I’m here to tell you that we’ve come a long way.

Take a peek at what I’m talking about:

Finding something like this (outside of a custom tailor, of course) 5 years ago was unthinkable.  I mean look at it! It’s got a clean empire waistline, wide straps, a nice little overlap on the neckline edge treatment, and the detail on the lower hem is just to die for.  Put this on for a summer garden party or a night out with your man and you’ll be in seventh heaven.

Next up we’ve got something a little busier, a little more complicated, but magnificent none-the-less.This is another great example of an empire waist, but this time the neckline doesn’t swoop quite as low, and of course we have sleeves with a great little flair at the end.  The neck is held together by some cute ties, which is something I like with a higher line.  Just like the last one, you could wear this anywhere.  put on some flats to keep it casual, or a hot little pair of heels or wedges to dress it up and a little more attention.  I love brown, and I love this pattern.  This one’s a real winner for sure.

The last one for this post has a square neckline and wide straps.  Notice that it does have very small sleeves, but that the sleeve line cuts slightly in the middle to give it a sleeveless look without the sleeveless feel!  Great little feature to look for when you’re out and about shopping.  The pattern on the top is simple, yet significant in that it draws the eyes up the dress and naturally to your chest, shoulders, and face.  It’s a real winner on a lot of fronts in my book..!

The problem for me always comes down to the cut of the shorts which dictates how the fabric hangs and of course the length.  If an article of clothing isn’t comfortable it will somehow find its way to the back of my closet and I won’t wear it.  The same goes for if I don’t feel good while wearing it.  I find this behavior to be so true that I no longer buy clothes unless I’m head over heals in love with them.  Any doubts and they go back on the rack or in the box to be mailed back to the company I purchased them online from.

So where am I going with this?  Plus size shorts should be comfortable and look good - and surprisingly to some these such shorts do exist.  Start by taking a look at your favorite online retailer.  You can get a lay-of-the-land type overview and see what looks good and what doesn’t.  I don’t waste my time shopping for plus size shorts anyplace that doesn’t have models showing their clothes.  It’s way too hard to picture what they look like unless you see someone wearing them.

Find some material and designs that you think look good on someone else, and then expand from there.  At that point it’s fairly trivial to move on to some of the online stores that don’t have models and find similar designs to the one that you like.

Then buy, buy, buy.  If you’ve been a long time reader you know my policy - buy it, try it, and return it if you’re not head over heels.  Don’t fall into the trap of keeping something that you “might” like.  There’s too many fabulous plus size designer lines out there to waste money on something you think is ho-hum.

Think about it - for all the outfits you have laying around that you never wear and in the back of your mind KNEW you probably wouldn’t wear when you bought them, you could have some great, expensive, designer outfits instead.  Even at a 1 to 5 ratio you’d be so much further ahead fashion-wise than you are now.

Until next time!

I’ve mentioned it before, I think, but I buy a lot of clothing online and send a lot of it back once I get it.  You have to be organized to make sure you don’t end up with a bunch of clothes you won’t wear, but I think it’s perfectly OK to buy, try, and return if it’s not quite what you had in mind.

Here’s a few of my recent favorites that you have to take a look at.

From our friends over at Igigi, we have these two divine selections:

This is a great number that has a more casual feel to it, but could still be worn to the office or a fun night out to dinner and a show.  It has an empire waist, which I love, but still maintains a tailored bottom and emphasizes your curves and does a real number on your legs as well.  The 3/4 length sleeves give it a slightly more professional, or career look.  Perfect for a big meeting or presentation.

Next, we have this gem, again from Igigi:

This is definitely a more casual, cocktail dress that you’d wear to a party or out on a date with your one-and-only (tell him he’s your one-and-only no matter what..! =] ).  The bateau neckline goes wide but still hands on the shoulders.  It’s the closest thing to strapless that you’ll get that still has sleeves.  Again, it has an empire waist and a flared skirt.  The detail on the sleeves is the icing on the cake.  I love it!

Head on over to Sydney’s Closet to have a look at this number:

Wow!  They claim it’s an A-Line, but I don’t necessarily agree with that.  It’s also listed under plus size bridesmaid dresses which it certainly could be, but it might upstage the actual wedding gown itself so be careful!  It’s strapless, which some gals tend to shy away from (I love them), but it’s clean and cut well enough that this could be a great break-through dress to expand your fashion comfort zone.

If we start high and go low, we actually will run into dresses with no waistline first.  Also called a princess seam, this is dress with lines that run the entire length, from the shoulder and neck all the way down to the hem.  It is thought to produce a slimming effect, and is sometimes called an A-line as well.  I’m not so sure about the slimming effect of any cut, pattern, or garment, but that’s a subject for another post.

Moving along, we find plus size dresses with the empire waist.  This is a cut that has the waist just below the bust line, and is the highest of patterns that actually have real waistlines included.  It is very popular today, and creates an elegant look that goes well with lots of shapes and sizes.

A raised waistline falls lower than the empire, usually about an inch or so above your natural waistline.  More and more today, I see raised waistlines called empires, but it somewhat varies depending on how the dress fits you as well.  A higher raised waistline could be closer to en empire when worn by a different person.

