I’ve known about plus-size supermodel Emme ever since those could-be-difficult-body-image-days in high-school. The idea that this more curvaceous human being was making a living as a supermodel and not starving herself to achieve it was an oxymoron that inspired me to love how I looked.
When I knew that she was coming to Houston for an event at Macy’s that highlighted curvaceous women on the runway along with a positive self body image talk, I was 100% in. Also, fellow blogger, Shasie from Live Life in Style was going to be modeling on the runway and I was eager to cheer her on along with fellow Houston Fashion Bloggers: Marcella, Heather and Tammy.
The runway was an utter success! For the first time ever I felt like I too could look amazing in the clothes the models had on because they were more than a size 6 (usually runway models are a size 0-2)! I’m all about breaking that stereotype that models have to look sickly thin on a runway. These women were confident, sexy and showed off the outfits and most importantly, they looked healthy.
I especially loved it when Emme was talking about how we should open our mind to what “ideal beauty” looks like:
These were my favorite looks from the show (the first one is my friend Shasie! Doesn’t she look smokin’ hot?):
“I don’t only love these outfits because they are super trendy and look great! I also love them because they break any style myth for curvier girls: these ladies are wearing prints, stretchy fabrics, lots of color and textures without making them look bulkier or heavier.” Nicole
It’s refreshing to know Emme has been going to different Macy’s stores around the country and exposing an audience to a different type of curvalicious runway. She is empowering women to feel comfortable in their skin with every strut they take. I think this powerful catwalk is all about being OK with not wanting to be a size 0 and being fine with being a size 10,12,14 or 16 ( Emme herself is a size 16). The models on the runway were size 14 and up!
She also talked about one of her new efforts in the fashion industry in her alma mater, Syracuse University, where she had her measurements taken so that young, aspiring designers in fashion schools learn to tailor clothes for women sizes 16 just like they do on the standard 0-4 sizes. Besides, most women in America are between a size 12-14 and these young designers had never had experience “draping, creating on anything other than size 2 or a 4 but now with The Syracuse University Fashion Without Limits they are getting that opportunity.”
This also made me think of an important question: What size do you start considering as “plus size”? I asked because I recently noticed a model from Jag Models being called a “plus size” at size 8. Emme clarified that “plus size” models that can actually make a living being a plus size have to be size 14 and up.
And instead of plus size, can’t we just call them “models with curves?” #JustSaying
Me posing with Emme. She told me she “liked what I had going on,” regarding my outfit and I almost died!
But the best part was yet to come, Emme gave Tammy and I some style tips and spent over an hour after the runway show in the dressing room at Macy’s giving us fashion tips and yaying or naying all the outfits we tried on. It was truly a once in a lifetime experience. I felt completely comfortable and at ease just soaking up all the tips to feel and look better in the clothes I buy.
Emme helping Tammy out before we all headed to the dressing room to try stuff on. I’ll be sharing an outfit post on what she thought looked best on me in a future post!
