Chloe Wins Miss Surrey

On Friday Chloe was crowned Miss Surrey 08 and won a guaranteed entry to the Miss England final - a first ever for a size 16!

As some commenters of earlier posts have pointed out, it is hard to class Chloe as a plus size. She is a young & beautiful curvy woman who is the UK's national average size. But whatever your personal views on what is plus size, there is no debating that within the pageant and modelling industries a size 16 is NOT the current norm.

Chloe is a refreshing change to the size zero trend plus her continued support, from both the media and the public, shows a change in the tide.

Not only is Chloe beautiful, but a brilliant role model to young women.

She says 'Everybody thinks you have to be a tall, slim blonde and I'm a curvy brunette. I want to show it is possible to be beautiful and not a standard size zero. The reaction I've had is great. Other girls have told me I have really boosted their confidence, which is terrific.'

'I wanted to go through to the Miss England finals to break through the stereotype that you have to be tall and skinny.'

'My mum is really happy and proud of me that I am doing something not just for myself but other people as well and my friends are really supportive, they can't stop going on about it.'

Well done Chloe.

Adele - Proud of her Curves

The first time I heard Adele on the radio I was an instant fan of her sexy, timeless sound. She has seen huge success over the last 6 months or so, but as with any curvy star, she has had to put up with a certain amount of media sniping about her weight.

I am heartened to hear that Adele has the strngth of character to ignore such comments - she really has the personality and talent to be a role model to women in the UK who want to succeed and fight the stereotypes that weight has anything to do with talent.

Adele fights back against the negative criticism by making her views public - 'People are starting to go on about my weight but I’m not going to change my size because they don’t like the way I look. They can f**k off. My favourite way to relax is to get a pizza or curry and get lots of beer round my house. I also love Malaysian food. My weakness is alcohol.'

In another interview she said - 'I’ve always been a size 24-26, and been fine with it,' Adele told The Times. 'I would only lose weight if it affected my health or sex life, which it doesn’t.'

Adele has a great fashion sense and always looks amazing. She is an excellent example to plus size women everywhere. Just because you buy plus size clothing, it doesn't mean you can't have an original sense of style and stand out from the crowd.

First Plus Size Miss England Entrant

Beautiful & voluptuous Chloe Marshall has set her sights on challenging the fashion industry stereotype by becoming the first ever size 16 Miss England entrant.

The 17 year-old from Guildford in Surrey is already topping her regional heat and has her sights set on the final in July. You can vote for her in the Surrey regional heat by visiting http://www.missengland.info/.

Chloe is 5ft 10 with a curvy 38/32/42 figure. Miss England organisers are behind Chloe, saying she has what it takes to shatter the stereotype that beauty means being stick-thin.

Angie Beasley, Miss England director said: 'The sky's the limit for a beautiful, curvy girl like Chloe. She has already made history as the first plus-size entrant and I hope many more will follow and promote bigger bodies.

''Girls are under such crazy pressure to be thin these days.' says Chloe. 'I'm not a stick insect but I've got a strict exercise regime and I enjoy looking pretty. When I pick up a size 16 in Topshop I'm made to feel I'm at the fat end of the scale. But 16 is the average dress size for British women.'

If you want to accentuate your curves rather than hide them away under layers of fabric, and do your bit to expel the belief that curves are bad, then try Curvety.com who celebrate the voluptuous figure with beautiful clothing up to a size 36.

Hooray for Online Shopping

As a long time convert to the joys of online shopping, I was not surprised to find out that more and more of you are starting to agree.

Fashion is now second only to books when it comes to shopping online, according to the latest Nielsen Global Online Survey published in December. It is the fastest growing area of any e-commerce category, with about 36 percent of Internet users saying they had bought clothing, accessories or shoes online in the three months before the survey. This is a huge increase from the 20 percent who reported doing so only two years before.

Britain, Germany and the United States had an especially high number of online fashion shoppers, with slightly more than 40 percent of the users reporting online purchases.

Ebay is still the most visited website, in general and for fashion shopping. But the growth of the market has meant there is a budding array of interesting boutique style websites which offer each niche as rich a shopping experience as the standard size 10 teen receives on the high street. This is the case for plus sizes, with great stores such as Curvety.com giving more choice in a market where shoppers would traditionally struggle.

Flowers for Spring

With Spring definitely in the air it's time to take a closer look at some of the trends of the season, particularly the ones that translate well into plus sizes.

One of my favourite continued trends is the use of pattern, specifically florals, although most patterns go at the moment. From simple sketched sprigs to delicate tea roses, girlish daises, vibrant azaleas and lush, exotic hibiscus - any floral pattern is a definite winner - Although for plus sizes it would be best to avoid all over large prints which can highlight larger areas.

Angular cuts and exaggerated silhouettes lend a modern edge to retro florals. I favour the strong bold prints out like the skirt pictured from Curvety, rather than more cutesy florals.

Is Spring in the Air?

