In case you hadn’t heard, the disconnect between fashion and sizing for women who don’t fit into sample sizes is neverending–so much so that trying to find a dress that’s formfitting and in the “designer” vein is almost impossible without making yourself feel like garbage. So here come designers Rodja Hoda of GatsbyLady, and they’re creating vintage-inspired clothing that is not only beautiful, but embraces all body types.
As of now, we’re lucky to get a few curvy retailers, but even that handful still doesn’t specialize in vintage clothing, which is its own niche market. Rodja’s clothing brings a certain sophistication, and attention to detail that is basically non-existent in fashion for curvy women—something we’ve all been aching for.
Speaking with Lindsay Matthews, publicist of GatsbyLady, and reading the press release, they put it this way, “Rodja started sewing and designing clothes when she was a little girl, working in factories and learning pattern making. After a handful of degrees and production experience she set out to make her own business instead of wasting her talent designing for people that she felt weren’t inclusive and representative of what she wanted to create.”
What sets GatsbyLady apart from some vintage inspired clothing at cheaper retailers or on Etsy is the quality of fabrics she uses in every piece. All of the beading and embellishments are done by hand with charismatic detailing from top to bottom. And look at this – she makes the dresses with a fitted silhouette—not a shapeless, oversized sack that even your grandmother wouldn’t wear, like most designers do when they design with curve in mind.
The best reason to pretend it’s the Jazz Age.
GatsbyLady has also made it a priority to work with curvy models like megababe Poppy Amelie, who’s frequently part of shows at the UK Plus Size Fashion Week and has opened for shows like Evan’s Clothing to Jane Watson. Poppy has helped promote their brand and prove to people that designing effortless, comfortable and stunning pieces for all women isn’t rocket science, and that if brands are smart, they would see that being inclusive should be automatic not a completely separate afterthought.
Marry us, and lend us some fly headgear please.
Currently, her line runs up to a 30 UK in sizing, with special pieces available in petite and tall measurements as well. And in a couple of weeks, she will be one of the few designers at Vancouver Fashion Week showing designs with curve in mind—like these dresses, bolero jackets and headbands that have that 1920s flapper look to make you look like you walked straight off The Great Gatsby set.
GatsbyLady’s show is also making a point to actually walk the talk and show models of all sizes at Vancouver Fashion Week, something a lot of designers who claim to be inclusive seem to think is only appropriate for slim models.
All photos courtesy of GatbsyLady
