Is the World Actually Getting More Plus-Size Friendly? A Real Look at Progress (and What Still Needs to Change)
For decades, plus-size women have heard the same message in fashion, travel, wellness, and everyday life: “You need to shrink to fit the world.”
But slowly, finally, we’re seeing a shift. More brands are offering extended sizes. More influencers are showing real bodies. More companies are being held accountable. And conversations about inclusion aren’t just happening in the DMs… they’re happening in boardrooms.
So yes, there is progress.
But is the world actually plus-size friendly yet?
Let’s talk about it.
Fashion: Better Than Before, But Still Not Where It Needs To Be
At Love Marlow, we see progress every day. Women walking in surprised and relieved that a boutique actually carries their size. It shouldn’t be shocking, but it still is.
While more mainstream brands are launching extended sizes, many still:
- Carry only a small selection in sizes 14+
- Use inconsistent sizing that leaves shoppers discouraged
- Offer lower-quality fabrics in plus sizes
- Charge more for the same garment simply because it’s a bigger size
- Produce extremely limited quantities in plus sizes, making it harder for boutiques like ours to even buy them. Meaning retailers want to carry extended sizes, but designers aren’t supplying enough
This is the part of the conversation most people don’t see:
Even retailers who want to be size inclusive often can’t source enough inventory because designers still treat plus-size fashion as an afterthought. Not a priority.
Fashion is moving forward, but slowly. Inclusivity is no longer optional. It’s expected. And customers are voting with their dollars.
Travel: A Harder Reality That Shows How Much Work Is Left
Fashion is improving… but travel? That’s where the world’s “plus-size friendliness” is really tested.
A perfect example is Southwest Airlines’ Customer of Size policy.
Southwest has long allowed customers who need more than one seat to purchase an additional seat and get it refunded after travel if the flight isn’t full. This is better than many airlines, but it still places the burden on plus-size travelers to:
- Self-identify
- Guess whether they’ll fit
- Pay upfront for an extra seat
- Navigate refunds, policies, and potential rebooking
And starting January 27, 2026, when Southwest moves to assigned seating, the process becomes even more complicated:
If you need an extra seat but didn’t book it in advance:
- You’ll be required to purchase it at the airport, usually at the day-of fare.
- If the flight is full or adjacent seats aren’t available, you’ll be rebooked on a later flight.
- If adjacent seats aren’t available in your fare class, you may need to be moved to another flight altogether.
Even with a policy intended to help, the emotional and financial weight falls on the traveler, not the airline.
And that’s the problem with most “inclusive” systems today.
They’re better than what we had before… but they’re still not built with plus-size people in mind.
So… Is the World Getting More Plus-Size Friendly?
Yes, slowly.
But “friendly” and “less hostile than before” are not the same thing.
Progress is happening, but plus-size inclusion still requires:
- Emotional labor
- Extra planning
- Additional costs
- Self-advocacy
- Fear of judgment
- And constant reminders that the world wasn’t built with us in mind
At Love Marlow, we believe progress happens when people and companies stop placing the burden on the customer and instead design systems, spaces, and products that welcome everyone from the start.
Where We Go From Here
If the world wants to call itself “inclusive,” it can’t stop at extended sizes or polite policies.
We need:
- Clothing that fits real bodies
- Airplanes designed for diverse travelers
- Hospitality that doesn’t shame customers into buying two seats
- Gyms, workplaces, and medical offices with equipment that accommodates everyone
- Conversations that treat plus-size people as humans, not problems to solve
And most importantly:
We need businesses to understand that plus-size women deserve the same dignity, comfort, and convenience as anyone else.
Humans are Evolving
Humans are still evolving, and we can actually see it happening across just a few generations. Modern lifestyles, diets, and environments are shaping our bodies in real time. Some real examples include:
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More people born without wisdom teeth due to smaller jaws and softer diets.
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Average height increasing worldwide thanks to better nutrition and healthcare.
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Feet and ring sizes getting larger, reflecting shifts in bone structure.
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Lactose tolerance becoming more common in dairy-farming populations.
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Extra blood vessels appearing, like the median artery in the forearm.
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Growing resistance to certain diseases in some populations.
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Nearsightedness rising fast, possibly as eyes adapt to screen-heavy indoor life.
Even these subtle changes prove one thing: human evolution never stopped; it just got faster and way more interesting.
At Love Marlow, Here’s Our Policy: Every Body Deserves to Feel Seen, Welcomed, and Celebrated
No guessing.
No shame.
No hoops to jump through.
Our boutique was built specifically because we were once turned away from stores that didn’t carry our sizes. We vowed no woman would ever feel that again inside our doors.
That’s why Love Marlow carries sizes 8–28, trains our team on body-neutral service, and designs every experience around one belief:
You don’t need to change your body to fit the world.
The world needs to make more room.