A natural waistline, of course, is one that falls right on your natural waist.  Neither too high or too low, it is probably the most common, or at least has been unti lthe advent of low-cut everything.

This brings us to the drop waist in the world of plus size dresses.  This is a cut that falls slightly below the natural waist, and is a natural compliment to the raised waistline.  You have to be a little careful here, since this is a cut that doesn’t look good on everyone.  You have to have a specific body type to pull it off, and chances are you know if you can or not.

That sums up the standard cuts for dresses, but there is a bit more.  These descriptions have all been assuming a horizontal, straight line.  but that’s not always the case.  Waistlines can come in V’s, U’s, diagonal, and inverted V’s and U’s.  So if we pair up the line with the level, we can get some 23+ combinations that can be broken down in  these fundamental groups, and easily described.

For communication to occur, a message must be sent, received, and understood.  If you don’t know the language of the land you’re not going to be able to accomplish the most basic task of describing a dress that you like.  So to solve this problem and bring a little more plus size fashion joy into your life, I’m going to start a series of articles that teaches you how to not only describe the cut and fit that you’re looking for, but also converse intelligently about it when you see someone else wearing it.  Let’s get going.

We’ll start at the top, and in the world of plus size dresses that’s the neckline.  I classify necklines in 6 different categories.  There are several different modifiers that can be applied to each category, and we’ll cover those last.

V Neckline

Plus size dresses with this neckline (and any size dresses, actually) have a literal V-shape with a point at the bottom.  There can be any number of intermediate angles and sides on the way down, but the defining attribute of a V neckline in a dress is the vertex, or sharp angle at the bottom.  If it is rounded or squared we’re dealing with a different cut.

Bateau

This cut runs very wide to the shoulders with a slight arc beneath the neck.  It generally stays high, but it may come down a bit.  Then again, it doesn’t have to.  Dresses with this cut still hang on your shoulders.  If they do not, they are not a bateau neckline.  It is similar to a U or a scoop except that it runs much more horizontal at the bottom, again, parallel to the ground.

Off The Shoulders

This is a plus size dress with a cut that still goes around the arms, but not over the shoulders.  The top of the shoulders will be bare with an off the shoulders neckline, but the sides of the shoulders will still be covered by material.  Do not confuse this cut with a strapless neckline, which is completely off the arms altogether.

Scoop

As mentioned above, a scoop neck is one that swoops down in a graceful arc.  It is not pointed at the bottom, it is not parallel to the ground, it is an upside down U.  This is a very common neckline in plus size dresses today, but don’t over do it.  You want to present an entire, polished package.  Not draw too much attention to one feature.

T-Line

Think of this as your basic neckline, found in most t shirts and sweaters.  It simply surrounds the neck evenly on all sides, keeping equidistant from the neck.  It is symmetrical and quite basic.  Some people will refer to this as the jewel neckline.

Polo Neckline

Also known as the turtle neck for obvious reasons.  This cut involves fabric that encircles the neck and bunches up in the process.  It is not necessarily tight or lose, but can be either.  It is quite popular in the winter and colder months.

Now, to take all these a step farther, there are variations of every one of them, and some variations don’t have a name or any basis in fashion design fundamentals whatsoever.  Some necklines are inexplicable, and you either like them or hate them.  They’ll likely never catch on in the mainstream, though, so there’s no need to give them a formal name.

These are the basics for plus size dress necklines, though, and you’ll be able to communicate intelligently with staff at any plus size store in the country when talking about necklines.  Once we pair this knowledge up with waistlines and hemlines, you’ll have the whole package and be able to describe and ask for any type of dress that you can imagine.  It’s fun, trust me.

The first public face, outside of the original Charm Shoppes store, of Charming Shoppes was the Fashion Bug stores which opened in the 1960’s. Considered pioneers of computerized inventory management and sales, Fashion Bug stores were wildly popular and expanded quickly all the way through the 1990’s.

In 2000 Charming Shoppes purchased Catherine’s Stores Corporation in an effort to firmly plant themselves into the plus size women’s clothing market, including plus size dresses, plus size outerwear, and plus size shoes. They followed this quickly with the purchase of Lane Bryant in 2001, adding the plus size powerhouse to its already successful Fashion Bug and Catherine’s dynasty. It quickly followed the Lane Bryant acquisition with the launch of Pettite Sophisticate, a store catering to smaller size women.

If we take a look at the company’s financial performance based on their stock price, we see that in 1993 they split their stock, and immediately afterwards saw a sharp decrease in stock price over the next three years (adjusted for split price). That brings us to 1996, a year when the Charming Shoppes successfully remade itself as a socially responsible company by helping women and children in need, focusing on women’s’ health issues, and brining attention to family and financial issues that women face. This program was championed by then CEO Dorrit J. Bern, and marked an immediate, sharp rise in stock price that lasted through the year.

Charming Shoppes stock price continued to fluctuate up and down over the next several years, but moved generally in an upward trend.  Plus size dresses were continuing to slowly climb in popularity.   It was seemingly unaffected by the acquisition of Catherine’s and Lane Bryant, and was in a holding pattern through much of the late 1990’s and early 2000’s.

