Episode 072 Marcy Guevara-Prete: Building A Plus-Size Empire
Episode 072 Marcy Guevara-Prete: Building A Plus-Size Empire
In this episode we sit down with...Marcy Guevara-Prete.
Marcy Guevara-Prete is a producer, host, and plus-size style expert helping women of all sizes feel amazing in the skin they're in. You may have seen Marcy hosting, “Big Girl in a Skinny World,” the YouTube series from Marie Claire or on Lane Bryant Fashion TV. She has also been a featured expert on shows like Rachael Ray, The Dr. Oz Show, Hallmark Home and Family, The Real and on Oprah.com.
Marcy is passionate about helping women of all shapes and sizes dress well and love the skin they're in.
Marcy is co-owner of The Plus Bus, Los Angeles' only plus size thrift and consignment boutique.
Marcy currently works as a producer on shows like Hollywood Medium with Tyler Henry on E! and Top Chef. She loves bringing her on camera expertise behind the scenes. She has her Masters in Communication from USC.
In this conversation we talk about:
Marcy’s personal body image story- overcoming the negative self image voice in her head
Her journey of creating an amazing plus size shop- the why behind it and the challenges she has faced
Marcy’s experiences of being a producer and how she integrates body positivity into her work
Practical tools for finding content that brings you joy and creating boundaries with social media
Connect with our guest...
Resources we mention in this episode…
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TRANSCRIPTION
Episode 072 Marcy Guevara-Prete: Building A Plus-Size Empire
Katelyn:
All right, Marcy Guevara-Prete. Hi, welcome. I'm so excited to have you on the show. Thank you for being here.
Marcy:
Thank you for having me. I'm so excited to chat.
Katelyn:
Let's just dive in. We've got a million things to cover. And I am so curious to just get to know you more. So the first question that we ask everybody on the show is your first body awareness moment. So can you share what that looked like for you? That moment where you realized that you were in a body and that it meant something in the world that you're living in? What does that look like and how did it shape your relationship with your body and/or food moving forward? What's your story?
Marcy (body image story):
Yeah, you know, when you asked me this question, just before we started, I'm like, gosh, what is it? And for me, I definitely feel like it's related to clothes. So I remember I was about eight or nine, maybe a little older, but in that range, and I was in a ballet or jazz, you know, dance performance. I was actually in all the performances, like I was very big into dance, always super active as a kid. And I remember that this one routine I was in, they chose the most horrific outfit. And it was a 2-piece. Not only was this thing ugly, like it just was ugly, but it was also 2-piece. And like, I had a severe muffin top, even in the largest outfit. And I remember feeling really, I don't know, maybe uncomfortable- I didn't feel like I looked cute. And I've always sort of had, I think a big emphasis on my looks just from my family and growing up in like a vain Hispanic household. But um, I remember that I said, I wasn't going to be in the dance. And my mom, let me quit. And to this day, I'm like, why would you let me quit? You know what I mean? Like, why wouldn't you just say like, you look great? And I mean, I didn't look real, though. That's the problem. So anyways, that for me really was the start of being aware of how things looked on me or that I was a little chunkier than other people. And, gosh, I mean, 30 years later, I don't think we have enough time in the world, Katelyn.
Katelyn:
Well take it into the next few chapters, because I'm dying to hear about the work that you do now, too. But I am curious- so you did not grow up a dancer then? Was that the end of your dance career when you pulled yourself out?
Marcy:
Yeah, it wasn't the end of my dance career. Because I was always like, very encouraged to move my body. So dancing has always been a part of my life. I did color guard in high school. I worked at Jazzercise as a teen. So, yeah, I've always been super active and super fit. I have pictures of myself in a 2-piece dance costume from a different performance. So maybe I fully was just not having the orange and lime green print that this outfit had. But for me now thinking back, I think it's because it was a 2-piece, I really don't know. But I do know that my mom didn't like it either. And so I think in her own sort of way, you want your kids to look great and everything right? So I think she was just also like, not having it. But no, I definitely stayed super active and always had a really positive growing up, you know, I'm really lucky that I had a very positive upbringing. And I've always been pretty positive about my body. And just kind of moving forward in life, I always sort of knew I was a little bit bigger than everybody, or you know, when it was like, okay, kids line up, and I was like, at the back with the boys. But I always had a lot of friends and really wasn't bullied. And so I feel really lucky for that. You know, looking back at pictures of high school now I think, Oh my gosh, you know, what I would give to be a size 12. And I look at these pictures of me in high school, I'm like, Oh, my God, I look so thin, you know, so I think my work now is really to just help people combat that voice. You know, I think if you can kill that voice- if you can kill it when they're five, you can kill it when they're 10 or 15. Like, they can be free so much sooner of these ideals that were impossible. Like I've always just been bigger, you know. So I just think our awareness of ourselves and our comparison is so wicked- comparing how you look in that Catholic school skirts, and I do. We're just different. So yeah, I guess my dance career should have ended probably sooner than it did. Because I just wasn't that good. But the wardrobe malfunction isn't why it ended, which is probably a good thing.
