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 was reading an article recently from the U.K. that talked about plus size models and that a larger-size model shows other plus size women that it is possible to maintain a positive body image and look good.   The controversy centered around whether having models that are too large sends the wrong message.

Photo: V Magazine

So, here are the key questions?

1. How large should a plus size model be and can models be too large?

What do you think?

By the way, check out this week’s Fashion Flash from The No Nonsense Beauty Blog!

Congratulations to Kaela Humphries, the former sister-in-law of Kim K.

She is now a star in her own right! Kaela is Ford Modeling Agency’s newest Plus Size Model.    I love her photos, don’t you? What a great addition to the plus size modeling community!

Kaela made her NY Fashion week debut in February and also is appearing in CW’s show Remodeled.

This 29 year-old, blue-eyed beauty signed with the plus size division of the Ford Modeling Agency on March 5.

Kaela tweeted, ”So excited to be working with the team @fordmodels!”  ”This is going to be a great 2012! Stay tuned:)”

We are excited too! Best of Luck Kaela and for showing the world that beauty comes in all shapes and sizes!

I am very impressed with Vogue Italia and their efforts to feature plus size models in recent issues of the magazine and promote women of all shapes and sizes on their Vogue Curvy web site!

Although, there is some criticism that the plus size models are always shown in the nude or in lingerie, due to the lack of plus size high fashion, I think that the fashion spread is very tastefully done with the models showing off their curves!  As for high fashion, there are more designers out there catering to plus size women, you just have to look for them!  Change comes about slowly in fashion and I take this as a big leap forward!

More as it happens!  Off to the trade shows for Fall 2012!

Jodell

We have heard some rumors…so, Stay tuned for The Learning Channel’s three-part series, “Big Sexy” Reality TV show!

The show, which is scheduled to debut August 30, 2011 will feature plus size fashionistas Nikki, Heather, Audrey Leslie and Tiffany as they strive to challenge stereotypes, shift perceptions and show that they are ready to take on the NY Fashion World!

You’ll be able to see what happens in their personal relationship and professional lives as they take on such jobs as designing clothes, arranging photo shoots and walk the runway!

I am looking forward to seeing  just how these women are portrayed!

How about you?

More as it happens!

Jodell

Well, here’s a new one!

A new study out of the University of Bologna by Dr. Davide Dragone and Dr. Luca Savorelli suggest in their research paper, Thinness and Obesity: A Model of Food Consumption, Health Concerns and Social Pressure, that using plus-size models such as the lovely Marquita Ping, on the catwalk and in advertisements could make women fat because it decreases the social pressure to be thin.

Photos: Ford Plus

Here we go!

The researchers cite the relationships between Italy, Germany and Spain and each of their respective fashion communities to produce more plus-sized clothes and uphold a minimum size for models.

They said, “To promote chubby fashion models when obesity is one of the major problems of industrialised countries seems to be a paradox. Everyone has to trade off in life a number of things like the pleasure of eating and going to the gym or something as a cost.  So if you just fix the average healthy weight then maybe you will throw up some incentives to be thin.”

So, why are nations as a whole overweight?  Given the numerous images we see of rail thin models, we should all be a size 0.

Not that simple since there are so many other factors that come into play.

While you can give credit to the influence of media and fashion on appearance and what is in vogue, it is not the only influence?

I think it is time we stop trying to “categorize and rationalize” and figure out a way to “normalize” without excuse or explanation.

What do you think?

More as it happens! Jodell

The Council of Fashion Designers of America recently released its health initiative to make sure models on the runway are healthy adult representatives of our population.

I applaud President Diane von Furstenberg for taking the lead on addressing this most serious issue.  I agree with Diane when she said in her Op Ed post  that, No single influence is responsible for the development of eating disorders. Genetics, neurochemistry, personality, weight- conscious occupations, and sociocultural factors all play a role in the etiology of these illnesses.

No kidding?

Even supermodels such as Natalia Vodianova (below) have discussed their issues with food and body image.

Diane also discusses the need for increased education about living a healthy lifestyle no matter what size you wear.

I am all for that, how about you?

While we have seen an increase in the rhetoric, from Anna Wintour’s charge to, celebrate women’s bodies in all of their different healthy forms to Michael Kors declaration that he will not use any models under the age of 16,  will we realize an increase in the acceptance and hiring of plus size models in mainstream fashion?

We need to have an even broader plan! 

First, within the fashion industry, to include the plus size faction and then extending beyond…

Not just the fashion industry, but discussion and input from experts in many different fields: psychology, sociology, health and medicine and media.

