The models, including creator Jill Widmann (third from the left) take a picture together after the Garden of Beauty fashion show.

 

SACRAMENTO REGION, CA (MPG) - “Think of our world as a magnificent garden ... with a multitude of unique and gorgeous flowers … all individual but beautiful in their own way.”

This is the philosophy that guides Jill Widmann, creator and owner of the original Garden of Beauty. Widmann unveiled a new kind of body-typing system at a fashion show titled “Creativity, Beauty, & Compassion,” held June 27 at Sacramento Fine Arts Center.

“I wanted women to feel beautiful just as they are,” said Widmann.

While clothing comes in various sizes, they are all the same shape. Widmann noticed that most retailers don’t account for the different body types that women have. As a result, the clothes don’t fit as well as they could, even if they are the right size. The idea is for clothes to be created for the body rather than people trying to change their body to fit into their clothes.

“A size two and a size 22 could still be the same shape,” said Karen Howk, a friend of Widmann’s who participated in the fashion show. “There is no need for women to try to attain a shape or size they are not.”

Allie Claire, Widmann’s ex-sister-in-law, walked in the fashion show holding a Blue Bird. “It’s a labor of love,” she said of Widmann’s project.

Widmann’s mother was a model in the 1940s, which sparked Widmann’s interest in fashion from a young age. One day, she went shopping with friends and that night she dreamt up the whole concept. For the past 20 years she has been working on a sizing guide that rejects traditional industry terms.

Widmann noted that classic shape-identifying terms such as “pear” or “hourglass” can carry a “demeaning” subtext for women. Furthermore, she pointed out that traditional body-typing charts often include arbitrary and confusing markers including “cornet, lollipop or goblet.”

Instead of clinical geometric shapes or food comparisons, Garden of Beauty encourages women to find their corresponding flower, using clothing as a guide to balance and enhance natural attributes.

The new framework maps traditional silhouettes to elegant floral counterparts, including Guinevere (Rectangle) for those whose hips, bust and shoulders are close to the same size with a less-defined waistline; Angel Heart (Hourglass) for figures with a well-defined waist, where the hips, bust and shoulders are closely balanced; Yellow Bell (Triangle) for shapes where the hips are larger than the bust or shoulders; Blue Bird (Diamond) for profiles where the waistline is larger than the hips, bust or shoulders; and Tiger Lily (Inverted Triangle) for figures where the hips are smaller than the bust or shoulders.

Ericka Carvin, Widmann’s friend who gave a speech at the beginning and walked in the show, carried an Angel Heart.

The fashion show brought this supportive philosophy to life using real women wearing clothing from their personal wardrobes, showcasing how standard apparel can be customized to honor unique individual frames. As they walked down the runway, they held the corresponding flower to indicate their body shape.

“It’s the start of something wonderful for the fashion industry,” said Allie Claire, who walked in the fashion show.

Widmann stated that this shaping guide has garnered interest from retailers such as Bloomingdale’s and Macy’s, and she is hoping to foster a collaboration that offers various shapes of clothing. Her current project is to license the system and put her custom floral tags directly onto clothing retail racks worldwide.

“It’s the very first of its kind,” said Ericka Carvin, Widmann’s friend who walked in the fashion show. “No fitting system has ever come from a place of beauty. It makes shopping easier for women.”

As the fashion industry slowly tilts toward inclusivity, Widmann's approach offers a refreshing, gentle path forward. After all, as her philosophy reminds us: “Flowers don't compete; they grow just as they are, where they are.”