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

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…

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!

We are pleased to bring you the latest news for Spring from my favorite gal pal bloggers!   From beauty and hair, to wardrobe and travel we’ve got you covered! Take a peek!

First Up!

Get a sneak peek of the latest in beauty for the season. Jackie Silver from Aging Backwards shows you a colorful array straight from New York City.

Fab Over Forty helps break down bangs – should we get them and what kind of bangs should we get.

What should you wear to look sexy and stylish (but not too young!) at a party?  Check out what the Glam Gals have to say over at Fabulous After 40.

Deb of No-Nonsense Beauty  Blog explores the link between spring allergies and aging.

Do you have a formula for putting together your travel wardrobe?  Une femme shares hers, and the magic number is 12!

Female Fat Loss Expert, Shawna K, has a strategy to discover how to test if a diet will work for you.

The brilliant style scouts at Faboverfifty find the 5 best t-shirts for FOFs!  (Plus, win one of their top picks.)

And over at Black Cat Plus, we are pleased to have new plus size items in from Ezze Wear, Neon Buddha and Simply Silk!

Full Figured Fashion Week™ (FFFWeek) is going to be in New York City for its fourth year!

Events include a fashion showcase, panel discussions, fitness classes and sample and boutique sales.

The event is produced by DeVoe Signature Events (DSE), a boutique events management company with an extensive background in the production of fashion related events and a strong and effective mix of proven plus industry experience and success.

With over 15 years experience in fashion show production, Gwen DeVoe, CEO of DSE, Creator and Executive Producer of FFFWeek says, “It is time for designers, retailers, boutique owners and businesses with an interest in the plus size market to combine their resources and talents and partner with a plus fashion event that will rival other Fashion Weeks and Full Figured Fashion Week™ IS that event.”

Stay tuned for more information on FFFW!

The National Association to Advance Fat Acceptance (NAAFA) has announced its plans to hold its annual Plus-Size Fashion Design Scholarship competition.

Students can design and submit drawings of three plus-size (Women’s 16 – 32) fashions along with a short essay (750 words or less) explaining the thought behind their design and why it is unique, along with the designer’s approach and interest in designing for the plus-size fashion industry.

This is such a positive and encouraging step  to inspire young designers to join the ranks of Diane Kennedy, Sue Halevy of Sienna Rose, Shannon Passero of Neon Buddha, and others to design for plus size fashion.

The winning submission will receive a $1,000 scholarship, to be awarded at the NAAFA Conference being held in San Francisco on August 4, 2012.

Founded in 1969, the National Association to Advance Fat Acceptance (NAAFA) is a non-profit civil rights organization dedicated to ending size discrimination in all of its forms. NAAFA’s goal is to help build a society in which people of every size are accepted with dignity and equality in all aspects of life. NAAFA will pursue this goal through advocacy, public education, and support.

Interested applicants must sign up and submit one PDF document that includes their three designs, proof of enrollment, and the brief essay.  The application deadline is July 1, 2012.

We’ll be watching!

Also, it’s Fashion Flash Monday! Check and see what the Glam Gals have in store today!   And, don’t forget to check out our contest with Fab Over Forty!  $200 Give-a-Way!

What a great piece from Media Planet as it touts all the greatest news and info on the Curvy Evolution!

This  insert appears in USA Today’s major markets and features from the plus size woman’s perspective!   You’ll be thrilled to read the latest trends and topics of interest from plus model Emme, Plus Model Magazine Editor, Madeline Figueroa -Jones and plus size blogger, my friend, Marie Denee.

Check it out!

Also, check out Jackie from Aging Backwards as she hosts this week’s Fashion Flash!

So, happy reading!  Jodell

This season’s go-to item remains the ever popular tunic.  We are finding tunics in all sorts of lengths that begins at the shoulders and ends somewhere between the hips and ankles and patterns that range from solids with embellishment to color blocking and multi-colored such as this Mara Tunic from Art of Cloth.

Here’s David Wolfe Creative Director of Doneger Group, talking with me about how great tunics are for plus size women.

I agree! The tunic is the perfect on trend piece for the plus size woman because it conceals any figure flaws and allows her to play up the areas she wants to show off.

Well, we have lots to talk about this week with MAGIC and the Fall Buying well underway.

But, the talk of this week is that this year’s models for Fashion Week in New York were too young and too thin.  They were reported as being boyish and very slender.

Back in 2006 after the death of one fashion model, Anna Carolina Reston, from anorexia, the Council of Fashion Designers of America issued a statement and guidelines for models which included resources for models who have an eating disorder.

While the models for Calvin Klein and other designers look healthy, there are many models who are clearly not taking good care of themselves.  In her documentary, Model Sara Ziff shows a grim portrayal of the dark side of modeling, where teens were encouraged to eat a rice cake a day and cotton balls. The CFDA and many designers have imposed a No Alcohol and No Smoking Policies, but without any enforcement power, it is a sad commentary for young women and the state of the fashion industry. What does it say for aspiring models? How about those plus size models wishing to break into the fashion industry? Could it be an indication that there is no room for plus size models?

When are we going to learn?