SEASON CONTRADICTIONS!

Here I am sweltering in 33 degree Celsuis heat, and I'm thinking of Winter?

You might say I'm crazy or even weird (and I don't mind) because we've always got to be thinking of the next season when it comes to comfortable clothing.

I like black and white - whatever the season, and a friend in Queensland has just told me about an American site Onestopplus.com

This is what I found when I went into their site (amongst hundreds of others) - it's an ultra plush pile jacket and goes up to a size 4X.   It's presently on sale, so if you want to get in early for the colder chilly weather, then have a look at what Onestopplus is offering.

CLOTHES THAT FLATTER

Here's a plus-size garment selection that is original, imaginative and stunning.  Once again it's from the USA - and it makes me wonder where the plus-size Australian designers are hiding.  Don't tell me we don't have any, but I can't find any who come up with garments like this.  Once again, the majority of plus-size garments we have here are made off-shore and I just don't know who does the designing!

The USA designer I've just found is Chinoo Designs.    Bright colours, stunning combinations and for those of us who are thinking already about Winter over here, have a look at the ankle length coats on Chinoo's website.

In the meantime, have a look at this lovely outfit.   Have you ever been told you should "never wear white"?   Well, think again.   Drapes are the latest trend so take the opportunity of enhancing your body shape by trying one or two garments with drapes around the waist/hip line and wait for the compliments!

 

MANNIKIN SIZES

Yes, I know I harp on this subject, but let’s be honest.   Why do our major stores, Myer, David Jones; the stores such as Cue, Noni B, Katies, The Iconic, Dotti, Portmans, Autograph, ts14Plus, even Sara and the discount stores K Mart, Target, Woolworths, refuse to get “with it” and treat their customers - particularly those of us with curves - with some respect?   Online stores such as Virtu, City Chic, Dream Diva and Killer Curves have recognised the importance of showing young women who are full busted, round hipped, and deliciously curvy.  No wonder these online stores are doing fantastic business.   They are responsible in their endeavours to encourage the plus-size women that she can build upon her self-image, and most certainly add style to her wardrobe by wearing their clothes.

I walk into any of the so-called major stores in Collins Street and in our elite shopping malls and I don’t see ONE store mannikin that is a size 18 or larger.  Why?   Don’t the stores research their customers?  Don’t they take time to look at the female form as it is today?

(This store mannikin below is the only one of size 16 that I have ever come across.  It is in a salon in Perth, Western Australia.)

I ask a further but simple question here - do these stores insist on employing women of only a certain size (and age)?  If they do, then that’s discrimination but I’ll not get into that at the moment.

I have contacts in the US who are coming to the conclusion that the “weight debate” has turned really nasty over there.   Whatever strides we made during the latter part of the 90s and through the early 2000s have been lost in a sea of increased intolerance and ridicule.  It offends me that our struggles to be understood and accepted as equals has been turned around and become more hurtful and disrespectful than they were a decade or more ago.

I guess it’s up to the young women of today who see the injustices and inconsistencies in the modern world, to take up the battle.   Some of them are rather strident and unfortunately do themselves injustice by being militant and their language demeans the respect that we should show ourselves, let alone each other.  However on the other side of the coin, many of these younger women are fighting with fire in their heart and their feistiness is infectious.   I applaud them.

It’s time that we took stock of this whole subject of becoming invisible because of our size which means that we no longer have a place in people’s thinking;  their attitude is that we’re fat and therefore we don’t deserve any consideration.  Well, I have something to say to these people.  You ain’t seen nothing yet!

We can turn the tide.   We can make a difference.  All it takes is a bit of get up and go.   If we don’t like the way the stores treat us, then we have the privilege of letting them know.  Verbally as well as by writing and telling them.  We have the privilege of commenting via the internet.  We have the privilege of contacting the newspapers, the television stations and radio stations and putting our views forward.   We have the privilege of finding stores that cater to our needs and going there, whether it's in our local shopping mall or online from overseas. We have the privilege of networking with other women’s groups and bringing our case of discrimination forward.  We can talk and we can listen.   

What we don’t need to do is to sit still and wait for something to happen.  Because you and I know that just is not the answer. If we don’t stand up for ourselves, then who is going to?  Noone else.  As far as the rest of society is concerned, if we’re not fighting for our rights, then why should they bother even thinking about us?  And they’re right.  It’s up to us.

This started out to be a short post on image and style, and I’ve gone off on a tangent - again.  But let’s hear your comments.   Let your friends know about this blog and ask them to “follow” it.   Write to me, send in your thoughts, and if you’d like to be on our mailing list for RoseMary’s NoteBook©, then we’d be happy to welcome you and your friends.

