Another Side of Urban Fashion: The Plus Size World

Article written by: SoJones Asmara
Posted on: June 2, 2009

Often overlooked, even unmentioned, but produced and worn by the (literally) biggest names in the game: plus size apparel. Unlike your usual upscale mainstream labels which have been cynically referred to as ‘unfriendly to curves’, major urban fashion brands such as Rocawear, Apple Bottoms, Sean John, COOGI, Baby Phat, Dereon and LRG have acknowledge the existence of American heavyweights’ right to fashion.

The latest news heard from the plus-size fashion world is rapper Rick Ross’ plan to create a plus-size clothing line. As he told Rap-Up.com:

“I would just love to target a big and tall audience. A lot of times, big dudes can’t walk in these stores and get these sizes of the fly sh*. So I’d love to put something together just for the big guys.”

Ross also mentioned his participation in helping up and coming designers.

“I’ve endorsed one or two fashion lines before for some little dudes in Miami, just showing them love. Luxury Tax, I actually gave [that] name to one of my homeboys from Haiti and helped him out with that. And another one called Foreign Lavish.”

Rick Ross’ upcoming plus size clothing line will have to compete with other players in the men’s urban clothing department. There’s COOGI, originally an Australian label, which had made its standing as one of the most solid urban brands after the legendary Notorious B.I.G. rapped about staying COOGI down to the socks in his hit “Big Poppa”. B.I.G. who lived up to his name in clothing sizes, consistently rocked COOGI in his performances as well as daily life.

Another from the plus size men’s department, LRG is also still loudly kicking it with its Big and Tall collection and sticking true to its vision: to be a company designed to overthrow the masses by their influence. And the masses are getting bigger, hence their size 5XL availability.

Unlike the men’s big and tall lines which are mostly popular due to the persona fronting them -much like seeing blatant advertising on huge billboards, the most successful women’s plus-size lines (although not their main line) are ironically designed and produced by non-plus size women, such as Beyonce’s Dereon and Kimora Lee Simmons’ Baby Phat.

Queen Latifah on the other hand can actually wear her Curvation line, but so far it has received a lukewarm reception from the consumers. Apple Bottoms continues to create new and stylish fashion products based on Nelly’s vision which applies to all women of all sizes: “A woman should not try to fit the clothes; the clothes should fit the woman,” and the brand consistently delivers quality plus-size women’s attire.

Below are some of SoJones-approved plus-size wear.

LRG Deviant Jacket

COOGI Koala Denim Jeans

Baby Phat Button Down Halter Dress

Dereon Eye Candy Boot Cut Jeans