Forget the old-school notion that high fashion belongs exclusively to 20 something towering gazelles. The future of fashion is looking a lot more like—well, us.
What’s that I hear? Real women? Heck yes that's right! Because fashion’s most valuable asset is no longer just a late teen draped in couture—it’s the women who wear the clothes after the final curtain drops & Charlotte Reardon is proof the world is paying attention.
For over a decade, Reardon shaped the industry from behind the scenes, working as a production fit model for brands such as: Macy’s, Guess jeans, MontCler, Calvin Klein, and The Gap. In her mid-thirties, however, she took to the runway, challenging traditional notions of who belongs on the catwalk.
Her mission is clear: to bridge the gap between fashion’s idealized imagery and the real women—millions of them—who rarely see themselves represented.
Reardon’s story doesn’t end there. With the industry projected to surpass $3.3 trillion globally by 2030, brands are recognizing that inclusivity isn’t just ethical—it’s profitable.
The Buying Power of the ‘In-Between’ Demographic
If the industry is shifting toward realism, it’s largely because the people with the most spending power are demanding it. Millennial women make up for 55 million in the U.S. alone, which is driving this change. This group spends over $600 billion annually, and they are 247% more likely to be influenced by social media marketing than traditional advertising. Yet, despite their economic clout, millennial women have historically been overlooked in high fashion.
And that’s where Charlotte Reardon comes in. "I booked my first runway show because the designer I was fit modeling for wanted their line to look more like their costumers," Reardon explains. "That was the moment it all made sense. If brands want to sell clothes, they need to reflect the people actually buying them."
She’s got a point. Consumers today aren’t passive observers—they’re curating their own fashion narratives on social media & within their communities.
If the industry is shifting toward realism, it’s largely because the people with the most spending power are demanding it. Millennial women make up for 55 million in the U.S. alone, which is driving this change. This group spends over $600 billion annually, and they are 247% more likely to be influenced by social media marketing than traditional advertising. Yet, despite their economic clout, millennial women have historically been overlooked in high fashion.
And that’s where Charlotte Reardon comes in. "I booked my first runway show because the designer I was fit modeling for wanted their line to look more like their costumers," Reardon explains. "That was the moment it all made sense. If brands want to sell clothes, they need to reflect the people actually buying them."
She’s got a point. Consumers today aren’t passive observers—they’re curating their own fashion narratives on social media & within their communities.
From Niche to Mainstream: Inclusion Pays Off
For years, the fashion world treated "inclusivity" like a special-edition collection—something nice to have but not essential. Today social media platforms allow models like Reardon to have a voice. Brands are no longer the sole gatekeepers of fashion visibility. Reardon, with her 80K+ following, exemplifies this change. Her presence extends beyond the runway, engaging directly with consumers and fostering brand loyalty in a way that traditional models never could.
"When I started, casting, agencies and brands controlled everything," she reflects. "Now, the power is shifting into the hands of the people. And that means brands have to listen."
As brands recalibrate their strategies for the next decade, one question remains: Can they afford to ignore the millions of women who are no longer waiting for permission to be seen?
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