The Everyday Style School: Plus Size Style Advice with Katie Winnen

Release Date: July 25, 2024

In this empowering episode of The Everyday Style School, host Jennifer Mackey Mary sits down with plus size style expert Katie Winnen to discuss practical and uplifting fashion advice tailored for plus size women. The conversation delves into the nuances of plus size fashion, the challenges faced by plus size individuals, and actionable tips to enhance personal style and self-confidence.

1. Guest Introduction: Katie Winnen

Jennifer introduces Katie Winnen, a seasoned personal stylist specializing exclusively in plus size fashion. Katie's journey into the fashion world is deeply personal, rooted in her lifelong experiences as a plus size woman. With a degree in fashion merchandising from the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York City and over five years working with a plus size fashion company, Katie combines formal education with firsthand experience to advocate for inclusivity and confidence in the plus size community.

2. Understanding Plus Size: Definitions and Terminologies

Defining Plus Size: Katie clarifies that plus sizes typically start around a size 14 and up, often labeled as 0x or 1x, distinguishing them from standard sizing like XL. She emphasizes that plus size bodies are diverse, with varying proportions and weight distributions, making consistent fit a significant challenge across different brands.

“Plus size bodies can be so diverse… their proportions and the way their weight is distributed.” [10:45]

Curvy vs. Plus Size: The discussion transitions to the terminology used to describe body sizes. Jennifer expresses her discomfort with the term "curvy" as a euphemism for plus size, arguing that it often implies an “acceptable” body shape, typically favoring an hourglass figure.

“I hate the term curvy as a euphemism for plus size.” [14:28]

Katie shares her preference for "plus size" while acknowledging that individuals should use the terms they feel most comfortable with. She also touches on reclaiming the term "fat" in a neutral, descriptive manner.

“Personally, I stick with plus size. That feels like that works for me.” [14:44]

3. Challenges in Plus Size Fashion

Fit and Consistency: Katie highlights the inconsistencies in fit across different plus size brands, noting that even within the same brand, sizes can vary significantly between styles.

“Fit is so layered and complicated when it comes to plus sizes.” [10:45]

Limited Shopping Options: Both Jennifer and Katie discuss the scarcity of physical stores catering to plus size women, with limited options often forcing reliance on online shopping. This limitation complicates the shopping experience, making it time-consuming and emotionally taxing.

“When you're a plus size person, you know that there are very limited places that you can go into to shop.” [21:20]

Representation Issues: Katie emphasizes the lack of accurate body representation in plus size fashion marketing. She points out that many plus size brands use models who do not authentically represent the diverse plus size bodies they aim to serve.

“Even Torrid is supposed to be for us, and still not seeing our body shapes and sizes accurately represented.” [24:02]

4. Brands Excelling in Plus Size Fashion

Katie shares her top picks for brands that offer stylish and well-fitting plus size clothing:

• Universal Standard: Lauded for its size inclusivity, offering up to size 40 with thoughtfully engineered fits and comfortable fabrics.

• Nettle Studios: A Bay Area-based brand offering minimal to vibrant styles, accommodating sizes up to 5X.

• New Works: Known for bold colors and unique prints, collaborating with artists to create limited batch patterns.

• Friday Flamingo: A New Zealand-based company offering up to size 30, known for beautiful dresses and skirts suitable for various occasions.

• Jewelry Brands: Schweit Designs and Zaleska Jewelry are highlighted for their plus size-friendly rings and adjustable necklaces, addressing the common challenge of finding appropriately sized jewelry.

“Universal Standard offers sizes up to a size 40… they really care.” [32:48]

5. Common Style Mistakes Plus Size Women Make

Katie identifies two prevalent mistakes:

1. Mirroring Others’ Styles: Many plus size women emulate others' styles instead of exploring and developing their own unique fashion preferences. This can stem from limited early opportunities to experiment with personal style.

   “Mirroring somebody else's style so closely that you're not really giving yourself room to explore your own personal style.” [37:10]

2. Dressing Only for Trends: Relying solely on current fashion trends can lead to a continuously shifting wardrobe that doesn’t reflect personal style or needs, often resulting in unnecessary expenses and wardrobe dissatisfaction.

   “Only dressing for trends… it can be wasteful to constantly be like, you know, updating your wardrobe.” [37:10]

6. Reasons Women Seek Styling Help

Jennifer and Katie discuss why plus size women seek professional styling:

• Shopping Assistance: Finding brands and styles that fit personal preferences and budgets is a primary reason. The limited availability of stylish plus size options makes professional guidance invaluable.

  “I need help with shopping… knowing more brands and options outside of those core places.” [40:43]

• Personal Style Development: Many clients struggle to identify and develop their personal style due to past limitations in fashion choices.

  “Understanding what your personal style is and what you're drawn to.” [40:43]

7. Encouraging Self-Acceptance and Style Investment

The conversation addresses the detrimental mindset that plus size women need to change their bodies to deserve stylish clothing. Both hosts advocate for embracing one’s current body and investing in personal style as a form of self-love, rather than a concession to societal pressures.

“You are absolutely deserving of that… you are not the problem in that situation.” [43:24]

Katie emphasizes the importance of shifting self-perception and disconnecting from negative external messaging that devalues plus size bodies.

“You are deserving of feeling wonderful and beautiful… you are not the problem.” [58:45]

8. Actionable Style Tips for Plus Size Women

Katie shares practical advice for enhancing personal style:

1. Follow Inclusive Style Creators: Engage with plus size influencers and style creators who inspire and represent diverse body types.

   “Start following people who either have a similar body shape and type to you… or different body types to understand the variety of styles.” [54:00]

2. Curate Your Social Media Feed: Unfollow or mute accounts that negatively impact self-esteem and follow those that uplift and inspire.

   “Unfollow people who are making you feel bad about yourself… ideally, the people that you're following make you feel better.” [54:00]

3. Experiment with Personal Style: Allocate time to play and experiment with different outfits to discover what feels authentic and enjoyable.

   “Give yourself like an hour a week to put on outfits… just something that I can be creative with.” [54:00]

4. Build Style as a Skill: Recognize that personal style can be developed and strengthened over time, similar to building a muscle.

   “Personal style is a skill and a muscle… you can learn and you can get better at it.” [54:00]

9. Conclusion and Connecting with Katie Winnen

As the episode wraps up, Katie encourages listeners to embrace their beauty and invest in their style journey without waiting for external validation or changes in body size. Jennifer affirms the importance of loving oneself and highlights the societal pressures that undermine self-worth.

For those seeking personalized styling support, Katie is accessible on Instagram and TikTok under the handle @katieiswinnin, where she shares style content and offers personalized styling services.

Key Takeaways

• Embrace Your Body: Style is an expression of self-love and should be celebrated regardless of size.

• Seek Inclusive Brands: Support and invest in brands that prioritize fit, comfort, and diversity in their plus size offerings.

• Develop Personal Style: Dedicate time to explore and cultivate a style that reflects your unique personality and preferences.

• Curate Positive Influences: Surround yourself with positive and inspiring style creators who uplift and represent diverse plus size bodies.

This insightful episode serves as a valuable resource for plus size women seeking to enhance their style and build confidence through fashion. By addressing the unique challenges and offering practical solutions, Jennifer and Katie empower listeners to embrace their individuality and feel beautiful every day.