The Real Challenges Plus-Size Fashion Will Still Face in 2025

For years, the fashion industry has been justifiably critiqued for its lack of inclusivity, especially around plus-size clothing. While we have certainly seen advances in extended size offerings, plus-size fashion weeks, and visibility from more influencers, we still have a long road ahead to true inclusivity.

In 2025, we have the loudest conversation yet around size diversity. However, for many shoppers the daily experience still resonates with the same frustrations they have felt for years. Let’s break down the persistent issues still framing the plus-size shopping experience — and what it’s going to take for us to move from performative inclusion to actual inclusion.

Limited Styles That Aren’t Really That Stylish

One of the greatest complaints is still not moving forward: a major lack of stylish options. Some brands have begin to offer extended sizes, but to many, their plus-size lines still feel like an after-thought. The designs are still overly basic, and have fewer colorways, on-trend styles and playful details.

Furthermore, plus-size shoppers are not asking for “flattering” shapeless silhouettes, they demand the same freedom of expression that straight-size consumers are offered. If the fashion of today is about self-identity, the idea that there is an “ideal” or that one style fits all, does not hold in 2025.

Courtesy of Canva

Where Are The Clothes In-Store?

Closer to the time, while many major retailers may offer inclusive sizing online, they disappoint in-store. Most stores now carry very little in-store, and mostly less than a size 16 at the very most, relegating shoppers to the back, the upstairs, or for that matter completely online. For brick and mortars shoppers, this is discouraging: “Your body is not part of our vision”. It is more than just an inconvenience: it is something that, if considering shopping exclusion that can actually be felt.

The Internet Shopping Gamble

Sure, the internet allows more access to plus-size fashion – but it does not make it easy. More recent, we’re still risking our dollars for the sheer gamble of it all – to the point where product images often do not even use plus size models, that size charts with brand to brand vary, and rarely do return policies offer some leniency to plus sizes in terms of returns.

In 2025, people are expecting better: real people wearing real clothes – not a size 4 and a model stretched version of a garment that does not offer the same characteristics for larger bodies as well. This is the piece that continues to make online shopping feel more like gambling and guessing.

The Endless ‘Fat Tax’

The “fat tax” – aka, higher prices of goods for plus-size items – is still a problem. Brands will always say it costs more to make, but shoppers feel like a penalty for body size is discrimination.

Even in 2025, some sales and discount codes completely exclude plus-sizes. While this creates a price gap, it also creates a perception gap that larger bodies are not worthy of fashion equity and affordability.

Representation is Still Not the Norm

This year’s larger fashion weeks paint a shocking picture: plus-size models accounted for less than 1% of runway time.

There are still examples of names like Paloma Elsesser and Precious Lee that are advancing the edge, however, we still do not see the industry move beyond a static definition of beauty.

With lack of consistent representation the message is simple – thinness still sells, inclusivity is optional. When the fashion world, fails to include diversity within the brands it represents, fashion misses the entire point of style.

Shopping as a shame-based proposition

If you heard the same story from many shoppers – being taken to the hidden plus-size section far from the main fashion floor, it would start to sound like a bad joke. In some retailers, it is so shamful the only way to get plus-size clothing is to speak to a customer service rep or login to an online kiosk. This does not happen through tired design, this is exclusion by design. In 2025 we hope for more. To feel welcomed, empowered and designed for all bodies, not just some.

From the Designers Side: Real Barriers, Real Solutions

Size inclusive fashion design is not as simple as adding size to a pattern. It is about cutting, using multiple fit models, and developing distinct workflows for production sometimes completely. There are real complexities that require time, money and skilled craftsman.

But, to play devils advocate, there is a $700 billion dollar approximated plus size market globally. Plus size is not niche. It is a massive opportunity. Brands that claim it is “too difficult” to design for these consumers are ignoring many fundamental tenets: this consumer is massively underserved and under-represented; and they are eager to be loyal to brands that show that they are actually represented and seen.

A gap in education is still prohibiting the pipeline

There continues to be a gap in most fashion schools preparing students to design for all varieties of body types. While some have introduced inclusive design programs, the vast, vast majority are still behind.

The lack of knowledge means there are now graduates who have poorly trained their minds and body to create for anything other than a sample size. If we hope to impact change on a systemic level, as design educators we will focus on knowledge, skill and empathy.

The emergence of the plus size influencer movement

One major change in 2025? Plus size influencers have emerged as tastemakers. They are wielding their powerful voices to make style, trends, defining tokenism, and showing us what inclusive fashion actually looks like and feels like.

This is more than just representation, it is leadership. They are demonstrating that style is NOT defined by size, and forcing brands to rethink their own out-of-date notions around marketability, and beauty.

Where do we go from here?

There is change happening, but it is still too slow, and piecemeal, and reliant on a few progressive voices. In order for size inclusivity to be the industry norm, instead of the exception, the fashion industry must stop treating it like a tick-in-the-box.

Fashion must proactively and directly plant the idea of including size options in every collection – not just pulling out a separate category. It must hire a diverse body of consumers for not just its campaigns but its creative teams, executive boards, runways, etc. It must build stores and websites where everyone feels free to enter.

Fashion can be a reflection, or it can be a barrier. In 2025, there has never been a better time to decide.