Once again, the use of a plus size mannequin has stirred debate about fashion, obesity and body image. The Swedish department store Ahlens has a mannequin that represents the curvier woman with its rounded stomach and larger bust line.
The store’s choice has sparked debate about whether the use of mannequins are encouraging women to be at an unhealthy weight or whether it is good for a woman’s body image to see a mannequin that represents the average size of today’s women.
It is interesting that this debate comes at a time when many countries such as Britain and Spain, are placing limits to designers as to what size models can be used to represent their clothing lines. However, I believe it is a smart move for retailers who are trying to appeal to women who are interested to see accurate representations of their size. What do you think? Check out this week’s Fashion Flash from Fab Over Forty!
Animal prints are here to stay! And, for the plus size woman, there are plenty of options to choose from this season.
Want to make a fashion statement? How about these leopard print yoga-style pants from Cover Charge? You may want to pair with a solid brown or cream color top or for a bit of pizzazz, how about a turquoise tunic?
if the pants are a bit too much animal instinct for you, try a more subtle print such as the peacock-inspired Fantasy tunic from Cover Charge?
Whether you want to go bold or have just a hint of animal print, you will find that this print is a bright, colorful and yes, versatile, fashion statement.
Leopard, cheetah, tiger, peacock, zebra all of these prints should be worn as a neutral print which can make anyoutfit sexy and fabulous!
Experiment! Have fun! One thing is for sure, animal prints are here to stay and the plus size woman, the options are endless!
Agencies in Australia, London, even Malaysia are popping up with plus size models. Many plus size models are having luck getting work through talent agencies. Bella Rahim (pictured below) is an example of one model from Malaysia who has found success.
The message is clear and two-fold: women need to know that it is ok to be who they are and things are slowly changing. A fuller size does not equal an inability to be fashionable. It is essential to instill a healthy, realistic self-image in women. And leaders in the fashion industry appear to be committed to facilitate this shift.
Several months ago, Plus Model Magazine had a bold shoot featuring a nude plus-size model posing alongside a straight-size model. The magazine released some interesting statistics regarding the conditions of models in the fashion industry today compared with previous years. An average fashion model used to weigh 8% less than the average woman, but today, that figure is 23%.
Hey, if Karl Lagerfeld can change his mind (when he cast plus size models in shoots and hired Beth Ditto to headline a Fendi party), who knows what’s next?
Check out this week’s Fashion Flash from Prime Beauty.
Well, here we are! We set the clocks ahead! It is almost Spring and the Fashion Flash Bloggers have a lot of great info for you!
They’re bold & bright, but how do you wear florals when you’re over 40 and not look like an old lady? The Glam Gals at Fabulous After 40 have a few ideas for how to put together a floral outfit that looks fab.
Red carpet Oscar fever may be over, but celebrity makeup artist Bruce Grayson shares his ‘any day red carpet tips’ with us via Jackie Silver from AgingBackwards.com.
Do you become dazed and confused when trying to choose an eyeliner for your over 40 eyes? Cindy over at Prime Beauty brings you ‘Eyeliner 101‘ to help you decide which type is right for you!
Celebrate spring with a Strawberry Kiss! This pink delight is 50 calories less and only a third the sugar of a strawberry daiquiri. So YUMMY and Menopause Makeover approved!
Say bye-bye to dry wrinkled lipswith this product that Fab Over Forty recently discovered.
Positive Aging expert, Barbara Hannah Grufferman, takes you through the latest research on vitamin D and calcium, cutting through the noise, and getting to the bottom of everything you need to know right now to be fit, healthy and strong.
Plus size Brazilian models strutted their stuff on the catwalk this past weekend in Sao Paulo, Brazil as they showcased plus size lingerie, plus size swimwear, plus size wedding gowns and plus size dresses. Way to go Brazil! Check out the Fashion Flash at The Best of Everything!
Overall, there were few misses and a lot of hits this past Sunday for the 85th Academy Awards.
There was definitely a range of colors: from subtle shades of light pastels, to black to soft metallics.
My personal favorite was Jennifer Lawrence’s dress in light pink, by Dior Haute Couture. I held my breath when she tripped up the steps, but she shrugged it off as you can when you are 22.
Many people did not like Melissa McCarthy’s dress by David Meister. And Adele played it very safe (better than the Grammy’s) in Jenny Peckham gown.
With 16 billion in retail revenue, plus size women account for 67% of the apparel-purchasing population. There is no doubt that plus size women are redefining the way they influence retailers, push fashion commentary, and is redefining the language of fashion.
