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.

Let’s clear the air right up front - plus size maternity clothes are out there and with a little shopping you’ll be in tip-top fashion shape in no time. Plus size designers are putting out great maternity lines every year, just like their regular lines.

JCPenny is a great place to start and get an idea of what the basic lines are out there. They have some great plus size designer clothes, and even a decent line of maternity clothes in sizes that will accommodate the plus size gal. Look for skirts that have a drawstring waist to allow for growth in the tummy area; lighter fabrics for summer and heavier fabrics for winter. Don’t be afraid to wear bright colors in the winter - all this dull, dreary winter clothing can really bring you down. There’s nothing like a fun, bright skirt to really brighten up a room when it’s gray and dull outside.

Surprisingly, Gap and Old Navy often offer a limited selection of plus size designer maternity wear in their stores. Be sure to look for shirts that bring your waistline up high with a pretty tie or bunched fabric, and have a flowing, loose lower section. While pregnant, you will really want to accentuate and draw attention to your belly, and these shirts are very comfortable and will fit you the entire time you’re carrying. There’s nothing worse than dressing in baggy, frumpy clothes so no one is quite sure if you’re wearing plus size maternity clothes or just old, ill fitting clothes that should have been disposed of years ago.

As a final note, find a care provider who is understanding of your size, but won’t treat you like some sort of statistical outlier. You’re going to be spending a lot of time at their office, so if you find yourself dreading your next appointment because of rude or indifferent treatment, find someone else! There’s no shortage of doctors out there, and with a little bit of social networking you’re sure to be able to find one that will treat you in a manner that you deserve, and make the experience as enjoyable as it should be. And, finally, make sure you have a wonderful time filled with good health and plenty of designer plus size maternity clothes.

Plus Size Designer Jeans

This is the one fashion that can go from high class to hanging out with a little window dressing. Throw on some high heels and a fun top and you’re ready for a night on the town, or dress down with a hooded sweater and comfortable clogs and you can go down to the local coffee shop with friends. Be sure to look on eBay for their plus size designer jeans fit and style guide so you understand the cut that you’re bidding on.

Plus Size Jackets

Outerwear is sometimes an after thought, but should be at the forefront of your mind especially when seasonal transitions are near. Make sure to look for vintage cuts as well as lightweight jackets made from modern materials. A mid-calf vintage overcoat from a plus size designer can really turn your on-the-town outfit into something memorable for that great night out.

Shoes

Don’t be afraid to pair up a skirt or your jeans with some boots that are tailor fit to your figure. Plus size designers are making some incredible footwear, and you’ll find everything from wide calf boots to sizes as large as 14 in the foot. Look for durable materials such as leather that have been lightly used for the best prices and bargains. When it starts to get colder outside look for a great calf-height insulated suede boot with a heel that will go great with your favorite pair of designer jeans.

Plus Size Slacks

Look for pants that have long lines and flared ends to elongate your figure and accentuate your curves. You can find anything from some casual slacks for going out to a business casual dinner to dressy slacks that you can pair up with a fitted blouse to wear to the office. The options are almost limitless in this area, so take your time and shop around with different search strings.

No matter what you’re looking for to complete your wardrobe, from ultra dressy to business to casual, you can easily find great plus size designers on eBay for excellent prices. And definitely don’t be afraid of vintage and lightly used clothing. You can find some of the best bargains around with gently used plus size designer clothes.

Meet Yuliya Zeltser of IGIGI
Yuliya grew up in the Ukraine, and was touched by the difficulty that her mother had with finding plus size clothes. After going shopping with her mother in 1997 and seeing the terrible lack of quality plus size designers in industry, she decided to start her own label, and IGIGI was born. Her goal is to make every woman feel sensual, feminine, confident and beautiful. Her lines are some of the best around.

Meet Monif C.
Also known as Monif C. she runs Monif C. Plus Sizes and puts out some amazing lines year after year. After growing up in Brooklyn, New York, Monif found her inspiration in her own life and dreams. Her stated goal is to provide plus size women with beautiful plus size designer fashions that makes them feel stylish, inspired, luxurious and sexy.

Anna Nicole

Anna Nicole runs the online store called Jahqoi, which means “I believe” if pronounced phonetically in French. Anna grew up in Detroit and claims to have begun sewing at 12. She works best with contemporary styles, and is quickly making a name for herself in the world of plus size designers.

Meet Bek

Bek had a successful corporate career until health issues forced her to quit her job. To help the family income, she started making jewelry and selling it on Etsy. She has been phenomenally successful, and caters to the little serviced market segment of plus size jewelry. Her designs are breathtaking, and focus on mid century modern design.

For me, getting to know the designers behind the clothes is all part of the shopping experience, and watching their lines evolve and change over the years is exciting and interesting. The world of plus size designers is growing every day with more high-quality designers and stores than ever before. Keep your eye on some of the new and emerging talent to stay ahead of the pack.