Let’s keep this truck movin’.

DRESSING FOR THE 'GROWING OLDER' WOMAN

I often get asked about Dressing for the Over 50s (60s, 70s and 80s).   Because you see it doesn't matter what age we are as far as years are concerned, we still want to look good and feel good in what we choose to wear.

And when it comes to choosing, a lot of us become fearful because we don't want to be seen as "mutton dressed up as lamb".     It's a natural fear as we grow older, but there are hints and strategies that we can put into place so that we know that we have done all we can to make ourselves look good.   And that is always the first step to feeling good.

Here's an interesting video.

http://video.about.com/fashion/Don-ts-for-Fashion-Over-50.htm

HONESTLY!

Having to do a spot of shopping, a couple of us stopped and enjoyed a cup of tea (Earl Grey of course!) at a nice little coffee/tea shop in one of the arcades that are sprinkled around our small town.

We do this regularly - it not only keeps us up to date with all our gossip, but it also enables us to share a gripe or two, while at the same time indulging in a chosen special cake to accompany our tea. We're all big girls, so there's never any problem of one or two of them attacking any of the others for spoiling ourselves with a cream cake occasionally.

Why was this particular morning any different? I stood at the counter casually deciding which cake to choose, when a very small, smartly dressed woman came and stood beside me. I turned and smiled. She glowered at me and said, "you shouldn't even be thinking of eating anything like that - you're so fat. You should be using your willpower" 

So I did what any well-mannered, well-balanced plus-size lady would do. I looked down at my ample bust, leaned over and looked at my tummy, and turned back to her and said "Yes, you're right, I believe I AM fat. But I'm not rude to people I don't know. And might I say I certainly don't need any will power. Perhaps occasionally a little bit of "won't-power" could come in handy but not today. Which cake do you think I should choose? Ah yes, that beautiful fresh cream French slice. Don't you agree". She glared at me as though I had just flown in from Mars, mumbled and trotted off to a far table.

The rest of my group were seated by this time, waiting for their morning tea to arrive. The girls behind the counter were trying to hide their laughs and were in quite a twitter. After the snobby lady had left, the proprietor came across to me and said, "you know, that woman upsets so many of our customers with her rudeness and we've never been game to say anything. Thanks for saying what we've often thought and felt. You've made our day."
And yes, we all enjoyed our morning tea - VERY MUCH INDEED!!!

Tips on getting your favourite clothes "altered"

1. Find someone who has expert knowledge and is competent in all aspects of sewing, not just hems and simple quick fix solutions.

2. Find clothes from within your own wardrobe that can be brought up to date by doing the hem, taking it in or re-shaping the shoulders. Subtle alterations can make clothes look more "fashionable".

3. Don't personally do complicated alterations unless you're confident in your skills. However even if you try and can't finish the work, hand it over to a professional.

4. Before you alter new cotton clothing or a pair of jeans, wash or dry-clean them first according to the label to allow for shrinkage.

5. When you hem, pin both legs as one leg can be shorter than the other. Get someone else to pin your clothes.

6. Look into getting something tailor made for your size and shape. It may not be as expensive as you think.

For those of us who ARE plus-size, the advice in point 6 is really wise. Too often we spend time and energy in searching for something that we have a good idea on what we really want, only to take on second best. And even then it may need alterations. 

Therefore if you have nice fabric and even a pattern (not necessarily in your size), take it along and have a chat with someone who you've seen or heard recommended. Talk to them about what you'd like as far as a tailored garment to suit YOUR body and shape.

We know it sometimes takes a while to find someone who "understands" the more curvaceous figure, but a really good dressmaker is worth more than her weight in gold.

(Hints 1 through 6 copyright Knox Leader).

IT NEVER GOES OUT OF DATE, or OUT OF STYLE

I had a lot of responses, via direct email, to the previous post on Black being the "new" Black.  So many of you agreed that it was nice to see Black again popular (for which most of us is all the time!)

It is quite obvious that the Little Black Dress just goes on and on, and it's not only the slim, trim, svelte young woman who has all the choices.  No sirree - we have choices too.

I know, I know.  It seems that I highlight Igigi (USA) so often, and the reason is quite simple.  Their clothing is beautiful.

See if you don't agree, with one of their latest.    The Paola Plus Size Dress.

Here's the blurb:  A basic black colour, curve-contouring silhouette, and delicate lace make this LBD perfect for moment in the spotlight.  Dress it up with colourful gems and a signatire pump or keep it classic with some drop earrings and a statement clutch.   (Designed and made in San Francisco, USA).