If there’s one factor we love at The Curvy Fashionista, it’s seeing style that empowers. So when the plus-size-positive film Empire Waist hit our radar, we couldn’t assist however fall in love with the way it portrayed the magnificence, confidence, and energy that comes with proudly owning your model, no matter dimension.

And who higher to speak about this than the costume designer herself, Francesca Roth? We sat down with the movie’s costume designer to get the inside scoop on how she labored her magic to carry the movie’s characters to life—wardrobe first, after all!

Dressing for Confidence—With a Side of Magic

Francesca Roth didn’t simply costume the characters of Empire Waist—she empowered them. Roth shares how the costumes had been extra than simply garments; they had been transformative instruments that helped the solid embody their roles, and generally, even reshape how they felt about their very own our bodies. “I think it becomes a space that helps turn a personal discomfort into confidence,” she says. That’s the magic of costume design.

Whether it’s a pair of denims that work completely for Marcy (performed by Daisy Washington), who makes use of a wheelchair, or the iconic ultimate costume worn by Lenore (performed by Mia Kaplan), Roth ensures that every look represents each the character’s character and their progress all through the movie.

And the challenges? Roth didn’t draw back from these both. “The challenge is that most clothes today are made for such a narrow range of idealized body types,” she notes. Sound acquainted, style lovers? Empire Waist confronted these hurdles head-on, displaying the actuality of discovering garments that truly match and flatter in an trade nonetheless enjoying catch-up with inclusivity.

A Cast as Diverse as the Wardrobe

We’ve bought to speak about that beautiful and numerous solid. With so many various physique sorts, Roth had her work minimize out for her. But, like the professional she is, she took all of it in stride. She revealed that quite a lot of the magic got here from understanding how every actor moved by way of the world and the way they expressed themselves by way of model. “I lean into their style and personality as strengths to make their character more dynamic,” she says.

The finish consequence? A variety of wardrobe items that felt true to the characters—and, most significantly, that felt genuine to the actors carrying them.

Take Kayla, for instance, who will get her Clueless-inspired debut outfit. Roth shares how the over-the-top plaid skirt and faux-fur coat had been pieced collectively from not one, however two skirts sewn collectively to accommodate sizing. Roth’s flexibility and ingenuity spotlight the actual wrestle of discovering on-trend, plus dimension garments that match correctly. But the completed product? Pure gold!

Designing for the Plus Size Body—It’s All About the Fit

One of Roth’s key alternatives in Empire Waist was dressing plus dimension our bodies in a manner that was each defining and narratively impactful. “Often there’s a discrepancy between the sizes we think we should wear and what size we actually need,” she shares. Oh, Francesca, we really feel that wrestle!

Roth took the time to get to know every actor, asking about their measurements, their favourite manufacturers, and the way they personally really feel about their our bodies. This meticulous consideration to element ensured that each costume not solely match however flattered.

The Iconic Looks: From “Clueless” Homage to the Showstopper Dress

When it got here to dressing plus dimension characters, Roth made positive that every outfit felt intentional and empowering. The resolution to ill-fitting clothes? Alterations, alterations, alterations! And let’s simply say, Kayla’s two-skirt combo was removed from the solely instance of Roth getting inventive with a needle and thread.

Okay, we couldn’t speak to Roth with out fangirling over a few of the movie’s most iconic appears to be like. Her private favourite? Kayla’s Clueless-inspired ensemble that was each dramatic and so true to her character’s arc. “It’s Kayla’s ‘Clueless’ moment,” Roth gushes, citing Mona May, the legendary designer behind the unique Clueless costumes. Finding a colourful faux-fur coat throughout a pandemic wasn’t simple, however Roth pulled it off.

And then, there’s the pièce de résistance: Lenore’s ultimate costume. This custom-made magnificence is the epitome of character improvement, representing Lenore’s journey towards self-love. Designed with a metallic pastel material, it was created in simply 5 days, however the affect? Chef’s kiss.

As Roth places it, “The dress is meant to represent Lenore’s growth toward loving herself and accepting her body.” And if you happen to ask us, that’s precisely what it does.

Indie Designers, Are You Listening?

Plus dimension indie designers, take observe! Roth is on the lookout for you. While the costume division typically turns to big-box retailers for ease and fast returns, she encourages indie designers to slide into her inbox. “Never underestimate the power of the cold email,” she says, providing a cheeky wink to up-and-coming designers.

Roth retains an inventory of designers and types she loves and could be glad to attain out when the proper undertaking comes alongside. So, if you happen to’ve bought a novel, size-inclusive line, what are you ready for? Closed mouths don’t get fed… proper?

Empire Waist isn’t only a movie about style, physique positivity, or highschool drama—it’s about all of this stuff and extra. And Francesca Roth’s costume design introduced this story to life in a manner that solely a real visible storyteller may. Through her dedication to making each character’s wardrobe really feel genuine and empowering, Roth ensured that Empire Waist isn’t only a film. It’s a motion.

For our fellow Curvy Fashionistas on the market trying to categorical yourselves, take a web page out of Roth’s playbook: be unapologetic, get inventive, and, as Roth would say, if you happen to love it—don’t hesitate!

What do you consider Francesca Roth’s work in Empire Waist? Are you excited to see the movie’s trendy tackle physique positivity? Let us know in the feedback!