What is Midsize Fashion & Why is it Trending on TikTok? (2024)
By Social Studies
Thought Leadership.Published .
If you made Emily Mariko’s leftover salmon recipe exactly one time in October 2021 and never thought about it again, you’re probably pretty familiar with the speed in which TikTok trends become omnipresent and then *poof* disappear, only to be replaced by another trend not long after. It’s far more obscure to witness a trend that sticks around for a significant amount of time, like the ongoing uplift around mid-size fashion.
Referring to the size range that’s not quite straight size (between 0-8) but also smaller than what’s conventionally known as plus size (which is 16 and up), mid-size fashion hits that spot right in the middle. Ranging between a size 10 and a 16, these individuals can find it hard to shop at some fast fashion stores and from most high-end designers, but they’re too small to fit into clothing from plus-only retailers. Which obviously makes it tricky to find clothing that fits—and what led to the hashtag #midsizefashion to start trending on TikTok in 2021.
As creator Madison Beltran, who is a size 12 and considers herself mid-size, puts it, “There are a few different definitions of this word. The way I see it is I put myself in the category of being too big for a size large and too small for the first plus-size.”
Now, nearly a year later, that hashtag is still trending. There are over 525 million videos on the app with that hashtag and this corner of the body positivity movement shows no sign of slowing down any time soon. Because while the average American woman falls somewhere between the sizes of 14 and 16, only 20% of the clothing market creates items that caters to those body sizes—not to mention there are very few mid-size celebrities in the mainstream and it’s a category often ignored by traditional media, including fashion magazines.
Remi Bader might be one of the most well-known champions of mid-size fashion. Best known as the beloved content creator who catapulted her hilarious (and relatable) try-on hauls into a full fledged career over the pandemic, her rise has led to major opportunities, like a modeling contract with Victoria’s Secret and a forthcoming clothing range with Revolve. Both of which haven’t quite had a great track record when it comes to designing for or marketing to curvy women. Remi rose to her current level of success because her videos were reaching the women who have felt stuck in the middle with their sizing. When they watch her content, they feel like they’re finally being seen and that they’re no longer misrepresented. In a way, Remi found a way to fill a hole in the current fashion market.
That one creator’s shopping hauls aside, mid-size fashion content runs the gamut. Some videos show realistic recreations of outfits first seen on Pinterest, while others offer tips on how to dress if you want to emphasize your best features and downplay the ones you feel less confident about.
Jess, also known as @midsizefashioninspo is kind of the queen of this type of content. With over 297K followers and a whopping 4.5 million likes, she’s created more videos about tummy flattering outfits than you even thought possible. And the comments section? It’s all mostly female commenters asking where to buy her skirt or top, sending a string of heart eye emojis and laying on the comments about how gorgeous she is.
Not only are these videos sharing styling tips and ‘fit ideas, but they’re also inspiring confidence—showing how to love your body. The reactions around some of the earliest videos in this space made it clear that there was a real interest and a need for this content. They could also see how clothing they saw online or in the window of stores finally looked on a body like theirs, since most models are either straight-size (and on the very small end) or truly plus-size. With this spiral of viral content, they now have a trusted source to turn to when searching for outfit inspiration, an honest review of a clothing item or as a place for discovery when it comes to brands that do mid-size clothing well. These women finally saw themselves reflected in their phone screens and there was a desire to see much more of it. Hence the ongoing viral-ness of this trend.
The mid-size fashion movement offers a strong example of how TikTok can provide a tangible solution to a problem that’s being overlooked—both by people who relate and those who had no idea it even existed. It also shows how important fashion influencers can be, since their ability to speak to consumers can also fill the gaps left wide open by the traditional fashion community. Plus, these very niche content creators can build a career on their own, while lifting up women just like them. Truly, what’s not to love about a trend that’s all about building women up and helping them feel more comfortable (and stylish!) in their own skin?
“As the desire for representation of all body types has increased, we've seen conversations around a new size category emerge onto the scene: fashion for women who straddle the line between “straight sizes” and “extended sizes” is what we now refer to as “mid-size,” explains Stitch Fix stylist Ashley Sanchez.
