Ashley Graham, Paloma Elesser, and more plus-size models set milestones at Versace, Ferragamo and Fendi's Spring/Summer 2021 shows this fashion month, pointing towards size-inclusivity in luxury fashion.

The Spring/Summer 2021 runways set milestones&nbsp;for the plus-size community in luxury fashion.&nbsp;The Versace show included&nbsp;<a href="https://www.lofficielsingapore.com/fashion/three-plus-size-models-stole-the-show-at-versace">three&nbsp;plus-size models</a>&nbsp;&mdash;&nbsp;Alva Claire, <a href="https://www.lofficielsingapore.com/fashion/meet-the-curve-model-who-is-taking-the-fashion-world-by-storm">Jill Kortleve</a>, and Precious Lee &mdash;&nbsp;on the runway, a first for the brand; Salvatore Ferragamo tapped Paloma Elsesser as the label&rsquo;s first curve&nbsp;model; Fendi featured&nbsp;plus-size models for the second season in a row; and <a href="https://www.lofficielsingapore.com/Culture/top-moments-from-rihanna-s-savage-x-fenty-sophomore-fashion-show">Rihanna&rsquo;s Savage X Fenty</a> cast a male plus-size model to promote the men&rsquo;s line. But does this mean that the fight for curve representation in high fashion has been won?

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Typically, plus-size can be defined as sizes 12 and up. While contemporary labels like Michael Michael Kors or Lauren Ralph Lauren offer sizing up to a 3X, their luxury counterparts may not be as inclusive. Despite the plus-size fashion industry being estimated at $21 billion, most high fashion brands&nbsp;are hesitant to carry above a size 12. For accessible lines, it is&nbsp;important for labels to offer clothes for a diverse clientele so as to maximise profit. However, on the runways, designers continue to be selective in who gets to wear what. Although the recent choice of including plus-size models seems to suggest that designers are pivoting in&nbsp;a more size-inclusive direction, for some,&nbsp;it may be more of a trend.

Versace only carries up to a large or Italian size 46 on its website, which is the equivalent of a U.S. size 10, according to a sizing chart provided by the brand. The site does offer limited pieces (mostly T-shirts and leggings) up to XXL, and robes up to 5XL. Fendi&rsquo;s online retailer carries up to a size 16, while Ferragamo goes up to XL. The most inclusive brand of the four is Rihanna&rsquo;s Savage x&nbsp;Fenty, which carries up to 3X. However, the&nbsp;range of sizes does not account for inconsistencies in sizing between brands.

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Despite not including plus-size models in their runway shows, other brands have extended their size options. Dolce &amp; Gabbana and Max Mara currently sell up to a U.S. 18, but neither have cast plus-size models in their most recent ad campaigns or catwalks. Other luxury labels offer up to size 14/16, but this marginalises members of the&nbsp;community who wear larger sizes. Nevertheless, this reflects a substantial change from the status quo, considering that two years ago, Dolce &amp; Gabbana only carried up to a size 12.&nbsp;

With the rise of the body positivity movement, plus-size models have garnered significant support&nbsp;in the past few years. Dutch model Jill Kortleve had an impressive breakout season for Spring/Summer&nbsp;2019, making her debut at Alexander McQueen and going on to become the first curve model to walk a Chanel show in 10 years. Meanwhile, curve model Ashley Graham has walked for designers like Tommy Hilfiger, Prabal Gurung&nbsp;and Fendi. In 2016, she also became the first size 16 model to cover the&nbsp;Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Edition. However, the next year, it was reported&nbsp;that several companies would not&nbsp;dress Graham for one of her 2017 cover shoots&nbsp;because of her size.

This points to the fault of the fashion system at large to celebrate diverse body types. There are gatekeepers at each step &mdash;&nbsp;from casting runway shows&nbsp;to featuring models in publications&nbsp;to dressing models for publicity or events &mdash;&nbsp;and without the support of all of these different facets, there will never be complete inclusion.

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While the needle towards plus-size representation&nbsp;has definitely experienced a shift, the reality is that many brands continue to dismiss curve consumers.&nbsp;Plus-size representation means not only offering people size 12 and up an opportunity to own and to wear&nbsp;luxury fashion, but also allowing them to see bodies like their own represented in the media. Plus-size fashion is definitely having a moment, but for it to become truly mainstream, all fashion houses have to play a part in this change.

Representation comes with a sense of validation &mdash;&nbsp;when luxury labels cast curve models, the industry itself is telling them that they are worthy of being fashionable. With that kind of widespread acceptance, not only can plus-size men and women occupy a space in the fashion industry and use their voices, but&nbsp;they can feel like they belong there, too.

Is Plus-Size Luxury Fashion Finally Becoming Mainstream?

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