In its most recent season, the winner of “America’s Next Top Model” was a plus size woman. Five other plus size models were on the show before her, but she was the first plus-size winner.

The British version of the show “Britain’s Next Top Model” only has contestants that are typical model sizes. Julien MacDonald is a judge on the show and recently said on behalf of the competition that, “There were no plus-size models. This is a serious show. You can’t have a plus-size girl winning — it makes it a joke. It’s not fair on them. You’re setting them up for a fall.”

Welsh fashion designer Julien MacDonald has obviously been living in the land of the super skinny for too long. Designers focus on making clothes for women whose lack of curves makes them the perfect hanger for their creations.

Tyra Banks, who created America’s Next Top Model, is so intent on bringing a new awareness to the size of the average woman that she is developing a new show for teen models from sizes 12 to 20. Banks has said that she doesn’t approve of the negative slant of the term “plus size” when it is actually the size of the average woman.

Starting with the British model Twiggy, models have become much thinner than the women who buy the clothes they promote. Recent years have seen a backlash against models who are too thin. Girls who aren’t even teenagers yet see those models and start to believe that in order to be “normal”, they have to be super thin.

Ironically, statistics show that the average size of a British woman is a 16 (U.S. size 12). The average American woman is a size 14, but a third of all American women are size 16 or over. Maybe “Britain’s Next Top Model” and the fashion industry in general should realize that if they want to sell the fashions they design, then they should be paying more attention to the statistics of the real “average woman”.

What do you think? Would you like to see more plus-size models on the catwalk and in fashion ads?

$25 OFF Coupon with minimum purchase of $75 awarded to the first 50 approved comments. Please allow 48-72 hours for your unique gift card to be created and emailed to you. Terms: Coupons can not be used on Sale & Clearance items.

This blog post was sponsored by Swimsuits For All
Join us on Facebook

Looking for the perfect swimsuit is one of life’s cruelest jokes. The lighting, the magnified view of every layer, and the added pressure of shopping alongside size zero females usually ends in frustration and some sort of fruit cocktail. Luckily, there’s hope for those of us that aren’t a size zero (and most of us aren’t) with The Curvy Revolution Event that will be held at Planet Hollywood’s Resort and Casino, February 18th-20th, 2011.

The event will focus on REAL women in REAL sizes with opportunities to engage in empowering workshops, find flattering swimsuits – no matter your size, and interact with Swimsuitsforall.com’s Brand Ambassador, Pat Swift. The whole purpose of TCR is to inspire and celebrate the real women who fear swimsuit season, while finding a sense of confidence in the “plus” size.

For two days, participants will be invited to celebrity discussion panels, a star-studded fashion show, and a charity gala. A featured highlight of the event is the Diva Swap, where ladies bring gently used or never worn clothing and swap with other fashionable “divas” or donate to charity.
As Event Producer Keke Dillard says, “This is not an event, it’s an EXPERIENCE.”

TCR is sure to make even your worst swimsuit shopping trip a distant memory. Your body will thank you, your new swimsuit will celebrate you.

While searching for the perfect (or even mildly tolerable) suit, have you ever had a dressing room nightmare?

$25 OFF Coupon with minimum purchase of $75 awarded to the first 50 approved comments. Please allow 48-72 hours for your unique gift card to be created and emailed to you. Terms: Coupons can not be used on Sale & Clearance items.

It is rather appropriate that the series that Christina Hendricks is currently doing is called “Mad Men”. Hendricks, who is one of the central characters in the television phenom, was recently voted the ‘sexiest woman in the world’ in a poll by leading magazine, Esquire. She has also been receiving a lot of positive feedback for her size-12, hourglass-figure.

Now, if you are still wondering about the title, it’s appropriate because Hendricks, who doesn’t fit into the typical mold of a modern Hollywood woman, is being complimented for her figure. And, it is appropriate because “plus-size” was synonymous with sexy in retro Hollywood. This was before the media began to change the audience’s perception of what sexy should be… Hendricks, however, is bringing it back.

While many women spend a lot of time worrying about their figure, someone like Hendricks is an inspiration. She has stuck to what she believes in and hasn’t changed the way she looks to meet society’s expectations.

However, all this hoopla about Hendricks being the new face for plus-sized women brings us to a very important question: Does she really fit into the definition of a plus sized woman or is she someone who is blessed with an almost perfect hourglass figure?

This blog post was sponsored by Swimsuits For All

$25 OFF Coupon with minimum purchase of $75 awarded to the first 50 approved comments. Please allow 48-72 hours for your unique gift card to be created and emailed to you. Terms: Coupons can not be used on Sale & Clearance items.

It may be hard to see the deeply colored trends on this fall’s horizon, but make no mistake, the economic lock-down isn’t hindering fashion; in fact, expect the opposite. Designers are declaring the recession is over with luxury fabrics that show off winter’s skin by reintroducing cozy mainstays that not only offer warmth and comfort, but a fresh take on the familiar; and instead of covering up, they’re revealing a little more this season.

