Miu Miu Named Brand of the Year: What This Means for Body Positivity
Source: Lyst Instagram Reel featuring Miu Miu Brand of the Year
Lyst analyzes data from over 200 million global users to determine which brands are the most sought after and raved about. The results were clear that Miu Miu set the trends for each season and their garments were highly searched, especially after celebrities were seen wearing them. Between 2022’s spring and fall seasons, their micro-mini skirts revamped the Y2k trend, and their accessories created the TikTok trending #Balletcore aesthetic.
From a consumer’s standpoint, the message is clear in their latest collection: Miu Miu isn’t for every body type. We saw models first walk the runway showcasing Miu Miu’s micro-mini skirt last fall, renewing the Y2k trend for 2022’s spring season. The initial response was that it was promoting unhealthy body standards for women who wanted to participate in the fast-trending look. By Miu Miu receiving this title, it’s seen as an endorsement to the specific body images they promote.
Source: I-D Instagram featuring Lara Stone
Yet Lara Stone combated this criticism by posing on the cover of I-D Magazine in a cropped sweater and a khaki micro-mini skirt as a plus-size model. She received various feedback on social media, but many people considered it a huge step in the body positive movement that started earlier this year.
Celebrities like Hailey Bieber and Bella Hadid have worn Miu Miu’s micro-mini skirts in casual looks while running errands. While their model bodies can pull this look off without flashing the paparazzi, consumers may not be able to say the same with strangers at the grocery store.
Source: Dazed Digital
Miu Miu was praised when this look first walked the runway, it was called a symbol of fun and the return of whimsical designs to the fashion industry. However, other plus-size models, like Monique Black, claim these products “send the message that plus-size people aren’t attractive/thin enough to wear cool clothes.”
The micro-mini skirt isn’t the only item from Miu Miu’s latest collections that limits who can join in on the designs they released. To match the “barely there” mini skirt, they released a bandeau style top that ranges only from a 30 to 38 inch bust size, or a size 00 to 12 in US sizes.
The brand’s limited sizes in their ready-to-wear collections are nothing new for woman trying to find clothes that fit and flatter their bodies within the fashion world. But with Miu Miu being named Brand of the Year, what message does this communicate for the body positivity movement?
Not only is it a step back for the inclusivity of fashion today, but harms younger generations who don’t see themselves reflected in brands awarded each year. Besides, who wants to be supporting a brand who doesn’t carry their size— or better yet, who wants to be living in fear of a nip-slip when hauling a taxi in New York?
Comment below your thoughts on the matter and on the trends created this year!