What College Women are Too Afraid to Say About Brandy Melville

I remember the days when Brandy Melville was the thing to wear. Brandy Melville is an Italian brand that came overseas to the U.S. in 2009. It quickly grew in popularity and gained a lot of traction on social media.

Celebrities such as Kylie Jenner were even spotted in Brandy apparel. But here’s the kicker: The clothes are one size fits all.

The clothes are designed for European sizes 4-6  which corresponds to sizes XS/ S (or 2-4) in the U.S. From the start, you can see how exclusive the brand is, appealing only to thin girls.  

The closest thing to Brandy trying to reach a wider audience is its “oversized” pieces. The phrase itself has a negative connotation, and not to mention, who would feel comfortable in a snug-fitting hoodie that’s actually meant to look oversized?

This wording isn’t a suitable option for curvy girls who are interested in the brand. Brandy defends its sizing choice by saying, “many of the styles are baggy and loose-fitting or made from stretchy fabrics to incorporate a wider range of sizes.” We’re calling bull. Here’s what Elon students are saying about Brandy Melville: 

“While Brandy Melville has the right to create the clothes and the corresponding sizes that it chooses, the company is making an active decision to isolate groups who do not fit its mold. I know people who are afraid to go into the store in fear that they will be judged for their size. Impressionable young women should not have to make a choice between feeling fashionable and feeling comfortable, and it’s a shame that Brandy Melville is making girls feel unworthy because of their body type.” - Abby Drummond ‘21

“I think brandy does a poor job at appealing to all body types because they use models who all are of the same body type, thus making the clothes look a certain way for them when, in reality, their customers are composed of girls of all shapes and sizes, leaving a lot of them feeling disappointed when the clothes do not fit the same.” - Olivia Freschi ‘21

“I think brandy Melville could improve its brand if they stepped away from its “one size fits all” clothing sizes and started doing a range of sizes to increase inclusivity and acceptance within the stores. Some girls are afraid to go to Brandy Melville simply because they know they won’t fit properly into the clothing (or fit into it at all), which causes insecurities and low self-esteem.” - Sarah Donahue ‘21

Celebrate your body and your style by showing us your favorite outfit by tagging us at #ElonOOTD to be featured.