IGIGI by Yuliya Raquel Presents a Marc DePaola Film - 'I Am Beautiful!', Starring Rosie Mercado

IGIGI,  by Yuliya Raquel (the designer and founder) an online retailer and one of the Full Figured Fashion Week event sponsors, produced a short film.  Called I Am Beautiful, the short features plus size model Rosie Mercado. It's bold, moving and inspiring. 

I was lucky to be one of the first plus size spokesmodels to get a contract with a major brand (Spiegel catalog in 1989), and in 1991 I became the editor in chief of Big Beautiful Woman magazine (founded by Carol Shaw). I produced over 50 model searches and hundreds of fashion shows between those two companies alone and met thousands of women along the way. Most of these women were short on self esteem. I never felt I was an activist for size acceptance, but I did and still do feel like an advocate for women's self esteem.

Subsequently I began to incorporate all sizes, including petites, tall and maternity, into my TV makeovers, to include plus size into the mainstream, rather than segregate it out as if we're different. "I Am Beautiful" sends the right message.
So with great enthusiasm and anticipation I spent the last three days attending events at Full Figured Fashion Week in Los Angeles. It's the only plus size event I've been to in many years. At the beginning of this decade I "retired" as a stylist to focus on my writing and Makeover Media, the public relations company I co-founded in the late nineties. Subsequently I returned to my origins as an image consultant and have become an expert in upscale lifestyle.
Last night, October 30, there was a fashion show featuring clothing from both designers and retailers. (I'll share more information on all the clothing companies who participated in the show in a future post.)
A sold out crowd of big, beautiful and stylish women along with several rows of bloggers, TV crews and photographers filled the room. "I Am Beautiful" opened the show. I cried when I saw it. Everyone knows one of us. We're your mothers, sisters, cousins. We're your neighbor, your co-worker, your friend. We are beautiful.

The State of the Curvy Community at FFF Weekend LA

*photo courtesy of NOW

It was a passionate group who gathered to listen to a panel discussing The State of the Curvy Community as part of Full Figure Fashion Week, founded by Gwen DeVoe. Bold, beautiful and curvy Chenese Lewis, president of the Hollywood chapter of the National Organization of Women (NOW) moderated the panel.  Lewis recently made headlines when she posed nude with America's Next Top Model Whitney Thompson as a battle cry for Love Your Body Day, launched by NOW in 1998.
An eclectic mix of representatives from the Curvy Community included actress Sharon Quinn, Reah Norman, fashion director of Plus Model Magazine, Heinrich Saint-Germain from Judgement of Paris, R&B artist Kelly Price, and Judge Karen Mills-Francis.
The mostly African American audience was very vocal about the general lack of availability of quality clothing that fit and what they perceive to be the cold shoulder given to them by Seventh Avenue. The bloggers, retailers, reps from clothing companies, stylists, photographers and plus size models also in attendance, agreed with the consensus that there's a pervasively negative attitude towards being associated with "fatties." Fatty is the new N word, and a recent provocative Marie Claire blog provoked over a thousand comments, some of which were full of fat venom.
The glaring issues facing what is said to be approximately two thirds of the American female population,
are real. A recent Los Angeles Times story discussed the some of the daunting challenges designers and retailers deal with in serving women who wear a larger size.
Nothing's changed in the more than 20 years I've been a member of this club. We've come a long way baby, but the average woman, who allegedly is about 5'5" tall, weighs about 163 pounds and wears a size 14 is still struggling to get dressed.
The few "real women" ad campaigns haven't generated any growth in the use of models and actors who portray the more realistic image of the average consumer.
One of the biggest gripes voiced during the panel discussion was a dearth of plus size models used in advertising, yet no one could answer the age old question, 'how big is big?' Is size 14 representative, size 18, or larger? When I went to work for Big Beautiful Woman (BBW) as the fashion editor in 1991, it was hard to find clothing samples large enough to put on a real plus size model. Subscribers to BBW constantly wrote in to ask how to get companies to use larger models. The same holds true today, and perhaps even more so with the global economy squeezing manufacturers and retailers.
The Internet has fostered entrepreneurship in this lively community. If you Google, you can find just about anything you could ever desire in just about any size. Whether the quality is great, the price justified or the fit accurate, at least it exists. In order for these special size businesses to succeed, they will need the support of the women who say they don't have enough choice. Three specialty fashion magazines, BBW, Mode and It Figures (published by Lane Bryant),  have gone out of business in the last twenty years, all for lack of advertising dollars, indicating the sales at retail just didn't add up.
According to NPD, a retail and consumer behavior research firm based in Port Washington, N.Y., sales of plus size clothing account for only 17% of all women's apparel.
But that raises a question. How are the sales calculated? Is there an arcane method, like the Neilsen Ratings, where only a limited number of house hold viewing habits represent the entire country? The Neilsen Ratings, derived from people 18 - 49, only recently added college students age 21 and up living in college dorms, yet surveys indicate the average age of the TV viewer is 50.
As the two hour panel wrapped up, Lewis called for solutions to resolve the dilemmas of this vibrant demographic.
The usual meet and greet fest afterwards was warm and fuzzy.  I hadn't seen actress Kim Coles  in a few years, we met in the "green room,"at one of the many TV shows I've appeared on. The owners of Abundance, an elegant and chic, large size clothing boutique in Los Angeles were passing out copies of the LA Times article I mentioned earlier. One thing was clear, the Curvy Community is a dynamic and friendly crowd ready for action!

Scouring Paris for the latest in fashion via - latimes.com

Singer Beth Ditto walked the catwalk for Gaultier. It's not the first time he's used a larger woman as a muse and it won't be the last. Gaultier and others in fashion shock us with provocative images of the unexpected to remind everyone there are other creatures on the planet besides the skeletal, barely legal waifs that often grace the narrows of fashion's future.
This year's fashion formula combines a Louise Brooks' flapper bob, a Mae West meets Shirley Temple ensemble, and Kabuki meets Amy Winehouse make-up to astound us with the ultimate Kewpee Doll, Beth Ditto!

