What comes to your mind when you think about viral fashion trends on TikTok? There’s Jean’s Alexa dress made of terry cloth and ruched, which has been viewed over 10 million times on TikTok. The House of Sunny’s Good Vibrations Dress is also available. It’s a follow-up of the London-based brand’s Hockney Dress, which was another viral hit! There are many other options. These garments are beloved by many for their ability to make an outfit, draw compliments and create the right mood. It’s a shame that they don’t come in extended sizes.
Callie Richards (33-year-old Los Angeles-based creator of TikTok) said, “When I see a trend in fashion on TikTok there’s a good possibility I can’t participate because my size doesn’t include.” @hotpinkandglitter has more than 342,000 followers. Richards decided to boycott brands that do not offer sizes beyond 3X. “Even though I follow a lot of plus creators, it’s still shocking how many things I can’t take part in because they don’t have true plus-sizes.”
Richards believes the problem isn’t with brands who market themselves only to customers wearing straight sizes. Richards finds these less problematic. Her problem is with brands who claim to be size-inclusive, or use marketing techniques on TikTok to suggest that they have plus-sizes. Richards said that she receives DMs from brands asking for review samples. Richards replied, “Yes, we can send you leggings up to XXL.” “I am always like, Bestie, that is not exciting. It’s not the average size of American women so it’s absolutely not.”
Monique Francisca, a Seattle-based blogger and fashion designer, founded The Chic Edit. We spoke with 41-year-old The Chic Edit about how disappointing it was to shop a trend on TikTok which does not include plus-sizes. Francis stated that if a brand advertises itself on TikTok as being size-inclusive, it can lead someone who is a 2X or larger to visit their website to discover that they only sell up until XL. “If you want to make it clear that you are inclusive, then offer more sizes.”
Creators are working to counter the bait-and switch. Richards said, “I was once asked by a viewer if I could put the size range on my TikToks cover photo.” “It could help uderstanding the range before going to the store.”
Unfairly taking down creators’ content is another issue. According to Nikki Garza (26), a TikTok creator from Atlanta, the algorithm puts plus-sized bodies at a disadvantage because they get flagged so frequently. We spoke to Garza about her frustration at being flagged by TikTok for inappropriate content or nudity when she wears swimwear or clothing that shows skin. Garza stated, “Every time that I am in a swimsuit even before it posts, my videos are considered for at least twenty minutes.” “Once the video posts, it will be flagged as adult content in a matter of hours.”
Although her appeals for her videos to be reposted are often successful, the additional work of having to go through this process while her straight-sized counterparts don’t is frustrating. Garza stated that it is a deterrent to making content. “All I want to do is live in my body, be proud of it, and also show that to others, and TikTok keeps me down.”
Brianna McDonnell (29), a Los Angeles-based creator, discussed a case in which a video she had posted was incorrectly flagged as “sexual content” by her TikTok. Many among her 27,000 followers shared similar stories: “I believe that every single plus-size creator has had a video wrongfully taken down,” McDonnell says. McDonnell stated that fat TikTok creators are being suppressed by having to fight for their content.
A TikTok spokesperson stated that the app doesn’t restrict content based on body size or ability. “We constantly take steps to strengthen and promote body acceptance.” TikTok claims that it “strives for a community where everyone is welcome and comfortable expressing their true selves.”
Many plus-creators have decided to produce less content due to additional roadblocks in content creation. This reduces the number of plus-size fashion trends on the platform and perpetuates the idea that straight-size fashion is more fashionable.
Despite these barriers, a few size-inclusive trends have seen enormous success on TikTok, including SKIMs’ Long Lounge Slip Dress, available in sizes XS to 4X, Selkie’s Puff dress, which runs from XXS to 5X, The Undress by Girlfriend Collective, available in sizes XXS-5X. These viral items will help you amplify their success and other plus-size fashion trends. While you’re there, why not make a TikTok about all of it?
