Just when you think things can’t get any worse when it comes to plus-size fashion, in walks Netflix’s Sweet Magnolias. The feel good-romance premiered season 4 on February 6th with 10 new episodes. And there was one thing above the rest that I hoped would get better. We’re talking about Dana Sue and her outfits.
For three seasons her outfits have reminded me how much Hollywood doesn’t care to dress bigger bodies. They throw us in a sack, slap a belt on it, and call it a day. And it’s so common place that even myself, with a bigger body, still don’t know how to dress myself in ways that complement my body without looking for plus-size influencers.
MORE: Sweet Magnolias made Dana Sue wear cursed outfits in season 3 too. Read more here.
Season 4 of Sweet Magnolias is a continued cry for help when it comes to Dana Sue’s outfits. None of her outfits embrace her body. In fact, I think they try to drown her in as much fabric as possible as if they fear her body. And that in turn draws the eye to her outfits every time she’s on screen as a viewer. It’s like Netflix is telling me this is the only way to dress plus-size bodies.
There is nothing to fear when it comes to being plus-size. But shows like Sweet Magnolias perpetuate this narrative that if you aren’t petite like Maddie or a tall goddess like Helen, you can’t embrace your curves in cute outfits or sit in a chair without a pillow in your lap; the latter which happens multiple times on this show with Dana Sue because how dare a plus-size person sit down and have her belly *gasp* still be there.
Not being able to dress plus-size bodies on TV or in movies also tells brands, designers, and retailers, “Don’t worry, you don’t actually have to make cute or fashionable clothes for plus-size people. Just size it up with no care in how proportions change if you’re not a standard medium and boom. Clothes.” That’s why Dana Sue’s outfits bother me so much on Sweet Magnolias.
TV and film are part of setting standards on what our communities “look like.” And right now, the representation this show is giving us is telling retailers that we should hide our bodies, be ashamed of them, and that a belt can fix anything so why bother putting in effort into plus-size fashion. We’ve got four seasons worth of proof that slapping a belt on something isn’t the magical fix studios think it is. It never has been.
MORE: Let’s not forget how Sweet Magnolias dressed Dana Sue in season 2.
Here are some of Sweet Magnolias season 4 biggest disasters when it comes to Dana Sue:
Helen is wearing a flattering color. Maddie is looking cute. And then there’s Dana Sue wearing a fancy dress… with a belt.
Oh and let’s talk about the tops. Always oversized drappery as if acknowledging she has a plus-size body can not happen on this show.
More drappery but kitchen edition.
Both Dana Sue and Helen have a belt. But one owns all the belts in the town because its their favorite basic accessory. The other is using it to accentuate her trendy pants.
Same shape. Same style. Drapery top. Surprised she doesn’t have a belt.
Another flowy and shapeless top with a belt. Shocker.
And this is only up to episode 2 of season 4 of Sweet Magnolias. Imagine what the rest of the season is like?
Sweet Magnolias season 4 is now available on Netflix.
