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Woman Recreates Outfits To Show The Double Standards Of Fashion Trends, But Not Everyone’s Convinced

Meet Brooklyn Allen, a 23-year-old part-time retail worker, and part-time social media aficionado.

Recently, Brooklyn saw a number of thin women participate in a trend on TikTok where they recreated popular Pinterest looks. So she decided to take part herself.

“My intention when recreating these outfits is to wear them exactly how the original model did and show how they look on my body,” Allen told Bored Panda. “I’m trying to show women who are my size that we can wear these outfits and look good! I do the best with what I have and sometimes the outfits don’t turn out well. In that case, I talk about society’s standards and how hard it is to find items as a plus-size woman and how our treatment is entirely different from thin women’s.”

More info: TikTok | Instagram

Image credits: brooklyn.dallen

Woman Recreates Outfits To Show The Double Standards Of Fashion Trends, But Not Everyone's Convinced

Image credits: brooklyndallen

Creating these recreations, Brooklyn has learned that a lot of outfits work for everyone. “There’s nothing wrong with a fat woman showing some skin, and I’ve found that I love the way I look in these outfits!” Allen said, adding that the recreations have also helped her to find and develop her own style.

“My point from this series is that fat women can wear whatever they want. It’s no one else’s business to tell us what fits, looks good, or ‘flatters’ us. Fat women’s bodies are heavily scrutinized and the clothing that is ‘meant for us’ is clothing that covers every inch of our bodies. I’m not interested in another peplum top. I’m going to wear what I want and advocate for my followers to do the same.”

@brooklyndallenlove y’all but I said what I said #WidenTheScreen #plussize #fashion #style #pinterest ♬ Kiss Me More (feat. SZA) – Doja Cat

In the video, Brooklyn explains that she’s “missing the key accessory that makes these outfits so desirable and perfect to society, and that is a flat stomach”

Woman Recreates Outfits To Show The Double Standards Of Fashion Trends, But Not Everyone's Convinced

Image credits: brooklyndallen

Woman Recreates Outfits To Show The Double Standards Of Fashion Trends, But Not Everyone's Convinced

Image credits: brooklyndallen

“I’m sure I wasn’t the first plus-size person to do it, but I felt like with my specific body type and size, I could help a lot of my followers understand that they can wear anything they want and look great doing it,” Allen told BuzzFeed.

“When I refer to a flat stomach as an accessory, I am in no way being mean or bitter!” Brooklyn explained. “I’m completely okay with thin women using what they have, but I just want people to understand that it’s not the same for fat women. Our fat stomachs are systemically considered an imperfection, while a thin stomach is something that society would see as an elevation to an outfit.”

Allen thinks that “fat women don’t have the privilege of accessorizing with their fat stomachs unless they want stares and rude comments.”

Woman Recreates Outfits To Show The Double Standards Of Fashion Trends, But Not Everyone's Convinced

Image credits: brooklyndallen

Woman Recreates Outfits To Show The Double Standards Of Fashion Trends, But Not Everyone's Convinced

Image credits: brooklyndallen

Brooklyn aims to highlight what she believes to be a double standard in the fashion world that “has to do greatly with systemic fatphobia.”

“I don’t like the word ‘flattering’ anymore, because I’ve noticed that what’s considered ‘flattering’ on fat women is clothing that hides our bodies,” she said. “Fat women have been ridiculed for ages for wearing crop tops, short skirts/shorts, and just anything that shows skin. Whereas skinny women are celebrated in these items because it shows off their thin bodies — which there’s nothing wrong with, it would just be nice to not be treated differently as a fat woman.”

Image credits: brooklyn.dallen

When it comes to TikTok as a whole, Brooklyn thinks the platform has done a lot of good and a lot of bad for the body positivity movement. “On the good side of things, I have met some of the most loving, accepting people that I now consider friends. And on top of that, I have such an amazing following that truly gets me and relates to me!”

“On the other hand, I think TikTok has pushed a lot of women who would barely be classified as mid-size to the forefront of the movement, which isn’t what the movement was made for. Of course, everyone can be body positive, but I think it’s important for smaller-bodied creators to advocate for the women who are on the larger side of the spectrum and push for their representation.”

Image credits: brooklyn.dallen

“The body positive movement was started by fat black women and was meant to give them representation because they lack(ed) that!” Brooklyn said. “I think we have tons of work to do with putting the bodies this movement was made for as the face of the movement, really uplifting them, and giving them the representation they deserve.”

The woman hopes that people take away from her TikToks the idea that all bodies should have access to fashion.

“I really just want my plus-size women to understand that we can wear whatever we want, and for the thin women following me to understand where I’m coming from, that I am never personally attacking them, and for them to understand their privilege and use that to advocate for plus-size women,” she added.

