'FAT' PEOPLE

“Fat people are often not good at standing up for themselves and on the odd occasions when they do, they are seen as threatening, someone who is quite literally “throwing their weight around.”  Every comedian has a string of “fat” jokes in his repertoire and all of them are degrading towards fat people.  If a comedian relates a joke or story about a sexy woman, she is usually portrayed as a slim, dumb-blonde type of dolly bird with the obligatory big boobs (R'M NoteBook comment: and that's discriminatory anyway.)   

A fat person is never, ever seen as someone who should be taken seriously, who has an intellect, feelings, or a character of any worth, unless of course, and then only sometimes, the fat person is a man.   A fat man is occasionally allowed to have feelings and a character especially if he is cast in the role of the “heavy he-man” type, or the well-to-do business man.  

Fat women, on the other hand, are either cast as the big fat Momma, brimming over with love and earth-motherliness for her children and family, or she’s the best friend, you know, the one who’s always dragged on every blind date to make up a foursome, much to her unsuspecting blind date’s horror.  If a fat girl should dare to express her sexuality in any way she is dismissed as a tramp, a slag, a slut.”

..... The Sensuous Slimmer Carline Buchanan and Sandra Sedgbeer.  

"FASHION WATCH"

Of all this small group, I found Miller's had the most appealing offerings.   It will be interesting to see how the stores progress into the New Year with their selections.   Keep tuned for our next "Fashion Watch" here in Australia, particularly those that are affordable and at the same time flattering.

Jackets need extra length!

So many manufacturers (thus suppliers and retailers) seem to think that the plus-size (or more curvaceous) woman only needs something to shrug on, and she'll be happy.

Not so.   When it comes to the length of jackets, it is frustratingly evident that plus-size garment manufacturers don't even understand what shape of body they are supposed to be focusing on.

Most, if not all, plus-size women need a jacket that will cover the bottom and hip.  In other words jackets should be finger tip length.   Not, as so frequently seen, just below the waist.

Oh yes, we do have waists ND let's face it, when the line of the jacket takes the eye further down the leg and we have matched the jacket with a slim pair of pants, then there is a stylish appeal about the appearance.

See if you agree.  Here's a couple of Maggie T's offerings.   Notice the lengths - just right!

(PS - I would still like to see a "real" plus-size model in Maggie T's catalogue/website, but as with many suppliers, most Australian businesses don't "see" that a plus-size is MORE than a size 18-20, let alone girls who are no more than size 10-14 who are their models.  But we can continue to hope!  I do wonder sometimes though HOW Maggie T actally views the situation herself, personally).

THE LUXURY of LACE

For special occasions, and let's face it, any occasion can be special if it's a reason for celebration, lace has always been the "wish-I-had", or "I must have".

Igigi has a beautiful range of Cocktail as well as Wedding Wear, that includes the LBD as well as colourful statements that tell your friends and the the world I can have style, too!

Here's the "RACHELLE" Plus size Lace Dress in Onyx with a another from Igigi.  Rachelle is on the right of the photo.  Notice that both necklines are very flattering to the plus size - the v-neck and the sweetheart neckline.

The "Rachelle" features a lace overlay design.  Keep it simple with ankle strap heels (if you can wear high heels) and a classic clutch!

THE KAFTAN "GROWS UP"!

In fashion, what goes around usually comes around!

That can be said for caftans, or as Anna Scholz calls her latest creation, "Kaftans", but whatever the name, the garment itself is one that we can all identify with.   Those of us who are a little older have fond memories of our caftans of years gone by.

Anna has lengthened her Kaftan so that it is now a Maxi dress.   It's a "wear anywhere" dress and this Kaftan's appeal is in its patchwork look of Summery colours.   It has slits at the sides, a slit neckline and belted sleeves.   95% silk, 5% elastane.  Anna's sizes go up to UK 28. 