Katelyn:
Do you feel like the voice that you're speaking about right now like this negative self doubt, self talk- the nasty voice that we all have in our head sometimes especially around our bodies- do you feel like that was present for you in high school? I mean, you just mentioned not even realizing the body that you were in back then do you feel like there was a lot of comparison? It sounds like you have this level of confidence that carried you through high school, too.
Marcy:
You know, I'm really lucky that even though I knew I was chunky, or fat, or plus size, or however you want to call it, I was also taught that I was really pretty and fun and smart, you know, and that I could really do anything I wanted to do. And that self confidence was really not about vanity that was really just about owning it. And just like owning who you are as a person and accomplishing whatever you want. And so I have walked around with a lot of confidence growing up, I think the voice has had moments where it gets louder, and it gets quieter. And I think that's the body positive journey, period. You know, I think it's a lifelong journey of listening to that voice or not listening to that voice or sort of like turning it down, you know, being able to turn the volume down on that thing. But it kind of is always there because, you know, media and television, and that comparison thing is just happening. But I love that quote, comparison is the thief of joy, because now as an adult, that's an anchor for me. I think in high school, I again was confident and happy. But maybe if I was thinner, I would be homecoming queen. Or if I was thinner, I would get boys, girlfriends, and not just his friends. And yet at the same time, now I look back and I think, gosh, there are probably five different reasons that I wasn't that person's girlfriend, and one of them might have been that I was bigger because fatphobia exists. And then also, you know, struggling with that. Wanting to date Barbie, you know, if we all want to look like Barbie, they're all taught that they have to like Barbie. And so I think that's really real, too. But, I think that at the end of the day the cycle of dieting- it's weird, because I feel like I was really happy. But I also feel like I was going to Weight Watchers and sort of tormented by my weight and also really happy. So it's hard to look back and really dissect what or how, or who, you know what I mean? I just think for me helping young people now just like not get into that cycle of dieting you know? But like, how do you break that cycle?
Katelyn:
Well, how did you break it?
Marcy:
I always have to say to my mother, it's like, she'll listen to this podcast, she's gonna be like, I'm so sorry. And I'm going to say, Mom, you don't have to apologize. Again, because you were only acting out of your own trauma. And she had a very controlling overbearing mother who also had, you know, a weight issue and taught her. And her mother and her mother and her mother. So how to break the cycle for me, part of it is how we talk to the younger generations. You know, how I talk about my body in front of my cousin, or niece or sister or even my mom, when she said something is affected or how I'll kind of shut things down. That is a big part of it. And I think that has affected her. I do think the work I've done in the body positive world, which is more for you know, our generation obviously, has been amplifying it more, even though I know the work has been being done for decades. It's just getting louder and louder where I'm like, so excited when I get on Tik Tok and I see these 15 and 16 year olds and how they're talking about weight and body. It's really hopeful. It gives me a lot of hope.
Katelyn:
I feel the same way too. And it's something I speak about a lot as well, just the generational trauma around bodies, as well as the systemic and societal and cultural messaging and all of these things. It's so multilayered and insidious. And so I really appreciate you saying you don't owe an apology too. We don't owe an apology to our moms, and they don't owe us an apology, you know, it's something that is just all around us and passed down again and again and again. And so it's really just taking a stand and doing something about it. I'm curious when you felt like you had that first sliver of awareness that something needed to change. Like, when do you feel like you started to step out of the diet culture waters and into the body positive space or even just you started realizing that diets weren't working for you anymore? Or you were done with trying to control your body?
Marcy:
Oh, gosh, I wish I could say I completely was you know, but I do think it's like deprogramming, right. You know, I'm 37 years old. I've got about 30 years of deprogramming to do. And I'm about 10 years in. So I feel like hopefully the next 10 years will bring more. And my TED Talk will be like when I'm 70, you know, but it's like, I found the body positive world and it truly found me through plus size fashion. So I have always wanted to be on television. I am just the average girl from LA like anybody else. And I always just wanted to be an entertainment television host. And I really saw myself doing this red carpet thing and growing up that way. So in 2010, I had just finished a job, I was a college graduate, I was like, Okay, this is the time, I'm gonna pursue this thing. Or it's a dream that's just gonna run away. And I went to this coach, and I just wanted her so badly to sort of like, tell me lose 100 pounds, and you're a star. And I shared with her that some plus sized fashion brands had reached out to me and that I was kind of dabbling in the plus size fashion world. And she was like, that's it. That's your brand- you got to go with that. And that encouragement really opened me up to this whole world that had really found me because I was just doing like YouTube videos. Literally, there's a YouTube of me doing the Master Cleanse, like cutting the lemons. I don't know I was just so bored. And I think it was like, I wanted to create content, you know, this is like, 2010.
Katelyn:
Yeah, I was just gonna say, you and every other girl in 2008.