From leather to velvet, this season is all about customized materials that blend femininity and warmth. Be fearless. Blur and smudge those lines with military fashion that dares to ask the question, “Did you find that in the men or women’s section?”

Although a simple and neutral approach, tan is showing promise this autumn, from coats to suits. The cusp of winter is also allowing women a walk on the wild side with cutaway clothing and sheer fabrics that make room for geometric patterns and brief encounters of skin (wink, wink), while still protecting you from an autumn breeze.

But if you prefer to stay covered up this winter, then fear not! Tights and leggings are in again this year, allowing women to sport looser clothing up top while snug and insulating leg wear offers a slimming and attractive look on the bottom. Want to show off a little leg? Then cozy up with knee-high socks and loose-fitting, whimsical skirts. Push your fashion envelope as far as it will go this winter, because when you open it, you’ll find a brand new you.

Tell us, which of these styles do you think works best for plus-sized women?

$25 OFF Coupon with minimum purchase of $75 awarded to the first 50 approved comments. Please allow 48-72 hours for your unique gift card to be created and emailed to you. Terms: Coupons can not be used on Sale & Clearance items.

There’s no doubt about it: sex sells. These days, it’s hard to escape it, and its various forms, in the media. Does a topless swimsuit model in a magazine bother you? How about on a billboard? While we’re not in the business of launching a multi million dollar topless campaign, we want to hear your thoughts on a recent episode of pop culture TV phenom, “Mad Men”. Does the following scenario offend you?

In the first episode of season four of the acclaimed cable TV drama “Mad Men,” ad exec Don Draper (played by Jon Hamm) creates an ad campaign that is too risky and racy for the delicate sensibilities of a modest swimsuit brand — at least, by late-’60s standards. The ad portrays a young female model in bikini bottoms with a post-production banner plastered across the ad to cover her chest. The banner reads: “So well built, we can’t show you the second floor.”

Don was quite pleased with himself and his ingenuity, but his clients, two prudish guys from Jantzen, thought otherwise. Don, arrogant and egotistical, was completely outraged and kicked them out of his office and onto the curb.

Are Don’s frustrations and anger justified?

If you weren’t around to remember the ’60s, it’s hard to fathom that such an innocent ad would be perceived so negatively, especially with the imagery seen on TV today. Then again, that’s the nature of the advertising industry: to make you turn your head, to create a stir, to push the boundaries and to keep that brand at the forefront of your mind.

But, would a controversial ad prevent you from buying that swimsuit, or would the publicity alone drive you toward a purchase? So, we want to know: have American sensibilities changed since the ‘60s – is it more acceptable now, less or the same?

$25 OFF Coupon with minimum purchase of $75 awarded to the first 50 approved comments. Please allow 48-72 hours for your unique gift card to be created and emailed to you. Terms: Coupons can not be used on Sale & Clearance items.

Miami hosted the annual Mercedes-Benz designer swimwear show, whirl-wind party of 20 shows, from July 15-19. New and respected labels like Luli Fama and Ed Hardy displayed the hottest trends expected for the 2011 beach scene. Models stalked out in various states of dress and undress, flaunting some really exotic cuts. Beachwear is a legitimate style and a new fashion season.

If it takes time to find your personal style, at least there are options. Think foreign, exotic, and eye-catching. Inspiration bloomed from whatever resort locale including the jet-set steal away to the shimmery coast of Morocco to the tropical, jungle prints of the Caribbean. One collection, named “Acapulco Gold,” was a take on ‘70s glam. There was even a glimpse of classic 50s cut and muted safari khaki.

Select your metallic, fuchsia colored, or animal-print, bikini, monokini, or one-piece. Look at the style, cut-outs, and possibly the rhinestone, gold work trim or maybe the S&M banding, and bravely match your accessories. Yes, you can be fully dressed and trendy, or bare it all; it is all legally swimwear now. Tone the look up or quiet down the swimsuit’s noise with leggings, harem pants, wraps, dashikis, or caftans. 2011 will present a jungle of choices.

Share with us! Which trends set your heart racing for 2011 swim season and what fads do you feel brave enough to try? Or are the more classic prints closer to your taste?

This blog post was sponsored by Swimsuits For All

$25 OFF Coupon with minimum purchase of $75 awarded to the first 50 approved comments. Please allow 48-72 hours for your unique gift card to be created and emailed to you. Terms: Coupons can not be used on Sale & Clearance items.

Regardless of size, shape, or age, women all around the world suffer from “swimsuit anxiety” — and rightly so. Not only do swimsuits reveal parts of your body that you’d rather not expose, they can sometimes make your body look misshapen and unflattering, especially for women with larger busts. Another constant worry is that they might “fall out” of their swimsuit because the chest area is not made to support fuller busts.

For women whose cup size is in the D to F range, finding a swimsuit that not only fits across the chest, but also supports it is like finding a needle in a haystack — and sometimes, with no result in sight.