INTERNATIONAL and NATIONAL WOMEN'S MAGAZINES

LATEST FASHION TRENDS on SKINNY GIRLS

One question remains unanswered as far as I’m concerned.  Why do women’s national and international magazines insist on showing us half-grown petulant, skinny girls (I'm not talking about naturally thin models!) to show off the latest “garment” thrown together by a well-known designer.  If you’re observant and look around you, you’ll readily see that those models DON'T represent the girls at the major store counter or the girls sitting near you at the mall coffee shop or the women in your family and groups of friends.  Those garments are, we’re told, all made in a size 0 or less - how can you get anything less than zero?  

Do you know why?  

Manufacturers tell me that it’s because the garment hangs better on a body without flesh or curves!   Aaah, am I missing something here?  Because you can't tell me that the above model is either happy or healthy and that the garment hangs better on her than on a girl with a little more flash.   There’s a contradiction here - even a size 16 girl will look different to the size 10 or less model wearing the same garment!   Is it strange then that a plus-size woman feels frustrated?  The only reason I can see why they insist on making sample garments in such a small size and using models so thin they look as though they’ll break, is because .......... it takes less fabric!    But that doesn't quite answer the question does it?  If a garment is for a size 16 girl, then surely it should be modelled on a size 16.  Yes?

If there’s another answer to this question, then I’d like to hear it.

HOW MANY PLUS SIZE WOMEN ACTUALLY BUY THESE MAGAZINES TODAY?

These magazines are still selling - and if the comments of most of the women I know is true, then these magazines are being produced in spite of the fact that not many plus size women are buying them.  What a contradiction.  Women’s magazines are supposed to be for ALL women of all ages, sizes and shapes - yet do we see ourselves represented fairly within their pages?   I only read magazines at the hairdressers, in the doctors rooms and the like these days, but not in my kitchen or lounge room (that is unless I sneak one from my hairdressers!).  

ONCE AGAIN THE INAPPROPRIATE "POSES" OF OUR MODELS and "CELEBRITIES"

Another point about these half starved waifs that I can’t understand - and I’m not alone in this, is the way they stand or pose.   Honestly most of them look as though thy need to find the “ladies” quickly or else they’ll have an embarrassing moment.   What is this all about?

Put a mini dress on a model and she crosses her ankles - put her into a pair of jeans and she sits with her legs open wide.  Am I really that old-fashioned to be offended?

LAST BUT CERTAINLY NOT LEAST

The debate about the size of models has been going on for far too long, without any resolution that satisfies the majority of women.  Even young women.  I see a number of blogs these days written by young, intelligent, articulate women - teenagers through to 30-40 year olds - all declaiming the use of digital enhancements and photoshopping of models and even photographs of everyday things - landscapes and the like.   Even some of our better known and top models say they don’t even recognise themselves after being photo-shopped!    What does that say?  It says that we’re being conned, and that reality is no longer real. 

Don't you think it's about time we saw "real" women - flesh and curves; wrinkles and grey hair; faces and bodies that are their own and original (without the help of a scalpel) in our magazines - or isn't the 21st century world ready for this yet?  When will someone in the media have the courage to make decisions to show us as we are, not as "they" want us to be?

DO YOU EVER WONDER?

Have today's women become TOO obsessed with thin-ness and sexuality, losing out on femininity and sensuality?   Have we lost the ability to tell the difference?

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

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).

BLACK is the "NEW" BLACK

Seems that no matter what colour scheme sets the trend for any season, that black is THE major source of inspiration.

This is again proven by the beautiful range of plus-size garments from Igigi - USA.

Their "GENEVIEVE" DRESS says it all.   (Read their blurb.)

Spritz of sequins brings just the right amount of shine to this faux wrap silhouette. This dress is cut to enhance and define curves with its flattering ruching at the side seams. Complement the shine with a silver metallic pump and art deco gems for some on-trend flare.

Designed and made in San Francisco, USA

Color: Black/Silver
Material: Poly/Elastane

THIS IS STARTING TO BE ......

A GREAT YEAR when it comes to beautiful clothing for the more curvaceous woman.

There are a number of American companies who come up trumps over and over again with their definitions of some of the older classics.  Igigi has done it again with their version of the Minnelli Skirt, which they pair with their Raisa Top.