Ok, firstly I'll admit that looking out of the window today is not filling me with the joys of Spring. However, when walking the dog over the last few days I have been surprised to see the sprouting of tulips and other spring flowers along my way. Apart from the odd day (like today) the weather has been pleasantly mild for the time of year - so I thought it time to turn my thoughts to Spring/Summer fashion.

Spring promises a soft and feminine feel in fashion, with sheer silk dresses which are so delicate they will dance at a hint of summer breeze. Following the success of purple in Winter, Spring will bring a new lighter shade - violet, which will be a key colour in all tones. Even denim will be turning soft, in faded blue washes and wispy frayed seams. Floral & safari patterns, and indulgent hand painted fabrics will also be out in force. So get girly this season, and for some plus size fashion essentials try Curvety.com.

Wanna be a Plus Size Model?

Have you ever felt you have what it takes to model but been put of because you're plus size?

Well here's your opportunity to prove you have the talent to succeed as one of the top plus size faces in the UK. One of my favourite reads for the larger woman, Just as Beautiful Magazine, are launching Britain's next plus size model. They are looking for females who are at least size 20 and over the age of 18, and know they are a big beautiful woman.

As the UK's First Free Lifestyle Magazine Dedicated To The Plus-Size Woman, Just As Beautiful magazine have a good idea of what it takes to succeed, and are looking to give one lucky lady a break into the world of modelling. Look out for details in Just As Beautiful Magazine which you can subscribe to by visiting www.justasbeautiful.co.uk.

Want to make an impression? Pick up something sassy at plus size clothing specialists Curvety.com.

Further Plus Size Discounts

The plus size clothing specialists Curvety.com have reduced their sale prices even further. Most items in the sale are now reduced by 50%, giving you the perfect chance to grab a bargain.

As they have fabulous clothing in sizes 16 to 36 you are bound to find someting you like - and there is no better way to lift your mood when it's so grey outside, than with a little retail therapy!

My favourite pick - these stretch jeans detailed with gem stones, now only £15!!!

Igigi New Workwear Collection

US plus size clothing specialists IGIGI have introduced a ten-piece work collection made up of fabulous staples including jackets, trousers and skirts in US sizes 12 to 30 (UK sizes 16 to 34).

'I am thrilled to introduce this new collection,' said IGIGI Founder and Designer. 'It is almost like every customer who bought a dress, wore it and came back home with a trail of compliments called or emailed us and asked when we would come out with clothes they could wear to the office and feel like they we were on top of the world. It took us some time for development purposes, but here it is now and I think the IGIGI community will love these pieces of class and comfort.'

The new line, which is designed to flatter the plus size figure, features large open collars, 3/4 length sleeves, side zippers and princess seams & are made from top quality stretch gabardine/viscose. The new line will shortly be available in the UK at Curvety.com.

New Year Sale

Plus Size Clothing specialists Curvety.com have just announced their New Year winter sale. It's the perfect way to treat yourself to something new without feeling guilty!

Some of my best buys include this gorgeous waistcoat suit which has been reduced to £60, this fab black satin shirt which is now only £28, and this beautiful red evening dress - only £70!

Many items are half the original price so don't miss out. Check out all of the reduced items here.

LAST ORDERS FOR CHRISTMAS

It's really starting to feel like Christmas. And as normal that means I'm running around like mad as I've left everything to the last minute!

If you haven't quite finished your Christmas shopping then you'll be glad to hear that plus size clothing specialist Curvety.com can still deliver before Christmas. In fact, as long as you order before 2pm on Saturday the 22nd you will still get your items in time!! With the lovely choice of plus size clothes and accessories you are sure to find the perfect gift for a loved one - or maybe a new outfit for yourself for Christmas Day...

Plus Size Party Looks

The festive season is truly here & with it numerous parties, gatherings & events. I thought I would share my top 3 party outfits for the curvy plus size woman to celebrate this fab season in style.

House Parties - I love a good house party which is the perfect way to catch up with all of your friends & family and have a good natter, a few drinks, and a bit of a dance in a relaxed atmosphere. It is often a hard occasion to dress for as you need to get the right balance between smart & casual. For this year's house parties I will be wearing this jewelled charmeuse camisole in Autumn's hot colour block trend with jewelled neckline. Pair with favourite jeans and some fabulous shoe boots.

The Office Party - Your work party is the perfect chance to let your hair down with your colleagues and show them the 'real' you - outside of your work suit or uniform. I like to keep the look sophisticated, whilst suitably dazzling like this layered dress in chocolate which is sure to wow the bosses - roll on promotion!

Dinner Date - Every year a large group of us visit a local restaurant for a civilised evening, chatting, eating and sipping wine. As always, I love an excuse to dress up but getting it right is important. This year I will be wearing this smart & on trend cashmere satin jewelled dress with matching jacket. By pairing the dress with opaque tights and the cropped jacket with long gloves you will ensure that your entire outfit is this season's hottest look.

Igigi Extend Size Range

San Francisco based plus size designer line - Igigi (www.igigi.com), have announced the launch of a new size. The designer range which has been pictured on full-figured celebrities like American Idol contestant Lakisha Jones and Hairspray star Nikki Blonsky, have listened to their customers and bridged the gap between straight and plus sizes by adding US size 12 (UK 14) to their collections.