Marcy:
I'm like, I got A Mac computer, and it had a camera. And I wanted to be a part of the conversation. And, of course, I had no direction, I had nothing that I really had to say. And someone reached out to me, and they said, you know, you should be doing plus size fashion. And we have a magazine, it was called Scorch magazine, and we would love for you to kind of like, be our correspondent, and you can go around LA and get free clothes. And that's all you had to say like free clothes I'm in. So I started doing that. And that was like, Oh, my God, I mean, like, talk about eye opening, just an entire Pandora's box of a whole world that I had no idea existed, whether it was HAES, or fashion with brands I'd never heard of, or just the idea of body positivity. Not being on a diet, not hating yourself. It really was pretty new and wild. And all this to say it's like, I really feel like I grew up always super happy. But I do always know that the dialogue of like, everything is great. But if only you were thin, like imagine how much more popular you could be or more successful or in a better relationship. You know what I mean? So it's always that everything was bad in my life, I think mentally for me, it always had to do with my weight. So if I was thinner, I would get a job on camera, you know, if I was thinner, so that dialogue which all of a sudden you can be just how you are. And you can be on camera for us and this whole world. I was like, I mean, it was the best thing that ever happened to me.
Katelyn:
That's amazing. So this is literally like the moment that you were discovered- it sounds like a major next chapter in your story.
Marcy:
Yeah, it really was. And I always like to joke, when I really make it I'm gonna send Jessica Kane and Cali Louis Vuitton bags, because they really were the ones to sort of pull me out of what I was doing. And very quickly thereafter I was able to do a series for Marie Claire magazine. I was on Dr. Oz and Rachael Ray and all of these talk shows. And it's like it really worked. You know, the plan was working. And I think that for someone who has always wanted to be on TV, but just was waiting for that thing to click where you're gonna lose 100 pounds, and magically, it's all going to happen like not having to do the thing that you always thought was what was holding you back but yet, leaning into the thing that you never in a million years would have expected would be where the success was. And I always like to say, grow where you're planted and blossom, you know, just grow where you're planted. That is like one of my other quotes of life. So I embraced it so much. I was so unafraid to just dive in. And it was magical. And it was really, really amazing. And I always would think about, you know, my grandmother who grew up, you know, lived her entire life on a diet. And I think her entire existence, always chasing the thin ideal. I just thought, Oh my gosh, if she could see me now, and she could see me now that I own a plus size store like, I just think she would be floored. So it's really I don't know, I'm just like, excited about the future of body positivity and body neutrality and this whole shift because I do think it's a mindfuck. And it's one I know, I'm really tired of.
Katelyn:
I wish you could see my face- I've got like the biggest smile on my face, and I want to cry at the same time. This is such a great story. We've got to go backwards, because I've got a lot of questions around your rise in stardom. So Marie Claire, that was kind of like the first big like TV, I know, it's a YouTube channel, which I absolutely love. And when I was watching it, too, it was like, Oh, my God, this was totally the makeover era, and it just brought back so many memories. And also, I just think it's so cool that you had a spot on there. So for everybody who's not familiar, first of all, how did you get that call and create that opportunity? And can you explain what that series was about?
Marcy:
Sure. I mean, I think all of this is fairly applicable to now because, you know, with Tik Tok and all of these different platforms, I mean, if there's any content that you want to create, you can write, having a podcast, really all you need is a cell phone, and $5 a month to put it online bare bones. So at that time I was out there just doing my thing on my iPad- it had a little flip cam. And I would go around with a cheap little tripod that I think I stole from my dad. And I would just interview all these designers for this magazine. And that gave me footage. It gave me a presence online, a very small social media following. And I was out there just regularly auditioning for things. And actually, at the time, it was when the transition between Ashley Falcon and Nicolette Mason, in the Big Girl In A Skinny World column for Marie Claire was happening. So this column was life changing, right? I mean, I remember there was nothing like that when I was younger. So for Marie Claire to have this column like this, it was huge. I do remember getting called to see if I could come in for a meeting. But I live in LA. And so it was not going to be a fit. So I think that when they were taking the column to YouTube, it just felt like I would be a good fit and a compliment to Nicolette. And so yeah, that's kind of how it happened. And organically whether she submitted me or how it happened, but it was like, definitely for me and we had so much fun. We made like 30 episodes for Marie Claire on YouTube. And then I kind of just took that and I ran with it. And I pitched an idea to Lane Bryant. I ended up doing like 24 videos for Lane Bryant that I produced myself and hosted and then the talk shows came and all of this was, of course having a website having an Instagram having an online presence to wear, if you googled you know, Marcy, or plus size, fashion house plus size fashion, you know, experts, that's where I would come up in the search results. So, you know, I always just love to say like, the one thing that I just never imagined would be my big break- the fact that I was plus size- happened to be it and how special is that?
Katelyn:
Oh my god. And you know, one of the coolest things that I'm learning about you in this conversation is that your passion and your mission is so strong. And I can just feel this fire coming through the story when and this mission to change the conversation and really just change the trajectory for people in the next generation and create a more inclusive space, which, I mean, I think that you can believe that but to really radiate that. That energy is so potent, you know. It comes through in all of your videos as well, too.