Booth Moore's coverage of the runways in Paris provides insight on what we'll be wearing next spring.
Some welcome relief comes with the update.
Three trends emerged as fresh:
Black is in the shadows for spring, except for the continuing detour towards punk. Colors we haven't seen in awhile are blooming in multiples on floral prints, and skirt lengths are going down, down, down.
But as Moore says, no one's a slave to hemlines, still, more options are always welcome.

*photo (Benoit Tessier, Reuters / October 1, 2010) via the Los Angeles Times

Survive a Role in Your Own Disaster Movie - Get HomeBody to Help!

Jillian Hessel is a friend of mine.  We met in 1994 after I almost starred in my own disaster movie.
 I was in my office at BBW magazine, where at the time I was working as an editor writing and styling fashion, fitness and beauty...and all of a sudden there was an earthquake.
It was the first earthquake I'd ever experienced.
The building started to vibrate, it was on rollers, common in California, so it was very subtle at first, but then the quake really kicked in and the building seemed to lurch and my bookcases were tipping over, stuff was sliding off shelves, furniture was moving across the room in slow motion and I dived under my desk.
The violent shaking didn't last long, but when I crawled out from under my desk to survey the damage, my legs were a bit wobbly.
I was putting everything back in place, when I picked up some press kits off the floor. As I shuffled through them, I noticed several of them were for fitness products and experts. I set them on my desk.
I realized I had just narrowly escaped some sort of disaster and that this earthquake stuff was for real! And unlike tornadoes, where you get ample warning most of the time, could happen again, anytime.
The little trembler had shaken me up but there wasn't any damage to the building...this time.
I got my office back in shape and started thinking about how I would survive an earthquake or any disaster for that matter.
I reached for the pile of fitness press kits and opened the one from Jillian Hessel, a Pilates expert. I had just recently heard something about Pilates so I put that one on the top of the pile. Pilates sounded interesting and different.
I was going to need help to get strong enough to survive a starring role in my own disaster movie. And this was before reality TV!
Imagine...you're in your office and the big one strikes. What would you do?
My mind quickly raced back to the moments of the biggest jolts and easily imagined the building coming apart at the seams. Or worse, how 'bout that de riguer move for every damsel in distress in action flicks, you know the one, where the woman is hanging on by one hand over the edge... of something, and just in the nick of time the dashing hero saves her. Yeah, how many of you can hang by one hand? I couldn't even do a pull up at that time, well I still can't really.
I mean I could picture myself trapped in an elevator with a bunch of scared and screaming people.  Someone would suggest we try to escape through the elevator shaft....you've seen that storyline too...well could you, would you, climb into the shaft to escape?
And while I was asking myself the same question, it got worse,  cuz it hit me the boyz won't be looking for me. Nope, Bruce, Arnold,  or even Claude, none of them would have me on their radar.  I was going to have to save myself.
So I called Jillian's publicist, Kyrian Corona, to thank her for sending me the information and made an appointment to meet Jillian. And that began my ongoing quest to save myself if in case I find myself starring in my very own disaster.
Sixteen years later I'm still friends with them both and still working with Jillian.
She's helped me find strength, balance and better posture among the benefits that are too many to list. I'm grateful for the other friendships I've forged as a result of Pilates. With Jillian's guidance  and understanding of the way a body works, I can say that Pilates profoundly and positively helped me through several illnesses, including a recent hip replacement.

Jillian has a new workout DVD called Homebody.

It's really fun and easy to do. You can do it anywhere and don't need anything special in terms of equipment or clothing.

I took a screener to Europe last year and one of my friends, a bona fide couch potato, was up on her feet, making the moves before she even realized it!

Jillian created Homebody for those of us who need help finding the time to exercise, and in these uncertain economic times, for those of us who can't afford the gym, the trainer or the weekly class.
Check it out. Jillian designed the movements based on her love and awareness of yoga, dance and Pilates. There are three options, standing, seated and floor work.
I do the seated arms and hands dance every few days at my desk!
Give Homebody a try,  next time there's something shakin' you'll be the star!
About dot com reviewed Homebody

Forever 21 Comes To Their Senses! Faith 21 Name Change

I always scratch my  head in wonder when a brand names their plus size division some stupid or irrevalent name. For example, there are a few of you who may remember Liz Claiborne's plus size line called Elizabeth!! So when Forever 21 launched Faith 21 I was surprised. Wouldn't you want the customers who couldn't shop with you because the size range wasn't "wide enough" hit the floors and the buy button online?
Seems they've come to their senses, and a name change is in the works.

DKNY for Lane Bryant

I've watched the ebb and flow of designers efforts to create a collection that represents their signature style but adapts to the demands fitting plus size women require.
This collaboration with Lane Bryant is the second time around for Donna Karan. Her first attempt several  years ago bombed at Bloomingdales. I was so disappointed that she couldn't seem to get it right, since her original mission was to dress real women.
Everyone deserves a second chance, so perhaps the folks at Lane Bryant will coach her team along as we respond with purchases...or not.
The shirtdress has a lot of possibilities. As for jeans, I'm not sure that we really care anymore who makes the jeans as long as we have choices to work with. I was surprised to see the line is lacking something a bit sexier. Well, dip your toe in the water to gauge the temperature, right?
*image courtesy of Lane Bryant and DKNY Jeans

Christina Hendricks' Dress at The Emmys! Shame on Designers!

Christina Hendricks/photo Alberto E. Rodriguez Getty Image

Mattel made a doll in her image and this is all Hollywood could do? I'm on a rant. Fashionable friends hear me roar! WTF was that dress on Christina Hendricks, star of Emmy winning Mad Men??? That dress is a Mad Mess! As a former Hollywood Stylist, I've dressed women from size 0 to size 30 and anyone with some taste, an ounce of style and some "pull" can get the right clothes, especially for a high  profile person and event. 