Tired of having to go through regular channels of communication and getting nowhere, the “thought leaders” in the plus-size fashion game are taking to the internet, leveraging the influence, size and interest of their built-in market, and in turn influencing designers and brands from the outside in. Essentially, the bloggers reward designers and retailers who cater to the plus size market and dismiss those who do not.
Margaret Bogenrief, Partner with ACM Partners said, “In short, plus size shoppers have managed to successfully run an end-around the (well, let’s just admit it) snobbishness and exclusivity of the traditional design community – one that still, despite all financial and fashion evidence to the contrary, snubs the majority of the clothes buying population and empowered itself through the power blogger and, frankly, grapevine inherent in fashion gossip.”
Sometimes, you need to go around the mainstream channels of communication to get to where you need to go and be heard…
Bogenrief adds, “So what’s to be learned from this plus size social media revolution? Certainly, and perhaps most importantly, there’s more than one way to work within and revolutionize an industry. Instead of trying to traditionally “convince” retailers the plus-size market and consumer should be front and center, these bloggers and their followers have created an ecosystem that operates outside the traditional media and advertising platform – and in doing so, have “spread the word” about where and how and when to frequent retailers that work successfully with the plus size customer. It’s social advertising at its best.”
This is how things get done! Maybe the designers and retailers will listen?
The plus size models were the talk of the town at London Fashion Week. And, it’s about time!
We are excited to read that the first Official British Plus-Size Fashion Weekend in Shoreditch, an edgy district in the east of the capital beloved of young hipsters and music fans, went off without a hitch. The event, is sponsored by Trapped in a Skinny World and Evolve Magazine. The two-day event featured discussions, tutorials by bloggers and a final catwalk show featuring established and first-time plus models, who would rather be called “curvy”.
Running simultaneously with British Fashion Week, the plus-size fashion event is certainly sign of good things to come. Rianne Ward, the creative force behind this event said she hopes to emulate Full Figured Fashion Week. “At the end, I hope there won’t be two segregated shows. But for now, we want to give curvy women an option,” said Rianne Ward, one of the organizers of the event and the creator of the online magazine Evolve, a magazine is for curvy women.
Check out our Fashion Flash From Jackie Silver of Aging Backwards.
We know cat s have always been in fashion! This past weekend, Designer Tracy Reese sent Lily, a real, live cat down the runway.
As it turns out, the cats were there on behalf of Purina ONE as part of their True Nature of Cats movement.
According to a press release, the movement is all about letting cats “be who they were born to be”… by feeding them Purina ONE. This is the first time a cat has been on the cat walk! How great is that?
Photo by: Jason DeCrow/Invision for Purina ONE/AP Images
Rex Reed is a bully and a bigot. He needs to be let go as a reviewer for the New York Observer, NOW!
What is this? The fourth or fifth post like this in the past year?
Ok, so he disliked Melissa’s new movie, Identity Thief, which is not meant for an Oscar, it is meant just for us to laugh, that’s it! Laugh, mindless, fun, laughter. No sub-plot, no high-brow thoughts, just for us to laugh. Watching Melissa do what Melissa does best, provide a zany character that just simply makes you laugh. Melissa’s bathroom scene (you know the one) in The Bridesmaids, had me laughing so hard, I was crying and could not breathe. Her Saturday Night Live appearance was the ONE appearance where I stayed up the whole time and could not stop laughing with one funny skit after another. As a someone who grew up with SNL, that says a lot! I laugh out loud, OUT LOUD at her sit com Mike & Molly. I do not laugh out loud too often with what is on television today.
And now, this film critic (note film critic, that is all you are, just your opinion for whatever it’s worth, Mr. Reed and it’s not worth much at all.) chooses to focus on her appearance? This talented, beautiful woman who takes our breath away with her comedic range and all you focus on is her appearance?
To single McCarthy out, not for her talent, but her physical appearance and called her obese and tractor-sized with a career that has been a study in being obese and being obnoxious with equal success, is just so feeble minded, I cannot get over it.
Excuse me? That is someone who should be fired and we need to let the New York Observer know our displeasure. He’s out of touch and not with the program, that for sure. So, fire him Immediately. And some in Hollywood are just as angry as I am and agree that he should be let go.
“Is it still offensive to call someone an “old queen”? Because I want to call Rex Reed that but I don’t want to offend anyone except him.”
Chad Lowe said, Film critic sideshow #RexReed‘s personal attack on actress Melissa McCarthy is vile & unacceptable. The @NewYorkObserver should fire him.
BlackCatPlus | 
March 27, 2013| 
