The fashion industry is still working its way to real size inclusivity, but it undoubtedly played a major role in shifting toward more body positivity in the media ― and among those who consume it.
In 2016, there were champions of body positivity starring in major campaigns and magazine covers and wearing store-bought awards show dresses instead of conforming to strict sample sizes.
Because we could all use a reminder of some of the good things that happened this year, check out 11 body positive moments in fashion below.
1. Ashley Graham's history-making Sports Illustrated Swimsuit issue.
Graham's February cover marked the first time a plus-size model headlined the hotly anticipated Swimsuit Issue, leading the way for her incredibly fruitful year ahead.
2. Bryce Dallas Howard calls out the industry for its lack of options.
Howard revealed in January that she often buys her own dresses at department stores instead of borrowing from sample-size-loving designers, so that she can choose from "lots of options for a size 6, as opposed to maybe one option." She both won the hearts of women everywhere and pointed out how truly size-exclusive fashion can be.
3. Christian Siriano's Spring 2017 runway show.
The designer is a longtime advocate of inclusivity and champion of great style for women of all shapes and sizes. He further proved that there's a place for varied bodies on the runway when he cast five plus-size models in his show at New York Fashion Week.
4. The All Woman Project.
Co-founded by models Clementine Desseaux and Charli Howard, this empowering campaign was organized to shake up the industry standards of beauty and offer up new role models for underrepresented women.
5. Jasmine Tookes' unretouched Fantasy Bra photos.
The news that Tookes is the third black woman ever chosen to wear the elaborate bra was cause for celebration, but this behind-the-scenes image released by the brand, proudly featuring the model's stretch marks, was the icing on the body positive cake.
6. Refinery29's 67% Project.
Refinery29 launched an initiative back in September to more accurately represent the "67 percent of women who identify as 'plus-size'" in its online content. It partnered with Getty Images to roll out a series of inclusive stock images and committed to featuring more diversity on the site moving forward.
7. Self Magazine's final print issue.
Self cast self-love champion and curvy model Iskra Lawrence as its final cover star, leaving a lasting visual message and reminder that health is not one-size-fits-all.
8. This awe-inspiring take on the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show.
This video, in which women of all shapes and sizes stripped down to their underwear and recreated the VS show in front of friends and colleagues, was super empowering ― plus it just looked plain fun.
