Ah, Brandy Melville. The brand that represents the pinnacle of trendy, California-esque clothing and the polaroid-perfect life that seems to come with it.
The Brandy girl represent everything a young girl is supposed to want to be. She is tan, tall, and thin. Her long hair is blonde or brown and almost always straight. Her crop tops and bralettes do not reveal any imperfectly perfect attributes such as stretch marks or muffin tops. Cellulite? Not on a Brandy girl.
There is a lot more to be outraged over than just the lack of diversity with this brand. One size fits all clothing? That is physically impossible. And yet Brandy Melville has nearly 4 million followers on Instagram and a true cult following. Have we become so immune to the brand and everything it represents that we have forgotten that not all girls look the same?
It’s clear that we have. I’ll admit that I occasionally scroll through the Brandy feed on Instagram to see what new styles are in. I watch haul videos on YouTube that seem to never be complete without a trip to the infamous store.
I am not reminded of the Brandy delusion until I actually try on their clothes. I own a one-size pair of cotton shorts that have shrunk and now fit me like a nice pair of boy-short underwear. The crop tops feel more like a high-necked bralette. Certain pieces simply do not fit well on my body.
I have learned that this is okay. In today’s body-positive world, we encourage thick thighs and curves. We embrace our stretch marks and cellulite. Are you a size 0? That’s great! A size 12? That’s great, too! But where is the mentality when we need it the most? Why are body-positive YouTubers endorsing the brand by buying their clothes?
Why are we not more outraged with the lack of diversity–of both race and body types–with the brand?
It is because we, too, still dream of becoming the ideal Brandy girl? Or is it simply because we think some of their clothes are cute and that makes everything the brand represents okay? I don’t think it’s okay. I’m ready for the world to be over the Brandy Melville brand and the unattainable, plastic life it represents. Are you?
