is a Spring #TCFStyle Giveaway with Simply Be!
    Celebrating 200k FB Fans- It is a Spring #TCFStyle Giveaway with Simply Be!
    9 years ago
    Latest News
    How to Wear (and OWN) Plus Size Floral Prints in 2023
    2 days ago
    All About The Plus Bus || An Interview with Fabulous Founders, Marcy & Jen
    2 weeks ago
    Hittin’ the Beach? Check Out These Fun and Sexy 23 Plus Size Swim Cover Ups!
    3 weeks ago
    26 Super Sexy Plus Size Two-Piece Swimwear That Your Curves Need Now!
    3 weeks ago
  • Beauty
    Beauty
    Looking for the latest beauty trends, products, and makeup tips and beauty advice for plus size people?! Check out the latest beauty articles on The…
    Show More
    Top News
    Wearing Make-Up To Work, A Bad Thing?
    10 years ago
    10 Products to Fight Chub Rub
    It’s Chub Rub Season—10 Products To Battle It
    6 years ago
    PrescriptivesCustom Blend Foundation
    Celebrating 200k FB Fans- It is a Spring #TCFStyle Giveaway with Prescriptives!
    9 years ago
    Latest News
    I Survived Going to a (fully nude) Korean Spa as a Plus Size Babe!
    1 week ago
    The Best 2023 Planners to Keep You Organized and Help You Reach Your Goals!
    5 months ago
    13 Last Minute Beauty Gifts Everyone is Sure to Love
    5 months ago
    TCF Gift Guide: 15 Beauty Stocking Stuffers to Wow and Amaze Your Loved Ones!
    6 months ago
  • Wellness
    Wellness
    Let’s talk about self-care, self-love, body image, and related topics to wellness and life as a plus size person!
    Show More
    Top News
    Torrid's Feature of Tiffany from On The Fatwalk
    The Enabling of Self Loathers and Shame – A Facebook Observation of Torrid
    11 years ago
    Rescue Stress relief
    Finding My Own Rescue Remedy & Taking Better Care of Myself…
    7 years ago
    Plus Size Lingerie: Hips and Curves
    Confidence, Sex, and the Plus Size Woman pt.1
    11 years ago
    Latest News
    Leave Some For Me! Why Viral Trends are Harming the Plus Size Community
    2 days ago
    Changing Focus to Celebrate Joyful Movement
    1 week ago
    The Plus Strut 5K is Back!
    1 month ago
    6 Tips for Finding a Fat Positive Doctor
    1 month ago
  • Lifestyle
    Lifestyle
    There is so much more to a plus size fashion lover and we are highlighting the various topics from home, to dating and beyond in…
    Show More
    Top News
    Open Letter Tim Gunn
    An Open Letter: Dear Tim Gunn, Let’s Make It Work
    10 years ago
    2017 MTV Move & TV Awards, chrissy metz, plus size celebrity
    ‘I Wear What I Want, When I Want’: Chrissy Metz Slays In Red at the 2017 MTV Movie & TV Awards
    6 years ago
    Metallic Curves by Photographer Silvana Denker
    Plus Size Art: Metallic Curves by Photographer Silvana Denker
    6 years ago
    Latest News
    Changing Focus to Celebrate Joyful Movement
    1 week ago
    I Survived Going to a (fully nude) Korean Spa as a Plus Size Babe!
    1 week ago
    Plus Size and Pregnant? Yay!! Here’s Where to Shop for the BEST Plus Size Maternity Swimsuits
    1 month ago
    6 Tips for Finding a Fat Positive Doctor
    1 month ago
  • Culture
    Culture
    Yes there is a plus size culture and we are here to share and celebrate it from entertainment to movies, we are talking about it!…
    Show More
    Top News
    25 women of color e1615188552216
    25 Women Of Color Who Paved The Way for Body Positivity & Plus Size Fashion
    2 years ago
    Dear Terri, Ven Budhu, and Project Runway….
    11 years ago
    Plus+ Coffee table book
    Because We Love a Great Book, Here are 30+ Plus Size Centered Must-Reads! 
    5 years ago
    Latest News
    Hollywood Needs to Follow Suit: The Harmful Use of Fatsuits in Media
    1 month ago
    Get To Know The Big Grrrls Cast! The Plus Size Dancers Competing For A Spot On Stage.
    1 year ago
    6 Easy Date Ideas For Every Budget
    1 year ago
    The Unfiltered Brilliance of Ryan Ken Acts
    1 year ago
  • Shop TCF
  • Events
    • TCFStyle Brunch Series
Search TCF
More
  • Events
    • TCFStyle Brunch Series
  • Curvy & Plus Size Fashion Resources
  • About The Curvy Fashionista
  • Advertising
  • Contact
© 2008- 2023 · by TCFStyle Media · All Rights Reserved ·
Reading: Curvy Boss, Chrystal Bougon of Curvy Girl Talks Lingerie Beyond a Size 3X
Aa
The Curvy FashionistaThe Curvy Fashionista
  • News
  • Style
  • Beauty
  • Wellness
  • Lifestyle
  • Culture
  • Shop TCF
  • Events
Search TCF
  • About
  • News
  • Style
  • Shopping
  • Wellness
  • Beauty
  • Lifestyle
  • Write for TCF
  • Contact
Sign In Sign In
Follow US
  • Login
  • Community Guidelines
  • Style Star Ambassadors
  • TCFStyle Influencer Network
  • Advertise With Us
  • Contact
© 2008- 2021 · by TCFStyle Media · All Rights Reserved ·
Above 3X

