Shapeless Fashion?

Hey there my Curvalicious Beauties. Two posts in less than a week... I must be feeling ill ;)


I happened across a few articles on Melbourne Spring Fashion week today. Firstly I was thrilled to see that Plus-sized models had taken to the catwalk all in different shapes and sizes, different looks and full of confidence.


How refreshing to see such diversity celebrated within the fashion world and I applaud all those involved. But... and this is quite a big 'but'. After looking through various collections offered up to the plus size market, I can't help but see one common theme.... Shapelessness. 

Now, I am all for not wearing skimpy, tight fitting clothes with every lump and bump on show, but why just provide a glorified potato sack? Us curvier ladies NEED some sort of definition, some shape, something to show our best features and hide the things we'd rather ignore.


I know myself that I have not bought a new outfit for a while, mainly because I am  getting increasingly frustrated with the lack of choice out there. Don't get me wrong there are a hell of a lot of fabulous ranges out there, just nothing that I feel I could wear. I find that the majority of items have quite high / round necks, which as you busty ladies will know generally make you look a lot bigger than you actually are. The other 'on trend' items are generally shapeless chiffon tunics or dresses, which again are no good for anyone with curves. Unless something has some shape to it I feel like I look about 6 months pregnant. There is either no shape or it has a dropped waist. Instead of pulling you in at at your smallest part, its showing off your largest!

When will these designers learn that we don't all want to hide under a tent? We want to appreciate and make the most of what we're given in life. I don't know about you ladies, but my boobs are about the only decent feature I have.... and who wants to hide their best feature?? 


Have any of you had the same frustrations with shapeless offerings?


Can any of you advise of fabulously shapely outfits out there?


Take care
lots of love

Donna
xxx

Snow is falling... all around me....

Well I've woken up this morning and a white blanket adorns my street. It looks like its here for the duration too... the snow is fabulous, if you haven't got to go anywhere.  Spending your time making snowmen, having snowballs fights and making snow angels. If like me you can't even stand in the snow much less walk, your footwear is an essential thought before leaving the house. 


Last year I lived in my UGG style boots (it didn't help that I was pregnant at the time too). Although these boots are absolutely useless in the snow, your feet end up soggy and cold and wet. The best option I find is to wear some fab, funky wellies and wellie socks to warm your tootsies.

Wedge Welly Curve Range

Wedge Welly have an absolutely lush range of wider fitting wellies for us plus size ladies. They are fashion savvy  and practical all at the same time.... what more could a girl ask for!! They also have a little bit of a wedge to make you feel less frumpy plodding around in the snow!

 Hunter Lace Originals

Hunter Lace Metallics

These lace up Hunter wellies are another brilliantly stylish way of getting wellies for plus size winter fashion. You don't have to try and pull them up your legs and the laces give you a little more room. They are also bang on trend with this seasons military style.

Hunter also do a range of welly socks which, while they are a little pricier than any other socks look stunning teamed with a pair of funky wellies. I found this gorgeous pair on ASOS, they also hold numerous other varietys of these.

Hunter Leopard Print Wellie Socks

I have also found this wonderful site for socks... MySocks.co.uk who have a tremendous range of over the knee socks which also look great with wellies. (I myself can't wear a pair of wellies without them). They are as cheap as chips too... from only £4.95 per pair!

I

As you can see from this very cold and blustery picture of me paddling in the sea last Autumn, I like to wear the over the knee socks, rolled down over the wellies. Its a good way of keeping the warmth in ;-)

Along with these socks and wellies, you'll also need a some other winter warmer accessories.

 Dorothy Perkins and Evans both have wonderful range of winter accessories, including hats, scarves and gloves. So what are you waiting for?? Get warmed up!!!! 

Evans

Dorothy Perkins

Lots of love

Donna

xxx

Plus Size in the UK - I've seen more curves on a square!

Since starting this blog I have been looking into numerous aspects of fashion for the 'plus sizes', one of which is the plus size model. The information I have found I feel to be quite disturbing.


Firstly the UK is sadly lagging way behind in the curvy fashion stakes. In the UK we struggle to find any decent stores (high street or online) in which we can get current 'on trend' fashions. There are the few obvious well advertised ones like Simply Be or Evans for example, but we end up paying well over and above the 'normal' sized person. In the states they have a ridiculous amount of places you can get really fabulous, great value clothing from and numerous sites giving advice to curvier women who love fashion and want to look great, Madison Plus being one of them.


Almost a quarter of women in the UK or around 6.2million now wear a size 18 or above, with the average dress size being a size 16. Therefore I think you will agree that it is preposterous that so called plus size model agencies etc class a size 12 as 'plus sized'. Now, I think that no one can argue the fact that this is both disgusting and irresponsible on behalf of both the model agencies and the fashion industry in general.


How can they justify telling young girls / women that they are plus sized if they are a size 12?? They wouldn't even have curves..... well not real ones anyway. It is ever likely that these young girls are running around with eating disorders trying to 'make it' in the fashion industry. Apparently, according to Models Connect as a plus size model you will advertise clothes, accessories and products for the larger woman. Therefore, it is necessary that you represent this look, so must be at least a UK size 12 to qualify. Ideally you will be a UK dress size 12, 14 or 16. Although, sizes 10 and 18/20 are also used, it is far less common..... also you must be 'toned' and your figure should be well balanced and you should not appear top or bottom heavy....... Come on guys!!! Seriously! Do your research, check you market!


There is also a 'plus size' beauty pageant run in the UK called Miss Curvy UK in which applicants have to be a size 12 or above to enter, I find this truly amazing. I understand that retailers / designers want their clothing to look appealing, however there are a hell of a lot of stunningly beautiful very curvy women out there, who could quite easily model their clothes and do a damned good job of selling them. I know that personally I would rather see what a garment looks like on a woman who is the same shape as me, than what it looks like on a size 12 model, even the thought of it is ridiculous.


The retailers and fashion industry on the whole in the UK needs to first of all accommodate to the majority market, which in this case is the 'plus size'. They also need to class the plus sizes appropriately, and lastly they need to use more curvier models without the perfect hourglass figures. We want to see REAL models, wearing REAL plus size 'on trend' clothes. Hopefully with enough blogging and pressure by us  normal 'plus size' women, things will change............... and lets hope its soon.


Lots of Love

Donna
xxx