Noting Christina's curves and exotic features, this dress is an abomination and a throwback to the Belle Epoque. Vintage is cool, but not this fussy, f****d-up fantasy. I've seen pin-up girls on MySpace who have better clothes.
This just proves that most of today's stylists don't really understand proportion or balance and reinforces the prejudice most designers have against anyone who doesn't disappear when they turn sideways. 

Hendricks is on record for saying she has had a lot of trouble getting clothes for special events and she's only a size 14 (her measurements at this writing are 39-30-39)! 

Joan is one of the hottest characters on the hottest TV show, 

When you're dressing one of the usual suspects, it's not a big deal to roll a few calls and arrange for delivery or pick up for a fitting. But when you have to really  work at putting together everything you know about dressing "bodies" vs personalities, it seems that most can't deliver. 

Special thanks for Zac Posen for giving it a shot.

Work Out With Pilates Pro Jillian Hessel at Richard Simmon's Studio in Beverly Hills

Pilates pro Jillian Hessel, author of Pilates Basics and the HomeBody workout, will be teaching 

Dance-ilates at Richard Simmon's Slimmons Studio in Beverly Hills. I've been taking Pilates with Jillian since 1994. Her new Dance-ilates class is going to be so much fun. It combines the benefits of dance, yoga and Pilates with a motivating music mix. In fact, Jillian's new workout DVD, HomeBody, won three Telly Awards, and one was for best music!





Call Jillian's Studio  at 310 246 0082 for more information and to sign up. Classes start September 14 and will be on Tuesday mornings at 11:00 am to 12 noon.

More About Whole Lotta Love Tribute Album

Photo courtesy of Plussizecuties.com

Here's the link to the genesis of the tribute album, with posts of all the groovy musicians who've signed up! Think of all the cool women we know who fall into this category.
Send me your favorite women of size and I'll compile an homage list for a future post.
Can't wait to hear this album...Thanks again to all the rockers, lovers, musicians and real men who get it we cum in all shapes and sizes ;-)

Sleaze Roxx: Fat Chick Tribute Album

Article and Artwork Courtesy of Sleaze Roxx...Thank you Boyz!Sleaze Roxx: Trixter Guitarist Added Added To Fat Chick Tribute Album

Trixter guitarist Steve Brown has joined the roster of the upcoming tribute album "WHOLE LOTTA LOVE: An All-Star Salute To Fat Chicks." Steve puts a rock spin on the hit single "Big Girl (You Are Beautiful)," made famous by current pop sensation Mika. A celebratory affirmation of plus-sized women, it was written as the theme for the Butterfly Lounge, a California nightclub catering to larger ladies and their admirers. The song was an international Top 40 hit in 2007 and has been featured on such TV shows as ABC's "Ugly Betty" and "Good Morning America." Brown took the dance beat of the original and infused it with his own patented guitar stylings, adding a hard rock coating around its pop center. A sample of the song is now available at the official "WHOLE LOTTA LOVE" MySpace page -- www.myspace.com/WholeLottaLoveTribute

"Women make the world go 'round," states an enthusiastic Steve Brown. "All shapes and sizes, I love 'em all! As such, this is the perfect song for me. I stuck with the dance groove and added some big guitars and huge vocals to take this tune to the next level. It rocks and it (jelly) rolls!"

Also confirmed for the tribute is the inclusion of a track from newcomers Triangle Exception, who contribute a cover of the song "Big, Fat, Sexy Mama." Channeling the spirits of the Rolling Stones and the New York Dolls, "Big, Fat, Sexy Mama" is a raucous ballad extolling the virtues of making love to a fuller figured woman. The song originated with New York City underground sensation The Compulsions, hailed by "Classic Rock" magazine as "The Coolest Band in the World" and featuring frontman Rob Carlyle, alongside current Guns N' Roses members Richard Fortus and Frank Ferrer. A sample of the song is now available at the official "WHOLE LOTTA LOVE" MySpace page.

As previously reported, "WHOLE LOTTA LOVE: An All-Star Salute To Fat Chicks" is a musical homage to the big, beautiful women who make the rockin' world go 'round. The tribute will feature all-new recordings of popular songs praising the fuller female figure, originally made famous by some of the biggest names in rock and pop music. These anthems to abundance will be performed by renowned rock & rollers from yesterday and today, along with a select few rising stars. In direct opposition to the "no fat chicks" mantra espoused by some, "WHOLE LOTTA LOVE" will be a star-studded celebration of large and lovely ladies. Songs confirmed so far include Queen's arena rock classic "Fat Bottomed Girls" by L.A. Guns singer Phil Lewis, with guitarist Paul LaPlaca and drummer John Macaluso. Also on tap is a high-octane version of the AC/DC concert staple "Whole Lotta Rosie" by Rufus Fontain, featuring Cinderella guitarist Jeff LaBar and original Jackyl vocalist Ronnie Honeycutt. The Poison chart-topper "Unskinny Bop" is ably recreated by party rock outfit Evick, featuring members of the Bret Michaels Band. And the bass-heavy Spinal Tap dirge "Big Bottom" is given a 6-string revamp by Twisted Sister guitarist Eddie Ojeda and his Band of Steel. Plus-sized songstress Celisa Stratton brings all-new meaning to the title track "Whole Lotta Love" by Led Zeppelin, in conjunction with veteran Quiet Riot drummer Frankie Banali and guitarist Alex Grossi. Additionally, rock & roll comic C.C. Banana offers up a faithful rendition of the Kiss track "Spit" (a.k.a. "Split"), featuring bassist David Z of ZO2 and guitarist Angus Clark. The album boasts an inspired cover by pop artist Les Toil, known for his bold and beautiful "big girl" pin-up art. Additional artists and track listings will be announced as they are confirmed. Samples of all tracks are available at the official "WHOLE LOTTA LOVE" MySpace page. - www.myspace.com/WholeLottaLoveTribute.

