Fuller Figure Fuller Bust's Georgina Horne is dynamic. The fashion blogger and model is on a mission to end body snark, fat-phobia, and basic bra-fitting mistakes that women of any size often make. The 25-year-old half-Australian, half-English bombshell (who says that the three words that most describe her are crude, impulsive, and wine) wasn't even into fashion until starting her blog two and a half years ago. Now she can attribute some of her greatest life experiences to it. She spoke with Bustle about her work, hopes for plus fashion, and doled out a few shopping tips for curvy gals, too.
As a teen trying to emulate the fashion of her peers and women on glossy mag covers, Horne says she was miserable. She didn't quite fit in with norm, and never felt "fashionable." She finally found her style niche upon discovering a pinup clothing website, and even entered a few modeling contests. But after coming in third place at each, Horne realized she didn't really want to be a model so much as a representation for larger women — she wanted to show that clothes and underwear can look beautiful on a bigger girl. Fuller Figure Fuller Bust was born.
"When I started my blog, I was shocked that I got views, let alone comments," says Horne. "And then people and companies wanted to get hold of me. I've been amazed and grateful at every opportunity that has come my way."
Companies have flocked to Horne's classic beauty; she's modeled for Evans, Lady V London, Collectif, and Marina Rinaldi for the "Women are Back" campaign — and she's even shot with Velvet d'Amour, plus-size fashion icon and photographer.
Horne's personal style is a mix of the vintage, the pinup, the retro, and always, she says, the personal. "I learned in college that no good comes from emulating someone else," she said. "I admire people like Paloma Faith for her style, Kat Dennings for her curve dressing and Zooey Deschanel for her quirk. But I try to dress for me."
Some of her favorite places to shop are Pinup Girl Clothing, Collectif, Lady V London, and ASOS, and she recommends these brands for all women with curves.
In November, Natalie Perkins wrote an article for xoJane called "When Activism Gives Way to Advertising: How Fat Girl Blogging Ate Itself." The piece explored how plus-blogging has transformed from something with a real purpose to something done predominantly for advertising and money. What I found most interesting, and worrying, was when Perkins suggests that "we're…fooling ourselves by thinking that the anti-fat world is learning anything from fatshion," by which it seems Perkins was talking about brands as well as regular people. I wanted to ask Horne her thoughts.
"Bloggers 100 percent influence brands!" Horne says. "Bloggers are not just customers, they are also the vocal, opinionated bridge between a brand and their clientele, and the brands know they need to pay attention to that." She pointed out that at last year's Plus London, bloggers told plus-size lingerie brand Elomi that they wished the line would bring out funkier, and younger, styles. At the following press event, Elomi announced they would be doing so. It's a positive sign that plus-bloggers can impact those around them.
Horne thinks things can only get better from here. "Plus-size fashion has come a long way," she says. "ASOS Curve, Pink Clove, AX Paris Curve, and other brands are extending their sizing range." She says she even has straight-size friends who covet her clothes — a good indication that plus-fashion is changing in for the better.
In her work, Horne is careful about size-exclusivity and body preference. "I'm very keen to get across the fact that I hate the 'divide' between small and big women with those silly 'real women' and 'dogs like bones' phrases." This universality is likely part of Horne's success. She herself straddles the upper end of straight-sizes and the lower end of plus-sizes — making her something of an in-betweener. Maybe it's part of what makes her see the beauty of every size.
Photo Credits: Andrew Wood Photography, My Boudoir, HMS Vintage, Joanna Krause for Collectif
