The pre June 30th SALE!

If you're like me, you've become somewhat blasé about so-called Sales.  No matter when you go shopping you're confronted with the large red sale sign in almost every store.   Some of us have realised that we're being "conned" in many respects, because often the sale price is as much if not more than the article was prior to the pretend "Sale".

I've got news for you though - and for the curvaceous woman this on-line store takes some beating.  It's here in Australia and I've been known to recommend it many times over the years.  I do so again.

It's Sybils, based in Queensland.  http://www.sybils.com.au/   They have a dinki-di sale going on right at this moment.   If you want something very special then look at their 70% off sale.

This beautiful sequin top is marked down from $139 to $49.50.

This is the type of garment you've got to take advantage of when the opportunity arises.  At least when you get an invitation for a special "do", you'll have just the right top to wear.

(Everyone will be envious and ask where you've bought it - spread the word, Sybil's is an excellent store).

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY!

MAKING YOUR OWN CLOTHES

Photo - Wikimedia Commons

I have an interesting (to me, that is) question for readers.  Based on what women in other countries do,   how many Australian women today actually sit down at their sewing machine and "make" their own clothes?    Up until the 1970s and even 80s, many women regularly increased their wardrobes by making their own clothes as well as accessories.

Today, for the size 16-plus woman, this seems to be a very good idea.  That is, if she can acquire a selection of patterns that allow her to choose and adapt her size, according to what size she may be at any point in time.

For however often she looks around in the stores that claim to be for the size 16-plus, she is confronted with nothing that is sufficiently different to what she sees in every other store.  In other words it seems that the "current trend" at any season is decided upon by small-minded business prople who think that anything mass produced, looks the same (but in different colours) will suit every type of woman.  Regardless of age, shape or size.

We need to encourage women to consider sewing.  On a sewing machine.  Or even as I have known - to make a garment by hand.  And this wasn't in the early 20th centure, this was earlier this year.  

The biggest problem is to find good, and I mean distinctly stylish and practical patterns.   Burda patterns were very good and they came out with some excellent books that contained multi size patterns, for modern, smart clothing.   I'm not sure whether patterns books are still available (as opposed to single patterns)  however here is their site.   http://www.burdastyle.com 

Knitwit sewing books are also excellent (especially the Kwik-Sew Lingerie Book) http://www.knitwit.com.au/KwikSew-Sewing-Instruction-Books.html

I've recently been contacted here by a local lady who is seriously considering bringing out her own line of patterns for the size-plus, and it would be interesting to hear from readers as to what they consider to be a good size range to be provided in patterns.   Particularly thinking of the Australian women and her changing shape.

What I'd really like to see is a range of disctinctly Australian garments - I think it's about time we found our "national identity" in our own style of clothing.   Do you think that's possible?

I look forward to hearing from you,

QUOTATION OF THE DAY

Photo from Wikimedia Commons

"I've never sought success in order to get fame and money;

it's the talent and the passion that count in success."

...... Ingrid Bergman

THE FUN of BEING PLUMP

More than 50 odd years ago, an artist by the name of Duane Bryers in America, created a cheeky redhead.  He named her Hilda (to many these days an old-fashioned word that would describe a staid, matronly, even bitter thin-lipped woman).  However the more you see of these pictures of Hilda, the more the name Hilda seems to fit her.

(I don't know what Duana Bryers named this partcular picture, but I thought "Satisfaction" neatly says it all!)

But it’s not the name Hilda that is so pertinent to my post today.  It’s her figure - her shape - her roundness - her plumpness.   More than that it is her cheekiness, her fun and carefree attitude.   She takes life as it is, and laughs her way through it.

You know I’ve been around a fair while, and I had never heard of Duana Bryers and I’d certainly never heard of Hilda. Perhaps it is because she is part of American history and unless we had the privilege of purchasing calendars from the States in years gone by, there was no reason why we should have known Hilda.  But I found her yesterday and I believe she dispays ALL the attributes that a plus-size “pin-up” girl needs.   

For one major question stands out to me: 

where during the past 50 years did our self-acceptance, 

our sense of fun at life and living,

our carefree sense of being completely at ease with our own self, 

disappear to?    

Did life become far too serious, far too responsible, far too hard and difficult, that we forgot how to be HAPPY?   

Let’s enjoy the simple pleasures of life.   Being plump and having plenty of curves is something to admire and something to celebrate.   Remember too that age has nothing to do with self-acceptance - you can never be too young or too old.