I WAS IN THE ROOM: WHAT THE CURVY COMEBACK MEANT TO ME AT NYFW
New York Fashion Week always feels electric. There’s an energy in the air, ambition, creativity, competition, ego, artistry, all colliding under one city skyline. On February 13, I attended one of three “The Curvy Comeback” shows scheduled that day, and I walked into the AC Marriott Downtown’s Lithos Lounge curious, hopeful, and honestly… cautious.
The showcase, produced by Catherine Schuller of CosMODA Alliance and Anta Niang of Anta Productions, was titled The Curvy Comeback. And while I understand the marketing angle behind that phrase, sitting in that room reminded me of something important: curves didn’t “come back.” They were just finally given space again.
Let me be clear, I was proud. Proud to see plus-size women walking confidently during one of the biggest fashion weeks in the world. Proud to see Big & Tall menswear included in a conversation that so often excludes men of size. Proud to witness extended sizing treated as runway-worthy rather than commercially convenient.
That pride was real.
“Working with Viva Voce this NYFW was truly an incredible experience. Every look was executed beautifully, with Catherine Schuller styling each model to perfection in ready-to-wear fashion. Since making its New York debut in Fall 2025, Viva Voce has created real opportunities — giving curvy, plus-size women a voice and the space we deserve to take up. CosMODA continues to stand strong for the plus community during New York Fashion Week. This year’s show was nothing short of phenomenal as we celebrated plus-size women and Big & Tall men on that runway” ~Rasheemah Shana Gibbs
The Representation Felt Intentional
What struck me first wasn’t just that there were curves on the runway, it was how they were presented. The models weren’t styled like afterthoughts. They weren’t walking in watered-down versions of what straight-size models get to wear. The garments had structure, drama, and personality. There was tailoring. There was movement. There was presence.
You could feel that this wasn’t tokenism. It was effort. The women moved with authority. The men brought sharp, modern silhouettes that pushed against the tired stereotypes often attached to extended-size menswear. It felt elevated. It felt deliberate. And that matters.
Because when representation drops as drastically as it has in recent seasons, moments like this carry weight. They send a message, not just to consumers, but to designers, buyers, editors, and brands who may have quietly retreated from inclusive casting.
One of the evening’s most consequential moments arrived with the menswear segment led by designer Ndiol Elegance. Big & Tall fashion has long struggled with visibility on prestige runways, often confined to commercial catalogs or niche platforms.
Here, the menswear designs projected precision and modernity. Clean lines, architectural shapes, and sharply tailored pieces reframed expectations of extended-size menswear. Rather than defaulting to concealment strategies, the designs leaned into structure and presence, a refreshing departure from industry norms.
The inclusion of menswear did more than broaden the show’s appeal. It underscored an essential reality: conversations about size diversity cannot remain gender-exclusive.
But Here’s My Honest Take
Now let’s talk truth, because that’s what we do here. As proud as I was, I also wanted more. More designers. More looks. More risk. More scale. The hunger in that room was obvious. The applause wasn’t polite, it was emotional. Which tells me the audience is ready. The consumer is ready. The industry is just… cautious.
I would have loved to see an even broader range of designers stepping into that space. I would have loved to see the runway stretch longer, the collections go deeper, and the risks go bolder. When you’re making a statement about inclusion at New York Fashion Week, the opportunity is massive. And with that opportunity comes the responsibility to go all the way.
But here’s the part that’s equally important: you can’t critique without acknowledging courage.
Giving Credit Where It’s Due
Catherine Schuller and Anta Niang did something many others are not doing right now: they created the space. That alone deserves recognition. It is easy to talk about inclusivity in panel discussions and social media captions. It is much harder to secure a venue during NYFW, assemble designers, produce a runway, and publicly commit to extended sizing when the mainstream conversation has quietly shifted elsewhere.
They showed up. They produced. They put curves and Big & Tall bodies on a legitimate NYFW platform. And that matters, because visibility is not accidental. It requires someone to say, “We’re doing this anyway.”
Why This Moment Hit Me Personally
As someone who lives and works in the plus-size fashion space, I’ve watched the cycles. The highs. The retreats. The promises. The pivots. Sitting in that room, I wasn’t just watching a show; I was watching a reminder. A reminder that luxury belongs to every body.
A reminder that extended sizing is not a niche. A reminder that fashion credibility does not shrink when bodies expand.
Curves on the catwalk should not feel revolutionary in 2026. And yet, in that moment, it did. So yes, I’m proud. Proud of the models. Proud of the designers who participated. Proud of the producers who made it happen. And at the same time, I’m pushing for more.
Because inclusion isn’t a comeback story. It’s a standard. And if we’re going to claim space at New York Fashion Week, let’s claim it fully. The runway is big enough.
Maryellen Kernaghan - Accessories: sustainably sourced/repurposed leather handbags by Volta Atelier
“I was thrilled to see curves getting real, meaningful representation on the NYFW runways—it’s a long-overdue shift toward genuine inclusivity. Shows like this and stores like Viva Voce are steering to drive this curvy comeback. They are offering luxury looks that are stylish and dramatic. Here’s to celebrating every curve as the star it is!” ~Maryellen Kernaghan
“As a plus‑size model, I was proud to stand there co‑hosting a show that proves—once again—that curvy bodies aren’t a trend, we’re a force. This runway is breaking barriers and pushing back against unrealistic beauty standards. Tonight, real women and men get to see themselves reflected in high‑end designer fashion made to honor our bodies, our style, and our place in this industry.” ~Mina Millery
Photo credits: Asa Williams Photography