Meredith Shaw Offers Her Signature Style To everyBODY (Win!)

PENN., the retailer at the heart of plus-size fashion in Canada, and media personality and style icon Meredith Shaw have teamed up on a clothing collab you’re gonna love. As a passionate champion for fashion-forward looks that fit everybody Meredith embodies exactly what PENN. stands for. This partnership marks a pivotal moment in the ongoing pursuit of representation in the fashion world and Canadians can expect to see it come to life across two phases. First up, The Get Dress’d with Meredith edit features 10 stunning summer dresses that were all hand-picked by Meredith herself. These pieces reflect her personal style and are sure to be summer staples for any wardrobe. Then, this holiday season, Meredith will be designing her own holiday collection under the PENN. banner. We chatted with Meredith to learn more. —Noa Nichol

Meredith, congratulations on your collaboration with PENN.! Could you share with us what initially drew you to partner with them, and what excites you most about this collaboration?

Thank you so much! My partnership with PENN began years ago without them even knowing it, as a customer. As my career in fashion grew they were a brand that supported me, my first big modelling campaign, my first time at New York Fashion Week, working with them on countless makeovers on The Marilyn Denis Show to now dressing for Breakfast Television every morning. They are a brand that has been championing plus size fashion in Canada before it was a marketing campaign or talking point. When they approached me to curate a summer edit, I said yes without hesitation and I think we’ve created something really delicious together.

The Get Dress’d with Meredith edit launching in May sounds incredibly exciting. Can you give us a glimpse into the creative process behind curating the 10 summer dresses for this collection?

This edit is one that I’m super excited to see everyBODY  dive into, because the dresses i picked are the dresses that I think women will love the most this summer. They move with you, they pack well for travel, they can take you from day to night, they give us choice and colour and twirl. We’re going to live our best summer yet in these dresses!

Representation in fashion is such an important topic. How do you envision this collaboration contributing to the ongoing movement for inclusivity and diversity in Canadian fashion?

It’s important to bring market visibility to inclusive fashion—this is a business, plus size women have money, curve fashion IS fashion, period. We shot this campaign at Pharrell’s hotel in Miami, the editorial team is the best in the business, we’re not just giving dresses, we’re giving fashion and i think the combination of elevation and  accessibility is the impact I’m looking to make with this edit and my PENN partnership over (because yes, there is MORE to come!)

Your personal style is widely admired. How did you ensure that the pieces selected for The Get Dress’d edit truly reflect your unique fashion sensibilities while also catering to a diverse range of tastes and body types?

I always say style is about access to the possibility of who you are. So, truly, I wanted to give people their own possibility. I really focused on silhouettes, on how the dresses move on the body, how they feel—yes this is my edit but it’s not all about me and my taste. My role is to bring choice and trust to a brand that has been working hard in the plus size style space for years. I just can’t wait to see everyBODY in these pieces.

Looking ahead to the holiday season, designing your own collection under the PENN. banner sounds like a fantastic opportunity. Can you give us any hints or insights into what we can expect from this upcoming collection?

This has been something I’ve been dreaming about for so long, it’s still hard to believe tbh but it’s an opportunity that i take so seriously. Every decision I make I feel like I have every woman who’s ever DM’d me or stopped me on the street or worked with me on a makeover, with me. I am taking all of our collective hopes and frustrations into my sketches and design meetings because my intention with this first Meredith X PENN collection is to change the game. Aspirational fashion at any size, holiday our way. Sparkle and velvet and lace—oh my! I can’t wait to share more with you soon and thank you so much for your support.

In what ways do you hope this collaboration will resonate with consumers, particularly those who have historically been underserved or overlooked in the fashion industry?

I hope that consumers feel seen and celebrated with this collab. I hope these dresses feel like candy to your wardrobe and encourage women to have fun with fashion … now with their body now. So often we feel the need to change and THEN I’ll …. These are the dresses for who they are in this minute.

Beyond the tangible products, how do you envision this partnership with PENN. making a lasting impact on the perception and accessibility of plus-size fashion in Canada?

I hope it acts as proof that plus size fashion, carried IN store is not only a very viable business but an aspirational one. I’m certainly not the first or only to be making collabs in this space so I hope my voice joins others to champion women in this country who believe in inclusivity, style and access.

Tough question: what’s your personal favourite piece from the collection/how will you be styling it for summer? What piece is the must-have for summer, and how do you suggest we style it?

Save the toughest for last! I love the floral ruffle dress, I think it’s the perfect piece for those summer events, showers, weddings that women often struggle to dress for. Throw on a strappy metallic heel and off you go! The other extreme is the most casual (and only NON dress) in the edit—the black romper. I have been LOOKING for a romper that fits me that way I need and this is it. So cute with runners and a crossbody bag, I wanted it in a solid black because I think often we plus size customers get a lot of odd colours and patterns (and sometimes we just want a classic!).

Win! 3 Dresses From The PENN. x Meredith Edit!

Congrats Christi S. of Hamilton, ON, who will receive three dresses from the PENN. x Meredith edit! To enter, head over to Instagram, follow @penningtons and @meredithshaw and @vitadailymedia and make sure to fulfil all the entry rules in the caption of the corresponding contest post. Contest opens June 3, 2024 and closes June 10, 2024. Complete contest rules and regulations here. Please note: if you are the winner, you will receive a DM (direct message) in Instagram directly from @vitadailymedia. Please be wary of fake accounts, which often use similar handles with an extra or missing letter, number or symbol. We will never ask for a payment or for your credit card number, and we will never ask you to click through a link. If you are unsure whether you have been contacted, via Instagram, by us or a fake account, email us before responding.