How Remi Bader is changing fashion one video at a time
By Josie Jack
December 10, 2021
Image Credit: Courtesy of Eyesteix Studio for Unsplash
“Is the outfit cute or is she just skinny?”
A common TikTok comment on traditional fashion accounts, plus-size fashion influencer Remi Bader challenges the above remark by showing fashionable looks on plus-size bodies and providing honest reviews of clothing brands.
Her honesty, humility and humor have gained her over two million TikTok followers.
Bryleigh Foreman, a TikToker with over 3,000 followers and tens of thousands of likes, believes Bader’s popularity stems from her content’s usefulness to all people and all body types.
“It's important to make sure that every woman feels beautiful, even if it's something that I may not be able to relate to,” Foreman said. “It's something that my mother can relate to, something my sister can relate to, something that maybe my future children can relate to.”
To many people, fashion is more than just clothing. It is a way of expressing one’s self, of making first impressions. It can be used to demonstrate interests and gender identity. And, fashion is worn by everyone, even if clothing brands do not always reflect that.
Bader uses her social media platforms to show plus-size women which brands do and don’t reflect that fact. A recent TikTok video of hers, which had 1.5 million views and was posted on Nov. 5, was a partnership with a lingerie brand called Adore Me. She showed off a corset top which flattered her body shape.
In another clip posted on Nov. 24, she poked fun at several Free People outfits and the models’ poses on the website. She allowed people to genuinely see what those same outfits looked like on her body type.
Social media, especially TikTok, has given Bader immense success, despite some real-world fashion brands still not catering to plus-size bodies.
Winter Hawk, a junior journalism major, believes Bader’s popularity represents positive progress, but more needs to be done.
“I think social media, like fashion, would be nothing without diverse perspectives,” Hawk said. “So you're not doing it correctly if you don't have them.”
Hanny Wolkoff, a sophomore journalism major, agreed. She said the fashion industry could become more progressive by celebrating plus-size bodies and using models with different body types.
Foreman believes body positivity and body confidence begin at home.
“Things like that really stem in childhood honestly. Teaching your children how to be confident, to love their body no matter what size they are as they age is important,” she said
However, no matter how progressive brands and parents become, society’s standards may continue on.
Foreman admits that sometimes, even she contributes to the beauty standards perpetuated on TikTok. She gained her popularity on the app through, among other things, doing trends she describes as “body checking.”
These trends involve transitioning from being natural to looking dolled up or showing off one’s figure.
Bader uses her platform to show that people of all body shapes can participate in these trends wearing whatever they want. This, and all of her other content, is important for the future.
“I think that only good things can come out of the plus-size fashion movement,” said Wolkoff. “Inclusivity is something that a lot of younger girls are really going to grow up to appreciate.”
A common TikTok comment on traditional fashion accounts, plus-size fashion influencer Remi Bader challenges the above remark by showing fashionable looks on plus-size bodies and providing honest reviews of clothing brands.
Her honesty, humility and humor have gained her over two million TikTok followers.
Bryleigh Foreman, a TikToker with over 3,000 followers and tens of thousands of likes, believes Bader’s popularity stems from her content’s usefulness to all people and all body types.
“It's important to make sure that every woman feels beautiful, even if it's something that I may not be able to relate to,” Foreman said. “It's something that my mother can relate to, something my sister can relate to, something that maybe my future children can relate to.”
To many people, fashion is more than just clothing. It is a way of expressing one’s self, of making first impressions. It can be used to demonstrate interests and gender identity. And, fashion is worn by everyone, even if clothing brands do not always reflect that.
Bader uses her social media platforms to show plus-size women which brands do and don’t reflect that fact. A recent TikTok video of hers, which had 1.5 million views and was posted on Nov. 5, was a partnership with a lingerie brand called Adore Me. She showed off a corset top which flattered her body shape.
In another clip posted on Nov. 24, she poked fun at several Free People outfits and the models’ poses on the website. She allowed people to genuinely see what those same outfits looked like on her body type.
Social media, especially TikTok, has given Bader immense success, despite some real-world fashion brands still not catering to plus-size bodies.
Winter Hawk, a junior journalism major, believes Bader’s popularity represents positive progress, but more needs to be done.
“I think social media, like fashion, would be nothing without diverse perspectives,” Hawk said. “So you're not doing it correctly if you don't have them.”
Hanny Wolkoff, a sophomore journalism major, agreed. She said the fashion industry could become more progressive by celebrating plus-size bodies and using models with different body types.
Foreman believes body positivity and body confidence begin at home.
“Things like that really stem in childhood honestly. Teaching your children how to be confident, to love their body no matter what size they are as they age is important,” she said
However, no matter how progressive brands and parents become, society’s standards may continue on.
Foreman admits that sometimes, even she contributes to the beauty standards perpetuated on TikTok. She gained her popularity on the app through, among other things, doing trends she describes as “body checking.”
These trends involve transitioning from being natural to looking dolled up or showing off one’s figure.
Bader uses her platform to show that people of all body shapes can participate in these trends wearing whatever they want. This, and all of her other content, is important for the future.
“I think that only good things can come out of the plus-size fashion movement,” said Wolkoff. “Inclusivity is something that a lot of younger girls are really going to grow up to appreciate.”