Frustrated NY Blogger Creates #MakeMySize

Fed up with the clothing industry not meeting the needs of the plus size community, a community that makes up 67% of women in the U.S, blogger Katie Sturino decided to spark a movement on social media to encourage brands to make larger sizes.

Sturino is the mind behind the blog “The 12ish Style”, which she refers to as a place for plus size girls “living in a size 2 world”. The New York City based blogger took to Instagram to see if she was the only one fed up with the industry’s absence of catering to the plus size market.

In an Instagram poll, the blogger found a whopping 97% of her followers agreed with her. She decided to sit quiet no longer, and created a movement on Instagram that she dubs the #MakeMySize Movement. Basically, she asked her followers to join her in posting “frustrated fitting room selfies” and tagging the brand to make their size.

“While I applaud brands who are making changes to include more sizes, I’m going to see if we can work together to let other designers know that they have a whole demographic that wants to shop,” Sturino wrote on her Instagram page.

You guys, I can’t stop!!! I’ve hit my limit with designers who don’t consider my body type! Please post your frustrated fitting room selfies and the styles you wish were available to you with the #MakeMySize hashtag…they are listening…let them know❤️ (these are @frame jeans size 32/XL/14) PS: thought I’d give you a break from my bra being exposed😂 PS if you want jeans that DO fit check out my @jcrew post! They go up to a 37!

A post shared by Katie Sturino (@the12ishstyle) on Aug 23, 2018 at 5:17am PDT

According to Refinery 29, some brands have actually reached out to the blogger via Instagram, commenting about their reasons as to why they haven’t been plus size inclusive. Some have even contacted Sturino to have a sit down meeting to discuss what they can do to fix the problem.

Other brands had no such initiative. Sturino posted a photo of a cheetah print wrap dress by the brand Alice + Olivia with the #MakeMySize tag and a brief description of her experience trying on the dress. The brand’s response was less than satisfactory and caused a controversy in the comments.

“As a brand we take a lot of pride in designing for and making clothes for a variety of body types,” the brand’s Instagram account wrote, “But not every dress can be made to fit everybody… It comes in a blouse and as a skirt which can be better options for women who are more voluptuous on top.”

#MakeMySize @aliceandolivia 🍒🐆 I love this leopard wrap dress and I’d love to wear it in my size. Let’s let designers know we want to wear their clothes too. Use the #makemysize when you want to let ‘Em know!!

A post shared by Katie Sturino (@the12ishstyle) on Aug 15, 2018 at 12:08pm PDT

Multiple accounts shared their disappointment with Alice + Olivia’s response. People were disheartened with the way the brand felt obligated to conserve their image, one user commenting, “This conversation isn’t about having a more voluptuous top. It’s that your clothes are not options for the majority of women because of the size.”

Sturino will continue on with her movement, facilitating it on her own Instragram and following through with the #MakeMySize Movement. She hopes to encourage brands to finally cater to that ignored 67% of the market.