Aretha Franklin Pushed for Size Inclusivity in Fashion 30 Years Ago

The world is mourning the death of the Queen of Soul, Aretha Franklin, who passed away at her home in Detroit at the age of 76 on August 16, 2018. And though we all know her well as the voice of not just one, but many generations, she was so much more than that: a songwriter and musician raised in the church who could play back a song perfectly with ease; an activist who once offered to post bail for Angela Davis; a mother of four who had her first child during adolescence and overcame the stigma that has long been attached to teenage motherhood; and so much more.

But let's be honest: Queen Aretha was also a master of style. As Channing Hargrove reported, the icon called out both Calvin Klein and Valentino in the '80s for their lack of size inclusivity, stating "please make 14s," to the iconic American brand and “I become enraged every time I see the Valentino line. Please if you won't do a 14 — and you're making the girls who wear 14 very unhappy — please do a special order for me."

Throughout her many decades as a performer, Aretha dazzled in everything from feathered confections to out-of-this-world hats: perfectly laid atop her powerful and expertly-shaped Afro. Here, we recount just a few moments in which the Queen of Soul was also without a doubt, the Queen of Style.