Nike expanding Athletic wear to Plus Sizes
Nike now offers plus size options…and I am ECSTATIC!
Women’s clothing has always been a controversial topic. From a male controlled industry to fellow female haters, plus size fashion has gone through the gambit of opposition. Today’s shopping experience has diversified, from the old model of shopping in huge department stores to that of single interest stores to the plethora of online shopping options. And while online shopping is great, it does not afford the shopper the ability to try on items in the here and now.
Plus Size Athletic Wear
Plus size women have faced the problem for years, being shunned from stores, or given little to no buying options. Stores would often run a select few options in plus size, most of which were basic and un-colorful. When compared with colorful prints and interesting on-trend options in straight sizes, plus shoppers were often dissatisfied, leaving the store without making a purchase. This caused many stores to say that plus shoppers weren’t interested in shopping fashion trends, when in reality the options were so limited it was hard for plus shoppers to form an opinion of a particular store, much less find something beyond a white tee-shirt and jeans to fit their individual style.
Today the average American Woman comfortably wears size 16, I say comfortably because depending on the brand many of us could squeeze into a 14. Don’t take my word for it, the National Health and Nutritional Examination Surveys, reported a 2.5-inch increase in waist size of American Women to the average of a Misses 16-18.
Athletic Wear and Swim Wear were in even worse shape. The main misconceptions, holding that plus-size women didn’t work out -duh, if they did, they wouldn’t be plus size- and that plus women don’t want to wear anything too revealing, any swimsuit -beyond a one piece- is a bad investment. These plus myths have been debunked — in a big way!
Plus Athletic wear has expanded in ways that wear unthinkable merely a few years ago. Today plus women aren’t shamed at the gym and forced to wear huge tee-shirts which are often made of cotton and absorb and hold liquids, i.e. sweat, making workouts uncomfortable. Now breathable fabrics are available with fun designs, from a major designer! Nike one of the largest athletic wear stores has hit the nail on the head with this decision.
Nike has just launched expanded sizing, with bras up to 38E. Now, this isn’t the end all be all, as stopping at 38E still excludes a significant portion of the plus population… but its a start. And sometimes a start is all you can ask for.
Love,
Curvy Queen V