Marcy:
It means a lot to me for you to say that. You asked me earlier if there was a soap box that I wanted to be on. I mean, I think I'm just plain exhausted. I've been on a diet since I was seven, like I am tired of it, like maybe this is just my body, maybe I'm just always gonna be bigger. And that's okay. And I can still eat healthy quote unquote whatever that means for you, I can still ride my Peloton that I pay monthly for, and I can do all the things but I am exhausted. And I am exhausted of dieting being a topic at dinners or parties. I don't think it's an appropriate topic for dinners or parties. I don't think it's an appropriate topic at work. I'm tired of it. And so I think every time someone says something in my presence, like, Oh I want to be bad today. And I correct them. And I'm like, you know, you're not being bad or good. You're just eating a cookie. It's like light bulbs go on in people's minds and their brain, you know I do it little by little, and I get braver and braver, every time I do it, you know, to what level I will do it. But I think for me, it's just like, this is an epidemic. It's something that our society really struggles with. And I have a lot of empathy for my thin friends. As much empathy as I do for my largest client. And sometimes that's not very popular in the plus size world. But because I think I've always had thin friends growing up, I have seen the eating disorders firsthand, and the body dysmorphia, and the shame and the guilt and all of that too. And so I'm like, okay, so nobody's happy. So when is it thin enough? Or, you know, a big thing, I think now it's like, now as soon as I'm comfortable, sort of with my body, then it becomes aging. And then that little crappy voice of like, you better get the hyaluronic acid girl, you know, all of that. Like, wow, wow, these are just billion dollar industries that just want to steal our joy and steal our money.
Katelyn:
Totally. It's this idea of never being enough. And it's all perpetuated by money. And just like you're saying, taking our power away as women. This is just a distraction or
Marcy:
That's my soapbox.
Katelyn:
I love it. You can stand on that soapbox all day, I'll get up there with you. One of the things that I was also really curious about too is your appearance on the Dr. Oz show. I would love to hear as much as you're comfortable sharing just what that meant to you. Because you know that he's arguably a doctor pretty steeped in diet culture. I don't know him personally, but just from his messages and everything, they can be really confusing. I've had a lot of clients who have had a lot of dissonance around things that they've heard and things that have been peddled. And so your appearance on that show and your opportunity to really speak up on your platform. What did that mean to you? Did that resonate in a way that it resonated with me at all?
Marcy:
You know, that was such a funny appearance. Because at this point in my career, I'm like, I will be on anything, you know, invite me to the opening of an envelope, and I am there. So I don't think I thought too deeply about what I was saying. But probably the most frustrating thing about that segment of the Dr. Oz show is that yes, while not only Dr. Oz is steeped in diet culture, for whatever reason, they wanted to do these fashion segments to sort of like help, you know, their average viewer, which is probably a plus size woman, because that's what the average woman is, I think they were trying to help them like find that sort of, like flattering jean type for their body, which, you know, now we don't even use the word flattering- we tell people to wear what they want. And we encourage people to, you know, screw the fashion rules. And who cares what Dr. Oz or some girl in a red blazer, named Marcy is saying about it, like, just wear what you want. And when you feel good in it, you know. I was very young at the time, I think that I didn't really realize the impact of having these women walk out and we were like, oh, Jenny's suffering from sausage legs. It's like, what in God's name was I thinking? But, you know, again, I think that was the 2010 version of clickbait, you know, a segment from Dr. Oz about the best jeans to avoid cameltoe. For some reason, that is what people will tune into. So we also need to be better about what we choose to click on and what we choose to scroll past or double click and like or follow online. Like we have to be so careful about what we're telling the media we like, because if you watch that weight loss video, or you watch that video of someone's transformation on Tik Tok, that tells Tik Tok that you like it. And I will tell you as soon as I know that something's about weight loss, I swipe so fast. And I'm telling you my ads changed. Because I used to get all these like weight loss ads on Tik Tok. And as soon as I started swiping out of before and afters, not even letting it make me curious. It's like, Tik Tok knew that's not for me. So that's sort of a tangent on how Dr. Oz used his form of clickbait, which, whether it's, hey, you're fat, you want to look good, hey you're fat and want to lose weight. I mean, that's what the media is right? It’s trying to get us to buy whatever it is they're peddling, whether it's jeans or diet pills.
Katelyn:
Yeah, totally. And that language was, especially at that time, so normalized, you know. I mean, people of all size bodies- I think that there's so much trauma there, especially being talked at like that in a larger body. And these are the wounds that when you talk about layers of generational trauma, and everything, these runs so deep, because they become so normal, and pedaled on talk shows, and, you know, other forms of clickbait, like you're saying it really, it's confusing when we do get to a point where we feel like we need to make a change, but it's so important. I also love the power tip to not even engaging and beating the algorithm that way. I'm big into boundary setting, especially with social media, it's so challenging. And I also think it's one of the most important areas to set boundaries, but it can really be difficult. So I think that's an excellent tip.
Marcy:
Well, and I love the hashtag, #allbodiesaregoodbodies. And if you are struggling to find content that is suitable for you, then you've got to dig deeper, and look through some of those hashtags, and try to find people that look like you and that bring you joy. And you know, I think if you're following someone that makes you sick, whatever impact is having on you, it's like stop unfollow, like, stop doing that to yourself, you know, and I think, yeah, it's super powerful. And it does there is such a deeper, deeper algorithm that is in vibing these small gestures that we make with our thumb, that I mean, I'm I know I'm like on like this level, but I'm like, uh, why am I talking about this, but really, it's like you are telling them what you like every single time you click on something. So make sure that you are really aware of that. I think that's can be a really helpful tool in the body positive journey.
Katelyn:
Absolutely. So you were in entertainment for about 10 ish years, and I know that you still dabble in it, but it's kind of shifted into your next exciting chapter, which we'll get into in just a moment as a store owner, but did you make the decision to stop hosting and switch it up a bit?