"WHOLE LOTTA LOVE: An All-Star Salute To Fat Chicks" is scheduled for an August 31, 2010 release and is now available for pre-order directly from SplitScreen Entertainment. The first 500 pre-orders will receive a free instant digital download of "Fat Bottomed Girls," as well as a bonus mini-print of the cover art upon delivery of the album. Further details can be found at the SplitScreen Entertainment website - www.SplitScreenEntertainment.com.

Courtesy of www.sleazeroxx.com and www.SplitScreenEntertainment.com

What Would Joan Do? Mad Men Barbie Dolls Are So, Well, Mad!

The fourth season of AMC's decadent sixties fest, Mad Men is in full swing and to keep us in the mood, Mattel launced a collection of dolls based on the characters in the show.I love Joan Holloway, the saucy red head with  the vixen like voluptuousness we haven't seen since the likes of Jane Russell, or even Marilyn Monroe. All woman, Christine Hendricks, the actress who plays Joan, is on record that many designers wouldn't make dresses available to her because she wore a size ten! Now that the show and the doll are in MAD demand, it seems it's hip to have hips again.

Swim Suits for All - The Swimsuit Safari Has Begun!

Photo Courtesy of Swimsuits For All

I was thrilled to get a facebook message from Pat Swift, the Swimsuit For All Ambassador and founder of Plus Models.
Swimsuits For All is an online retailer who gets it that women are different shapes and sizes. They carry long torso, plus size, D Cup and Up, along with regular size styles starting at size 8.
They have a super Fit & Flatter Guide, that walks you through a simple system to help you find the right size for your body type.
They even have swimwear fit specialist available to provide a free, personal swimsuit consultation!
I swim almost every day, all year long. The chlorine breaks down the elastic fibers in suits, and sometimes a suit will only last three weeks before it's falling apart or stretched out.
Swimwear is traditionally a seasonal item at retail and hard to find, so having an online resource for suits all year long makes all the difference in this mermaid's world. And it's nice to see great brands like Delta Burke, Beach Belle and Longitude.
Check them out for Maternity, Mastectomy, and select styles in sizes 26W-34W.
1-888-241-SWIM 

Two Sisters, Two Sizes, Two Worlds Collide at Australian Cosmopolitan Video Shoot

Two sisters are models. Both are equally beautiful and statuesque. One sister is a size 10, the other wears a size 14. Australian Cosmopolitan magazine did something revolutionary, a photo shoot featuring the two sisters, side by side. Meet Laura and Courtney Wells.

Kate Dillon Talks About Her Career With Vogue Magazine

Kate Dillon started out as a regular size model. She is stunningly beautiful, and photographer Patrick Demarchelier captures her curves on film.

Little Black Dresses at Kiyonna

3/4 Sleeve Scalloped Boudoir Lace Dress

I've written about Kiyonna before. I met these enterprising and stylish gals from Annaheim, California, when they launched their collection at a trade show in Las Vegas a few years ago. They continue to create the most delightful clothing, including their Little Black Dresses! 
I live in black. I try to wear color, but I rely on black to take me through the day into the night.
I always feel sexy, sleek and sophisticated when I'm wearing black.
Follow them on Twitter @Kiyonna and check out these beautiful and sexy dresses.
A Little Black Dress is something I can't live without and of course, neither did Holly Golightly!
The 3/4 Sleeve Scalloped Boudoir Lace Dress is my favorite right now. Lacy and see-through looks are big trends and this dress makes it easy to wear what can be tricky styles for some larger gals.
The exciting thing about this and other dresses Kiyonna designs, most of them are timeless classics, just like the film, Breakfast at Tiffanys.

Plus-Size Wars

published an article on July 28 with the title Plus-Size Wars.

The core of the article presents a historical timeline of body size in general: what body type has been popular, how sizing of garments has changed - the measurements for a post war size 10 are the same for the contemporary size 2 of today - and how plus size clothing began.
And then the comments started rolling in. Apparently many of the vitriolic attacks, including some from medical doctors, have been removed. Hate is what cut off the nose and ears of the Aisha, the Afghani woman on the cover this week.
The general message in the negative comments is you'll be forced to lose weight if you're too fat and having a hard time finding clothes that fit. Or stop shopping.
According to the article, the dearth of sales vs. the average size of the population has remained the steady for the last 20 years, but between 2008 and 2009 sales dropped dramatically in this size range.
But why should we believe the "statistics" about the drop in sales. Surely some plus size retailers closed some doors? Do these numbers reflect the plus-size sales of thousands of websites run by entrepreneurs selling corsets, Goth wear, lingerie, swim suits and other specialty items?
The article talks about reluctant designers. It’s not a secret that some designers don’t want to be associated with plus-size women.
The author doesn’t usually write about this topic and I found it interesting that when mentioning Torrid, she excluded the fact that they are a division of Hot Topic, a chain of hip, alternative wear, and a Wall Street Darling. Who loves you, Baby?
Maybe women who wear these sizes stopped shopping because they don't like the clothes. A friend of mine scours the stores for things that reflect her personality and when she doesn't like the clothes so she doesn't shop. There are years that I don't buy much. I have an archive of clothing to choose from, so no matter what's in style each season, it's likely I'll already have something.
It does still amaze me that it’s almost de' rigueur fashion to include some mention of the obesity rate and health issues associated with being overweight in any article about plus size.
Every week we hear about some seemingly healthy, active person who drops dead unexpectedly.
We know we’re supposed to count calories and carbs, cut back on caffeine, drink 10 glasses of water a day, walk 10,000 steps, stretch, warm up, get your heart rate up, cool down, meditate and floss. Oh and don’t forget your sunscreen, and reapply often. But…people still smoke cigarettes, drunk drivers are still killing, bakeries are not illegal, and guns are easy to obtain.
I’m just living my life and trying to be a good person. I would think that most of us feel this way. Yet anger, hate and name-calling come out of the woodwork during discussions on size.
It has become a crime to be overweight in this country and we need to figure out a way to prevent the weight gain that is affecting such large numbers of Americans, not chastise and punish them. And if these overweight American women want to stop shopping, then perhaps the way to spin the numbers is to see that when we withhold our buying power, someone else’s bottom line goes down,ironic.
But I like the article, it's a nice piece that touches upon some of the bigger issues associated with creating, marketing, selling to the plus size female.