Curvy Boss, Chrystal Bougon of Curvy Girl Talks Lingerie Beyond a Size 3X

Guest Blogger
Last updated: 05/10/2018
By Guest Blogger 11 Min Read
Share
curvy fashionista article no extended sizes 2

I was at the Altitude Lingerie and Romance Trade Show in Las Vegas on April 19th visiting my suppliers and the designers whom we typically buy our lingerie from for my store Curvy Girl.  I like to go to this show about once a year to see all of the new romance products and look for new designers that I have never heard of before.  It’s also a great opportunity to talk with my current suppliers and designers just to check in and see what they are up to.

I did learn some cool things that will help my current business, so I am very grateful that I went to the show. I am always looking for ways to operate more efficiently and more creatively.

- Advertisement -

But, what really PISSED ME OFF is that none of my suppliers plan to expand their sizing. NONE!

One supplier use to carry a lot more 4x to 6x and they have really reduced their offering in that range.

curvy fashionista article no extended sizes 5
Photo: Danea Wease-Burleson / Boudoir Coterie

Two years ago, a different supplier told me they were going to test some 5x/6x items. (They even asked me for input on a few items and giving them suggestions of what women my size might like.) This particular supplier told me that they feared it would not sell.  A third supplier said they did some focus groups and market research and determined there was no market for lingerie size 26 and higher.

Naturally I started talking to some of my fellow business owners that cater to people of size like we do, just to see if this makes others in my world upset. It turns out I am not the only one that believes that fat babes deserve all of the love, respect, hot sex and high fashion given to every thin person on this planet.

- Advertisement -

curvy fashionista article no extended sizes 3

Bevin Branlandingham, creator of “Fat Kid Dance Party” shared with me that “People of all size deserve to experience sex, love, joy, and desire. This includes access to sex as well as access to lingerie and clothing that expresses their sexuality! The past ten years has seen a giant shift in our culture around fat acceptance. Body positivity is blowing up and with that new markets of empowered people who want lingerie that fits their body the way it is. They have money and they want to spend it, manufacturers who believe there are not people who want to wear lingerie above a size 26 are missing out on profit potential.”

We are done hiding in the dark. We are done wearing hideous patterns and ugly fashion. I have customers and potential customers messaging me daily asking for sizes above a 26 and it PAINS ME that it is so hard to come by.  We do have some designs by Coquette that are labeled a 3/4x that will fit some babes who wear a 28/30 – but that is a very difficult story to tell when you sell online.  Our customers have to trust us that we know these pieces work on bodies that are larger than what the tag says.

Jes Baker, author of “Things No One Tells Fat Girls” and her new book “Landwhale”  said to me (when I was just back from the show and completely deflated by the feedback I received) “I feel like this is a clear cut problem that reflects or cultural denial of and distaste for recognizing fat babes as sexual beings! It’s not only disappointing but backwards as hell. We’re going to need them to catch up!”curvy fashionista article no extended sizes 4

- Advertisement -

I totally agree. It is time to catch up! I mean, babes with goddess sized bodies have been around since the beginning of time. Simple research will show you that Venus of Willendorf dates back to 28,000 BCE! Bigger bodies are not going anywhere and our voices are getting louder and stronger.  We want to look sexy and beautiful, too.

Just because we are not a size of a Victoria’s Secret model does not mean we don’t need and want lingerie that fits our bodies.

Lingerie designers should take note what popular brands like Universal Standard and Eloquii are doing. There are a bunch of fashion designers who are making their styles in sizes 28, 30, 32 and beyond.  SmartGlamour’s size chart includes sizes XS to 15X. And there are many plus size models in what they call Extended Size Modeling these days, too.

Saucye West, Plus Model and Mustang Sally are just two of them.

