This season of New York Fashion Week was by far my busiest one yet! Of course I attended some runway shows and ran around the city with my friends, but one of the things I was looking forward to most was attending CurvyCon 2019 in Manhattan.
What is CurvyCon?
The CurvyCon is an annual three-day gathering of plus size women during NYFW. Women who attend are able to shop size inclusive brands, listen to panels of celebrities and experts, and even see runway shows that feature plus size women. Cofounders Cece Olisa and Chastity Valentine started The CurvyCon five years ago — and it has continued to expand every year since. The venue has grown and tickets sell out. It has truly become the can’t miss Fashion Week event for any curvy fashionista.
Attending CurvyCon for the first time
For it being my first time attending CurvyCon, I can honestly say I had a great time. I met a lot of incredible plus size influencers, creatives, and models. The conversations were relatable and the atmosphere was welcoming. Panelists talked about really important topics, such as body discrimination when it comes to wedding dress shopping. I attended for two out of the three days, and each of those days I left having made new friends. There was a really great sense of community and belonging while I was there.
Fashion for ALL
The brand pop-up shops were great too. I bought items from the Target designer collaborations and I got free jeans from Dia and Co. and a denim jacket from Torrid. Other brands in attendance included Good American, Nike, Eloquii, Anthropologie, Henning, LOFT, Part & Parcel, Fresh Produce, and more. Just having cute clothes around that are actually made to fit our bodies is something a lot of straight-sized people take for granted. So, it means a lot to me (and I’m sure many others in attendance) to be able to find items I actually love in my size without having to jump through a million hoops.
Another thing I really enjoyed at CurvyCon was the runway shows. Kleinfeld’s, Target, and Macy’s sent models of all sizes down the runway. It was beyond refreshing to see and such a nice break from the typical runway shows that fill the NYFW calendar year after year.
Because I had such a positive experience this year, I definitely plan on attending again next year. And I encourage any other plus size babes reading this to try to go as well. Although I like my body and I am confident in my skin, it’s not always easy to embrace what you have 24/7. Positive spaces like this serve as a nice reminder of how beautiful and worthy ALL of our bodies are. <3
xoxo, Kayla