The skirt is slimming and seductive, up to size 30/32, while the wrap around top is flattering to a woman with curves.

Black is always smart and it looks as though Black is back In vogue as the colour "most likely".  One could say the colour most of us love.   This twosome certainly bears that out.

Please satisfy my curiosity - where, oh where, is there fashion such as this, available and made here in Australia?  And at equivalent prices!!    Let me know and I'll gladly shout it from the rooftops.

Getting ready for Christmas!

There always seems to be a rush almost at the last moment for a girl to buy her "must-have" dress for a special Christmas festive occasion.   For the plus-size girl, even though she may spend lots of time looking at stores in all the local shopping malls (and even those in other parts of the city), she may find disappointment and frustration at the lack of something really out of the box.

There's still time though if you're quick to be able to take advantage of the simply beautiful dresses from
Igigi (USA).

The Antoinette Plus Size Gown in Copper is one such dress.

I'm wondering whether Copper is the colour for this season?  (No matter that we here in Oz are in Summer while the USA is heading into Winter - we can always adapt.  But only if those colours are made available here - too often we have to wait for another two seasons before we get the opportunity of being in sync, and then of course we lose out because we're always "following" the leader!)

But here's the blurb from Igigi's website for this magnificent dress:

Make a jaw dropping entrance in this glamorous blend of vintage style and contemporary design. Its pleated cascading skirt elongates the silhouette while it's removable beaded belt cinches and defines your waistline. Pair with sparkly heels and a classic clutch.

Designed and made in San Francisco, USA

Color: Copper

Material: Poly/Elastane

Care: Dry Clean Only. Belt - Spot Clean Only

Our sizes tend to run larger. For perfect fit, please consult with the size charts.

Model Info: Wearing Size 14/16, Height - 5'9", Shape - Hourglass.

HAS "CASUAL" TAKEN OVER OUR LIVES?

I like to think I’m “modern” in my thinking and approach to life in today’s society.   As far as “fashion” or clothing is concerned, I convince myself that I have a fully rounded and balanced viewpoint.  Personally I enjoy being and dressing casually as the mood takes me; there are times though when I like to dress a little “smarter” than casual.  Even if my clothes are not expensive or seen to fall inside the perception of being 21st century, I do still “feel” good when I dress up.  To keep within my strict budget also gives me a challenge which I enjoy meeting time after time.

With a major move from a large home to much smaller accommodation, my circumstances have changed over the past week or so.  Being a woman growing older (and I suppose a man faces similar options) this means learning to adapt and to put into place new ways of handling those changes.  The important part of dealing with changes of any kind that face us, is in maintaining and retaining dignity and control (as much as possible) within constraints both self-imposed and imposed by others.

Walking down the street or through some of the major shopping malls, it is quite obvious to an observer than there are now two categories of women’s code of dress.  Three if you count the window displays of our clothing stores - yet no matter how hard I look I never see anyone dressed in those clothes from the store windows.  Do women buy them and then hide them in their wardrobes, only to be bought out to be admired by themselves and friends, or do they actually wear them?  When and where do they wear them?

So to get back to the two codes of dress, as far as I see them today.   First there is the casual casual, which unfortunately could be described as frumpy and so uninteresting as to make the person almost seem invisible.  Then there’s the person who seems to have a wardrobe of jeans and tee shirts and she never veers away from that code.  I wonder how women in this category deal with the thought of being invited to a mayoral ball or a Melbourne Cup Lunch!   They probably panic.

And women of substance, or women of a certain age, what do they do?  Let me say here that I can’t understand those descriptions, although I admit I use them.  The English language had an incredible resource of descriptive power, but when it comes to women of size and growing older, for some reason it’s much easier for society to say “obese or fat” or “she’s old so why does she bother?”  Why have we taken on these definitions?  Because we’ve been forced to in many instances.  But times they are a’changing, girls.