Hem Gems - A Jewel of an Idea

I couldn't resist sharing today's Daily Candy Everywhere with you.

These Hem Gems are a clever idea!

But as a stylist and an Angeleno....I wish there was a set of "gems" in black.

The Washington Post Takes Interest in FFF Week

Robin Givhan, a Washington Post Staff Writer who covers style, covered Full Figured Fashion Week in her paper yesterday.
Every few years the media gets around to writing about the plus size dilemma - obesity is on the rise, yet if you prowl the malls, there are few stores that carry women's sizes past 12 or 14.
It seems that a lot of women are still mad because they can't find the styles they want to wear available in their size.
I've never been an activist or pushed the size acceptance agenda, but I have spoken out about self esteem.  I've had a wonderful career dedicated to helping women of size look and feel better in their clothing, usually with a quip like "stripes make you look thinner, so sport your own stripe," if I'm giving tips on how to look slimmer.
You probably know I was a fashion editor and editor at Big Beautiful Woman magazine (BBW.) Because BBW magazine was owned by Larry Flynt, a famous pornographer, it was disdained by many in the apparel and advertising world.
I still find it interesting that the same man whose activities held up our Fifth Amendment rights, was the man who bought BBW magazine from the founder, Carol Shaw.
Larry knew that  mainstream tastes for what is beautiful ran the gamut, since he is famous for publishing magazines that focus on body parts and fetishes.
Nobody else believed that plus size women were important to their bottom line. 
But plus size women do count. According the article in the Washington Post, almost half of black women  and about one-third of American and Hispanic females are obese. That's a lot of gals with buying power.
I don't want to march to the beat of a different drummer, I don't want to protest or be angry. The sixties are fifty. I just want to get dressed, I want to feel and look good. I want to look pretty. How 'bout you?
*Photo Credit: Photo of  Rosie Mercado courtesy of Helayne Seidman-For The Washington Post

More, Bigger, Better: The Options Are There

There's been a lot of sudden interest in the sales of plus size clothing. When slim women stop shopping, the large size brigade doesn't give up.
We're very resourceful, improvising, which helps us to actually take a few risks, and looking everywhere, under every rock, all the time, for clothing we want and need, when we need it. (Ever try to find a bathing suit in a size 20 in October?)
I was on the retail speaker's trail in the nineties, when retailers still had money, I did shop in stores, but I still couldn't find everything I needed, head to toe, in a big department store. But don't you think that this lament is true from all women, regardless of size?
The internet opened up a lot of opportunity for entrepreneurs, fashionistas and everyone in between. The shopping has never been better.
The Huffington Post had a link to this round up of great sites to visit for plus size style.
One thing you should always have is a great white shirt! Photo of plus model and author, Katie Arons, from my stylist portfolio for BBW magazine, circa 1992.

Gwen DeVoe Launched Full Figured Fashion Week

Gwen DeVoe founded Full Figured Fashion Week. Congrats Gwen. I'm glad you had the balls to sally forth and conquer!
I was at the forefront of the BBW brigade in the eighties and nineties, producing plus size fashion shows in New York City, Las Vegas and Los Angeles and an annual national plus model search.
We got Entertainment Tonight to cover one of our plus size fashion shows in New York. It was exciting.
What you're doing is STILL groundbreaking and never before has the number of women who wear a larger size been bigger. Shocking as it may be, with everyone from the Surgeon General to Moms who police school campus vending machines bemoaning the perils of childhood obesity and comedians taking open shots on fatties, the fact is, women have money to spend, they want to get dressed, and that smells like opportunity to me. Some of the sexiest women on the planet, including Mae West, Marilyn Monroe, and Jane Russell, pictured here...have been a bit fleshy.



Check out FFFWeek on Twitter #SonsiFFFWeek

From The New York Times: "Plus Size Revelation: Bigger Women Have Cash Too"...Duh?