On TikTok, the term 'mid-size fashion' as been adopted by influencers like Olivia Tierney, who offer fashion advice, body positivity and community for those with a body type that's often neglected by the fashion industry.
Midsize fashion is the bridge we've been waiting for—a sweet spot between (what is considered) standard sizes (US 0-8, UK 4-12, EU 32-40) and plus sizes (US 16+, UK 20+, EU 48+). It's for those who find themselves in the US 10-14, UK 14-18, and EU 42-46 range, offering not just clothes, but confidence and recognition.
(mɪdsaɪzd ) also mid-sized also midsize. adjective [ADJ n] You use midsized or midsize to describe products, cities, companies, and other things that are neither large nor small.
Straight sizes are generally considered to be 0 to 8, and plus sizes are conventionally known as 16 and up. That would put the midsize range from 10 to 14. Midsize could also be related to wearing a lot of clothing pieces that are marked as a medium.
When it comes to the fashion industry, "plus size" generally refers to clothing labeled size 14 and up in the United States, although this varies by brand and may start anywhere from size 12 to 18. In the UK, it's typically size 16 and up, and in Europe, the sizes usually begin at 44 and up.
There's an argument to be made that what gets called mid-size could actually be split into two categories. The lower end of the mid-size range would simply be the large side of straight sizes, while the upper end of mid-size is "small fat." Small fat is a term that appears in the fatness spectrum.
What are plus-size model measurements? Plus-size models are usually a U.S. size 12 and up. Fashionuer reports that a plus-size model's weight should be between 161 and 205 pounds, with a chest size of 41 to 45 inches.
The language they refer to is the fatness spectrum, with terms such as 'small fat' (size 18 and lower), 'mid fat' (20-24), 'superfat' (26-32) and 'infinifat' (34 and higher). Each of these terms was created to address the type of lived experience you have based on your body size.
The definition of “midsize” differs based on who you talk to
As mentioned, people have different definitions of what being “midsize” looks like. While The New York Times reported that the modeling industry says anyone above size 2 is midsize, various other people and outlets say the range is more like sizes 10 to 16.
In general, a size 4 woman is considered to be small or petite, but this can vary depending on a variety of factors such as height, weight, and body type.
Generally speaking, if you fall into sizes 10-14, you may be mid-size. Here's why it matters and how to understand the nuances in sizing, and how you can be a savvier shopper.
Is a women's size 12 considered plus size or straight size? A size 12 is roughly the same size as a man's size 32 pant waist, so no, unless you are extremely short. You might look large, but for the most part, a size 12 is on the low average size in this day and age.
Also known as Midsize, Intermediate cars are slightly bigger than Compacts and slightly smaller than Standard. Great for when you need a little more room than a Compact can offer.
The size dimensions recommended by TikTok itself are 1080 x 1920 pixels with an aspect ratio of 9:16. The aspect ratio of 9:16 indicates a portrait video. However, you can post horizontal videos with a landscape aspect ratio of 16:9 or even a video with an aspect ratio of 1:1.
Recommended dimensions for all videos uploaded to TikTok are 1080 by 1920 pixels. TikTok was originally designed to run on mobile, and to date, most users run the application on their smartphone devices. Naturally, TikTok recommends that the dimensions for all videos uploaded onto the platform are 1080 by 1920 pixels.
Specifications: Aspect ratio: The official TikTok Ads Manager guide confirms that the preferred aspect ratios for TikTok videos are 9:16 (vertical video), 1:1 (square), or 16:9 (landscape video). Video resolution: The minimum resolution recommended by TikTok is 540 x 960 pixels, 640 x 640 pixels, or 960 x 540 pixels.
The maximum video length is 60 seconds. That means the average video on TikTok is just over 13MB. If you're looking to post a longer video or a higher quality video, you'll need to use a different platform. Instagram, for example, allows videos up to 60 seconds long and a maximum file size of 4GB.
Introduction: My name is Tyson Zemlak, I am a excited, light, sparkling, super, open, fair, magnificent person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.
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