Can This Event Change LFW’s Attitude Toward Plus-Size Fashion?

Remember back in '09 and '10 when Mark Fast made headlines by sending size 12 and 14 models, including Crystal Renn, down the London Fashion Week catwalk in knitted bodycon creations? Us, too. But, since then, a lot has changed, but perhaps not quite as we'd hoped: Renn has lost a lot of weight and Fast has reverted to employing sample-sized models to show off his wares.

Which is why we're thrilled to find out that fashion boutique Trapped in a Skinny World and Evolve magazine have announced the launch of The Official London Plus Size Fashion Weekend. Running in tandem with London Fashion Week, the event takes place February 15 and 16 and will see international designers, speakers, models, and retailers joining forces to showcase their collections for plus-sized women, aiming to "enhance, educate, empower, and support."

Anything that inspires style beyond the confines of size zero has got to be a good thing. But — as Mark, Crystal, et al have already shown — the fashion industry is a complex beast. Is this event enough to shift the ingrained skinny catwalk thinking? Perhaps not; but showcasing full-figure fashion alongside mainstream fashion is definitely a strut in the right direction. (The Huffington Post)