Is this plus size to you?

[marylander1940]

Myla Dalbesio is a size 10. She’s smaller than the average woman — size 14 — but larger than a sample size. Because she doesn’t fit into a size 0 or 2, she has been called plus size, typically a size 12 and up. But looking at the 27-year-old model, who just debuted as the face of Calvin Klein’s “Perfectly Fit” campaign, she obviously doesn’t fit in with the skinny girls but she certainly isn’t shopping in the plus size section and her representing the category is perplexing to many people.

 

http://www.elle.com/cm/elle/images/yz/elle-02-myla-blog.jpg

 

https://www.yahoo.com/style/calvin-kleins-idea-of-plus-size-is-pissing-people-off-102274897493.html

 

Very similar to porno movies where a guys like them are called bears.

 

http://thesword.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/tumblr_m9vll4wgIa1qami9to2_1280.jpg

 

http://www.milkyourbone.com/graphics/lavenderlounge/0000blog/damien-stone09.jpg

 

While your average bear is like him:

 

http://i.imgur.com/pyMpi.jpg

[BaronArtz]

If I were straight, I would say that Myla looks very desirable, in fact a lot more sexually desirable than anorexic models. She has curves, and an ample bust which is generally considered attractive. It is very cultural. American males want a big chest on a women, Latin men like big butts and we in Europe like overall good proportions. The waif-like models that the fashion industry uses in runway shows and magazines rarely are a straight man's dream - unless if somebody has a model fetish.

[SteveEscort]

Neither of the first two guys are bears but number three......woof.....hello Mr Delicious. Nothing more sexy than a beefy arrogant looking red haired bear

 

A hairy chest doesn't make you a bear

[Rod Hagen]

O mi god I love the orange fuzz on #3's arms. and shoulders.

[rvwnsd]

Myla Dalbesio is a size 10. She’s smaller than the average woman — size 14 — but larger than a sample size. Because she doesn’t fit into a size 0 or 2, she has been called plus size, typically a size 12 and up. But looking at the 27-year-old model, who just debuted as the face of Calvin Klein’s “Perfectly Fit” campaign, she obviously doesn’t fit in with the skinny girls but she certainly isn’t shopping in the plus size section and her representing the category is perplexing to many people.

 

No, that model is not what I would consider a "plus size." However, being of German/Polish descent the women in my family were tall, curvy, and busty. Looking at family photos of my mom when she was in her 30's and 40's, she was a knockout. She was also a size 16.

[mmk123]

No, that model is not what I would consider a "plus size." However, being of German/Polish descent the women in my family were tall, curvy, and busty. Looking at family photos of my mom when she was in her 30's and 40's, she was a knockout. She was also a size 16.

 

 

she is not "plus size" but she is a very beautiful, attractive normal size woman.

 

People tend to forget that Marilyn Monroe was around a size 12 (if not larger).

[loverboy95]

She is not plus size at all!

[+ quoththeraven]

Size 10 is not plus size in any part of the real world. "Larger than sample size" (which I believe can be as large as size 8) does not equal plus size. In my opinion, she doesn't even qualify as a plus size model, which is a slightly different beast. (Basically, it means "larger than sample size," but is meaningless when it comes to someone as relatively thin as she is.)

 

What's at work here are the ridiculously narrow standards maintained for fashion models of both sexes, who are seemingly viewed more as living clothes hangers than as real human beings with health concerns. In real life, what's a plus (or women's) size varies with the clothing line. Some (many?) of them size generously to cater to their customers' vanity. Others use much narrower criteria and patterns. So the same customer may need to buy a plus size from one manufacturer but a misses size L or XL from another.

 

In any event, the misses' sizes a store carries sometimes stop at size 12 (unusual, but not unheard of) or go up as high as size 18. Plus sizes usually start at 16, sometimes 14. The extent of overlap between the two is confusing. I have reason to know this personally, as I am stranded somewhere in between misses' XL and a plus 0x or 1x, on top of which I'm under 5 foot 2 inches and therefore need shorter sleeves and pants hems. Sometimes even petite sized clothing is too long or big, but it's also true that sometimes petite sizes are too tight in the waist, hips, or crotch (better known as "rise"). It's a frustrating, no-win situation.

[Lookin]

During a few years in India, I came to think that a sari is just about the most flattering garment a woman can wear. I saw plenty of older, heavier women wearing them and looking graceful and pretty as a schoolgirl. It seems that feminine moves are woven into the fabric itself.

 

http://www.chilimili.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/opera-in-saree.jpg

 

It would sure seem to solve a lot of problems with body image in this country, and might deal a body blow (so to speak http://www.boytoy.com/forums/public/style_emoticons/default/rolleyes.gif) to the so-called fashion industry.

 

Though I did discover one snag when I took a friend to the Indian shops in Berkeley. The sari itself was size-neutral, but we learned that she'd need to have the choli (underblouse) custom-made. Not that there's anything wrong with that, but she was heading out of the country in a few days and didn't have time. Perhaps a better-stocked store would sell the tops off the rack, but we didn't find one.

[+ FreshFluff]

If she's a size 10, it's only because of her height. She looks more like a 4.

 

None of the photos posted in the OP look "plus sized" or bear-like.

 

In my opinion, she doesn't even qualify as a plus size model, which is a slightly different beast.

 

I agree, though I'd say they're very different beasts. A size 6 woman is typically large enough to be a plus-sized model, though most plus-size apparel retailers use models who are at least a 12.

 

Sometimes even petite sized clothing is too long or big,

 

IME, the only solution is to get a good tailor. The best ones aren't cheap, unfortunately, but they can take an unusable item from your closet and make it a staple.

[tyro]

In model-land, this woman is plus-sized. Tyra Banks at her slimmest was considered "full-figured" for the industry.

T

[+ FreshFluff]

During a few years in India, I came to think that a sari is just about the most flattering garment a woman can wear. I saw plenty of older, heavier women wearing them and looking graceful and pretty as a schoolgirl. It seems that feminine moves are woven into the fabric itself.

It would sure seem to solve a lot of problems with body image in this country, and might deal a body blow (so to speak http://www.boytoy.com/forums/public/style_emoticons/default/rolleyes.gif) to the so-called fashion industry.

 

I like the femininity of the sari, too.

 

But in our culture, many women of all sizes want to display their bodies in a tasteful way. They just want clothes that flatter them rather than emphasize the awkward parts. Brands that target women of a particular body type and develop with cuts that flatter that type (e.g. the Little Bra Company) will always do well.

[+ quoththeraven]

I like saris, too. I wore one for a play I was in. But they are really only made for warm weather and their length makes them impractical if you have to walk up any stairs. When going up stairs, I wind up holding long skirts up one-handed so I don't step on the hem and trip. And there is a certain sameness to sari design that doesn't allow for the kind of personal expression Western women are used to.

 

Certain brands work better than others. For example, Lee Rider jeans fit me much better than Levis. And as FF mentions, someone with fit issues can have their clothes tailored for them or, as I do, buy off the rack and have them altered as needed.

[+ quoththeraven]

Damn it. Also meant to say that Diane von Furstenberg wrap dresses, which originated in the 70s, looked good on most figures and were practical as well. I don't know how high the sizes on them went back in the day, but now that DVF has restarted her business, sizes for wrap dresses go up to size 14.

[+ FreshFluff]

as I do, buy off the rack and have them altered as needed.

 

Oh, I use the tailor for alterations too. But at some point, they're basically remaking the garment.