Owner Of Bridal Boutique Calls Out Those Who Laugh And Make Fun Of The Store's Plus-Size Mannequin

Finding a deam gown can be stressful. That’s because more often than not, the process involves trying on a lot of very expensive dresses that aren’t necessarily your size in front of a lot of people — some, total strangers; others, your future in-laws. It's even more stressful for women who are a little overweight because wedding dresses are usually modeled on mannequins with one specific body type - thin women.

But when one bridal boutique displays a wedding dress on its first-ever plus-size mannequin, this idea received a lot of conflicting opinions. People laugh at the mannequin outside the boutique and make fun of the way it looks, according to the boutique's Instagram post. And in reality, these individuals are not simply making fun of them, they are bod-shaming. So, the store decided to take action.

Somerset Bridal

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Somerset Bridal is a luxury bridal boutique where women can buy elegant wedding gowns. The store, which is situated in the United Kingdom, prides itself on providing dresses in all sizes and for all body shapes.

Meet Fuchsia—The Store's Plus-Size Mannequin

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The staff at the bridal store used a sign in their front window on June 4 to target unpleasant clients. The sign reads: "Are you laughing or are you fat-shaming? Fuchsia has feelings too and we think she is STUNNING. Please send her lots of love not laughs."
Debbie Shelley, the owner of Somerset Bridal in Minehead, England, took to Instagram to convey her feelings on the subject.

Most Dresses Are Modeled After A Specific Body Type

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In the post, she explains: "We are proud providers of wedding gowns that suit every shape and size a woman can come in and no two women are the same size. Brides that are bigger can often be marginalized and not catered for."
"When I bought my own dress over five years ago I soon realized that buying a dress when you're bigger is near on impossible and the experience ended with buying a dress that I didn't love and certainly didn’t fit properly."

Brides Shouldn't Lack Choices For Dresses

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"I've made it my life’s work to ensure no other bride lacks choice or support when buying their gown."
She explains that the store has "the gorgeous dresses, we just did not have the mannequins." Fuchsia finally arrived in the shop after years of seeking, and everyone who works there loves her.

Management Was Sad That They Had To Put Up The Sign

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"BUT Minehead, and visitors to Minehead, have not responded as you'd expect them to when seeing Fuchsia residing in the window. She is heckled, laughed at, jeered at. Fuchsia is being fat-shamed during a time when society should know better."
"We have had to install a sign in the window next to Fuchsia asking people to think before being rude. Fat-shaming is a thing of the past, or so you might think...I’m really sad that people are being so unkind."

"Beauty Comes In All Shapes And Sizes"

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Near the end of the post, she clarifies that beauty comes in all shapes and sizes, and she owns and operates an inclusive boutique. She also argues that all women are welcome and that the response to the mannequin is making brides feel uncomfortable.
Women are all having difficulty finding their ideal dress, and hecklers outside are being disrespectful to Fuchsia. She ends the post on a hopeful note, expressing her hope that passersby will read it and reconsider their actions in the future! If you're curious, you can read the post for yourself above!

People Pointed Out How Horrible The Situation Was

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Commenters were quick to point out that it's sad and insecure to take time out of your day to make fun of someone's body.
It's sad and insecure to take time out of your day to make fun of someone's body, as commenters quickly pointed out.

The Post Received Lots Of Love

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The shop's choice to draw attention to the problem and take a position received a lot of positive feedback.
Many ladies applauded the store for its efforts to be more inclusive by catering to all body shapes.

Somerset Prides Itself On Inclusivity

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The inclusive bridal store frequently posts photographs of plus-size women showcasing their dresses on Instagram.
They frequently receive garments in two drastically different sizes, typically sizes 10 and 30. This implies that the boutique can accommodate people of different sizes.

An Update About Fuchsia

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The store recently shared an update regarding Fuchsia, stating that visitors now no longer have their photographs taken with the mannequin.
Even though there will always be body shamers who mock her, Fuchsia certainly has a lot of love!