Image credits: brooklyn.dallen

Brooklyn said the reactions her TikToks have received are mixed. “I have a great support system and tons of followers who understand my intentions and meaning behind the series. They get that I’m always just trying to start a conversation and advocate for fat women.”

“Some people on the other hand take it as a personal attack, and that’s never my intention. They think that ‘some things just don’t look good on fat people’, and prove my entire point with their responses.”

Here’s what people have been saying about Brooklyn’s TikToks

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Rokas is a writer at Bored Panda with a BA in Communication. After working for a sculptor, he fell in love with visual storytelling and enjoys covering everything from TV shows (any Sopranos fans out there?) to photography. Throughout his years in Bored Panda, over 300 million people have read the posts he's written, which is probably more than he could count to.

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Denis is a photo editor at Bored Panda. After getting his bachelor's degree in Multimedia and Computer Design, he tried to succeed in digital design, advertising, and branding. Also, Denis really enjoys sports and loves everything related to board sports and water.

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What do you think ?

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Demi Zwaan 3 years ago

I don't get this. She seems to show that certain clothes don't fit certain body types? Why is that a problem? I don't wear skinny jeans or leggings because I look fugly in them, but I don't blame anyone else for that? I just wear other pretty pants.

113points

Stephanie IV 3 years ago

You’re right - though I share the resentment towards clothes that are centered around a flat stomach. I have serious flatness envy. Many women are perfect weight and quite muscular and STILL have a little belly. That’s actually a lovely thing. You know, something that looks really good naked. But not in many fashionable clothes, alas.

16points

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Cassie 3 years ago

Yea, I agree. I have been both very skinny and fat and there's clothes and looks out there that work well for either but rarely for both. I don't get the point in making "skinny" styles look bad because they don't fit your personal body type. Does she want skinny styles banned so skinny people can only wear clothes that are too big for them??

9points

Esca Sav 3 years ago

Same, I just wish stores would stop selling things that are a "trend." Exhibit A: Crop Tops. I can't find decent clothes to wear for my body type because 80% of the stuff in stores are crop tops right now... That sh*t just doesn't look good on me... Getting on me nervessssss

6points

Happy_Pandalover 3 years ago (edited)

same thoughts here. Also there‘s enough different clothing types for all kinds of body types. Just find something, that flatters you or that you want to wear. Also It seems like she‘s purposley posing in a way, that makes her examples look less flattering. For example the white skirt look. The Model wears it covering her belly, she purposely wears it deeper down so it shows her belly. She could‘ve just pull the skirt up her belly and it it would‘ve looked different. Based on her other looks, she knows damn well how to pose on the camera. So i‘m not buying that, sorry.

2points

Among Us 3 years ago

I agree. I don't wear skinny jeans because it makes it hard to move around and feels uncomfortable, not because of how my body looks.

1point

Lauren Caswell 3 years ago (edited)

I posted it as a reply to someone already, but if anyone has 2 mins and wants to see a summary of pics of 100 years of the ideal and fashionable body type for women, the link is: https://www.insider.com/models-evolution-photos-2018-2?amp It's amazing to see all the ways women have been viewed as "ideal", depending on what decade you are referencing

0points

Becky Samuel 3 years ago

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Ben Smith 3 years ago

It creates the illusion that being overweight isn't grossly unhealthy. Lizzo is more dangerous than Covid.

1point

Mike Ieva 3 years ago

Well... I look terrible in some clothes... I'm 1.86, 85 kg, pandemic body... If something doesn't fit me... Well... I look for something that it does... I don't get the point of this vídeo... Also, most of the pictures in printerest and IG are photoshopped and the clothes are fixed for the model in that moment... What's her point? That not all the clothes fits you? That's for sure... That the people on those pictures do extra excercise and diets to look like that?... Well... Duh... Of course... But... Why does she wants to use clothes that doesn't fit her????

38points

cassiushumanmother 3 years ago (edited)

Exactly! I'm smaller than 1,60m and obvisously i can't wear trendy "oversized" clothes or i will look totally lost in fabric, like Dopey from Snow White, i can't wear long dresses or i will look like a piece of fabric with a small head on top... And i have a 35feet size (2-3) so it's a pain in the "foot" to find pretty women shoes... "Boo hoo hoo double standards are so hard on me! I will take pictures with clothes that fit tall women and start a movement to free tiny women from such a significant injustice! " Or i will stay happy to buy sneakers with children prices and avoid tall woman clothes to avoid being cast as Dopey in the next Disney live action movie and i will continue to be happy with the body that carry my brain.

22points

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Kostas 3 years ago

what? what is the point of this?

19points

Becky Samuel 3 years ago

The point seems to be making itself obvious in this comments section. That people who scream blue murder about discrimination when it comes to race, disability or gender have immediately ganged up to attack anyone who challenges their thinking about what clothes are 'acceptable'.

1point

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