A recent study conducted by Ben Barry of the Ben Barry Agency who was doing the research as a part of his doctoral thesis reveals that women want to see an attainable, realistic version of who they are and not an unattainable version!

Barry conducted focus groups with over 2500 women of all ethnicities, ages 14 to 65 and with dress size 0 to 18 across the U.S. and Canada.

The study found that diversity in body type helps sell clothes! We knew that!

Barry said, “My study found that women increased their purchase intentions by more than 200 percent when the models in the mock ads were their size. In the subgroup over size 6, women increased their purchase intentions by a dramatic 300 percent when they saw curvier models. Conversely, when women saw models who didn’t reflect their size, they decreased their purchase intentions by 60 percent, and women over size 6 dropped their purchase intentions by 76 percent.”

Leading Plus Size Magazine Cover with Model Fluvia Lacerda

The same actions occurred when buyers saw women of their own age in the ads.  When viewing a model who resembled her body type said, “I’d buy the dress in an instant because [the model] looks like me. I can see how this dress will hug my curves in all the right spots.”

It is no surprise that women felt beautiful and confident when they saw models who had similar traits and felt motivated enough to buy the dress.

That’s what we have been saying all along….WHEN will the designers listen?

More as it  happens,

Jodell

I must admit, I am addicted to Fashion Star, the reality competition show for fashion designers. Have you seen it?

Every week designers have a fashion challenge which culminates in a fashion show with the option of having either the buyer from Macy’s, Saks, or H & M bidding for the items.  At the end of the episode, America has a chance to immediately purchase the designs off of the retailers’ sites. Check out the items, wouldn’t you love to see some of these in plus sizes? How exciting is that?

Here’s what I want to see: a challenge that includes plus size clothing.

After all, with the majority of American women wearing a Size 14 or higher, wouldn’t you think that being able to design for the majority would be a requirement for any designer today?

The show is interesting with Jessica Simpson, John Varvatos and Nicole Richie as the resident designers who are in charge of coaching the contestants.  It is also interesting to see what items actually catch the eyes of they buyers!

Maybe we can convince the producers to consider it! In the meantime, tune in next week Tuesday, May 15 at 10pm Eastern, as Ronnie, Nzzmiro and Kara vie for the title of Fashion Star!

So, write to them and let’s see what happens!

Check out this week’s Fashion Flash from Fab Over Fifty.

More as it happens!

Jodell

It’s that time of the year with parties and weddings and all sorts of functions to attend!

Quick Tip!

Don’t forget the secret weapon every celebrity and fashionista knows about!

Plus size shapewear, especially the bodysuit or the slipdress are perfect shapers to wear under your favorite dress as it transforms your silhouette!

A twist on the old favorite is the boxer body shaper which resembles a bodysuit but covers like a slip!

Remember, shapewear should fit snugly in order for it to do its job, so you can do yours–and look absolutely fabulous!

Also, check out the week’s Fashion Flash from Une Femme!

Either one you choose, we have you covered!

We were so excited to hear that What Not To Wear Host Stacy London, is producing a new series on plus size shopping with Lee Lee’s Valise in Brooklyn!  How great is that?  The show is set to debut on TLC sometime this May!

Stacy also has a new venture with her business partner Cindy McLaughlin, that offers personal styling advice, called Style for Hire for women of all shapes and sizes! This is such a great idea to help women so that they can show off their own signature look to the world!

Plus Size Fashion News is Everywhere….Up, down and all around!

From the lovely Kaela Humphries signing with Ford Modeling Agency and her new campaign for the Limited’s new plus size line…

to the designers such as our very own Sympli Grand and other retailers like The Limited who are getting into plus size and H & M with Tara Lynn who is in a bikini! Good for her!

Not to mention that everyone is still talkin’ about what is going on with former plus size model Crystal Renn’s weight loss and what she is up to with her new hair color and her new size…

So, from Spring Colors that Pop in brights and feminine We have a lot to talk about and keep you posted as Spring is in full bloom!

Also, check out our Fashion Flash post from Fab Over Forty!

More as it happens…

We are pleased to introduce Sympli Grand to our esteemed list of designers! Finally, Sympli decided to add a plus size line for their stores!

What impressed me the most is that the company spent countless hours in the design process and even called me to discuss my first impressions.  The company made sure that every size was draped on real bodies and that extra special attention was paid to the placement of style lines and details, adding pockets, angles and length wherever possible to flatter the figure while maintaining shape.

Sympli made sure that every stage of the design process must encompass style, size, shape, height and comfort simultaneously.

The final product was only ap­proved if it flattered and satisfied ALL of their plus size models. There is a fit for every body!

