Changing Trends in Model Industry for Plus Size Women

For years, the body image perception in the fashion industry is never changed, despite having stick thin and skeletonized bodies, female models are considered idols for many young girls and they literally starved themselves to achieve the goal of being skinny.

Some years ago, we hardly saw models on run ways or fashion shows whose size were more than size 6; but then designers started to realise that there was a big demand in fashion markets for plus size women and it was a huge opportunity for them to cater this demographic market; and of course, they have had to choose curvy models to show case their designs.

In Australia, Robyn Lawley who has become a pioneer in plus size modelling, the 25 years old, six foot tall and size 16 model also is the first full figured model to appear on the Sports Illustrated: Swimsuit edition.

Recently, Tess Holiday (based in the USA) a rising plus size model star and who got female audience cheering and applauding when she was walking on stage. She‘s proven that modelling is not only for size 0 but also for plus size figures: the size of at least 50% of women in the society.

Plus Size Models Finally!

Finally, fashion designers and fashion magazines have adapted a reality i.e. to use models in plus size for their business! As I've always thought, it's quite nonsense and unrealistically, designers used size 0 cat walk models for showing their styles whilst the majority of women in society is in size 14 and above! And for women's fashion magazines, most of their audiences are full figured house wives with kids, these plus size women would never see themselves wearing styles as in pictures of stick thin models.
https://au.lifestyle.yahoo.com/fashion/news/a/26137642/tess-holliday-becomes-largest-model-to-sign-a-major-contract/

Customer's review for Curvysea Plus Size Bathers

Find more testimonials, swimsuit advice for plus size women at http://www.curvysea.com 

Controversy Over "Victoria Secrets' Perfect Body" Advertising

For years in fashion industry, designers especially well known brands never change their standard setting on so call "a perfect body' image. To them, the more a model looks thin, the more she looks perfect. It's why they give gen Z girls a wrong thinking that they must be very thin to look beautiful and many young girls starve themselves in order to get the prefect bodies!
I'm not here to judge who would look nice nor who wouldn't but today when I read an article on Yahoo!Style regarding the company (Victoria's Secret "perfect body" Ad. controversy),  Julie Sygiel, the founder and CEO of Dear Kate said she wanted "to represent as many different shapes as possible,”
I think we, as designers, should create fashion for different shapes or body types, and I call that "realistic fashion design"

(Image: Courtesy of Yahoo!Style)
(The 1st image: from Victoria's Secret ad and the 2nd from Dear Kate, a New York City-based retailer)

Plus Size Lingerie Tips for Plus Size Women

Posted by Cindy from Curvysea Swimwear and Lingerie for Plus Size Women http://www.curvysea.com

Tips for Shopping Plus Size Lingerie

Posted by Cindy from Curvysea Plus Size Swimwear and Lingerie http://www.curvysea.com

Swimsuit Advice for Plus Size Women

 Plus size swimsuit tips uploaded on YouTube (by Cindy from Curvysea Plus Size Swimwear )

A Courage Plus Size Woman!

The Sydney Skinny is a fully ticketed event for swimmers and supporters in order to raise fund for the Foundational of NSW National Parks and Wildlife. The event will be on the 23rd of February this year, people who join it will swim naked. They are males, females, all shapes and sizes but among them, there is a courage plus size blogger, Pip Giles who is a size 22.

While constant media and fashion industry promote the beauty of slim women, they make plus size women feel like they are unwanted and the nice side of luscious curves are often overlooked.

Pip Giles thinks different! She is proudly to say "I'm a size 22 and I'm swimming naked". To her, the beauty of bodies depends on different perceptions, just like people with different personalities. Most of our women, thick or thin, are shy of exposing their naked bodies but this very brave lady wants to inspire other women by doing it for a cause. She wants to tell people, who are obsessed with their perfect body image, should stop thinking because it would be unachievable. 

Good on ya, Pip Giles!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Jessica Gomes and Criticism about The Model.