We “bother” because there’s an inbuilt pride in our nature and we don’t want to be categorised as being the same as everybody else.  We’re women, we’re feminine and we care - we honestly care - about how we dress, how we look and how we feel about ourselves.  We’ve gone through all the stages of being unsure of ourselves, feeling guilty about our size; frustrated at having to explain to all and sundry that we’re just different to the size 6 girl on the catwalk (besides, we’ve got a lot more knowledge and experience to back up our feelings of confidence). and we want to be allowed to be ourselves and to express ourselves the way we know best.

We do know best, you know.  That comes of always learning, always searching for ways of building upon our self esteem, through education and personal knowledge.  Most women “of a certain age” can’t be persuaded that they’ve got to change; that they’ve got to get “with it”, that they have to admit to being old-fashioned in their ideas.  Younger women have every right to express their views on how they dress and how they live their lives, yet the older woman has to justify her opinions about self and life-style.  Why?

My question in the title of this post is “Has “casual” taken over our lives?‘   And I’m beginning to think that it’s about time that the growing older woman in today’s society should stand up and be counted.  She has every right to be recognised and accepted and in fact applauded when she steps outside of the jeans and tee shirts syndrome and embraces her own femininity the way she wants.  Yet if that includes wearing jeans and tee shirts, then so be it.  But, and this is a big but, if she wishes to dress livelier, bolder, sassier and jazzier than jeans and tee shirts, let her.  Compliment her, see her for being proud of who and what she is.  Younger women will see that growing older holds exciting challenges in store for them, in that they will (hopefully) be more fair minded and open to the fact that women are able to enjoy their lives by making conscious decisions based on their own personal preferences through all stages of their maturity.  We don’t have to follow trends that we are told we should follow at EVERY stage of our adult lives; we know best.

As I have quoted so often over the years, 

“you are your own best asset - promote yourself,

 and NEVER, EVER compare yourself to someone else.  

You are unique.”

Discovering your individuality

Have you actually looked for it?  

Have you ever wondered why it is that curvaceous women tend to attempt to hide themselves in dull, almost boring clothes.  Is it that they think they’ll become invisible to such an extent that other people won’t look at them, point the finger, and even tell them to their face, you’re “fat”? 

This is not something in my imagination, because I can admit freely now, that there were many times in the past when I did precisely that; I hid myself in clothes that were so unflattering as to be ugly.   And why was that?  To hide - from the world and to hide from other people. 

I’ll say this.  When a person is ridiculed or ostracised by another person - male or female - for being fat or “out of control”, it doesn’t take long to lose whatever self esteem you may have ever had.  When you hear these things being said about you to others and even to your face, as a child, then it isn’t strange that you have no self esteem at all!   As you grow up and become an adult you cringe when you have to go out and about and mix with people - even shopping.  You’d do anything to hide in the house and not have to face other people who you just KNOW will say something hurtful and condemning.  And that’s exactly what you will do.  I know.  I even wrote about this in my little book, “Rose in Bloom - the years between!”,  based on some of my personal experiences merged with a montage of stories from other women I have had the privilege of speaking with, knowing, and then loving as personal and dear friends over the years.

It took many years of searching, sometimes fearing what I might actually find within myself, to come to terms with who I am and what I am.  But one day, I remember it so well, I set out for business and was driving to work, when out of the blue came a little voice in my head that told me I could go crazy if I kept trying to change myself just to fit in with what other people said I should be and look like.  By that time of course I had almost turned myself inside out.  But it was a defining and enlightening moment, for I realised right there and then that whatever anyone else said about me, I was mature and intelligent enough to make my own decisions.   From that moment that’s just what I did.  And my life has been so much richer and exciting for it.

It was about this time too, that I changed life-tactics.  I studied and read as much as I could on good dress sense - utilising style, colours and experimentation.  I asked my friend Susan to show me how to colour code my clothing.  I sought advice on makeup and hair styles.  In fact I set about to enhance what I am, rather than to foolishly try to follow the path, which is a trap to change what I am.

I’ve gained insights into how other women feel about themselves during the years between too.  For I’ve had the opportunity of speaking with hundreds of women, and one thing is clear to me.