Marcy:
Yeah, so I am still a producer by day and I own The Plus Bus, my boutique by night and day, it's my little side hustle and labor of love. But about five years into my hosting career, I was like most talent or sort of Hollywood seeking people, you know, there is definitely that struggle, and that hustle, and I think I got a little bit fatigued of it. I really wasn't at a place to be an influencer and to go full blown down that Instagram path, I think financially that can be really stretching for people. So I realized that I needed to find something that was going to satisfy me, I knew I wanted to stay in the entertainment industry. And I got my masters at USC during that time in communication management. And that really opened up just kind of like, refocused me, I think that I came up in the hosting world, right around the time where we were switching to all celebrities. So in the old days, like the 80s, and 90s, you know, you didn't have to be a celebrity to be on a show, to be a game show host or to be on a talk show. And I sort of came in right when that was shifting. So I just had to mix it up, I didn't have time to wait around for my next big break. And so I continued to evolve, and I got my degree, and I met someone who had been to USC as well. And I always say I sort of paid for a country club card. Because that's what a lot of education is, you know. I read lots of books, and I wrote lots of papers and at the end of the day, what really was most impactful was meeting someone who also had that country club card. And when she saw me she was like, Oh, this is someone who's young and ambitious, and could totally do this job that I may have, which was as a producer on a show, she was about to start. She gave me my first job. And the rest is sort of history. That was five years ago. And we've worked together on and off ever since. And I'm really lucky that I met her at a time that I did. To this day, I always wonder, like at that dinner had I not said that I was going to USC, would she have taken such an interest in me? Because she was like, Oh, my gosh, I went to USC and my husband went to USC. And like, it was just this happy moment of just this connection that we found at the 30 person dinner and we ended up seated right next to each other. So the next chapter for me was really going from being the puppet to the puppeteer, it was so gratifying to make money and to be able to support myself, and to really learn all of the behind the scenes that it takes to do any television program, which was really an amazing experience for me and has been for the last five years. And when opportunities come up to do on camera things I love to do them but I'm also really grateful that I still get to be in the industry. And yet, you know, I've been stable and I'm not sort of chasing this impossible dream. Which I'm not saying if you're out there and you're public- the creative endeavor that you're doing, dream big, like go for it because you will always always wish you did if you didn't. But I also believe that dreams change, and I think for me as long as I am in the industry like that will be satisfying to my childhood dreams or whatnot.
Katelyn:
What type of things do you produce now? Is it mainly film or TV?
Marcy:
So I have been working in the reality TV industry. I worked on season 1-4 of Hollywood Medium with Tyler Henry. It was a show on E!. I have worked on two seasons of Top Chef, among other things, and I just worked on a really fun juicy show that is airing on TLC right now called You, Me & my Ex. So lots of fun juicy reality TV and yeah, looking forward to more to come.
Katelyn:
Love and another million questions coming my way for you. So as a producer, and also a body acceptance/body positive advocate, how have you found an opportunity to integrate that into the work that you're doing and where do you see an opportunity?
Marcy:
I mean, gosh, that's my dream- to have a show about body positivity or body positive makeovers or my store or any/all of the above. I think that as I have been in the industry as a personality and a producer for over 10 years, I have seen lots of people that want to make that show and want to have more, you know, bigger bodies on camera, it just feels like the timing hasn't been quite right. So I have yet to really be able to bridge the gap. My focus right now, obviously, is Instagram and Facebook content, which through my store, I'm able to do these, like QVC style shows, and always leaving body positive content there. But no, I mean, my dream someday would be to work on a show that features body positivity or body positive cast or any sort of plus size people in general. But that opportunity has not arisen yet.
Katelyn:
Oh, it's manifesting. It's gonna happen.
Marcy:
Yeah. Oh, yeah, it's gonna happen. I mean, Lizzo has a reality show coming out this fall featuring plus models as dancers, there are shows like My Big, Fat, Fabulous Life on TLC that are super popular. But I think a show that's really going to make it is that sort of plus size Sex & The City that people will really be able to identify with, and really see, wow, these girls are hot, and they have great lives. And they have great guys. And you know, they're really killing it in business. I think that day will come and yes, I will be on that show and or producing it.
Katelyn:
Yes, you will. Absolutely. What about the conversation behind the scenes Marcy? Are you noticing the language shifting at all, as it relates to on set language or casting? What you're noticing with your community and your peers in the entertainment industry in general?
Marcy:
I would say the biggest shift is for diversity in general. And so I think that's a good thing. Right? So I think that we'll continue to see those boundaries being pushed, whether it's through a trans character or a fat character, or somebody who's trans and fat. Now, that would be wild. But no, I think that the boundaries are continuing to be pushed. And I think people are really striving for diversity on and off camera. So I mean, that is something that I look forward to.
Katelyn:
Yeah, yeah, absolutely. It's a really cool time to be in entertainment. Obviously, there's so much work to still be done. But wow, I don't even think you're in the middle of your career yet- I can only imagine the things that you're going to experience as you continue to push forward. It's an industry that's really lucky to have you, that's for sure.
