The fashion industry regularly receives criticism that it creates unrealistic body expectations for women by only focusing on one body type — one that is typically built very thin.
But what if all that was different? What if the runways featured women of all shapes, sizes, colors, and backgrounds? What might that look like? We got a glimpse of that future on designer Sophie Theallet's Fall 2016 runway. Theallet cast plus size model Candice Huffine to appear in her fashion show wearing a black bodysuit and a bedazzled sheer dress.
"It was an amazing night! I'm still a little speechless," Candice tells Teen Vogue over the phone the day after her major runway moment. "It was so magical."
Candice has been breaking barriers left and right, from appearing on Vogue Italia's curvy cover in 2011 to becoming the first plus size model to appear in the Pirelli Calendar. She tells us all about how her turn on the runway came about, and more importantly, why it matters.
Teen Vogue: You've worked with Sophie before. How did this come about?
C.H.: I have a great relationship with Sophie. We originally met working for Lane Bryant because she does a beautiful collaboration with them doing lingerie. During one of the shoots, she wanted to use me for her first campaign, just to make a huge statement out of the gate. The conversations we always have with each other are about the celebration of women, and she's always like, "I don't care what size anyone is!" There are no rules. She just likes to showcase a woman the way she wants to — she's not doing it to shock you or make some huge statement, she just loves celebrating women the way they deserve to be. I feel very lucky that she chose me for that.
From there, we discussed the first show, which was for the September season, and she made me a dress for that, and now here we are at part two. I think it's great, it's not a one time deal. It's like I've been saying for a long time, the curvy girls or girls that are different from what we've been seeing, it's normal now. This is not just done on a one off. I know that we're here for good, and coming back for the second show is total proof of that.
TV: Whenever this comes up with other designers, the reasoning is that they have to make clothing in sample sizings, but Sophie found a way to make it work.
C.H.: It can be done! Does it take more work? Yes. I went in for a lot of fittings, because this dress was specially made to my body, which is measurements unlike any they had in the showroom. But she wanted me in the show, she made it happen. It's definitely possible. These shows get planned months in advance, if you wanted to take into consideration a girl who is a different size it definitely can be done.
I think we've seen a lot of curves on the runway last season and this season. This was the next one to happen — the magazine is covered, media is curves as far as the eye can see, it was always the runway that was always a bit unconquered until now.
TV: As a plus size model, do you feel any different backstage?
C.H.: Absolutely not! I know that I'm deserving of being there, I know I'm a great model just like the other girls there, and everyone is really lovely. There's never been separation, not even on an editorial shoot. No matter how high fashion the job or iconic the team is or the publication, regardless of any of that I've never been treated differently, ever.
We're just in a really great time in fashion right now. Everyone is into the celebration of differences. It's "The more is merrier," and that's beautiful. There's no more sameness, and that's what's interesting in fashion.
TV: What kind of feedback have you been getting?
C.H.: Really super positive, great feedback. That's always been the case and that's what I've been trying to shout from the mountaintops: If you just go for it and do something new and different, you will always get a positive response. Women just want to see a variety of women, because that's how we're made! We're all unique, we're all very proud of that, and it's great when women have a lot of people to identify with or look up to. It's always positive. It's an incredible feeling.
TV: What would it have meant to you growing up or starting out modeling if you had seen women like you on the runway?
C.H.: It would be really awesome. I think we like to say the iconic supermodels of the '90s were a bit curvier than what we see on runways lately. They always looked super happy, super strong and fit, and they were great role models to look at. Would it have been nice to see someone like me up there as well? One hundred percent, and I'm glad we are able to change that for the next generation.
I think it's so important — it's steps like this that take away that girl going to school and feeling like she can't totally be herself because she's so worried about how she looks or not looking like what she thinks she's supposed to. I hope that all these little steps are making the right changes for people.
TV: What's the next step so that this becomes the standard?
C.H.: Just more and more, no backing down. I think in the past couple of years the curvy community, designers, and magazines have all taken a really great stand at committing to showcasing diversity and different body types. Us models have taken on this responsibility of being an active role model and spreading our message as well, and it's getting heard. We have a lot of platforms to speak on.
It's great that we can have conversations like this because it just continuing on this path going forward. Yes, it's taken a while for us to get here, but look how far we've come, look at the huge leaps and bounds we've made. The sky's the limit really — I can't say what's next, but I imagine it's all great things in the right direction.
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