Marina Kamenskaya, a stylist from Russia, joined forces with her friends and colleagues to explore how companies make the same clothes for different women.
Marina represents size XL while the slim girls who collaborated with her on the project wear size XS. Together, they tried out a variety of outfits, including shirts, dresses, and shirt dresses. Interestingly, there were quite a few differences. Most notably, the length of some of the dresses and trousers.
They also took photos of the entire process and posted them online, asking people to share their opinions and tell which versions look better and why. "We've had an interesting game of contrasts!" Marina wrote, adding that no insults are welcome. "We are all different, but everyone wants to dress [up the way they like] and look beautiful. Let's discuss clothing and how it fits. I don't care about nasty things...so let's be tolerant!"
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When Marina was little, she wanted to become a sorceress, so she could turn everything around her into beauty. But if she were to point out the beginning of her fashion journey, she thinks it happened at the age of 11. That's when she got into fashion magazines and TV shows. "It's also when I learned how to dress," she told Bored Panda. "Later, I began talking to my friends about it and we would pick our clothes together."
At first, Marina ended up in an office job and even though she was thinking about becoming a stylist, she was afraid of the uncertainty surrounding this career. However, eventually, her calling proved to be too strong and the woman made what she now calls her most important decision — she quit her job to chase her dream. And she achieved it.
"Now, I live in Rostov-on-Don, and women contact me to choose their clothes for work, various events, and even to build them a whole wardrobe from scratch," Marina said. "To do these things, I go shopping with them and help them buy what they like and what suits them. This year, more and more women began contacting me from all over the world, so I began helping them to make the same decisions online, too."
A lot of the XL vs. XS comparisons were made in ZARA. Marina said she made this choice because when she works with women of non-standard sizes larger than L, she often hears from them that they stay away from clothing chains like ZARA, thinking that they won't find anything in their size there. "There's also the prevailing idea that clothing only looks good on slim women. As a size XL woman myself, thanks to this title, I’d like to show that style is not dependent on size. Also, while some pieces suit larger sizes the best, others look equally good in the smallest and largest sizes."
"I really like that ZARA has expanded its range, with many pieces available up to XXL," Marina added. "Clients appreciate the company for its interesting styles and latest seasonal trends. Plus, you can dress from head to toe in this store's clothing and show the client a ready-to-wear look. And rather than judging sizes, I choose clothing for clients based on internal and external factors. I would really like for plus-sized women to leave behind their complexes about their size and enjoy life every day! And to treat themselves to beautiful clothes."
Nice on both, lovely style, but the fabric looks a bit cheap.
It’s pretty, but this one makes their point loud and clear. Cookie cutter dresses designed on size 0-4 dress form can’t just have fabric added to them to fit larger sizes. Some designers do design for XL + bodies, most do not.
Now I’m a large women, so I can speak on the subject I feel without being politically incorrect. God knows we don’t want that! Actually, I don’t give a damn, but larger women do not always automatically look good in the same style as small women. Sorry, simple fact. People will say nice things, and we thank you for that, but people really don’t want to see our rolls bouncing, or our backside jiggling (well, there are those kind). Don’t get me wrong, we can dress stylish and be damn classy, but we can’t, and shouldn’t, just think we can wear anything smaller women do and pull it off. Me personally? Belly fat, I’m tall, legs still nice, but I do not wear tucked in shirts. Never looks good on me. See, it’s ok to say it, planet is still revolving.
Lord, what a horrible dress ! The top looks better on the girl on the left, but it's unflattering below the waist on BOTH of them, I feel. It shows every bump and bone, just dreadful !
The dress is horrible, bad quality fabric, wouldn't look good in anyone. The 2 girls are very pretty!!
Not. Too tight for the larger lady. Boobs are too loose on the skinny one.
Not flattering on either of them and I think it's just plain ugly. But the way it fits across the larger lady (and I apologize for saying this) makes it look like she's not wearing panties and maybe forgot some "personal grooming". Can't not see it now, am I right?
UGLY DRESS ON BOTH, but the larger one accentuates way more than needed in the larger version
The XL lady looks better in some of he outfits, and the XS lady looks better un others. It's a question of choosing whatever fits you best. Both are beautiful women.
I really don't get the point of these. These are mass market clothes. Of course the fit is going to look different since everyone has different body shapes (not just size!).
