'It was a reminder of my imperfections': Melissa McCarthy used to dread getting dressed every day because there were so few options available for larger women 

  • The 45-year-old Bridesmaids star's first fashion line for Seven7 recently debuted at Nordstrom and on HSN 
  • Melissa explained in a piece for People that she felt saddened and frustrated by the lack of options available for larger women 

By Valerie Siebert For Dailymail.com

Published: 15:59 EST, 9 September 2015 | Updated: 18:32 EST, 9 September 2015

It's hard to believe now, but actress-turned-designer Melissa McCarthy has admitted that she once saw fashion as 'a chore'. 

The 45-year-old Bridesmaids star, who recently released her first designer fashion line, Melissa McCarthy for Seven7, and has written an article for People magazine revealing what led up to her deciding to make the move - mainly, about how in the last few years, she had begun to dread getting dressed.

'It had become a daily reminder of all of my imperfections,' she said. 'For the first time in my life fashion had stopped bringing me joy.'

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Dressed to impress: In a new article for People magazine, Melissa McCarthy, 45, reveals that a lack of options led her to lose her 'joy' for fashion

Dressed to impress: In a new article for People magazine, Melissa McCarthy, 45, reveals that a lack of options led her to lose her 'joy' for fashion

Such success: Melissa described in her article how getting dressed became 'more about "What will fit?" and less about "What am I in the mood for?"'

Paying it forward: The actress recently released her own line, Melissa McCarthy for Seven7, which caters to women sizes four to 48

Paying it forward: The actress recently released her own line, Melissa McCarthy for Seven7, which caters to women sizes four to 48

She went on to describe how her personal style came to be 'more about "What will fit?" and less about "What am I in the mood for?"'

The source of the problem? As far as the actress was concerned it was all about the lack of options available. 

'I've been every size under the rainbow, and my sense of style never left me, but my options did,' she wrote, adding that her solution was to ‘create a fashion line that is for all sizes'. 

The Bridesmaids star's first collection, which is on sale now on HSN and at Nordstrom, is designed to fit sizes four to 48, but she has consistently insisted that - although she 'can't control who puts what where in the store' - this is not a plus-sized line.

But Melissa does dish in her article about her horror at the way plus-sized women are 'undervalued' in the fashion industry, given that 60 per cent of women in the U.S. are a size 14 or larger. 

Serving to all: Melissa approached her design with women of all sizes in mind, but has also expressed her shock over how fashion 'undervalues' plus-sized women as they make up 60 per cent of women in the U.S.

Serving to all: Melissa approached her design with women of all sizes in mind, but has also expressed her shock over how fashion 'undervalues' plus-sized women as they make up 60 per cent of women in the U.S.

On display: Melissa recommends fans to 'pay it forward' by doling out genuine compliments to others and encourages readers to ignore 'arbitrary' rules that say what you can and can't wear

On display: Melissa recommends fans to 'pay it forward' by doling out genuine compliments to others and encourages readers to ignore 'arbitrary' rules that say what you can and can't wear

Big change: Melissa revealed she is working with two retailers who have promised not to separate her plus-size designs from the rest of her wares

Big change: Melissa revealed she is working with two retailers who have promised not to separate her plus-size designs from the rest of her wares

'The point is, I'm making clothes I hope women like, all women,' she wrote, revealing that her 'five-year-plan' for the line will see all the clothes housed on the regular floor of stores without any segregation - and apparently two large retailers have already agreed to do so.

While she won't announce those retailers yet, she promises that women of all sizes will be able to buy her sweaters, jeans, and dresses in the same section of those stores.

Melissa, who studied fashion in college before turning to comedy at the encouragement of friend and future shoe designer Brian Atwood, has previously admitted that she always had a career in fashion in the back of her mind. Especially after working with red carpet stylists on a regular basis.

Old friends: Shoe designer Brian Atwood (right), whom she has known since her days at FIT, has been there to support her first professional foray into fashion

Old friends: Shoe designer Brian Atwood (right), whom she has known since her days at FIT, has been there to support her first professional foray into fashion

See here! Melissa took to Instagram in June to debut a first look at her clothing line

See here! Melissa took to Instagram in June to debut a first look at her clothing line

Melissa remains close with her former classmate, and admitted to the magazine that she has always had fashion in the back of her mind, especially with her frequent dealings with red carpet stylists, saying she prefers style to have a 'personal feel to it.'

The mom-of-two, who has been in Boston of late to finish filming her role in the upcoming Ghostbusters reboot, encouraged women in her article to support the style choices of others, dole out genuine compliments whenever you can, and ignore any rules about fashion that tell you what you can and can't wear.

'You should be able to wake up and say, "I am wearing weird boots and leopard pants and a ripped-up T-shirt and a leather jacket and a big bow in my hair",' she said. 'I'm a mom with two kids – and I wear leather pants and cheetah-print and all kinds of crazy stuff.'

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