Addition Elle’s fall campaign brings plus-size up to sartorial speed
By Sophie Isbister, Life & Style Editor
When I think “plus-sized fashion,” I usually think of the matronly frocks on offer at your local Penningtons. Until now, fashion-forward plus-sized Canadians have had to rely on hit-or-miss frump stores, or the occasional sojourn south of the border to take advantage of H&M’s US-only plus line, or the stylish plus-sized store Torrid. Online shopping is starting to take off for larger sizes, but because fit is important and returning online purchases can be a hassle, blindly purchasing clothes is not ideal for most plus-sized shoppers. But that is apparently about to change, due to Canadian retailer Addition Elle’s new, on-trend fall line Love & Legend.
Love & Legend comes to us with a slick, teaser-style ad campaign featuring Australian plus-sized model Georgina Burke and a sexy male model walking through an alley. It’s certainly refreshing to see plus-sized women portrayed as desirable and worthy of romantic narratives, just as it is great to finally see lookbook-worthy clothes on curvy bodies. Addition Elle’s new line seems to fill a gap in the retail market: clothes for large women who want to defy convention and wear bold, sexy prints or (gasp!) horizontal stripes.
The clothes themselves are the kind of styles we’ve already been seeing in straight-sized fast-fashion stores for at least a year: cocoon sweaters, cotton tees with sequins and pleather trimmings, and boldly printed leggings like herringbone or leopard. According to a press release, the collection “takes grunge chic to a new level with the hottest mix of faux leather, plaid, lace, and denim.”
The ‘90s are back in full force with Addition Elle on board, plus the fashion line adds a glam twist: “These nostalgic styles incorporate new twists like acid pink accents, and plunging necklines not to mention chunky black and silver studded accessories.”
These looks have been on the runways and in the hallways for the last two years, and now women of all sizes can finally enjoy skinny jeans, varsity-style jackets, and distressed denim button-downs. But how much hard-earned cash will it set you back?
The collection’s on-trend, fast-fashion look is at odds with its up-market price. You can get those looks that your skinny friends are gobbling up for $20 at Forever 21, but it’ll cost you. Love & Legend’s striped long-sleeved tee costs $40. Their assortment of cozy, luxe sweaters costs around $60, and the aforementioned varsity jacket will run you a cool $100.
Will savvy style mavens hop on board for not-so-fast, fast-inspired fashion? It remains to be seen. If Love & Legend’s quality is higher than most of the cheap fabrics and stitching found at mall stores like Zara, H&M, and Forever 21, then it could possibly be worth the cost for a few statement pieces. And the truth is that larger women with money will spend that money on clothes that are cut and sewn to fit their shape—well-fitting garments are key to looking put-together.
See for yourself! Check out Love & Legend’s lookbook online, at www.additionelle.com/en/love-and-legend
