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Trinny & Susannah: campaign for BIG GIRLS
By So Esteem Published: 29/09/2008
Fashion lovers Geraldine Wright and Vicky Thorpe were two of the women featured in the recent ITV series ‘Trinny & Susannah: Undress the Nation’. The episode called ‘Big Girls’ saw the style crusaders challenge major high street clothing retailers on the lack of choice and availability of fashionable plus-sizes.
Were you pleased that Trinny & Susannah were going to highlight the issue of plus-sizes?
VICKY: I was really pleased but also quite nervous - most of the shows featuring larger people are quite biased. I think it's about time someone redressed the balance.
GERALDINE: I was very pleased as we are often not seen as being part of the "norm", and are left out of many things. As I have said in the past " we exactly the same as everyone else...there's just a little bit more.
Do you think there is enough representation in the media of plus-size people?
VICKY: There is currently a lot of plus size people in the media but nearly all of it negative. Just look at programs like ‘The One Ton Man’, Too Fat to Toddle’, The Biggest Loser’ etc. All of them seem to portray obese people as people who sit on their behinds all day eating chips!
GERALDINE: Unfortunately, the media has made it seem that you should not be accepted if you are over a size 14.
How do you feel about your own body?
VICKY: Unlike the 'fat' characters on TV, I don't feel my weight defines me. Although I'm not happy with the way I look, I'm happy with my life in other ways so I don't look on it as a particularly big issue.
GERALDINE: I love my body, and I love and respect me. If I don't, then how can I expect anyone else too?
What did you think of the responses from the high street retailers?
VICKY: To be quite honest I thought the stores that did turn up where very respectful of what we were trying to show them and they took away lots of ideas so perhaps we will see some changes in stores. The producers later told us that some of the stores invited were quite rude with one even saying 'why on earth would we want to be involved with something like that?' Part of the show that was cut was particularly upsetting for me. Trinny, in her fat suit and I walked into a high-end high street store. Trinny told me that on a previous show they had approached this store to film in their shop and were told point blank they would not let their clothes be filmed on anyone over a size 10 (even though they go up to 16) as this would present the wrong image of their brand. I broke down in tears in the middle of the store. No-one should be made to feel like that.
GERALDINE: Some of the retailers were very helpful and sympathetic once we had shown them what we meant. I thought that those that did not attend the show showed us no respect at all.
Do you think there are enough plus size clothing brands in the UK?
VICKY: No. The simple truth is 80% of the stores on the high-street don't stock above a size 16/18. I'm sure every plus size woman has experienced the heartbreaking shopping trip. You walk down the high-street past most of the shops, not even bothering to go in as you know they do not stock your size and you head for the 5 or so shops that you ALWAYS go to.
GERALDINE: There are two points to this. The first is simply no, there are not enough and secondly, those that do, and do it well, only have their larger sizes in city stores, not in the provinces.
Would you prefer to have dedicated plus brands or for regular brands to just be scaled up in size?
VICKY: I don't think there is any need for specific plus size ranges. At the end of the day plus-size ladies want to wear the same as every other women.
GERALDINE: I am personally not worried. What you have to remember is that clothes that would suit a smaller sized lady, would not suit a larger lady, so simply making all regular brands larger would not necessarily work.
What did you think of the outfits that the young designers made for you?
VICKY: My dress was stunning! It made me feel sexy and showed off my best assets. I think it just goes to show that plus size ladies DO have a shape and it shouldn't be hidden away under a tent.
GERALDINE: I think that the girls found it difficult to make my evening dress having never been taught how to pattern cut for larger sizes. On the whole I think they did well.
Do you think the show achieved anything, if so what?
VICKY: I must admit I was quite surprised at the mixed reaction I got. Friends, family and most of the plus size women I have spoken to since are proud of what we did. However, I did get a lot of backlash saying we shouldn't be promoting plus size clothes as it's unhealthy to be obese and it was irresponsible programming. We all know being overweight is unhealthy; we're plus size not stupid! What a lot of people don’t understand is that being overweight is a self-esteem issue. If we can enable plus size women to look good then maybe some will feel good and that is half the battle!
GERALDINE: I think that the show made an impact for a short period of time....with an issue such as this; it needs to be kept in the limelight.
Photo Gallery - trinny&susannah
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