Before we get into all things The Curvy Fashionista anniversary, I have to take y’all back… On December 25, 2008, I published the very first post on The Curvy Fashionista.
What I do not think I have ever fully shared, is how that actually happened.
It was Christmas Day. I was living in my apartment in Oakland, California. Working retail meant I could not travel home for the holidays, so instead of packing a suitcase, I found myself with a quiet apartment, a laptop, and some time. A delightfully dangerous combination.
I had already set up the blog. The idea had been sitting with me for a while. But that day, with nowhere to be and nothing pressing to do, I hit publish. That very first post, now long deleted, went live on Christmas.
Not because it was part of a big plan. But because I had something to say.
What began as a single article from someone with a point of view, a little frustration, and a lot of opinions about plus size fashion has since grown into a leading plus size fashion media platform and community.
As we celebrate The Curvy Fashionista anniversary, I cannot help but laugh at how unceremonious it all was. No launch countdown. No announcement email. Just a girl, a blog, and a Christmas spent building something she did not yet know would last seventeen years.
Looking back, that first post set the tone for everything that followed. Honest. Unpolished. And unwilling to accept less than what plus size fashion deserved.
Before Size Inclusive Fashion Became an Industry Strategy
Long before size inclusion became a marketing term, The Curvy Fashionista was already calling for better design, better representation, and better thinking.
Years before inclusion became a hashtag, this platform pushed back against the idea that plus size fashion should be watered down or compromised.
“STOP WATERING down the ‘plus size’ version and STOP making ‘considerations’ for the plus size woman. The design loses its specialness or no longer has an appeal. Basically, the same elements in what makes a straight size garment fabulous, we’d like to see more in plus.”
– Marie Denee, The Curvy Fashionista
That quote is more than a decade old, and it still reflects the heart of our editorial mission. Plus size fashion was never asking for less. We were asking for equity in creativity, quality, and intention.
Community Has Always Been the Foundation
As The Curvy Fashionista grew, one truth became clear. This platform was never just about covering fashion. It was about understanding the people behind it.
From the beginning, our work has been rooted in community, nuance, and lived experience. Plus size consumers are not a monolith, and treating them as such has always been a disservice.
That belief continues to shape our editorial lens today.
“There is a unique nuance in the plus size fashion space, one that many mainstream retailers, brands, and marketing experts miss all the time when trying to woo the plus size consumer.”
-From the Editor’s Desk, 2024
The nuance we speak about now is the same nuance we have honored for years. Listening has always mattered here.
Still Here, Still Saying It
For nearly two decades, The Curvy Fashionista has challenged the idea that plus size fashion is a trend or a phase. We have consistently pushed back against narratives that treat this community as temporary.
And the archive reflects that commitment.
“We’ve featured so many articles over the years pushing back on the fashion industry’s declaration that the plus size fashion niche is a ‘fad.’ Yet, somehow, they still don’t believe us when we say, ‘We’re here to stay.’”
-Marie Denee from the State of Plus Size Fashion
That statement could have been written years ago. The fact that it still resonates today is exactly why The Curvy Fashionista anniversary matters.
Longevity in this space is not accidental. It is intentional.
What Has Not Changed
The platforms have evolved. The industry has shifted. The conversations have expanded.
But the values behind The Curvy Fashionista remain the same.
We still believe style is not a reward for weight loss.
We still believe representation without respect is not enough.
We still believe plus size fashion deserves thoughtful editorial care and cultural critique.
And we still believe community is the foundation of everything we do.
Those beliefs have guided this platform through seventeen years of growth.
Looking Forward, Still Ascending
As we celebrate The Curvy Fashionista anniversary, our focus is not reinvention. It is elevation.
Built on everything that came before. Informed by years of advocacy, storytelling, critique, and care.
As I look ahead, I am guided by a mission that has never changed. As I share on my personal site:
“My mission is to open doors, amplify voices, and redefine what fashion looks like for all bodies.”
-Marie Denee
That mission continues to shape how The Curvy Fashionista moves forward. It shows up in the stories we tell, the designers we spotlight, the conversations we host, and the community we continue to build.
And yes, there is more ahead.
Next year, The Curvy Fashionista will continue to expand in ways that deepen our impact, strengthen our community, and push plus size fashion and culture forward. New conversations. New Programs. New platforms. New ways to connect, learn, and show up fully.
If you want to be the first to know what is coming next, make sure you are subscribed to our Heavy Rotation Newsletter. That is where we share our latest stories, upcoming launches, and what is unfolding behind the scenes.
Thank you for reading.
Thank you for growing with us.
Thank you for being part of The Curvy Fashionista story.
Here is to seventeen years, and to what comes next.
And before I forget, Merry Christmas to each and every one of you who celebrate, and if you do not, I do hope you are having a great day!
