Dolce & Gabbana has extended its women’s size range to include XXL. The intention is to pay tribute to women, their morphology and all types of beauty. The Italian luxury label has always glorified a certain type of sensual Mediterranean beauty, and its ad campaigns often feature voluptuous women.

Plus-size women represent an increasingly important market segment and a genuine business challenge. Inclusivity also plays a part, an increasingly influential factor in the new strategies deployed by luxury labels. This explains their gradual shift in approach towards a clientèle which, until now, was overlooked. Retailers in the US are rolling out trendy plus-sized collections. They are dedicating more time and resources into developing plus-sized collections — a sign they are starting to see them as bigger potential revenue streams than they have in the past. They aim at giving plus-size customers the same trends, same colors, same wonderful print and patterns that are available in other women’s lines. The pieces have bright colors and prints, trendy cuts, and fun details, rather than the historical plus-sized collections from traditional retailers whose offerings don’t expand much beyond neutrals and basics. Traditional retailers risk losing business if they don’t give their plus-size lines the same attention, both in-stores and online, as other collections.