But, at Swimsuits For All, our goal is to make that change. We have addressed this long-overlooked issue through a full new product line of swimwear for women that will help them feel comfortable and confident in the water — and in their swimsuits. Available in cup sizes D to F, new designs include underwire supports that provides more shape and coverage than ordinary swimsuits, and swimwear available in a number of different trendy styles, colors, and patterns.

Swimsuits For All wants to put you in a comfortable and fashionable swimsuit that meets your specific needs. When shopping for a new swimsuit, what added features would you like to see that will help you feel more confident?

$25 OFF Coupon with minimum purchase of $75 awarded to the first 50 approved comments. Please allow 48-72 hours for your unique gift card to be created and emailed to you. Terms: Coupons can not be used on Sale & Clearance items.

Does your current wardrobe cause you to sigh at the blandness? Do you feel like everything in your closet just doesn’t have the same charm that it used to no matter what combination you use? It doesn’t have to be that way. With a little creativity and motivation, you can reinvent your plus size wardrobe into a plus size joy to wear.

Have some old jewelry with stones and pendants that you don’t mind dismantling? Try taking the stones and pendants off and gluing them to the seat and seams of a pair of jeans. Be creative. Decorate the back pockets and make designs. Run them down the seams or simply glue a few to the thigh in the form of a flower or honeybee.

Have clothes sitting in your closet that you don’t mind doing a little experimenting with? Then try to do something you never would have before. Grab an old V-neck and cut the sleeves into strips and then purchase decorative beads and tie them onto the strands. You could even try this with a skirt or pair of shorts.

Plan on getting a little social and in the mood to really make a statement? Try putting on a strapless tank-top with slacks and a pair of heels. Slip into a casual button up shirt and only button the first few buttons from the bottom so that you can still display your top. Then finish it off by wrapping a thin scarf around your neck. Or, if you’re feeling especially saucy, use a men’s tie and wear it loosely around you neck.

There you have it. A few suggestions to get you started on redefining what you wear. How do you plan to get creative with your wardrobe?

This blog post was sponsored by Swimsuits For All

$25 OFF Coupon with minimum purchase of $75 awarded to the first 50 approved comments. Please allow 48-72 hours for your unique gift card to be created and emailed to you. Terms: Coupons can not be used on Sale & Clearance items.

A couple of weeks ago, a different type of New York fashionista walked down the runway at the second annual Full Figured Fashion Week, held in Manhattan. The four-day event, founded by Gwen DeVoe, a former plus-sized model herself, highlighted trendy, stylish apparel for the curvier female physique. Like any stick-thin woman, the size 12s-and-above of the world want the same thing: to be fashion-forward in clothes that will fit, and look and feel good on them.

The NPD Group, a market research company, can back up that claim. The women’s plus-sized clothing industry is worth nearly $18 billion, proving that size does matter — and that people and clothes manufacturers are buying into it. And so are the designers. For instance, Toronto-based fashion designer Jessica Mealey creates designs up to 3X.

More sponsors, and bigger names, have also signed on this year as opposed to last year. In 2009, DeVoe was able to secure all of seven sponsors. This year, the event has grown exponentially to include 33 new sponsors for the 2010 show. Companies like Lane Bryant, Revlon, T.J. Maxx and other up-and-coming designers are recognizing the 60 percent of American women that fall into this plus-sized category and actively pursuing them.

The event featured an array of attire, including the standard T-shirt and jeans to sexier, more stylized couture — and everything in between. The point of the matter? To embrace and celebrate what their mamas gave them. What are your thoughts on Full Figure Fashion Week?

$25 OFF Coupon with minimum purchase of $75 awarded to the first 50 approved comments. Please allow 48-72 hours for your unique gift card to be created and emailed to you. Terms: Coupons can not be used on Sale & Clearance items.

Julien Macdonald, a Welsh fashion designer and judge on Britain’s Next Top Model, recently stated that the catwalk should only be reserved for “thin” models (size 2 or 4) and that there’s no room for models with a little “junk in the trunk,” even if they’re drop-dead gorgeous.

Who died and made him Coco Chanel?

Fashion is not about being the thinnest or the prettiest any more. Rather, it is about feeling comfortable in your own skin and exuding a sense of pride that shines inside and out, no matter what you’re wearing. Macdonald fails to recognize this and that the majority of women do not look like some of the anorexic ghosts he hires to model his designs. Not only are his comments hurtful, but they can affect young women who are struggling with this very issue.

Even the whole “plus-size” angle leaves you with a sour taste in your mouth. Who’s to say what’s “plus-size” and what isn’t? The label further perpetuates the “haves” and “have not” mentality that instigates comments like Macdonald’s.

But who cares what one arrogant designer has to say? He’s obviously not in touch with “real women” and therefore doesn’t design clothes for them. You can spend your dollar on something else.

What has your experience been with this issue? Do you consider yourself “plus-sized”? If so, do you wear the latest fashions? What would you say to Macdonald to make him “see the light” or set him straight?

$25 OFF Coupon with minimum purchase of $75 awarded to the first 50 approved comments. Please allow 48-72 hours for your unique gift card to be created and emailed to you. Terms: Coupons can not be used on Sale & Clearance items.