Blogger at Fearlessly Just Me and fierce advocate for fashion in sizes 26 and larger, Marcy Cruz,  asked me a pertinent question. “What data are these designers using?” She went on to add:

“When designers and brands say there is no market for sizes above a 26, I wonder what numbers they are referring to as they don’t sell extended sizes and therefore, don’t have the numbers to prove that point. Where are they obtaining their projections? As I can see, brands such as Eloquii, Ashley Stewart, Universal Standard and Charlotte Russe have extended their sizes for a reason and that is because there is a market for it.”

curvy fashionista article no extended sizes

This rings true for lingerie as well. I would love to know what market research was done and where. As someone who was just hired as a size 26+ fit model, that alone is proof that there is a market because I would not have been hired and got booked for a job immediately, had it not been.

Perhaps these companies should ask the customer herself and not just look at numbers that are gathered based on companies who don’t even offer that size. I would challenge them to test with a few pieces and see how it goes there. They won’t know until they try.

If they are loyal to their customer, they will buy and spread the word, especially if they use larger size models that appeal to plus size women.”

FATPHOBIA LIKELY?  It does make you wonder. Maybe the corporate headquarters types do not know about the blogosphere or the fat liberation activism that is going on all over the world. Maybe the corporate lingerie designers do not have enough women at the executive level to explain to the designers that there is a MOVEMENT going on and they need to catch up.

As our Curvy Girl motto goes:  “Sexy is for EVERY body.”

curvy fashionista article no extended sizes 2

I asked Marilyn Wann, the author of “Fat! So?” to give me her opinion on this topic.  She has been at the forefront of the fat liberation and fat acceptance movement since the early 90’s. She nails it here:

“Clothing sellers inspire customers all the time to try entire categories of fashion. If there currently are not many customers for sexy lingerie above size 26 …a claim that I suspect is not true anyway…that says nothing about fatter people’s interest level. The fashion industry creates these self-fulfilling prophecies by a combination of their own weight bigotry and lack of leadership. The businesses that pursue a more expansive vision will stake out first claim to a fabulously sizeable market share.”

I am pretty sure the designers hate it when I come to their booths each year.  I have the same request every single year: We need MORE designs for bodies size 26 and higher!

I can see their eyes rolling and their collective brows furrowing when I show up. I feel like a damn broken record. I have been begging for the past 6 years, but they clearly not interested in our fat money. (And, while we’re at it, we could use some more designers in ALL of the sizes 12 and higher. This market is very underserved.)

Someone should really take a serious look at this niche that is being completely ignored. It feels like the lingerie designers are stuck in that era where they are only seeing through a lens that is very old fashioned.

For starters, lots of women and men are attracted to larger body babes and will spend the money.

And, they always seem to forget that some of us buy lingerie for ourselves.

Chrystal Bougon

Resident Curvy Girl at Curvy Girl Lingerie

Curvy Girl Lingerie

TAGGED: Curvy Boss, Curvy Girl Lingerie, extended plus sizes, plus size bras, plus size panties
Share This Article
Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Email Copy Link Print
Leave a comment Leave a comment

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Latest News

leave some for me plus size thrifting - @theplusbus
Body Politics

Leave Some For Me! Why Viral Trends are Harming the Plus Size Community

- Advertisement -

You May Also Enjoy

“I Lombardi” Parisian Coat & Red Flower Belt - byVINNI
Fashion and Industry

GLAMOROUS Plus Size Capsule Wardrobe || Interview with Suzanne Vinnik, Founder of byVINNIK

Brianne By Brianne
plus size underwear finds - @cheekboss
Above 3X

8 Must-Know Summer Plus Size Underwear Finds

mightymurphin By mightymurphin
PLUS SAND GOLD TRIM ASYMMETRIC SWIMSUIT - PRETTYLITTLETHING
Plus Size Designers

Thank Us Later! We’ve Found the 100 BEST Plus Size Swimsuits Under $100!

Brianne By Brianne
Plus Size Swim Cover Ups - ELOQUII
#TCFStyle

Hittin’ the Beach? Check Out These Fun and Sexy 23 Plus Size Swim Cover Ups!

By
ASOS LUXE Curve ruffle bikini set in lilac
Fashion and Industry

26 Super Sexy Plus Size Two-Piece Swimwear That Your Curves Need Now!

Brianne By Brianne
Arianna SwimTop Awilda MeshSwimBottom Tia2
Fashion and Industry

14 BEST Size Inclusive Swimwear Brands to Shop in 2023 || Above a 6X or Size 30

Brianne By Brianne
  • About
  • Advertise
  • Contribute
  • Subscribe
  • Contact
  • Privacy
  • Affiliate Disclosure
Reading: Curvy Boss, Chrystal Bougon of Curvy Girl Talks Lingerie Beyond a Size 3X
The Curvy FashionistaThe Curvy Fashionista
Follow US
© 2008- 2023 · by TCFStyle Media · All Rights Reserved ·
The Curvy Fashionista Logo
Welcome Back!

Please Sign in to Your Account

Lost your password?