Marcy:
Thank you. That really means a lot to me. And it's exciting to think like, yeah, I'm not even in the middle yet. So I'm trying to enjoy the ride. And, you know, I'm working with a coach who helps me with dreams and goals and all these things. And I'm like, gosh, I just feel like I've been goal setting since I was five. And so I kind of just want to enjoy the ride a little bit, you know, but what does it look like to still enjoy the ride and dream big and dream big for the future and the next five and the next 10 years? So thank you for those words.
Katelyn:
Of course. Well, tell us about your shop, The Plus Bus. It's so cool. For everyone who's listening, you must follow and check out the website and everything. It's such a unique concept. How did you come up with this? And for everybody who's listening, can you just describe what this magical place is?
Marcy:
Yes, it is a magical place. So five years ago, right around the same time that I was starting my producer career, I had connected with this talented designer Jen Wilder, who said I want to have a plus size boutique. And I think that if we build it, they will come and I was just that's fun. Like, you know, I have really always played a stylist on TV. It wasn't something that I had really been passionate about as far as fashion. You know, it was my way to get on TV. It wasn't my love of clothes that really fueled it. So Jen on the other hand is obsessive about clothes and loves fashion. And so I said well I can help you do that. You know I'll do the business and you kind of run the store and you can have your clothes in here- your designs. And I totally think that if we build it they will come. And so that was about five years ago we started doing pop ups. We then found this little brick and mortar and we moved to York Boulevard in Highland Park which is high foot traffic. Yeah, a very cool area. So fun to be somewhere that not only our clients come and get you know, a cup of coffee or a slice of pizza or you know it's just really a billboard for what we're doing here and that we are here and that we deserve beautiful things. And so we're very excited to see how much the business has grown in five years and have really expanded online through COVID. And, yeah, it's really just a little nugget of a dream that kind of grew into a giant thing, it feels like a giant to us, you know, we're just really two girls trying to make it in LA, she's got a full time gig, I have a full time gig. And we have an amazing team that has really helped us grow this beautiful space that is open and welcoming to people of all walks, and all body types. And we're very excited about the future of The Plus Bus.
Katelyn:
So cool. I love it. What's been some of the biggest challenges in fashion in just kind of pivoting into this and size inclusive fashion, as well as the biggest lightbulb moments and learning lessons for you?
Marcy:
Yeah, I mean, the biggest challenge with the business in general is that we're creating a space for people to try on clothes and buy clothes while also creating community. And I think sometimes that can get a little tricky when it's like a community endeavor, but we are also a business, you know, so that is always at the forefront of what we do, which we have always said we wanted, as long as The Plus Bus can break even. But it's five years now. So it is time to take a salary and see what the future might bring for the business as far as fashion. And I mean, we definitely see the struggle that our size 22+ community has, and we are always fighting to get access to those sizes. I feel like across the board, the largest size goes first, whether that's like the L at Target, or the XXL you know what I mean, at Macy's or at our store, like our 26 and 28, like vanish. So there is such a need for that. And we truly do try to provide as much as we can, in every size. But I mean, the conversation around inclusive fashion and that being such a hot button word. My take is just like don't use it- just say you're coming out with a line that has extended sizes, or you're now carrying plus, or you're doing a line with x celebrity, I think people use that buzzword of inclusivity. And at the end of the day, no plus size line is inclusive, if it doesn't have straight sizes, right? Or no line period is inclusive, like inclusive fashion, it's like double zero to 42. Or whatever size we want to say is the threshold now, at some point, that threshold used to be 28. Now it's 42. Because I think Universal Standard goes up to 42. What will it be next? You know, I don't know, I don't know where that line was drawn and who draws it. But in general, I feel that so many brands now, actually are really doing a great job expanding their size ranges, I've never had access to over 100 brands and at The Plus Bus you will find over 100 different brands, some brands that you've never heard of some brands that you have, and you'll fall in love with like Good American, or Prem or, you know, Zelly. You get to try things that you can only find online at our store, which I think is a huge challenge for plus sizes. I think it's really a shame and that's why we are so passionate about our brick and mortar experience. And we started as a brick and mortar five years ago when no one was doing that, everyone was just doing a website. Why would you open a brick and mortar and the fact that if I got invited to go to a gala tonight, like I have nowhere to go, I could go to David's bridal maybe. So that needs to change if everyone deserves amazing clothes, whether they're on a Target budget or a luxury budget. And that's like so exciting. But I think the brick and mortar experience the fact that there are hundreds of brands but you really can't try any of them on in person. And even huge brands like Anthropologie will launch plus sizes and then not have them in store. They can't carve out like a six by six space for them. It's a shame, you know what I mean? It's like Madewell- I would love to wear Madewell jeans or try them on. But they're only available online. So The Plus Bus, it's like somewhere where you can really experience- you can touch something and feel it and maybe even figure out what size you might be if we don't have your size because we are a resale store. So we have new gently worn items, some vintage. So if we have your size, you know in like the 14, we may not have the 16 because we only have that one pair of Madewell but I feel like if those are a little too big or too small. I know a lot of our Customers are going to those brands, websites and then becoming their customers as well. So, yeah, I think plus size fashion- I think fashion in general has a long way to go. But I do see a light at the end of the tunnel when you see plus size models on Versace runway, like that's major, you know, so I try to be on the positive side, I really try to look at what is good when people say, Oh, I wish designers paid attention to body size- I'm like, here, I can send you a list of people to shop for, like, we have so much compared to what I had as a teenager. And that brings me joy because everyone deserves to look and feel how they want. And they should be able to dress in the trends that they want. In season like not in a year when people decide to make it for fat girls.