This line has generous sizing, interesting separates in on-trend colors and fabric that you can easily grab and go! Check out this Rapt Tunic as it is a perfect example of style and comfort!

Sympli Grand is the long awaited plus size line from Sympli which, “Encourages women to embrace their inner beauty and strength and enjoy our collection with confidence. We want women to wear clothes as a compliment to their individual personality, mood and purpose and dispel the myth that they would be happier with a “perfect body.”

Sympli supports the Looking Glass Foundation, a local non-profit organization who caters to troubled youth who suffer from an eating disorder or those who simply have a misguided perception about body image and happiness.

As Sympli says,
“Positive self-esteem and self worth belong to all of us.”

Well said! Check out the line when you get a minute!

Tadashi Shoji uses draping, ruching and shutter pleats along with luxurious fabrics such as jersey fabric, chiffon and lace to create a silhouette that flatters the plus size woman.  Check out this cap sleeve twisted gown available up to a size 16 at Neiman Marcus.  This gown is a perfect example of a piece that flatters!

Shoji is among only a handful of designers such as Diane von Furstenberg, David Meister and Michael Kors who make couture fashion for the plus size silhouette.  Shoji’s designs go to a 16 and many styles go to a 24W.

His following is particularly strong among plus-size stars including Oscar Winner Octavia Spencer, Gabourey Sidibe, Queen Latifah, Oprah Winfrey and Mo’Nique.

Kudos to Tadashi Shoji! I love highlighting designers who do not discriminate and include curvy women!

By the way, it’s Fashion Flash Monday!  Check out Deb’s post at the No-Nonsense Beauty Blog!

This Spring, you will love, love love the array of colors! We are looking at bright colors that pop!  This Spring is the perfect time to incorporate color into your wardrobe!

Royal blue, Violet, Yellow, Green and Coral are the go-to colors this season.

Take a look at this Crossroads Blazer in  Turquoise and Coral from Neon Buddha. With the wonderful color and jeweled buttons, this is the perfect blazer to take you from daytime to after-hour festivities.  A great example of the colorful brights we are seeing this season!

So, don’t be self-conscious to wear color! For the next few seasons, colorful separates and dresses are all you will see!  I compare wearing colorful clothing to getting used to wearing a RED lipstick shade. Most of us who wear make up, started off by wearing more subtle lipstick shades and as we got used to having some color on our lips we were able to deepen the color and perhaps back off the intensity of color on our eyes and cheeks so that we can play up one feature!

The same principle applies to your wardrobe! Start off with perhaps with an accessory or two and move to a colorful tunic and then, perhaps bottoms, like the ever popular colored denim we are seeing out now.

Remember, plus size women do not have to be banished to wearing dark colors anymore. It is a myth and it is outdated thinking and we need to stop it. If you have worn basic, neutral colors start with my suggestion to focus on accessories and then move to clothing pieces.

Spring is the perfect time to start!

Happy Shopping!

Photo: Getty Images

One of the most renown plus size models is now a size 6?
Wow, what a change!

Crystal Renn has taken up hiking and yoga and has trimmed down considerably.

She is a blonde and looks good! But, what is the message here?

“I feel pressure — probably more from any place — probably from the public and the media,” Renn said recently in interview posted on the blog of her modeling agency, Ford. “I think that by placing a title on my head, which is ‘plus-size,’ and then the picture that these people have created in their mind about what plus-size actually is, I’ve basically failed you just with that. Because I couldn’t possibly live up to that, and at this point in my life, I would have to actually have another eating disorder to live up to that expectation.”

Well, good for her if it is just that she wanted to slim down.

Here’s what I hope it is not. I hope it is not another bout of anorexia that Renn described in her 2009 biography, “Hungry: A Young Model’s Story of Appetite, Ambition, and the Ultimate Embrace of Curves.”

Hey: It’s Fashion Flash Monday! Check out Deb’s site for tips on how to work fitness into your daily lifestyle!

We are pleased to announce Ezze Wear from Canada as our newest plus size line here at Black Cat Plus!

We are even more excited that we have already sold some of the pieces and the line has been in our store only a few days!   Below is one of our favorites, the Red Zipper Top.

Ezze Wear fits right into the trend of comfortable, casual and stylish clothing, that is you guessed it–Easy to Wear!

Watch Natasha Brunklaus Sales Manager for Ezze Wear as she tells us all about this line!

Cotton fabric, zip or snap closures with fun, bright on-trend colors make this line a must have in your wardrobe. The clam diggers are perfect for running errands or a day at the beach.

This season, it’s all  about great color and comfortable, casual clothing that you can live in!  Bring on summer!