This spring at Cannes, the fabulous French pop star and plus-size model Yseult walked the red carpet in something special: A custom recreation of the iconic Dior Bar Suit.  

When I tell you, I screamed.

Why? Well, not only was the look an incredible fashion moment—an iconic piece from fashion history brought to life for modern eyes— it was also the first time I saw such a historic piece on a plus size body.

It gave me something I had been searching for – a plus size archival vintage moment.  

Currently, every red carpet is filled with thin celebrities wearing pieces of fashion history.

Zendaya in the 1995 robot suit by Mugler for the Dune press tour. Miley in that perfect Bob Mackie at the Grammys. Kim Kardashian at the Met in erhem… well maybe we won’t talk about that one…

"...I couldn’t help but feel like this was yet another fashion moment that left anyone over a size 6 on the sidelines."

As a fashion lover, I was delighted at this trend of pulling iconic archival pieces from fashion history. But as a plus size fashion lover, I couldn’t help but feel like this was yet another fashion moment that left anyone over a size 6 on the sidelines.

A subtler way for the industry to turn the tides away from the body diversity in fashion we’ve seen in the last few years. 

Even from a personal shopping level, the rise in designer second-hand, vintage, and thrifting is a wave that has left plus size shoppers yet again settling for shoes while their thinner counterparts find the perfect striped dress from the Prada Spring 2011 Minimal Baroque collection. (Although, dear reader, I’d happily “settle” for an accessory from that collection. I still dream about the striped stoles…) Shoutout to places like Berriez in Brooklyn and GoldiesVTG online who are putting in the work to provide exclusively plus size vintage. 

Yseult in Alexander McQueen at the 76th annual Cannes Film Festival

Actually, let’s talk about the Kim Kardashian moment. Now, Kim Kardashian is not “plus size” by any means. But her wearing the iconic Marilyn Monroe birthday dress to the Met in 2022 turned into a discussion of how it was harmful, nay, irresponsible, for larger bodies to wear these iconic and historical pieces.  

So, no wonder we see little to no larger bodies in archival fashion moments. These pieces are meant to be kept under lock and key until the very perfect person comes along to fit them, like Cinderella’s glass slipper. 

And that’s what’s so brilliant about Yseult and the Bar Suit. It was a recreation. No original Bar Suits were harmed in the making of this fashion moment.

And not even a dupe! A genuine Bar Suit custom-made by Dior for Yseult. An iconic piece recontextualized. To me, this is a hopeful sign that brands see the potential in including plus size stars in these iconic red carpet moments. 

Yseult in Schiaparelli at the 75th annual Cannes Film Festival

So, as fashion yet again tries to turn the tides back to thinness, Yseult and all of the other fashionable plus size women will continue to show up and show out, demanding to be noticed and considered. Showing the fashion world that they are impossible to ignore.

Photos: Getty Images