Everyone, 

at some time 

or another has

low self-esteem.

It doesn’t matter whether you are slim, 

whether you are fat, 

whether you are coloured

 or whether you are white.

Given that I found my voice to speak and share with other women my own personal journey, it was a natural progression for me to talk with them about discovering their “inner spirit of individuality”.

Because it’s not necessary or essential (in fact it is not recommended at all) for us to all look alike.  It’s not necessary or essential for us to wear the same clothes, or do our hair the same way, or have the same interests.As I’ve said so many times, yes, we are different to each other, but we are of the same essence.   We all seek, or long,  to be accepted, we seek to be liked and we seek to be loved.  We seek to “belong”.  We also seek to be able to freely express our personal individuality without condemnation or judgement by or from others.  We seek to be allowed to be us.   And if we achieve these things, then we are  equipped to offer our encouragement to or sisters, whatever shape, size or colour they may be, so that they, in turn, may achieve their personal yearnings and discover their “inner spiritual individuality”.  

Illusions!

Here are sixteen suggestions for the more curvaceous woman to look slimmer (or what I prefer to call more feminine lines).

Let's start off though with accepting the fact that "style" is not about age or size, it's more about establishing in your own mind clothes that will suit and work for YOU.

*  V-necks or deep scoop necks create the illusion of a longer body.  If you have a beautiful neck why not show it off?  High necks emphasise a large bust and while sometimes we like to do that, there are other times when the over-all effect of how we look is more important.

*  A tailored, sigle breasted pantsuit is more slimming than baggy layers.   (OK, even I succumb to baggy layers when I feel like it!).  But in the mean a darker shade, lengthens the torso and slims the hips.  Double breasted jackets add width to the look of the body.

*  Generously cut shirts, A-line tops and jackets/coats look great over slim or cropped pants.  Once again don't believe those who tell you you "shouldn't wear cropped pants".  If you like cropped pants, then wear them.  However the hint that the flowing tops will compliment slim pants still goes.  It's important though that the shirt, top or jacket covers the bottom and thighs.  Don't be content with any of these garments that sit on the hips or even hardly cover the waistline - the overall effect only emphasises the bits you're trying to disguise.  A shirt with a squared off hem and side splits creates a sharp and defined look.

*  Wear a shaped, not boxy jacket to emphasise curves.  This also applies to dresses or shirts with back ties that can be tightened creating a waist.   (Again have a look at the Igigi website to see what I mean by shaped dresses!).

*  Combining neutral coloured pants (black, brown, beige, even white) with brightly coloured tops move the eye away from the hips and thighs.

*  Avoid pleats on pants.  Wear flat-fronted rather than pleated trousers and with side, not front fastenings.

*  A long-line jacket is a must in all wardrobes.  It hides all the bits that you want to hide a little at any one time - big hips or thighs, big bottoms and big busts.

*  Match a dress with the same length coat, preferably worn just on or below the knee.  Play down everything else if you want to show off your legs.  And let's face it if you have good legs, do everything to show them off.

*  Wear a long time coat, to ankle length, over slim pants and shirt or tunic top.   Worn open, the coat gives you long-line elegance as you walk.

*  A clever strategy is to wear one colour from head to toe,  Lift the outfit by choose smart accessories.  A lovely scarf, chunky jewellery or matching shoes and handbag will draw attention away from any figure "problems".

*  Long sleeves (even in summer) hide the upper arms, while cuff details lengthen arms.

*  A dress can create a sleeker line.  Choose dresses with no tight waists that skim the body without clinging.

*  A beautifully draped sarong-style long skirt conceals the tummy and hips.   Great for the hot weather and surprisingly cool around the lower legs.

*  A-line or wrap skirts not only emphasise body length and hide thighs, but also give thighs extra room when seated.

*  The long-skirt is still a wardrobe must-have.  Wear it as long as possible, preferably on or just above the ankle.  Slightly A-line is best, as is a side split or a skirt with a lot of stretch.

