H & M Has Plus Size Clothing in Germany

I'm in Germany, and I'm happy to report that there are stores with nice large size clothing here. My friend, Andrea, took me shopping in Pforzheim, a city with a population 116,000 at the northern edge of The Black Forest.
There's an H&M here and guess what? This H&M has plus size clothing! H&M is a retail store out of Sweden and the concept is "fast fashion," meaning they offer the latest trends from the runways at affordable prices. The H&M in Los Angeles does NOT have plus sizes, so I was really curious what the clothes would look like. The billboards in LA indicate that their clothes are trendy.
This H&M in Pforzheim dedicated a corner of the store to the larger sizes. The area was small and frankly, nothing jumped out at me as a "must have." But I did like this green military/safari style jacket in cotton. Andrea and I both bought one.
European is very different from American sizing. A size 10 in America is about a size 40 in Euro sizing. My jacket is a size 52, which would be a size 22. However, in America I usually wear a size XL to a 1X in tops and a 16/18 in jackets. It's a bit big in the torso, but to accommodate my broad shoulders I got the next size up. I'll take it to my tailor in LA to move the buttons over. It's always been my opinion that cheaper clothing tends to run smaller.
You may not know that there are no standard specifications for women's clothing sizes like there are for men's apparel. A man shops for a shirt by his neck size and a pair of pants by his waist size and inseam. Not so for females. Women usually end up wearing a range of sizes, depending on the maker, the shape and the fabrication of the item.
Years ago, Anne Klein started a trend that made it seem like we were all wearing a smaller size by shifting her size chart. If you wore a size 12, you could fit into a size 8 or 10 in her collection, making her clothing very popular.
I will say this again and again, I don't really care what size I actually have to purchase, as long as it fits. It is the price tag I am more concerned about. Price of the green military jacket? €39,95 Euros. And no, that comma isn't a typo, there is a comma vs. a period with Euros!

BBWs Say Online Dating Doesn't Work. What Is Your Opinion?

The Associated Press called me up the other day to discuss online dating and in particular, dating sites that cater to BBWs.(Big Beautiful Women, coined by Carol Shaw, founder of the original Big Beautiful Woman magazine and a woman with a real set of balls!)
I had written about my personal experience with online dating on Craigslist.org and posted it on my other blog at open salon dot com.
I had met Craig Newmark during the whole scandal of "The Craig's List Killer," and felt that my experience with Craig's List was an example of the organic and sincerity of most people who post or peruse Craig's List. In fact, the overwhelming response and the transperancy of most of my responses actually restored my faith in mankind, as in kind men.
The article Megan Scott wrote about BBWs and online dating has crossed the wires and is starting to get internet pick up.
Here is the link to the first paper to post it. Let me know about your experience with online dating.

Kingley&Posh Sale - New Resource

I heard about Kingley&Posh when they were looking for industry insiders to take a survey about plus size clothing.
I've been watching the collection. There are some nice tops and a cool black dress worth checking out.
They're having a sale and contest through October 16, 2009.
Enter to win a $100 Visa gift card.
Enter code Gorgeous09 for instant savings on some items!
www.kingleyandposh.com

Update on Newport News Catalog High Waist Push-Up Leggins

The high-waist push-up Shape FX Leggings arrived. The XL Tall will fit at least a 46 hip. The control band at the "high waist" may press into the torso, right under the bust, and may be too tight for some. They washed well, I let them air dry, but even washing with Woolite Dark, I can see they are going to fade. Turn them inside out to prolong the inevitable.


http://www.newport-news.com/shop/product_single.aspx?style_id=37598236

Drop Dead Diva

Check out this article in The New York Times about an "overweight" character who struggles to lose weight on Lifetime's "Drop Dead Diva." Recent research on weight loss, how the brain works and the truth about genetics are revealed in this article. I haven't seen this show or the character, but we might want to check it out on Lifetime.

लास्ट होलीडे विथ कुईं लातिफः

I finally got around to screening the film "Last Holiday," with Queen Latifah.
She really walks her talk in this movie. The costumes are colorful and show off QL's curves. The character transforms from a matronly sales clerk to a jet setting entrepreneur. The subtle nuances that can make or break the style of a larger woman, were deftly handled by costumer designer Daniel Orlandi.
Every year I look forward to the exhibitions that feature costumes from television and film at the Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising, FIDM, gallery in Los Angeles.
It's exciting to hear the curator share industry anecdotes and insider information about the costume designer, the production and the clothing itself. This year I was particularly entranced by the costumes from Coco Before Chanel.

