When Michael-Anthony Spearman was growing up, he remembers there being only one place for guys like him to shop: the big and tall store. Now 36, he’s one of the fashion influencers on social media shifting the conversation around size and style.
Starting his Instagram account @TheBigGuyFashion in 2011 as a fun way to show off his style, Spearman didn’t see anyone with his same aesthetic, so he decided to fill the gap himself – and has been doing that ever since.
“I definitely want to present myself in such a way where I could be the guy that I wanted to see growing up,” he says. “I am a man of color. I am a certain size… Even though the industry doesn’t necessarily pay attention to this niche, that always motivates me – providing that representation.”
Amanda Marzoff, a partner at management firm Underscore Talent, says “there isn’t just a desire for more size inclusive fashion, there’s a need.” And while the need was invisible for a long time, she explains “influencers have likely been the largest force in shifting and positively adding to the conversation around bodies and sizing.”
And people are taking notice. Spearman’s Instagram boasts more than 43,600 followers and this year he’s nominated for emerging fashion influencer of the year by the American Influencer Awards.
“We are getting more recognition. Brands are starting to see that it is a viable niche, a niche that needs to be served and I’m so glad that even my little page, my blog or social media have played a role in that,” Spearman, who runs @MenofSize, says.
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Why are size-inclusive fashion influencers gaining followers?
- The average American woman wears a size 16-18 according to the International Journal of Fashion Design, Technology and Education
- People want to see models and influencers who look like them; they want realistic fashion content.
- Social media has helped created a space for all type of fashion influencers.
What is mid-size fashion?
Shelby Tomalin, a fashion influencer nominated in the fashion category for body positivity influencer of the year, was inspired to start her account @shelbysaywhatblog after having her first child.
“There’s so much pressure out there to bounce back and lose the baby weight, and that just wasn’t my journey … I completely changed in sizes and weights and all the old clothes I used to love in my closet, I couldn’t wear anymore. I had to completely start over.”
She shared her story online and now has more than 234,000 followers on Instagram and nearly 460,000 on TikTok.
Tomalin has connected with the midsize community, which is a term used to describe a range of sizes around 10-16, which doesn’t fit into plus-size retail sizing but can often be hard to find in certain brands with industry standard sizing. The hashtag #midsize has blown up on TikTok in the past year with more than 4 billion views and 2.5 billion for #midsizefashion.
Marzoff explains it’s notable that an influencer and her movement (MidSize Collective) coined this term, not the fashion industry.
“Consumers are ravenous for more realistic fashion content and more generally, normalized conversations around bodies,” Marzoff says. “People need words to describe feelings, and with the emergence of ‘midsize’ in our vernacular …, tNot only do consumers need more sizes and inclusivity, but they need better ways to talk about bodies that aren’t harmful and polarizing.”
Tomalin has seen the same desires in the “overwhelming” response to her content of people who were “dying for content like this online and they just weren’t seeing it anywhere.”
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Promoting body positivity
Now a mother of two, Tomalin says it makes her emotional to think about the impact she has on young people like her daughters when it comes to confidence and body acceptance.
“Fashion to me isn’t following trends, it’s confidence. If we can feel good in the clothes we’re wearing, I think we feel at peace with ourselves,” Tomalin explains. “I think fashion is so much more than just a piece of clothing. It definitely is prioritizing your self worth.”
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Sometimes your outlook can change with just a new outfit, Spearman says.
“You can actually feel that self confidence from the outside in. Because once you look good, you automatically start to feel good and your self perception will start to change too.”
Marzoff points to other fashion influencers like TikToker Remi Bader (also nominated for this year’s awards) who have “specifically added to the conversation around “body positivity” in an important way.”
“Remi is extremely transparent, sometimes heartbreakingly so, about this,” Marzoff says. “Not only is it important to talk about the disparity of sizing in fashion, but it’s also important to show all sides of it and its emotional implications.”
So if consumers want more inclusivity, why aren’t brands meeting their needs?
The main issue arises at the manufacturing level, Marzoff says.
“More sizes mean more resources, samples and labor. When something is new and not widely adopted across an industry it is deemed ‘risky’ and a risk could affect a brand’s bottom line – profit margins,” she says. “Despite the compelling evidence of the need, too few brands seem to be ready to take the leap, especially in the luxury category. I believe this will continue to change and improve, but not as quickly as audiences and consumers need for it to happen.”
Tomalin understands it takes major fashion retailers time to step outside their comfort zone, but is hopeful in changes she’s already seen happen in the industry thanks to more visibility and influencers speaking up online.
“That’s the awesome thing about social media, it propels change.”
