Plus Size Fashion Definition : Definition for Clothing Industry by Apparel Search

This page will hopefully help answer the question, "what is plus size fashion?".

Plus size clothing is a general term given to clothing proportioned specifically for larger sized or overweight people.  Plus-size refers generally to clothing labeled size (US) 12/ (UK) 16 and upwards for women. Also called Outsize in some countries (predominantly British), this term has been losing favour since the 1990s. A related term for men's plus-size clothing is big and tall.

Plus size clothing patterns have traditionally been graded up from a smaller construction pattern, however many retailers are using statistical data collected from their own measuring projects, and from specialized Body Scan Data collection projects to modernize the fit and construction of their garments. U.S. companies Lane Bryant and Catherines teamed up over a three-year period to source data to modernize the companies' garment construction. Fourteen thousand women were measured in what was the most extensive female sizing study in the U.S. in over 60 years.

Fashion designers are starting to look more closely at the earning potential from plus-size clothing, and have used plus-size models for their advertising campaigns and catwalks. Jean-Paul Gaultier and John Galliano both used plus-size models in their Spring 2006 showings in Paris. Italian plus-size fashion house Elena Mirò now regularly stages biannual prêt-à-porter shows during Fashion Week in Milan. Mark Fast and William Tempest each used plus-size models during their own London Fashion Week showings for Spring 2009, and again as part of All Walks Beyond the Catwalk event held on September 19, 2009 in association with the British Fashion Council.

Learn more about plus size clothing.

If you would like to shop for plus size clothing, you may want to try the plus size fashion stores directory here on Apparel Search.  Have you ever asked yourself, "what is plus size fashion?".  Well, that is certainly a question you can ask at the Fashion Industry Network in the Plus Size Fashion Group section.