Plus-sized lingerie is about to get about fifty shades hotter than ever before. Ashley Graham, the beauty boundary breaker ranked No. 11 on Ask Men’s list of “Top 99 Outstanding Women 2015” is heating up one of the hottest businesses on the planet, in some very sexy ways…
When Fifty Shades of Grey steamed up our movie theatres this past Valentine’s Day, by sheer numbers it proved to not disappoint. The bondage-inspired blockbuster raked in a whopping $248.7 million worldwide opening weekend, making it the biggest international opening ever for an R-rated film. With stats like that, it seems to be a no-brainer that someone would create a new Fifty Shades-inspired business endeavour – none other than supermodel Ashley Graham.
Graham, an American model from Lincoln, Nebraska is technically considered a plus-sized supermodel, with her best known work with plus sized fashion chain giant Lane Bryant. The plus-size prefix in front of her title as a model has never hindered her ability to work it in front of a camera. She has graced the covers of numerous fashion magazines; Vogue and Harper’s Bazaar, for example and has appeared in several Levi’s campaigns.
More recently in her career she became the first plus-sized model to be featured in the Sports Illustrated issue that came out February of this year. Standing at 5’9′ with an American dress size of 16 (only one size higher than the overall average worn by women), she is a clear beauty. Her gorgeous brown locks, with matching brown doe eyes and soft curves complete her ultra-feminine look that captivates men and women alike. If she isn’t an example of how beauty can be at any size than we don’t know what is.
The bombshell got her start in the modelling world back in 2000 when she was just twelve years old at a shopping centre in Nebraska. Being signed on with Ford Models just one year later, her career skyrocketed from there. In an interview with YahooStyle!, Graham noted: “my first [modeling] job ever was lingerie. My mom had to sign a petition that said they would airbrush my nipples out!”
In 2002, at 14, Graham began modelling for Lane Bryant and now she is one of the most recognizable faces for the brand. Earlier this year she also starred in Lane Bryant’s semi controversial advertisement and campaign I’m No Angel, taking a pretty clear stab at global giant, Victoria’s Secret.
Yet even with her work with massive fashion labels and brands, it hasn’t been entirely common for a plus-sized model to run into so much success in the fashion and modelling field. It hasn’t even been until very recently that diversity in size has been more widely accepted.
Two years ago Graham started working with Addition Elle, the Canadian plus-sized retailer. Now, the lingerie line she has been working on is officially being released in The States – and the reveal of what is sure to be a Fifty Shades of Grey inspired collection.
The collection, modeled after Dakota Johnson and Jamie Dornan’s super steamy film includes “four bras with bondage-inspired removable straps and lace details, four styles of underwear, a chemise and a kimono, and will be sold on Nordstrom.com as well as two of the store’s locations. Prices range from $30 for underwear to $95 for the chemise and kimono.”
While plus-sized is very strictly defined according to a certain size, body image activist Graham believes being beautiful should not be so standardized. Although times are changing and diversity is on the rise, there still needs to be a lot done in this space to encourage positive body image. And while the saying may go that when you look good you feel good, currently, there isn’t much positivity in the realm of plus-sized fashion, especially in the lingerie sector.
Not that someone’s self-worth should be measured by what they wear, but when there is a correlation with what you wear and how you perceive yourself, it seems like maybe it’s time to up the appeal of plus-sized lines and that is exactly what Graham is setting out to do. She mentions, “I could find sexy bras and I could find supportive bras, but it was never sexy and supportive together.”
Where this becomes problematic is when lingerie in smaller sizes is very sexy, it sends the indirect message that woman larger than those sizes are less desirable… which shouldn’t be the case at all.
Another great thing about her line is the affordability and accessibility factor. With the price range being set at $30-$100 it is pretty comparable to what you would expect to pay at Victoria’s Secret, which also levels the playing field. And due to the fact that they have collaborated with a giant online retailer like Nordstrom.com, women seeking these products won’t have to search high and low to find the items.
According to New Scientist, 100 Australian men took part in a study where they were asked to rate the attractiveness of 200 drawings of female torsos of different sizes. The sizes rated ranged from several weight groups including Playboy centrefolds, models and to normal women. What they found through the study was that the men actually did prefer the curvier counterparts – those who measured closer to a size fourteen.
And while this is good news for those of us who might not have the measurements to hurl us into becoming an Australia’s Next Top Model contestant, it does leave us to wonder why this hasn’t been addressed more seriously up until late. Thankfully this could be just the beginning of body positive inspired fashion lines. Graham has mentioned that for her next project she plans on focusing on a fitness apparel line, something also seriously lacking on the plus-sized retail shelves in shops all over. She mentions that for whatever reason there seems to be a lack of clothing choice here, too… as if women larger than a size 6 don’t appreciate a good work out.
We think it’s genius that she has been able to combine a box-office hit and lingerie into one super sexy end product. We can’t wait to see what her collections will look like in the future.
