By THE PULSE NEWS MEXICO STAFF

Let´s get real: Finding stylish wide-width shoes for plus-size women is no easy task.

While there has in recent years been a push for fashion brands to expand size offerings, variety of styles and price points are still very limited.

For Jackie Prado, founder of the Chicago-based shoe design house Starwide Accessories Inc., the need to create her fashion-forward brand was born from the lack of designer-quality styles in the wide-width sector.

“I got tired of not fitting into a mold the fashion industry considered worthy of their designs, ” Prado said.

“My desire is to provide women in need of wide-width shoes multiple flattering style options every season, made of quality materials, because every woman deserves stylish shoes that fit.”

For model (and former Big Brother Canada houseguest) Miss Curvy Brittnee Blair, fashion is a love language.

“My style is ever-evolving. A lot of times its mood based, but I love to bring new looks to the table, whether it be for an event, a vacation or just a day out on the town,” she said.

“I’m here for comfort, but I’m also here for elegance and a loud statement. It’s the first way you introduce yourself without having to use any words.”

Fashion brands such as Starwide open the door for plus.size women like Blair to enjoy what the fashion footwear market has not been able provide: designer, quality-crafted, wide-width footwear for classy women that can take them from the office to a date night and everything in between.

“In a world where women look for options designed for us, it was necessary for fashion to revolutionize and a change to come. Fashion was pushing aside plus-size women, and that is something that we cannot allow in the 21st century,” added fashion content creator Brynta Ponn on her YouTube channel.

The good news is the fashion industry is opening to underserved communities thanks to forward-thinking enterprise leaders such as Prado with her new wide-width shoe brand, Starwide.

The Starwide online store is set to launch at June 27, and Prado has already begun sharing her summer 2022 collection on Instagram and Facebook.

For women with a few extra curves, this is definitely a step up and a solid foot forward.