Photo: Yana Paskova for The New York Times

FYI, The New York Times ran and article today with the headline "Plus Size Revelation:Bigger Women Have Cash Too."
I am not taking a stance on the pros or cons of being overweight or large. I'm just pointing out
that a lot of people out there don't fall into the traditional size charts. And regardless of why or how the person got bigger, they should be able to buy clothing that fits.
As the spokesmodel for the Spiegel catalog's For You From Spiegel collection, created specifically for larger women (this division did well for about 10 years, I was under contract from 1989 thru 91 and continued to consult for them well into the nineties), my job was to share tips and trends: how to dress your body well regardless of your shape, what types of styles worked best for certain shapes.
This NYT article indicates sales of plus size clothing is up, making this demographic the one growth sector of the overall women's apparel market. Yet manufacturers and retailers remain reluctant.
When I was the fashion editor and later the editor in chief of BBW Magazine, traipsing up and down Madison and 7th Avenues in New York City, trying to educate the buyers at Bloomingdales and the designers at various clothing companies about you,  the plus size woman, it was the same story. Over and over again I heard "We don't have room on the floor for all these different sizes, we need newness and different color stories on the floor. We can't have the same items for the smaller women on the floor hanging next to the same items in  the plus size department.  No one will buy the smaller clothing!"
Or imagine taking a sales meeting with the advertising agency of the largest consumer mass-market skin care brands and being told that large women are not their target market. Hmmm,
are you really saying you don't want the customer, who by the simple nature of their size, might need to use twice as much product? Seriously?
I've seen this same story over and over again, "hey sales are down, lets sell to the fat lady."
Well, buster, we watched some of the top designers attempt to sell us clothes we wanted to buy, and fail - Donna Karen comes to mind right away. And she of all people should have known how to make and market to the "real women," she claimed she was designing for in the first place.  I like Donna Karen and love her clothes. I wish she would look us over again. She's struggled with her weight her entire career and  the clothes she actually wears reflect a shift in her perspective.
Even Liz Claiborne blew it with her Elizabeth division. Each year the clothes became more boxy and boring.
Ralph Lauren managed to figure it out and in the hardest category of all, tailored clothing.
I'm not holding my breath for department stores to cover my ass.
Nordstrom hasn't been able to get a handle on this customer. A fan of mine in the nineties, they used to fly me around the country to commentate fashion shows, consult with the buyers and give image advice and do personal shopping for VIP customers. They were generous with their discount and usually one vendor would give me an outfit to wear during the show and let me keep it. But they usually only had one bra style in my size and no pajamas or pretty camisoles. I used to run to the intimate apparel department just before my events and borrow a tiny "control top" thong. Really. And I would hold it up to the audience so they could laugh and find compassion for the woman who needed a control thong! But I couldn't then and still can't get dressed from one department store.
Not much has changed at the department store level, but the internet is thriving with great offerings at every price point.
Target is a different story. It's a success story. Every time I go in one I find something cute, fun, trendy or sexy, and that includes bathing suits and lingerie!
I know you want to pop into Neiman Marcus in Beverly Hills and walk out with real clothes vs the a few perfume samples...I know you want to hit up H&M, which by the way, carries plus sizes in their European stores, although the collection is spotty, I nabbed a great military/safari jacket in camouflage green in Germany last fall.
The internet is full of entrepreneurs making everything you can think of. 
The NYT article goes on to say that we're forced to shop on the internet. As an early adaptor - a term coined to refer to someone who embraces and uses new technology early in the game - I'm happy to shop on the internet. Of course you win some and you lose some, I've had my share of disappointments, but I couldn't be happier with the quality and fit overall of my purchases, including the tropical capsule wardrobe I got from the Gap online.
But I've got your back, sister. Look for my upcoming Best of the Internet series of posts.

Did Your Breasts Go Out of Style

A "friend" on facebook posted this article about trends in breast shapes and it's certainly got me thinking about boobs!
 Every year there is a new shoe shape, so breasts are like a shoe? Now there's a new breast shape? Apparently Playboy has had a lot of influence in what shape the girls are in. If you live in Los Angeles, the bust shape de riguer is a high, round, melon shape stuck on the chest. But millions of women don't live in Los Angeles. Are they being beholden to the POV of Hef?
I went to Puerto Rico in April and discovered that I have a set of what's referred to on the Internet as "Big Naturals." At a 40 DD they aren't high and round naturally, but they manage to fill up the bowl shaped cups of the harness of a bra I sometimes wear for better support, not to mention a hand or two.

The Real Bodies Unite Campaign

 Real Bodies Unite Comedy Sketch "I Know My Size"

I just ran across this campaign called Real Bodies Unite.

Check it out, sign the petition and pass the link on.

Crystal Renn, Plus Size Super Model, Talks to V Magazine

V magazine did a Size Matters issue a few months ago. Google this and you'll see the issue created a stir out there!
Crystal Renn Talks To V Magazine About Size

Glamour's October 2009 Issue - Eight Nude and Beautiful Plus Size Models

There has been a big turn around in the magazine world when it comes to editorial pages devoted to plus size women. My next few posts will share some of the recent coverage with you.
It's been a long time coming. I remember suiting up to meet with publishing executives at Hearst in the late nineties. I made a presentation that showed them the "huge" numbers of potential readers they were missing out on.
And by not including fashion tips and clothing available in larger sizes in occasional fashion layouts, I let them know they were insulting the existing readership who fell into this demographic.
As it turned out, I met with deaf ears and even though I had a positive working relationship with Hearst and several of the editors at the time, they simply refused to believe you, yes YOU, were really reading their magazines.
So it's with great pleasure that I share some of the nice layouts that have appeared in magazines in recent months.

Here is a link to Trend Hunter dot com, showing some of the images that were in Glamour's October 2009 issue.

Famous Fat Girls and Other Fatsense

The Los Angeles Times wrote an article about our "obsession" with fat celebrities.
It is interesting to see  several of these celebrities struggle, as it somehow validates how hard it is to lose weight and maintain a healthy weight.
Oprah, Carnie and Kirstie Alley, three rich women in the spotlight, women who can afford help, personal trainers, chefs and more and it seems impossible for them to keep the extra weight off.
A friend of mine who was resigned to being fat has recently shed at least ten sizes simply by cutting the amount of food she consumed in half. After realizing she could eat less and not feel deprived, she added a weekly visit to a personal trainer and she continues to lose about a pound a week, literally disappearing before our my very eyes.
I'm not sure I would be interested in any weight loss advice or products any of these three endorse, but they are certainly a case study in what doesn't work.
I think at a certain point and age, one just starts to come to grips with what works and what doesn't and we start taking better care of ourselves. Perhaps age vs youth works in our favor sometimes. Once you finally accept yourself and give yourself some love and respect, it all comes together.
Everything works if you work at it, so go for it and show Carnie, Oprah and Kirstie what you're really made of.
Photo of Carnie Wilson, Linda Arroz and Jose Eber taken on the set of ABC's Caryl & Marilyn Real Friends 1997

Love To Know and It's Getting Easier To Get Dressed

I've always said grrrls just want to get dressed.
If you wear a larger size, you know how hard it can be to "just get dressed."
Lovetoknow dot com interviewed me a couple of years ago about the state of the plus size fashion world. I just read the article again and it's still relevant.
The article covers my background and career as a former plus size spokesmodel, magazine editor and fashion stylist.
It gets easier and easier to get dressed.
Last week I ordered a four piece capsule wardrobe off gapdotcom and guess what, they had my size, the size chart was accurate and everthing fit. I can't believe how cool my short, straight camouflage print khaki skirt is.
I kept one out the three bathing suits I ordered from Newport News,
and considering how many bathing suits I try on at retail every year to find the approximately 10 suits I purchase each year, one out of three is a home run. This suit is really sexy and I can't wait to wear it in the turquoise waters of Puerto Rico!

