Angelique Celebrates 15 Years!

Angelique Celebrates 15 Years!

We are excited to announce that Angelique is celebrating 15 years in business! It's hard to imagine that we formed back in 2005, in our mother's basement, with a pop-up clothing rack. Online retail was markedly distinct at that time, and we had no idea of the extent to which it would evolve. It has been incredible to witness the fashion industry becoming more accommodating towards size diversity, and designers are now earnestly putting effort into creating styles that cater to highlighting various body types and sizes.

Plus Size Lingerie & Fashion in 2005

Finding alluring underwear and intimates in larger sizes was challenge during that era. If one aspired to wear lacy panties or a strappy bra, those options were exclusively tailored for sizes ranging from 0 to 14. Individuals surpassing this size range encountered a limited array of unremarkable and mundane undergarments, along with kaftans that hardly evoked any sense of allure. However, this predicament extended beyond just intimate apparel. 

The fashion industry at large exhibited a tendency to disregard curvy physiques, striving instead to mask them. A retrospective glance at the celebrity red carpet outfits of the time reveals a preference for loosely fitting and dowdy outfits, primarily available in basic, slimming black hues. The objective was to obscure and downplay curves, rather than highlight them.

Angelique’s Inception                      

The lack of size options within major department stores is what ignited the concept for Angelique. Our pursuit of sexy attire in our size proved futile, resulting in a disheartening shopping experience. After conducting thorough research, we discovered a handful of designers who were willing to tailor and adapt their designs to accommodate curvier sizes. This led to our decision to introduce a selection of their product lines. 

Simultaneously, the body positivity movement was gaining momentum, prompting women to fiercely advocate for the expansion of available styles to accommodate their sizes. Their stance originated from the simple notion that they too should have the opportunity to embrace these styles without limitations.

Plus Size Models & The Body Positive Movement

One significant factor contributing to the success of the body positive movement was the presence of confident plus size models who not only pioneered change but also transformed current beauty norms. In 2014, Sports Illustrated boldly featured their inaugural plus size model, Ashley Graham, gracing the cover of their magazine – a momentous event that saw her in a bikini. This departure from their previous cover models was particularly groundbreaking, considering the magazine's prior reputation for exclusively featuring striking yet petite models. This pivotal decision influenced other brands and publications, prompting them to showcase plus size models, thereby spurring the growth of both the body positive and size acceptance movements.

Photo: Ashley Graham- Sports Illustrated Swimsuit 2016 / Tess Holliday- Cosmopolitan October 2018 / Tara Lynn- Elle February 2012 

Plus Size Lingerie Today

Although plus sizes still aren't granted equal consideration or comparable attention to smaller sizes in terms of merchandising and design, notable progress has been made within the industry. Women exceeding a size 14 now enjoy a significantly expanded assortment of fashionable lingerie choices, marking an impressive change. Our commitment to this change remains unwavering as we collaborate with designers to raise awareness and develop styles that are both striking and figure-flattering for various body types. Our belief has always been that everyone should be offered the chance to embrace their sensuality.

The Future of Angelique

Moving forward, our intention is to increase our emphasis on size acceptance and inclusivity within the fashion industry. Simultaneously, we will persist in engaging with and highlighting trendsetters and brands that share these goals. A crucial part of this endeavor involves the upcoming redesign of our website, coupled with the introduction of this newly established blog. Furthermore, an assortment of contests and promotions will be showcased across all our social media and email platforms. We encourage you to follow these channels closely!

We’ll be sharing some “behind the scenes” photos and stories, industry trends, product reviews, and anything else we deem might be intriguing or useful to our readers (if there's something you'd like to see, let us know!) Over the past 15 years, the lingerie and fashion industries have undergone significant changes. Looking ahead, we are enthusiastic about the next 15 years and the opportunities they hold, as we eagerly anticipate both experiencing and sharing this journey with all of you!