It is hard to become a popular model but it's even harder to accept non sense criticism from some people in the fashion industry. Jessica Gomes is not an exception,the beautiful bombshell Sports Illustrated swimsuit model who has been admired by all over the world men for her curves. She is the new David Jones ambassador for their new season spring/summer 2013 fashion launch; at the catwalk show, there were some criticisms among the guests about her stretchmarks as well as her curves. It's really ridiculous that the critics think Jessica is an over weight models! Off course if compare her with stick thin models, she has more flesh and curves than them, and people who were invited to most of fashion catwalks getting used to see itsy bitsy models. It's why they made bad remarks when they saw her. In my view, she has a perfect body with perfect curves that make her stand out of the model crowd. "When you're young, you want to fit in, you want to be accepted and you're still trying to find yourself and what type of person you are. Now I just feel really comfortable in my own skin and really at the end of the day, I've found a balance with my life that if all was to go away, I'd still be a really happy person." Jessica said and I totally agree with her. No matter what shape or size you are, be happy in your own skin and remember one thing: you can never please everyone so just please yourself

Posted by Cindy Wyden from Curvysea Swimwear for Plus Size http://www.curvysea.com

Plus Size Swimwear Fabrics and How It Lasts in Different Environment

If you wonder why your swimwear does not last as long as you expect it to. Watch the video to find out (or go to http://www.curvysea.com/swimsuit-advice to read my article in full)

The Biggest Loser Finalist 2012 in Curvysea® Plus Size Swimwear!

Beautiful Brenda Hunt (finalist of the Biggest Loser 2012) has chosen Curvysea® one piece swimsuit for her appearance in the OK magazine 2013.

A Busy Week at MAFW 2012

The beginning week of May was my busy week with schedule to attend the Mercedes-Benz Australian Fashion Week designers' shows in Circular Quay,  Sydney. 

There were many beautiful and colourful designs from New Generation shows of young designers (including some Hongkongnese designers).  I like designs from Winson Tan; Chailie Ho; they're beautiful and sophisticated.  Designer Roopa Pemmaraju's beautiful Summer dressess were unique and elegant; Kooey's swimwear collection including women's swimwear and men swimwear featured bold styles and striking colours (what a pity that the swimwear collection is still mainly for a young, slim body!).
For next year 2013, the MAFW organisers plan to move the show time forward to March instead of May (31.4 to 4.5).  I think it would make more sense for designers and buyers as the timing will allow designers to prepare and for buyers to stock their shops.

Holland's Next Top Model Was Sacked for Her "Large Hip"!

Do you think this model (click on the link to see her picture) has a large hip? To me, she has a beautiful slim body (needs to gain a few pounds for her bust) and not skeletons like other run way girls.
http://au.news.yahoo.com/world/a/-/world/13112175/dutch-model-next-top-wins-lawsuit/

Plus Size Models Who Conquer Fashion World!

Fifteen year ago, “plus size models” were mostly unknown in the fashion industry because there were no designers for plus size women’s clothing. But these days, since many new designers are realistically targeting full figured women, there is a growing number of plus size models on the runway and they are redefining what society considers beautiful; soon the stick thin models of today could find it hard to compete with voluptuous models.

Crystal Renn, the only model in her plus size industry to have appeared in main international editions of Vogue magazine including American, Italian and French Vogue. Little did people know that she used to have an eating disorder when she was a young girl.

Emme Aronson: A leading American plus size model who is largely recognized, as well as the highest earner in the niche industry. She was voted as one of People magazine's "50 Most Beautiful People" (1994 and 1999) and Glamour magazine's "Woman of the Year" (1997). Emme is also known for her contribution to women’s sport and Media in the US.

Chloe Marshall: This plus size model was crowned The Miss Surrey title in March 2008; she was also the first size 16 UK model to participate in the Miss England competition and got the “runner up” title. The Models Plus Agency signed Chloe and commented on her size as being luscious.

(Generally, light colors are considered unfriendly colors for plus size women but Chloe proved it wrong by wearing a white one piece swimsuit on the run way; and she looked so hot in it!)