Italian Vogue Has A Great Plus Size Fashion Website!

If you've dreamed of going to Italy, you now have a reason for being!
Italian Vogue has a website devoted to "curvy" women.
Content includes a blog, interviews with curvy models, and news about developments in the large size world.
There's also a daily fashion tip from Vogue.it
I say Gelato!
The photo is from today's tip.
Check it out.

Slimming, flattering, figure-enhancing swimwear by It Figures!®

Slimming, flattering, figure-enhancing swimwear by It Figures!®

The Annual Swimsuit Safari

I'm on my annual swimsuit safari - the hunt for inexpensive swimwear for the daily dip and swim workout.
Starting in early February, I hit a couple of Ross stores every week to see what the mix is and try to find a fit.
I'm seeking something that covers, is flattering, has a liner, and that I wouldn't be embarrassed to wear. After years of hunting down cheap suits, I've accepted the fact that the Michael Kors and Calvin Klein suits in my size are few and far between.
But I'm seeing more brand names at Ross this year. I scored a Miracle Suit for $29.00. Miraclesuits rarely go on sale and they run an average of $150, which is a lot of suit.
I love Miraclesuits, I usually invest one sexy black v neck, halter or wrap style for social swims, in hopes of getting one summer out of it.
I swim in a chlorine pool six months out of the year. The chlorine destroys the elastic fibers, and I go through one of the discounted suits every three or four weeks.
This week I picked up a suit from It Figures. I like It Figures suits. I've showcased them in numerous swim fashion print layouts and TV segments over the years.
Be Your Own Stylist Tip
It Figures offers suits in cup sizes, including their C Cup & UP® suits that can fit up to an E cup size.
And this season a portion of the proceeds from each purchase will be donated to fund advanced research at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center.

Are You a "Lucky Bitch? Valentines Day Never Tasted So Delicious!

Just when you can't stand seeing the tired looking heart shaped boxes of assorted milk chocolates crammed together with the usual suspects of Valentines Day offerings at your local drug store, along comes a breath of fresh air and some new ideas.
Anya Wabnig, a Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising grad and daughter of the founder of The Cheese Store of Beverly Hills, wanted to offer more ways to express the mood and food of lovers.
Her hand made Valentines Day cards feature manipulated images of cheese, but look playfully like the retro VD cards we passed out as kids.
She says, "If you're not feeling it this year or getting a divorce, turn what could be a sad and depressing evening into an instant celebration with any of the "Bitch Baskets."
The "Bitch" series of baskets:
BitchNBox, Lucky Bitch and Bitch.
Let the love flow this year and splurge on something extravagant. Set aside your eco/efficiencies and dust off your wealth conciousness, splurge on a little luxury.
Think of the benefits. Red wines have lots of healthy resveratrol, purported to be high in anti-oxidants with other anti-inflammatory and anti-aging characteristics.
Chocolate seems to continue it's rise up the food chain. Yahoo recently posted an article about "Three New Health Benefits of Chocolate."
Imagine that dark chocolate can stimulate the blood flow into the cerebum, which encourages the brain to grow new blood vessels and brain cells! That one benefit alone could help you break even with all the blood cells lost drinking beer in your misspent youth.
I like the idea of turning Valentines Day into a celebration of Love, period. So love the one you're with... or not, but love yourself too. Perhaps if we shared a little more love with the world, well think of the possibilities..., because who knew chocolate was a health food?

Create Your Own Personal Shop on Myshape dot com

A few years ago, a client of mine went to work for a start up online fashion website called My Shape dot com.
It's been interesting to watch this concept and their website develop.
The premise is to help you find clothing that fits based on your shape, in addition to your size, which is how I approach any styling assignment.
This key element in the shopping process will help you get just the right look and fit you've been looking for.
And it makes shopping online a better experience, because you are less likely to have to return something.
Myshapedotcom has some great features like Personal Shop, which allows you to input style preferences and measurements, which in turn, saves you time by showcasing key items that match your numbers and your style.
The Style Me feature gives you tips and finds the right clothing based on your body shape, and acts almost like a fashion magazine within the site, with great interviews, trends and a Quick Fit Guide that finally deals with the fact that most of us wear more than one size.
With over 400 choices available in a larger size, you will see brands you trust like Spiegel, Liz Claiborne, Kiyonna, Alex Evenings, Karen Kane and even a few things from the Jessica Simpson collection. I love the interactive features: a pop up window for each item with
zoom, sizes, colors, item description, all at your fingertips without leaving the page!
Check out Myshape.com and let me know what you think.
The pictured item is the "Tory Cinch Dress" from Kiyonna, available up to 5X and in this season's cool colors.