How To Wear Leggings

Leggings are actually very easy to wear, no matter what your age or shape.

The hot silhouettes – the shapes, for fall are bigger on top - we're seeing broader shoulders and longer looks, as in tunic length, paired with a narrow bottom. Leggings work from day to dinner, so have at least two pair to wear! The length and fabric are the two most important things to look for in a legging.

One of my favorite looks is to wear black matte leggings and black low heel ankle boots with a dress that has a full skirt.

Length: The length is the secret to success in feeling comfortable and looking great in leggings because a hemline is a horizontal break on the leg. Note the best length for your own leg: capri/cropped/long if you have longer legs, thin and/or shapely legs, or thin ankles. If you have thicker legs go for ankle length or just above the ankle.

Alterations: Don’t hesitate to get a slight alteration to adjust the hem to your best length.

Thicker Legs: Wear a tunic length top or dress.

Try ankle boots especially if you have thick ankles. Ankle boots the same color as the legging visually elongate the leg. If you have thick ankles wear ballerina flats or low heels with a scooped out oval toe box showing toe cleavage, or wear low, pointed flats or low heels. Avoid shiny material if you have thicker legs.

Cellulite: If you have cellulite, make sure the fabric is a bit sturdier, suggestions include Danskin leggings with Supplex. Danskin makes plus sizes too but the missy XL can fit up to a size 18W. Call a local dance wear store to find them and go try a pair on to see what size you have. Make sure to ask if they carry 1x etc. as they may not have in them stock but will order them. When I called a local dancewear store, they told me the XL runs large, so I was encouraged to go over there and try them on. They fit me! In fact they are actually a bit long, but I hemmed them.

This particular fiber blend – Lycra with Supplex has strong but not tight with a smooth matte surface and they aren't tight around the waist. Thinner cotton leggings don't hold their shape and they can reveal lumps, bumps and bulges. Newport News has Shape FX leggings and I just ordered the high-waisted style to try it out. Junonia also has a lot of styles and fabrics to choose from.

Be Your Own Stylist:

A white shirt worn a bit oversized and belted lower on the hip - or not; worn with leggings and a boyfriend jacket - J. Jill has one up to 4X - works for women of all ages. Dickies a great white shirt for $26.99 up to a 2X and it comes in black too. Lane Bryant has several to choose from this season (Fall 2009).

Cardigan: Instead of a boyfriend style jacket, choose a longer cardigan, nothing too thick and not cable style.

Dresses: Leggings work with dresses now; just remember that thinner is better for this purpose, unless you are funking it up with motorcycle boots and vintage. ;-)

Take a party dress, pair with leggings, ballerina flats or peep toe shoes, add lots of beads or arm bangles to bring the party dress down to a more casual style.

Washing Tip: turn the leggings inside out, use Woolite for Darks, a detergent designed for dark fabrics, and hang to dry. These tricks will keep your leggings black longer, as black can fade, although the Supplex leggings don’t really fade. Avoiding the dryer will keep the elastic fibers from breaking down.

Your leggings will keep their color and shape longer.

A New Docu-Series is Casting Plus Size Women

I received this query today from a major TV network casting for a new show.
Read on, pass it along and best of luck to everyone.
Seems like reality shows like The Big Loser and maybe even More to Love have opened up
TV execs to the reality of their audiences. If at least 2/3 of American women are size 12/14 or larger....the statistics speak for themselves.
I am not in contact with this show and do not have any more information that what is here.
So read carefully and proceed as directed. And you may share this post!

Summary: TV Show Casting Plus Size Women age 21-35

Name: Roz Taylor Jordan

Email: rozt2@yahoo.com

Title: Supervising Casting Producer

Media Outlet: Major Network
Region: Chicago and Baton Rouge/New Orleans Areas Only

Deadline: 05:09am - 21 September

Query:
A Major Television Network is currently casting a new Docu-Series that will
follow the lives of 4-5 friends ( ie; Sex and the City or Entourage) who
are all plus size women. All participants must live in either Chicago,
Baton Rouge or New Orleans, have dynamic personalities and be available for
5-6 weeks. Arch of the show centers around them preparing for some big
event ( Wedding, Reunion, Vacation). Interviews begin ASAP. Feel free to
pass this along to anyone related to the Plus Size world.

