When I say that I hate Dana Sue’s outfits on Sweet Magnolias, I need you to understand that I’m talking from experience. I’m big. Fat. Fluffy. Whatever terms you like. I’m not skinny. I consistently battle with my own body and how I never feel accepted in a world that isn’t built for a body like mine. This is why I’m so passionate about the travesty that is Dana Sue’s outfits on Sweet Magnolias in Season 2, Season 3, Season 4, and now Season 5.
As a fellow fat girl, I never see bodies like mine on TV or in movies. And when I do, we’re always the joke, the friend, or the one being made fun of. We’re never the ones to be desired, to be put front and center, or have storylines that last seasons. Then walks in Dana Sue. She’s a central part of Sweet Magnolias and has her own woes, family, friends, business, and romance. But sometimes it’s hard to focus on her as a character because her outfits are a constant reminder that Hollywood doesn’t know how to dress a plus-size body and they don’t care.
MORE: Sweet Magnolias Season 5 Review: Good Background Watch, But Not Much Else
Every single outfit that Dana Sue wears on Sweet Magnolias Season 5 looks like they threw a loose fabric over her, slapped a belt on it or make sure it has a scrunchie bottom to hold the bag shape, and called it a day. Don’t forget the big sleeves to hide her arms! There’s no structure, it looks ill-fitted, and makes me feel like there’s no way a plus-size woman can actually rock some cute outfits on TV. Her outfits feel low-effort, there’s no story to tell, and like she’s not worth even finding outfits that complement her and her plus-size body.
Keeping all of this in mind, let’s make one thing clear though. If Brooke Elliot, the actress who plays Dana Sue, wants to dress like this, that’s her business.
I’m critiquing the wardrobe department on Sweet Magnolias. Because their job is to tell a story through clothes. And when you spot the character in question, you already know things about them. Like when I look at Helen, she’s elegant and knows what colors work for her. And Maddie, there’s this flirty vibe with her outfits. Vibrant, even, like she’s starting anew. And Dana Sue? Well, it looks like they want to hide her because she doesn’t really belong on this show. She’s just a check-mark where Sweet Magnolias can claim to have diverse bodies without making an effort with said diverse bodies.
That’s not all!
Dana Sue always has a pillow or item in front of her. That tells me Sweet Magnolias is trying to hide her body any chance they get. Those curtains they make her wear with a belt? That tells me the wardrobe department doesn’t care to accentuate anything when it comes to her body or maybe they don’t even know how to dress a plus-size woman in the first place. Same thing with the consistent dark colors Dana Sue wears. Because God forbid a plus-size woman wear something other than black because “oh no, then the audience will know she’s plus-size!” We know.
But it’s just a TV show, you scream! No. TV teaches us about our world. It sets the standards. And right now Sweet Magnolias is once again telling audiences, and even other productions, that you don’t need to put effort when it comes to plus-size characters. You can just throw a curtain on them that gives them no shape and hides their arms and belly. Don’t forget an obscene amount of belts so you can say you made an effort to style the plus-size character!
As a fat girl, Dana Sue makes me feel like this is it. I can own a business, have a partner, and have a family. But I can’t be elegant like Helen or cute like Maddie. I can only hide my body and hope my winning personality makes everyone forget that I’m fat.
Sweet Magnolias Season 5 is now available on Netflix.
In interviews Brooke Elliot has said she chooses a lot of what she wears… so you’ve basically just insulted her entirely. It seems to be what she is comfortable in and it’s sad to see people tearing her down…