Jillian Hessel's New HomeBody DVD and BBW Magazine Interview

About 16 years ago, I interviewed Jillian Hessel for BBW magazine. Jillian is a fitness expert and author of Pilates Basics.
Jillian has a new DVD called HomeBody, that's fun and easy to do at home with no special equipment. I've been doing the seated arms and hands dance to relieve the stress of holding and working with my cellphone and laptop.(click to the free, short - 2:45 seconds, workout on youtube.)
HomeBody is designed to do at home and each chapter in the workout covers a different part of the body, so you can customize your workout and fit in some movement, even if you only have a few minutes.
I took a review copy of HomeBody to Europe last fall. I showed it to my friend in Amsterdam. Even though she uses public transportation and walks a lot, she is still carrying some extra pounds she gained while pregnant. She hates to workout, especially because she is on her feet all day. But after watching HomeBody for few minutes, she was up out of her chair and moving along with Jillian and she didn't even realize it.
She said the music and Jillian's friendly conversation got to her and she didn't feel like she was exercising.

Plus Size Model Search Announced Today

Re/Dress NYC is hosting a model search!
Here's a quote from the New York City retail store owner who is hosting the search.
"Our goal is to find someone who's beautiful inside and out," said Re/Dress NYC store owner Deb Malkin, 40, who lives in Red Hook. "Plus-sized women deal with a lot of negativity, so we're showing something positive."

I used to produce an annual model search for BBW magazine.
Here's a cover featuring the winners from 1995.
Wonder where all the winners are today? If you know anyone who was a BBW model, tell them to contact me at Linda.Arroz@gmail.com

Thanks to Chenese Lewis for pointing out the article in the New York Daily News today.
Go for it and good luck!

Why Would You Pay $99 for This DKNY Shirt?

I wrote about this shirt in my last post, but can't stop thinking how ridiculous it is that clothing manufacturers are cutting back on making large size clothing. Apparently sales figures are down for plus size clothing.
Well, take a look at this drab, dowdy shirt and maybe someone will tell me why we should or would pay $99 for this shirt?

Rumor Has It: Designers Cutting Back on Plus Size Clothing

Rumor has it that designers and clothing manufacturers are cutting back on making plus size clothing.
Cutting back by offering less in the size ranges 1x-3x and 14 - 16.
If the actual average size of the American woman is size 16, then I say, wtf??
As a former editor of BBW (Big Beautiful Woman) I had to go on advertising sales calls to potential advertisers.
Sadly, the demographics at that time, 91-95, indicated that overweight women were in lower paid jobs with less discretionary income. So in spite of say, a company that wants to sell sunscreen or body lotion, and my readers would by default use almost 2x as much due to their size, the companies usually declined to advertise.
We relied on clothing companies to place ads in the magazine.
I don't know if those demographics are true today, with the rise in obesity rates and the high numbers of citizens who are just overweight vs obese.
But I do know this. I've cut back on clothing purchases because I don't like the styles offered in my size, and right now, depending on where I shop and how the item is made, I wear a department store XL, a Lane Bryant 14, a regular size 16 and 18, and there's something in my closet that's an 18W. No wonder women aren't buying anything. The sheer effort to find anything that fits, no matter what size you wear, is a bore. And check out this drab, dowdy shirt made by DKNY for $99.00! Why would any of us pay $100 dollars for a shirt that looks like a budget offering from a cheap catalog. This looks like a shirt you would do housework in.
I heard Donna Karan got fat. A designer friend told me, but I haven't checked it out.
I'd love to work with her on the plus size division. It should be item driven, not a collection. Lots of classic pieces always available. That was her original concept.
I had a pair of DKNY cotton wide leg draw string pants that were fabulous, in fact a friend gave them to me, I wore them for ten years, and I just passed them on to a friend. They are suitably aged! That pant was from Donna's first foray years ago and then the collection dumbed down and it didn't survive at retail.

The Fat Girl's Guide to Living

Hey Grrrls, I found this fun, informative website called The Fat Girl's Guide to Living.
Check it out, I think you'll like it.
You can follow them on Twitter here:
http://twitter.com/fatgirlsguide

Bloomingdales is Coming to an Outlet Mall Near You!

Grrrls, get your game on, Bloomingdales is opening up in outlet malls across the country soon.
Kelli B. Grant, who writes about retail and shopping for Smart Money dot com, occasionally calls me up for input, since I used to shop for a living!
Here's her article
I'm quoted, along with some other super experts, giving tips on navigating the outlet mall and getting real value.

Love Your Body Day

I wanted to share some interesting and informative videos that Chenese Lewis put up on Youtube.com
for her Love Your Body Day.
She was also a recent guest on Dr. Phil talking about plus size models and pagents.
Enjoy!

V Magazine's Salute to Large Size Women

The media's coverage of larger women is skimpy at best. Over the years I've tried to include women who are wear a range of sizes in my TV makeovers and photo layouts for magazines because, politics aside, people come in lots of different shapes, sizes and colors and that is just a fact. Google Venus of Willendorf or visit the wikipedia page for the Venus of Willendorf (The Venus of Willendorf is a statue of a very voluptuous female dating back to between 24,000 B.C. and 22,000 B.C.) Talk about a lasting tribute!
So I read with great interest a recent article in The New York Times about V magazine's upcoming fashion tribute to larger women. And I read all the comments with even more interest. If the American public can be stirred to comment on anything, it's the good, the bad and the ugly truth about size.
Karl Lagerfeld is on record for stating "...No one wants to see curvy women." Really?
Tell that to the fans of J Lo. And she is far from being large. But baby got back. Or tell LL Cool J - ever listen to the lyrics of his song, "American Girl?" He says they're the best in the world and goes on to list their virtues including those of the "thicka sistahs!" Amen, Brother. Right or wrong, black or white, large or small, we are all in this together.
And aside from the healthcare issues swirling around the increased concerns over our obese population, there continue to be skinny, slim and slender folks with high blood pressure, who don't work out, but they "pass."
Check out V Magazine and let me know what you think.
I love it. Great work, beautiful women, sexy clothes and lovely photos.
Photographs by Sølve Sundsbø and Styling by Nicola Formichetti from V Magazine
Photo of The Venus of Willendorf from Wikipedia.com