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Miaou Partners with Paloma Elsesser to Introduce Extended Sizes

Elsesser consulted on the first capsule—and models it, of course.

paloma elsesser models in a campaign for miaou launching plus sizes 2022
Zora Sicher

Since meeting 15 years ago at a friend's birthday party, model Paloma Elsesser and Miaou founder Alexia Elkaim have been close friends. So close, Elkaim trusted Elsesser above anyone else to help answer shoppers' requests for more Miaou in more sizes.

Miaou is making its official move into extended sizes today, with Elsesser as the face of the campaign and a co-designer on the capsule. The first drop—30 sexy, high summer items including Miaou signatures like bustier tops and miniskirts—comes in sizes XS to 4XL. And these pieces are just the start. Elsesser is also partnering with Miaou to introduce plus sizes across the entire brand, beginning with its core collection, later this year.

"Paloma is, in a lot of ways, my muse," Elkaim tells BAZAAR.com. Elkaim had made one-off pieces for Elsesser in the "missing sizes" Miaou didn't yet carry—but those couldn't fully serve her or the greater fashion landscape.

paloma elsesser stands in front of a plain backdrop while wearing a miaou top and skirt to illustrate a story about miaou extending sizes
Zora Sicher

"When she would model the clothes or post pictures, I felt that we didn't properly cater to Paloma's needs or the community she speaks to every day," the designer explains. "There was a little bit of a disconnection there, and it was obviously something that I had been thinking about doing for so long."

Elsesser says the two had intimate conversations about when extended sizing would arrive at Miaou. When Elkaim officially approached her to collaborate, "I should say that it was this 'Oh, my God' crazy moment, but because we're so close and we've grown up together … it felt obvious. It wasn't a spike of emotion or a ping of anxiety. It was more of a realization and understanding that this would be organic," Elsesser recalls.

paloma elsesser wears a miaou top and skirt in front of a blank wall to illustrate the launch of miaou extended sizes
Zora Sicher
paloma elsesser wears a miaou top and printed skirt to illustrate a news story about miaou extending sizes
Zora Sicher

Elsesser has been the face of other labels' size expansions before, as well as one of the first to walk a certain designer's runway in a plus-size look. But working on an expansion and full-scale campaign with someone she knows so intimately was "really fulfilling."

"I think I felt a shift in my career in the last couple of years, and [I'm] seeing again how fulfilling it is to be included [in] how my face and my body and my brain are put out into the world," Elsesser says. "I think that models are not often considered in that process."

She adds, "Alexia definitely provided me a lot of space to do what I wanted to do and see what I wanted to see."

paloma elsesser stands in front of a blue wall wearing two printed pieces by miaou in a news post about miaou launching extended sizes
Zora Sicher

Elkaim hopes Miaou's first collection and brand-wide expansion encourage other designers to invest in extended sizing. "Even though today it's manifesting itself in a more real way by having clothes that fit well on different shapes, this has always been important to us as a brand. So I hope that [other] brands see our model and realize that they are able to do it too."

Miaou's high summer collection with extended sizing is available now online at miaou.com.

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