The plus size industry has known all along, to effect change, we must have dialogue and education at every level in just about every industry/field.

Diane says, Although models are key to effecting change, they obviously cannot do it alone. Everyone in the fashion industry – designers, casting directors, agents, fashion-magazine editors, show producers – need to join forces. The bottom line is the importance of healthy, fit models whose well-being can in turn promote the development of positive body image and improved self-esteem in all girls and women.

Time for a pow-wow.

Stay tuned.

Jodell

Fashion isn’t about the brand, the size or the price tag. It isn’t about being a hand-me-down vintage or a gorgeous, credit card-busting (http://www.lovemoney.com/creditcards/) pret-à-pôrter designer piece. It is about how it makes you look and feel! Everybody has known that great sensation a superb new outfit can give you. If you don’t– then you had better read this blog more often! There are so many fantastic options out there, for beautiful women of all shapes and sizes.

Now I have heard it all.

The latest on plus size models in advertisements appears to have taken a negative turn?

According to a new Arizona State University Study, plus size models have no clout in persuading women to buy certain products.

Dove’s Real Beauty campaign.Photo: Courtesy of Dove

I know you are dying to know why. Ready:

Because the ads may (may?) make them feel bad about themselves and not want to purchase the products.

The research (and I want to see this research report) report basically said that skinny women identified with skinny and heavier models because they identified with the skinny women and felt better about themselves when compared to the heavier women; heavy women with high BMI felt big when they compared themselves to the thinner models, yet they identified with the bigger models.  Average-size women felt skinny and better about themselves when faced with thin models, but heavy and bad when faced with bigger models.

Most of the women in the U.S. are a size 14 so what is the point?  Helloooo They identified with the bigger models. If the majority of the women in the U. S. identified with the bigger models wouldn’t they buy the products they represent?

So, I will be right back.  I am going to the store RIGHT NOW to buy everything that Dove has in stock. Dove Soap, Dove Liquid, whatever Dove has, I am buying it.

Here’s the uh, “good news.” The researchers found that plus size models were useful when they appeared in ads for certain things, such as weight-loss supplements and gyms.  Why? Because this type of product advertising makes women feel bad enough about themselves and motivated to purchase those products.

Seems as though there is a bit of bias in the interpretation of findings to me.

More as it happens. Jodell

Interesting story on CNN by Breeanna Hare.

Could it be?

Is 2010 the year for plus size models to get more work and continue the trend of placing plus size models in editorial campaigns-or- is it the same old cycle that we have seen before with a burst of activity that slowly fades away to be resurrected at a later time for the cycle to start again?

I am encouraged that there has been a number of recent high fashion editorial campaigns from V Magazine, Glamour, and Germany’s Brigitte Magazines with plus size models featured along side high fashion, Size 0 models or with models who represent women of all shapes and sizes.

Will it be enough to keep the momentum moving forward?

We know that the plus size models like Crystal Renn can hold their own against their straight-sized counterparts? Now, will the fashion industry and the public allow it, no…demand that it happens?  Finally.

Hmmmn. Remains to be seen.

More as it happens. Jodell

I really love the drama of fashion photography and its ability to tell a story, don’t you?

Velvet d’Amour’s rendition of plus size fashion as an art form is a perfect example of fashion photography at its best.

In this dramatic, black and white photo spread for Plus Model Magazine, we are immediately drawn into another place and time.  We are intrigued as we get to know Islington Girl and Chole Marshall and Velvet d’Amour’s interpretation of a sexy vixen.

Once again, I am excited and encouraged to see a plus size model as the central figure in a fashion spread that captures the imagination and tells a story of not only fashion, but style.

Style is a trait that one can aspire to and have sooo much fun along the way.  Along with the images, I was inspired by a quote in the fashion spread from Edna Woolman Chase, the former editor of Vogue.

“Fashion can be bought.  Style one must possess.”

Psychologists tell us that style can be learned.  It is not an age or a size.  It is a combination of self-confidence and self knowledge–the essence of “who” you were, are, and intend to be.  Through style, we have the ability to create who we are and the part of ourselves that we wish to show the world.   Through style, we can sift through all of the clutter and find our inner self and take pride in showing the world our evolution of who we are—the work, the masterpiece, in progress.

Fashion is clothing, and simply a tool to exhibit one’s style.   Style is our universal, shared language that links us-regardless of age or size.

Here’s to dedicating the year to telling your story and creating your own unique style.

Great Work, everyone! More as it happens. Jodell