Sure, standards have slightly shifted in recent years, but the pressure to be thin remains a constant battle for women.
Despite several full figured celebrities who proudly flaunt their curves, there's still a long way to go, especially when it comes to heavier women wearing lingerie.
But designer Leanna Williams is fighting against the negativity with her U.K.-based lingerie label Harlow & Fox, which caters to women wearing a DD-G bra size. Launched in 2013, the company was inspired by her own struggle (she says she wears a 32F) to find bras that were fitting and still appealing.
"I think all women deserve to have the option of something more decadent when they feel like it, so I made it my mission to create garments that were that level of special, but in a size range I, and other full busted women, could wear," Williams told LittleThings.
The fruits of her labor were recently displayed in sultry photo shoot featuring model Alessandra Garcia, 24, for Britain's plus-size magazine SLiNK.
The daughter of actor Andy Garcia sported pieces from the Harlow & Fox collection in an editorial that promotes body positivity.
"I really hope women will look at these images and think 'wow, she looks incredible – and she looks like me,'" Williams said.
The collection, which ships internationally, is available online at harlowandfox.com.
Alessandra Garcia, who wears a size 12, proudly modeled pieces from the lingerie label, which uses lavish silk and delicate laces. (The cups are even lined in silk!) She also wants to encourage other women to embrace how they look.
"I hope women of all sizes feel empowered, because it sort of celebrating a different body type but also showing that you can be sexy and confident in your own skin," Garcia told Entertainment Tonight in an interview.
She added that she's "representing an under-represented group in the industry."
This group she refers to is one that is rarely praised much in Hollywood. However, the average woman in America fits into a size 14, according to news reports.
The beautiful shoot is one that designer Leanna Williams is very proud of.
"These kind of shoots are what as a designer, I love to see. I always create our Look Book shoots to create an atmosphere of something elegant – like all women, we have many facets, and we deserve to see ourselves represented and reflected in the multitude of ways we are beautiful," she told LittleThings.
"I love this shoot in particular as it is much more sultry than our usual campaign shots are, so it shows a whole new side to the collection, and it’s fantastic to see how our pieces are transformed in that way. Most of all though, I love how powerful and self-assured Alessandra’s gaze is — I really hope women will look at these images and think 'wow, she looks incredible — and she looks like me.'"
Please SHARE if you're thrilled to see women like designer Leanna Williams and model Alessandra Garcia advocating for body positivity for people of all sizes!