In 2003 we see a sharp rise in the stock price that has continued through h2007 before seeing any decline whatsoever. This can be directly tied to the opening of the Lane Bryant website to internet sales, a move that brought an incredibly lucrative new revenue stream in for the Charming Shoppes Corporation. Sales have declined in 2008, one can assume in part due to the prevailing economic conditions in the country.

Compared to previous years, sales for the Charming Shoppes Corporation are down $265 million over the first two quarters. That’s 20% of their total sales. Not something to take lightly. Taken as separates, Lane Bryant is down $47 million, Fashion Bug is down $69 million, and Catherine’s is down $24 million. It’s possible that they’ll make up the difference in the second two quarters of the year, but historically they have had very few strong 3rd and 4th quarters.

What does this mean for the plus size fashion industry? Not much, but the Lane Bryant sales figures are a good indicator that there is quite a bit less demand for plus size dresses and plus size clothes so far this year. One can assume this is due in part to less disposable income due to the slowing economy and gas prices since none of the other large fashion houses has seen a comparable rise in sales.

Today women come in all shapes and sizes. So don’t hurt her feelings by leaving her out. All you have to do is look for some great stores with great prices and the perfect color. Finding the right colors for your wedding and having everyone look wonderful and feel confident standing in front of the church will make everyone feel great all day long.

Searching on the internet you will find lots of sites offering plus size dresses of all sizes.You will find so many fabrics and colors available to you.  Find a seamstress beforehand that can alter or even create that perfect dress for the plus size woman. As you surf you will find that it will come apparent to the dresses and styles you should avoid. You don’t want a dress that will emphasize the hips or bust of your best friend.

Plus size designer ethnic lines have a host of accessories that can be stunning. Depending upon the season, they will look just right for your time of year.This extra nice look makes plus size women look very stylish and also feel comfortable in the plus size bridesmaid dress. Some Ethnic Styles comes with scarves that are an excellent addition to the bridesmaid dress or mother of the bride dress, giving wonderful match or contract to the dress. High Heels will give plus size dresses height and provide a slimming look.

Everyone can look good in an outfit that is right for their body type and has the right accessories to go with it. When looking for plus size dresses use the resources available and your best friend will be happy on the inside and the out, making your special day perfect.

Think about what that means.  No more plus size designer jeans that gap at the top of your bottom, that don’t fit right around your hips, or that are too tight along the top of your legs.  It’s a magical world, and it’s right out there at your favorite online retailer.  And if your favorite stomping grounds doesn’t have such a feature, give them a call and see if they’ll implement one.  If not, do some checking around and check out different online plus size designer jean stores.  There’s plenty that do, and they’ll be more than happy to take your money and send you a fabulous pair of plus size designer jeans.

Enjoy!

So what’s the secret? It’s simple. Nothing fits properly off the rack. More accurately, 1 in 10,000 articles of plus size designer clothing will fit properly off the rack. Everything else must be tailored to your figure to give you the absolute best fit. And not all tailors and seamstresses are the same, though, so you have to do a little social fashion networking and find one that can do the job right.

You might be a bit skeptical, but it’s true: anyone who claims that their clothes fit them perfectly right from the store is telling a bit of a fib. Getting your plus size designer clothes tailored to specifically fit you is the best money you can ever spend on your wardrobe, and the results will knock your socks off. Trust me - give it a try once and see what you think.

Lane Bryant is the store that is widely credited with being the first large-scale producer of womens’ plus size clothing, the first to push for plus size designers, and the first to use plus size models in their advertising. But where did they come from? Obviously, they haven’t ‘always been around’ like some people think. It all started back in the early 1900’s with a woman by the name of Lena Himmelstein Bryant Malsin.

Lena actually didn’t start out in the plus size marketplace. Rather, she started her professional career sewing plus size maternity clothes in a small shop on 5^th Avenue in New York. From a shoestring cash infusion of $300 (about equivalent to $7500 in today’s dollars), Lena started sewing clothes and selling them to women from all walks of life. Due to an error on her application to open a bank account, she was listed as Lane instead of Lena, and the name stuck.

In 1909 Lena get married to Albert Malsin, and he became very involved in the business. He brought with him the methodical, process oriented eye of an engineer and accountant, and really helped to automate their clothing production. This kept prices down and allowed them to produce clothes from patterns at a high rate of speed. They were the original plus size designers. Unfortunately, pregnancy was somewhat of a taboo subject 100 years ago, and they had a hard time advertising their designer clothes to the masses. Eventually, they were able to get an advertisement run in a local newspaper, and they were soon up to the ears in customers. Lena soon made the realization that a large portion, if not the majority, of her customers were what she referred to as “stout-figured” women. She began to tailor her lines for that customer base, and it quickly became the main source of revenue for the company.

A little known fact is that Lena was one of the early pioneers of the mail order catalog as well. Due to the pressures from society that she faced, advertising was very difficult. She resolved to get her designer clothes in front of her customers somehow, and had a catalog printed that she would mail out. Soon, the plus size designer content in the catalog had overtaken the maternity content, and the course of the company was set.