Celebrating Body Diversity: A New Era For Vintage Fashion
Photo by Kei Scampa
I’ve been wearing vintage clothes since my early teens, and I still remember the excitement I felt at age fourteen after saving up enough money from washing dishes at my local pub to buy a gorgeous vintage sheepskin coat from The Real McCoy in Exeter. Twenty-six years later I still enjoy visiting vintage shops and supporting sustainable fashion where I can. However, like many people I know, finding vintage clothes that fit AND look good can be a huge challenge. The problem is I’m tall, curvy and… Hang on, that’s not right! Since setting up my own shop I’ve discovered that vintage clothing comes in a diverse range of shapes and sizes because, shocker, people of all shapes and sizes have always needed clothes that fit. The real problem, if we’re being honest, is that inclusivity simply hasn’t been on the agenda. Until now.
Over the last decade we’ve seen an exponential increase in appreciation for larger bodies both on the runway and in advertisements, with major fashion brands such as ASOS, Nasty Gal, and Savage X Fenty catering to larger bodies and embracing models of various shapes and sizes. But, as anyone with a voluptuous body will tell you, there’s still a lot of work to be done. The fashion industry is built on standards that have historically favoured a narrow definition of beauty and changing the beauty ideals this has created, which are deeply ingrained in both the culture of the fashion industry and society more broadly, will take a significant shift in commercial attitudes and individual mindsets.
Fashion should be a celebration of individuality and diversity, not something that makes us feel inadequate or insecure, which is why I set up Curio’s Boutique. With personal experience of being excluded from fashion due to the shape and size of my curvy body, my mission goes beyond simply offering beautiful clothing and accessories. Whilst I do, of course, care deeply about the quality of the items we sell at Curio’s, I’m also dedicated to empowering our customers to look and feel gorgeous in their own skin and strive to cater to as many sizes as possible.
Everyone deserves to feel confident in their personal style and we at Curio’s know that the fashion industry has often fallen short in representing and respecting diversity. Making an effort to provide quality vintage garments that celebrate our natural and beautiful differences and allow customers to express themselves authentically, we’re proud to be part of a growing movement of independent fashion retailers committed to challenging unrealistic and damaging beauty norms.
For us, inclusivity isn't just a trend, it’s a commitment. We invite you to explore our handpicked collection of vintage and pre-loved clothing and accessories and join us in redefining what it means to be fashionable. Together, we can create a community where everyone feels seen, valued, and included—because vintage fashion is for everyone!