Ralph Lauren Delivers When You Least Expect It

I don't mean to give Ralph Lauren a hard time, after all, he did have a brain tumor...and he was an early adaptor to plus sizes and has hung in there through thick and thick. But when you least expect it he puts something everyone can wear in the plus collection and this season it's this tissue linen poet shirt. I ordered it in black is the new black. I plan to have that thing hanging off one of my shoulders, which will have been dusted lightly with a shimmery powder! And lots of bangle bracelets, more than in the picture. I think I'll wear this with a short, pencil, stretch denim skirt, footless tights and satin ballet slippers.
I ordered it online from Bloomindales.com and hope it comes for my VIP day at the American Performance Drivers Club for people who like to race cars, street cars, dirt and street bikes, karts... got invited to take a tour, a spin around the track and get a driving lesson. Just think of all the cute guys that will be there! Just kidding, but I did start working on this documentary - Stars, Cars & Guitars - and where else should a girl from Flint, Michigan hang out when you're makin' a movie about cars???

Adele Hits The Image Section of The Los Angeles Times

Adele....first came on my radar when CBS Sunday Morning (one of my favorite TV shows, it's intelligent with clever and upbeat segments on everything from graffiti art to how the female amputees are fairing post Iraq) recommended her debut album, 19. If you haven't heard of her, go immediately to iTunes and buy Chasing Pavements!
She graced the cover of The Los Angeles Times Sunday Image Section, a lofty placement. (The editors on the Image beat over there have our backs girls. A few weeks ago they ran a story about plus size fashion and they got a great deal of reader feedback, including publishing my letter to the editor.)
Adele is 21, beautiful, with a sultry, enchantress singing style. Adele is plump. She is a size 12 and weighs 154 pounds. And she's refreshingly sexy in an authentic way.
She dresses well - she hired a stylist, but knows what she likes and is having fun....being Adele.
She's singing at the Hollywood Bowl, alongside Etta James, this Sunday, June 28.
Photo Credit: Carolyn Cole for The Los Angeles Times

Susan Boyle "Happy As I Am"

Real Women rule the world.
iVillage put out a querie looking for input on what kind of makeover Susan Boyle should get.
Here's my input, as it isn't a makeover she needs, it's the opportunity to express herself and that i s what image is about. Not everyone wants to imitate Madonna or Beyonce.
Some of the most powerful and influential women in the world have been a "bit sturdy."
Madeline Albright and how about the two women who talk about sex on TV? Susan Johanson
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sue_Johanson?
Here's what I sent to iVillage...
susan's spunkiness that she demonstrated by not being shy in front of the audience and being quite comfortable in her own skin, is the foundation of helping someone with a makeover. i could glam her up to make her look like an upper east side society doyenne, or create a "performance persona" for her, but that isn't who she is. Simple and elegant is the look i would strive for.
she opened her mouth - her talent sang forth, she will never have to prove herself again.
1. trim but don't reshape your brows.
2. soft highlights and subtle shaping/layering to frame and update the hair
3. susan's body type appears to be a bit rectangle vs curvy, so i would use color and a flattering neckline - keeping her face and neck open - and give her a sophisticated dress in an eye enhancing color with clean lines, slightly a-line to create a bit of shape. i'd avoid thick or chunky accessories, but i would have a long oval necklaces to create a bit of vertical line, put her in pumps with an elongated toe box to add length to her legs.
4. add a posture pep talk and a better bra, something with a bit more lift and maybe padded to add shape and proportion.

American Girl by LL Cool J

A few weeks ago I heard a song by LL Cool J called American Girl.
I had heard of LL Cool J, but let's say his music wasn't rotating in my iTunes....
This song rocked my world.
It's an ode to the wonders of all women, no matter what color, shape or size and there is a particular reference to the "thicka sista." He sings "American Girls are the best in the world"...and he talks about "shakin' what your mama gave ya"...LOL
Take my word for it, this song will cheer you up even if you're not unhappy and it will get you on your feet and dancin' !
I've got the song up on my myspace page if you want to hear it.
You'll be glad you did.
http://www.myspace.com/lindaarroz

Belle Noir Radio and Magazine

Check out this great radio show. I'm a guest on the show today!
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/BelleNoir