*  Any fabric with stretch is an extremely comfortable option.  Look for this in shirts, pants, skirts or jackets.  It also can hold you firm in some areas.  Beware however those crepe-y stretch fabrics that can "suffocate" the body and add to especially hot discomfort.

For the women whose body has curves and a shape that doesn't fit the so-called "ideal" that the fashion industry and media demand of us, putting hints of this nature into practice not only adds to the way we see ourselves and how we stand and hold ourselves.  It also adds to our confidence.    For when we feel good, then we will look good.

"Accept your body - just as it is.  

Don't compare yourself to the 

unrealistically thin models 

on the catwalks or magazines,  

Be You."

© R Parry-Brock - with thanks to notes from New Idea grand illusions, nd

There's style, and then there's style!

While there's an overloading here in Melbourne of "burnt orange" and "acid green" colourings in a lot of the clothing that's being promoted at the moment, it's nice to see that in the USA, there are so many varieties of colour to choose from that your head can spin!

Manufacturers and retailers here in Australia tend to forget or overlook the fact that style and design is very important, but also as important is the choice of fabrics on offer.   Crepe and crepey materials abound, but I've yet to meet a "curvaceous woman" who feels this fabric is kind to her. With a little forethought and imagination classic styles can look stunning - and in that, the wearer looks stunning too!

Come on Australian manufacturers and retailers - get your act together!   With that said there are a few, and only a few, but we give free rein to promoting those particular manufacturers/providers within this blog.  It's the others we're talking to.

In the meantime feast your eyes on this lovely creation from Igigi.

Millie Vintage Polka Dot Dress

Feeling bored with your work dresses? Snag this ethereal beauty with its elongating print skirt in chiffon with ruching at the waist. The colors and cut are simply sublime - wear it to work, sunday brunch, day or night - it's a versatile summer style!

Designed and made in San Francisco, USA

And for a Corporate Look:

I've just found this lovely outfit from Pennington's of Canada - unfortunately they don't deliver to Australia, but it's the style that I wanted to show you.  Smart, neat and it doesn't need any fancy prettying up.  It tells it's own story.

Spring is here!

"Spring is here, the grass is 'ris, 

I wonders where the flowers is!"

This was old poem that kids used to say back in the 1940s and 1950s.   And the wonders of Spring have certainly arrived here in 2012, following a particularly cold and wet Winter time.

The sunshine makes you feel you want to celebrate.  Celebrate anything and everything.

And how better to celebrate than to buy a new outfit, or even think about mixing and matching what you already have in the wardrobe.

For those who want to buy something new, how about these from Anna Scholz

Or something to make heads turn from Igigi

The "leather" look

There's a misconception out there that curvaceous women shouldn't wear full skirts.  Well, in my humble opinion, we can wear anything we like (within reason of course), because we have every right to choose!   For too long we've been told we shouldn't wear this and we shouldn't wear that - but now is the time to decide for ourselves.

Jibri (USA) has this fantastic faux-leather skirt.   Feast your eyes on this, and visit their site to see more of their great clothing.

Imagination

You've got to give credit to Monif C (USA), not only for her incredible knack of creating clothing that is exciting for the more curvaceous woman, but for a number of other things too.

Amongst those are the fact that her models are exquisitely "rounded" while many other suppliers persist on using much thinner models.  Garments made for a plus-size woman do NOT look the same as they should when they're worn and modelled by someone who looks like a young adolescent!

This post is entitled "Imagination", and if you haven't yet heard of Monif C's Convertible Marilyn Dress when you haven't lived!   This particular garment wowed the world when it first appeared, and there's no ending to Monif C's variations.  She keeps on coming up trumps!

Here are two of her latest Marilyn dresses - aren't the colour combinations superb?

ONE DRESS, INFINITE POSSIBILITIES

The "Marilyn" Ruched Convertible Dress gives you the versatility of the convertible dress but with beautiful, figure flattering ruching. You can wrap this dress multiple ways! This one dress will stretch your wardrobe and give you a different dress for all of your upcoming occasions!