There will be many more beautiful plus size models who wear fashionable clothes which are made for real women; and I believe that no matter what size women are, they all deserve to look good and feel great. I am happy to be one of emerged designers BRIDGING THE GAP by making trendy swimwear, beach wear for plus size women.

Happy Holidays and a Prosperous New Year!

2011 has been a fantastic year for us and our lady customers. We wanted to simply say thank you for your continued support. It was a real pleasure to work with each and every one of you and we hope you are having the Happiest Holidays and a wonderful New Year!
Happy Swimwear Sales from Curvysea Team!

Donatella Versace has refused to use real women in a Versace for H&M photoshoot.

I read an article today regarding criticism to Donatella Versace, the well known brand designer, for refusing to use real women models for her new fashion line. I'm not surprise at all; most designers in the world still have not changed their minds on making their clothes targeting slim young girls: First of all, young girls' bodies are thin and mostly come in one flat shape; easy to fit and therefore will create a good reputation for them; secondly, it costs less fabric and will bring more profits for those designers and lastly, the young thin models will create good images in their designed clothes.

"This is so typical of 99.9 per cent of designers: they only want their clothes worn by the very young and the very thin," said Liz Jones from the Daily Mail

In my opinion, women in our society, who come in different shapes and sizes, all deserve to make themselves look beautiful and they would, by wearing clothes which suit them. For my swimwear line, I've been very happy to use real women models and I was lucky to find them.
(One of my new season swimwear model pictures)

Kristie Alley Shows Off Her Curves at 60

At 60 years old, Kristie Alley has proved that women have no limit in making themselves beautiful, and the way of her dressing makes her look 20 years younger than her real age.
http://www.starpulse.com/Actresses/Alley,_Kirstie/Pictures/
When women reach the age, many think they do not need to buy nice clothes or to dress up elegantly any more and start neglecting their appearance completely.
okay you might think Kristy is a celebrity with plenty of money to spend on her appearance including her clothes; but there are some tricks which help you enhance your look without breaking a bank. For example knowing your body shape and choosing clothes which minimise your body flaws and accentuate your best asset; in Summer, wearing a nice swimsuit that designed to suit your style would bring back your confidence.
Nothing proves that age is just a number. Flaunt it if you've got it, ladies!

Westfield's New "Real Women" Model Jessica Gomes

At last Westfield company realises that stick thin models do not represent the majority of Australian women whose average size are 14+. They appoint Jessica Gomes as a model for their curvy women fashion range.

http://au.lifestyle.yahoo.com/fashion/features/articles/-/9190383/jessica-gomes-flaunts-her-fab-figure/

I agree with Jessica's advice when she answers the question "What'd be your advice to women who aren't comfortable with their bodies?" that women should learn to love what they got but beside that, I think they should learn to enhance their appearance by watching out for the fashion trends for women and choose styles/designs which suit them; they would be amused to see how their look would change by wearing clothes which are designed for them. My swimwear line has been designed for real women like Jessica Gome and not for stick thin teeny-weeny girls.

Double Standards for Plus Sized Fashion

I have just read an article on http://www.news.com.au/entertainment/fashion/fashion-plus-sized-double-standards/story-e6frfn7i-1225875074528
I totally agree with Bruno Schiavi, an Australian fashion veteran, that more designers come out saying they support the plus size range but they don't do as they said and their collections have not included large size. He also said that the designers don't produce plus size fashion because more costs are involved in manufacturing (more fabric, more freight.s..) and that will give them less margins!
I specialise in swimwear design, I understand there is a big difference between costs of making a pair of bikinis size 8 and a set of tankinis or skirtinis in size 24! But I still love designing swimwear for plus size women because in my opinion, women regardless what shapes or sizes they're in; they deserve to look their best. I know there are a lot of plus size women who have fashion consciousness, so even though I earn less margins on my plus size fashion range, I wouldn't mind. The main thing is that my happy customers will make me feel great and that's all I care.