The point is (if you read the article) - " Marina said she made this choice because when she works with women of non-standard sizes larger than L, she often hears from them that they stay away from clothing chains like ZARA, thinking that they won't find anything in their size there. "There's also the prevailing idea that clothing only looks good on slim women. As a size XL woman myself, thanks to this title, I’d like to show that style is not dependent on size. Also, while some pieces suit larger sizes the best, others look equally good in the smallest and largest sizes." " Also, mass market clothes follow a certain grading pattern. Every time you go a size up, they add 2-4 inches in every single measurement. Clothes are created in sample sizes which is usually an S. So when it's graded to an L or an XL, the accuracy is terrible because those inches don't add up well very often, especially if the garment has an unconventional fit.
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With ridiculous differences in sizes between brands, or even within the same brand, there are no "XS" or "XL" or "M" women. From some brands I wear XS, from others I wear L. I am a grown woman and I am fully aware of that and don't find it a problem. But the teenage girls being constantly pressured from all over the internet with "perfect" bodies may not handle that so well. Just adds to their insecurities.
I have the weirdest body type - I look chubby but my weight is right for my height! I can't find anything to suit me properly!
It's the body composition also that matters. Not only weight. Plus, the clothes sizes are ridiculous and vary between brands. And sometimes even within the same brand...
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What this should really highlight is how fashion won't cater for the population huge even though there's money in it. She chose ZARA because, unlike other stores, it carries XL. But what about women bigger than her? It must be obvious that there are loads of women bigger than her - some only slightly, some a lot. And yet these two woman represent the entire range of XS to XL.
honestly the outfit choices weren't the best but I do like the idea
That was a lot of not flattering clothes. That can be done so much better. Bad cuts on a lot.
The curvy lady looks better in most of the outfits but both are beautiful
Never understood how society puts up with the excessive price-gouging over the different sizes in clothes. I mean really, it's one inch of extra fabric per size.......and companies charge up to $20 extra per size. There is no reason for it.
The XL lady looks better in some of he outfits, and the XS lady looks better un others. It's a question of choosing whatever fits you best. Both are beautiful women.
I really don't get the point of these. These are mass market clothes. Of course the fit is going to look different since everyone has different body shapes (not just size!).
The point is (if you read the article) - " Marina said she made this choice because when she works with women of non-standard sizes larger than L, she often hears from them that they stay away from clothing chains like ZARA, thinking that they won't find anything in their size there. "There's also the prevailing idea that clothing only looks good on slim women. As a size XL woman myself, thanks to this title, I’d like to show that style is not dependent on size. Also, while some pieces suit larger sizes the best, others look equally good in the smallest and largest sizes." " Also, mass market clothes follow a certain grading pattern. Every time you go a size up, they add 2-4 inches in every single measurement. Clothes are created in sample sizes which is usually an S. So when it's graded to an L or an XL, the accuracy is terrible because those inches don't add up well very often, especially if the garment has an unconventional fit.
Load More Replies... With ridiculous differences in sizes between brands, or even within the same brand, there are no "XS" or "XL" or "M" women. From some brands I wear XS, from others I wear L. I am a grown woman and I am fully aware of that and don't find it a problem. But the teenage girls being constantly pressured from all over the internet with "perfect" bodies may not handle that so well. Just adds to their insecurities.
I have the weirdest body type - I look chubby but my weight is right for my height! I can't find anything to suit me properly!
It's the body composition also that matters. Not only weight. Plus, the clothes sizes are ridiculous and vary between brands. And sometimes even within the same brand...
Load More Replies... What this should really highlight is how fashion won't cater for the population huge even though there's money in it. She chose ZARA because, unlike other stores, it carries XL. But what about women bigger than her? It must be obvious that there are loads of women bigger than her - some only slightly, some a lot. And yet these two woman represent the entire range of XS to XL.
honestly the outfit choices weren't the best but I do like the idea
That was a lot of not flattering clothes. That can be done so much better. Bad cuts on a lot.
The curvy lady looks better in most of the outfits but both are beautiful
Never understood how society puts up with the excessive price-gouging over the different sizes in clothes. I mean really, it's one inch of extra fabric per size.......and companies charge up to $20 extra per size. There is no reason for it.
