The world of fashion is finally undergoing a necessary sea change, where under-served niches are finally seeing a lot of love – especially the niche representing women with larger breasts. Given that the average bra size in the United States is 34D, lines like Exclusively Kristen are much-needed and long-overdue.
Kristen Allen developed early, which led to fashion problems even in childhood. Well-endowed stalkers, I'm sure you all know the frustration of finding clothes that fit well, look good, and complement your age and style. You know the issues involved in buying a size up and dealing with an ill-fitting garment.
Exclusively Kristen's founder recognizes this problem, along with the issues of the every day woman. Why should we have to spend our hard-earned money on clothing that doesn't fit properly, then pay extra to have it tailored so it fits? Kristen, an Ohio native and proud Oberlin College graduate who now lives in NYC, went from wondering why fashion brands couldn't make clothes a little bigger in the bust area to asking herself, “Why don’t I make clothes for women like me … with large breasts?” The highly motivated, extremely passionate entrepreneur did just that with the creation of Exclusively Kristen. Since she believes in utter perfection, she's first focusing on classic pieces, such as versatile shirts, tank tops with built-in bras, and the aptly named One and Only Shirt:
Kristen's design process is wonderfully unique, beginning with the idea of a specific garment. She then collaborates with her chosen designer to come up with the technical sketch, which goes to an experienced pattern maker to ensure a perfect fit. The thing is, Kristen is the concept behind her clothing. She not only tries on each sample, she stands, sits, bends over, jogs, lifts her arms, walks around, and even does a few jumping jacks, just to make sure there are no bulging buttons or visible bra straps. Only then does the pattern go to the garment manufacturer. Mind you, every bit of this takes place in NYC, because Kristen is all about giving back.
With plans to design more garments with a wide variety of style inspirations – including the vibrancy of South American fashion and the eclectic edge of Japanese and Korean street styles – Exclusively Kristen is going places. The big plan is to be a household name, and with her eye for color, timelessness, and flawless fits, I think she's well on her way. As it stands, in addition to the classic pieces needed for every day wear, you can complement your clothing with stunning, unique jewelry:
Kristen has taken the concept of being the change you want to see in the world and she's running with it. I personally can't wait to see what comes next. Stalkers, don't you think it's time for a fashion revolution?