Katelyn:
Yeah, I love everything that you're doing. This just sounds like a magical space. I can't wait to visit it in person, because I'm in San Diego. So I'll just drive on up one day and surprise you with a cup of coffee.
Marcy:
Well, we would love that. But we are also trying to do a meet up down there. So we should definitely coordinate on that. We are starting to really want to do pop ups. I put up an ad today for a pop up street team. Kind of like a Plus Bus street team of people that wanted to pop up. But yeah, we actually got what's called approved to be in Smorgasburg, which is like the food events every month or every Sunday actually, in LA. It's huge. It's like a major, major event. It's like very cool vendors and tons of awesome food. And it will expose us to so many people, because that's always our challenge. You know, we just want every person in LA that needs to know we exist to know that we exist. But yeah, we're trying to come to San Diego. So let's connect on that.
Katelyn:
Very cool. Are you open to sharing any of your dreams for the business? Do you see yourself opening stores? Do you want to expand internationally? How big do you want to take this?
Marcy:
I mean, gosh, sure. Worldwide, Katelyn. I think right now, like the In-N-Out plan, you know what I mean? Like slow growth over 50 years. I don't know how many locations they have. But we always joke like, you know, California, Arizona, Nevada. I really want to open stores in places that need it like Missoula, and maybe San Diego and no one else is doing it there. You know, there's awesome stores in Seattle and Minneapolis, there's one in Brooklyn, so we don't need to go there. But wherever there is not a resale plus size, fashion, dedicated space, that's where I want to be. And over the quarantine in the past year and a half, I've been shipping to Alabama, Arkansas, Wisconsin, Alaska, Honolulu, like all over the world and country. And I know that there are plenty of people in every single city. So we really want to reach out because what we do is important and they are valid and deserve fabulous clothes and a place to go where people will make you feel fabulous and validate you and validate that you want to wear or whatever it is that you're there for. So yeah, I mean, My dream is to create lots of jobs for plus sized people and corner offices for our core team that has been with us since the beginning. And yeah, I mean, I definitely feel like this is a corporate opportunity. And hopefully, we can always run it like a small business. You know, hopefully, we can always keep the heart that we have, and the mission behind what we're doing here. But I do see that our entire country could use a Plus Bus. And I mean, I used to joke that I wanted to be like the driver. But then I found that Buffalo Exchange only has 50 stores. So I've come down from 100 to 50 Okay. And then as far as In-N-Out that's TBD I don't know how many stores they have.
Katelyn:
I don't know either- a lot. But I love this vision. I can see it all happening. It's so important and I'm just so excited to see all of this continue to come to life and expand and grow and reach people. What are some of your favorite brands?
Marcy:
Thank you. Okay, In-N-Out has 364 locations. I think that's too much. Noted. I think to me, it's like California, Arizona, Nevada. But I'm thinking like yeah, they have an In-N-Out like every few miles so that's too much. But anyways, yes. To infinity and beyond.
Katelyn:
I love it. I'm into it. Marcy. What are some of your favorite brands? I don't know if you heard me ask that earlier.
Marcy:
Oh, God. I am really into Universal Standard right now. Good American. I just discovered for bathing suits this brand called Lime Ricki. And they go from 00 to 5x. I'm really into that I am all about like a uniform. So I would love a crisp, Universal Standard, just a white t-shirt every day, a sick pair of like distressed cool denim jeans from Good American. And then like any version of Doc Martin. And I love luxury. I'm really getting into just the higher end investing, realizing how much more often I wear my investment pieces, and how when I get a dress, that's a fast fashion piece, I wear it one time and really don't want to wear it again. And it's kind of worn, you know, after the wash. And then I look at my Anthropologie pieces, or my pieces from 11 Honoré and wear them over and over and over. And they still look great. And you can just feel the quality. So now I'm really into trying to invest in what some of these designers that are doing that are plus size, which is like Mara Hoffman and Mary Katrantzou. I love VEDA, I just bought a leather jacket. It's also really fun to have, it's easy. It's really fun to have people to invest my money in. Even prior to this year, if I wanted to spend $1,000 on a leather jacket, it really didn't exist. So now that we're opening up this world of luxury to plus size people, it's really exciting to see what my closet will look like in two years.
Katelyn:
Yeah, totally. I love it. Do you carry wedding dresses at all?
Marcy:
That’s a long thing. I mean, anything can be a wedding dress, like you can get married in anything. But we do want to have a wedding event, it's kind of just I need to collect for us. And that's dresses to really be able to offer it. I have got five in my garage that need to be shot and uploaded. But I will tell you I get asked that all the time. And it's just No, it's for a shortage of time and space. I know where to put them. And I’ll have you know, it’s just one thing on the list of many, many things. But I will say just one thing about the investment thing. It's so interesting to watch people really have to work through the idea of spending $200 or $300 or more on a dress, because they just never had access to it. So we're assuming the person has been to South Coast Plaza or a fancy mall, and had the opportunity to walk into Alice & Olivia, Bhutan, H&M and Brandy Melville and you get to choose all of those things. Like we've only ever had Lane Bryant and Torrid. So now when you're like, oh, but here is this version of this thing, it's way nicer. It's very hard to convince this customer she's worth it, and that the piece is worth it. And so there's a lot of work to be done with that as well.