Fox Casting Pretty Plus Size Women For New Reality Show

Monday, April 20th, is the last day to submit video or meet a casting agent in Los Angeles for the new Fox reality plus size dating show from the producers of The Bachelor.
Check out my website for all the information on where to upload your video.
Don't miss out on the opportunity to show the world what you've got to offer - personality, style and lots of love! Get your 15 minutes - it's a launching pad for other things. Why should all those thin bitches on The Real Wives get all the fame and glory, huh? Just joking, who cares about them.
http://www.makeovermedia.com

Susan Boyle - It's About Time

The minute I heard about Susan Boyle I rushed to YouTube to hear the most beautiful noise on the planet.
Thank you Susan Boyle for giving us hope for all our dreams and for providing, as one of the judges on Britan's Got Talent said, a long overdue wake up call. Nothing is ever as it seems.
In the old studio system in Hollywood, extraordinary talent like you were hired to sing for the stars who lip synced the tunes and took all the credit. Our pop culture tendencies to turn out cookie cutter mediocrity needs a jolt of what a real star is. I know you're headed for a makeover soon, they won't rest until they've put you through the camera ready car wash, so enjoy the pampering and attention. The world is watching, and it's a priviledge. "You're my thrill..." - a line from a Joni Mitchell song.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9lp0IWv8QZY

Meet The Curvy Fashionista!

Meet The Curvy Fashionista!
As always, getting the word out to you about where to get the best advice and style tips.
Meet Marie Denee. She is also the Examiner.com's SF hook up for plus sizes.
http://www.thecurvyfashionista-mariedenee.com/

Everything You Ever Wanted In Plus Sizes - OneStopPlus.com

Great Shopping Resource

 I was the editor of a couple of special size fashion magazines in the nineties - Big Beautiful Woman (BBW) and Maternity Fashion & Beauty. We scoured the marketplace for great clothes, products and services that catered to our readers. Fifteen years later,  all you have to do is go online and shop till your fingers drop. And get ready to drop a bundle because you are going to go crazy when you see the selection at OneStopPlus.com

From great prom dresses to that hard to find swimsuit - I swim almost every day, and swimsuits are only available at brick and mortar retailers for a couple of months a year - OneStopPlus has you covered with departments for large men, plus size women who are  tall or petite, and maternity. It's like having an entire mall at your service.

Reading

Here's an article about large size fashion that ran last week in Newsday. 

http://tinyurl.com/newsdayapril2009

Brick House of Style Blog - Check it out

http://brickhouseofstyle.blogspot.com/

Discovered on Twitter. Check it out.

Get Fit To Go Green - Teresa Tapp

My friend Teresa Tapp, author of Fit & Fabulous in 15 Minutes, has a new workout for people who need to lose "more" weight. It's called appropriately, T Tapp More.
Anyone who has had an orthopedic injury or suffers with a chronic condition that impairs mobility knows the side effect is weight gain and loss of strength.
Having had both, I can recommend this workout as a gentle, safe and effective way to add more movement to your life.
The movements that physiologist Tapp designs include a concept called comprehensive, compound muscle activation. That means that each movement works multiple muscle groups at a time. A bonus feature is that this muscle activation squeezes the lymph glands, helping to move toxins. You get stronger as you continue to do the movements. Dr Nicholas Perricone says T Tapp is the "best anti-aging workout."
Check out Teresa's website. She has a "try before you buy" button with free videos, the website is available in 17 languages and all DVDs have Closed Captions and include Sign Language Interpreter. For more information, check out her free forum full of focused T Tappers.
http://www.t-tapp.com
T Tapp More's Primary Principals:
*aerobic without jumping
*strength building without weights
*uses no equipment or gear
*can be done in 3 ft of space
*has only 8 repetitions
*no repeat sets needed

Fox Casting Pretty Plus Size Women For New Reality Show

If you are pretty, plus size and between the ages of 21 and 33, Fox TV is looking for you.
For more information about the TV show and how to audition, click on this link.
Casting agents are scouting Lane Bryant stores around the country over the next few weekends.
Don't miss your chance to launch your career, get your 15 minutes, make some money and have some fun.
Make sure you tell the casting agents Makeover Media sent you.
Send me an email if you have any questions
makeovermedia@mac.com
http://www.makeovermedia.com/Makeover_Media/Fox_Casting_Plus_Size_Women.html