Katelyn:
Absolutely. How do you find yourself navigating that when you're talking through some of those experiences and challenges with a customer? I'm sure that a lot of emotions pop up- fashion is emotional in general, but particularly around the conversation that you and I are having. I'm sure you play therapists some days when you're in the store. So how do you notice the conversation shifting and how do you support your community during those harder moments?
Marcy:
Fashion is so emotional, and we have so many emotions. We have experienced people having so many different emotions when they come into The Plus Bus. So many people just are not used to having so many options. Or they're being relegated to one rack, you know, over by the blenders on aisle, you know way in the back corner. So it is a really emotional experience for people. And there's a lot of voices that they're hearing, whether it's their rules that their mother told them never to wear stripes or that their sister made a comment 20 years ago about their arms and they can't shake it. So for us, I always encourage people to make it about the garment and never about their body. So when you try on a dress and it's too short or too long, it's never about you know, it's always about that dress. And when we love something we buy it, you know, we do not leave it behind because plus- those people we can't really afford to do that. Because you know what, when that great Vegas trip comes up, you're going to be glad you bought that sparkly dress, or when that business opportunity, that business interview comes up, you're gonna be glad to have that blazer in your closet. So we're very big on that and sort of planning ahead. And as far as investing I always like to share what I called fashion math, which is basically okay if you spend $1,000 on a dress, and you wear it two times, okay- It was only $500. If you wear it four times that dress would have cost you $250. And on and on and on, right? So I paid $250 for this beautiful Zac Posen black pantsuit I've worn four times now. And so I think that's just part of, in general, the sustainability element of our business as well. It's like fast fashion, it's just not really doing anything for your wardrobe. You know, if you try something on that, is that more welbilt even the difference between Fashion Nova and Eloquii? I mean, there is a difference, there's going to be a difference between Eloquii and 11 Honoré’s collection, you know, so I think once you start feeling the quality of things, it is hard to turn back. And you do realize that, okay, this does feel and look really good on me. And, you know, as far as sustainability, it's like, we just stopped buying little throwaway things. You know what I mean, like investing in things we're actually going to wear a few times.
Katelyn:
I agree. And I really appreciate that about your company's mission, and just the sustainability aspect and the quality aspect. And honestly, I really feel like there's a certain energy when you buy elevated pieces and quality pieces that you carry yourself a little bit differently. And also, I love your fashion math equation. I think that's brilliant. I always do that in my head, too, when I'm investing in something that's a higher priced item, that's more of a quality piece. And if you are struggling from a body image perspective, regardless of what size you are, by the way, too, it really can change how you show up in the clothes, because you're investing in yourself. You're saying with your dollars that you are worth wearing the piece, right?
Marcy:
As a plus size producer in Hollywood, it is my mission to be the best dressed. Yeah, not because I don't want anyone to be distracted by my size or what I'm wearing, but I want them to look sharp, I mean, in fact, sometimes I'll get too much attention. Because I think I look so cute, and people are so not used to seeing someone so put together. That is my sign that I have to like tone it down. I'm like, okay, that dress got me too much attention last week. But you know, it's like we can work on our beauty from the outside in. And when you pop that tag for that interview or for that first date, there's just no better feeling you feel confident you feel good. And the clothes we wear have power. And they tell that you're exactly right. They tell ourselves, our mind or spirit, something. And so if you're just wearing I'll just wear that maternity dress, even though I had my baby a year ago. But it's still that kind of, you know, no, go out invest in your body, we dress the skin we're in today, we don't dress for five pounds ago, five pounds from now, none of that. And we just dress the skin we're in. And I think that is really powerful. And at the end of the day, like if anyone is listening to this podcast, I have no doubt that when you lose or gain whatever amount of pounds it is, you will be able to afford new jeans. So just get jeans that fit you. And I think you will notice such a change- a shift in your attitude and your disposition and your confidence in general.
Katelyn:
Mic Drop. I love it. Love everything that you just shared. And let's just end it there. I think this is gold. And I am so excited to introduce you to this community and get everybody up to your store and all of these amazing pop up shops that are going to open up and these new brick and mortars and everything and watch your show and cheer you on. You're freaking awesome. Thank you so much for being here today.
Marcy:
Well, thank you, Katelyn. And I'm excited to learn more about your work. And I just think it's so important that we have more people that are into HAES, and that are just talking about these things and providing a platform for that. So thank you so so much. I'm @themarcyminute all over social media. And my store is called The Plus Bus. So thank you for sharing me with your audience. And hopefully I'll see you soon in San Diego.
Katelyn:
I hope so we'll definitely have to make it happen. And for everybody listening, we will link all of the ways to connect with Marcy in the show notes as well. I'm glad you just plugged yourself. I was going to ask you to do that. So make sure you connect with her and thank you, love. I really appreciate it.