The company introduced a small collection of dresses and tops for women who struggle on the high street as they wear neither a straight nor a plus 14. Later this month will see the launch of a comprehensive work collection made up of separates including jackets, pants and skirts.

“We are very happy to add size 12 to our collections,” said Yuliya Zeltser, IGIGI Founder and Designer. “It is hard to shop for a woman who is in between straight and plus sizes. Straight size clothes are small and plus size clothes are too big. We had many size-14 shoppers saying that they really wanted to buy IGIGI, but our size 14 was too big for them. We did our homework, listened to our customers, and decided to come out with plus size 12 with a goal to fulfill their wishes.”

A selection of Igigi's fabulous line of plus size fashion is available in the UK from Curvety.com.

Spring/Summer 08 Colour Style

It's time for some early peaks at what is expected to be hot for Spring/Summer 08. Get a head start so you can get some Christmas requests in that will guarantee you are the best dressed in 2008.

High fashion rails will boast a luscious mix of bright cartoon like colours with fuchsia and coral being top choices. Floral prints were everywhere on the catwalk, including collections from Stella McCartney, Dries Van Noten, Roberto Cavalli and Dolce & Gabbana. Nude and pastel shades will offer the coming season an alluring sophistication for the less flamboyant. And finally - to add some glitz - there was much use of gold, from small accents and detailing to full on shimmering sensation.

The best thing about spring/summer 2008's strongest colours is they look great worn all together or one by one. There was a time when following fashion when a plus size was nigh on impossible. Thankfully times have changed and now the choice in larger sizes is much improved. I particularly like this tie waist evening dress which is the perfect colour pallet for the coming season - and it goes up to a size 36.

Live it Large this Christmas

If you fancy a festive party this year then this may be the one for you. Biggie's is a club specifically catering for plus sized people, and for friends who are size accepting. They put on a number of events each year in the Brittania Basement Bar in Monument, London. The Christmas event is black tie, so a perfect excuse to get dressed up and look gorgeous.

Founder Lil says: 'We have worked hard to build a club with a friendly atmosphere, good reputation and to always provide great value for money."

"I have been asked for the last two years to make our Xmas shin-dig a bit fancy, so this year, I'm doing it. Our Xmas Party has now become our Xmas Black Tie Ball, so guys, dust off your swankiest suits and ladies, it's time to get those ballgowns out of mothballs."

A good number of tickets have already been sold for this event and it is recommend you buy your tickets in advance to avoid disappointment. You can buy them online at Lovingitlarge.co.uk. Need a new outfit? Curvety.com have an amazing selection of womens evening dresses suitable for such an occasion in sizes 16 to 36.

Buddy Power

There is an excellent social resource for plus size women to chat and support one another. Until recently the site which is run by Anne Diamond was called FatHappens.com. They have recently relaunched under a new more user friendly name - BuddyPower.net.

The website will now be focusing more on how the site members provide support for each other. Anne Diamond said in their newsletter - “I just thought it was about time we stopped defining ourselves by the word “Fat” and went instead for what can really make a difference – Buddypower.”

She continues - “I originally called it Fat Happens because I wanted to remove the sense of blame, of failure. I wanted everyone to understand that fat happens to you in the same way that shi* happens in life – you just have to deal with it and get on.”“But thousands of members have, over the last year, made me realise that the real strength of the website is the feeling of community, of beating fat (and the other problems in life) through the power of friendship.”

FatHappens has proved to be very popular with over 10,000 members worldwide so far. This is attributed to the buddying part of the site which is why the name has been changed to reflect this. So why not join and share yor experiences with others and make new friend. Its a great excuse to plan a night out with your new buddies, and if you need a new outfit you can visit Curvety.com and show off your great sense of style.

UK Obesity Epidemic

Recently there has been much media speculation about the supposed obesity epidemic plaguing the UK. Jane Feinmann of the Independent interviewed Professor Patrick Basham to get to the fact in this argument. He says there is no real evidence to back up the claims.The claim, which states that half of the British population will be obese in 25 years time, makes many assumptions which have yet to be confirmed as fact. For example every overweight child will have to become an overweight adult and every overweight adult will have to progress to obesity for the figures to be true. There has been no research to prove this is the case.

So what about the adults that will all become obese? In 1997 the BMI classification of being overweight was changed from 27 to 25. Overnight millions of people previously classed as normal suddenly sat in the overweight category, and based on the epidemic claim they will all become obese. So although it is true that Body Mass Index statistics show a significant increase in overweight adults over the past decade this is an extraordinary case of moving the goalposts.

Although I am under no illusion that being severely obese can cause certain health problems, there is a common misconception that being overweight means you are automatically unhealthy. At a size 20 I exercise daily and eat a balanced and healthy diet which involves very little junk food. I am overweight and fighting fit. I purchase my clothes mainly online from the growing number of quality plus size clothing specialists like Curvety.com and take pride in looking great - and turning heads!

Plus Size Suits

There are certain lines that are just harder to find in plus sizes, like fashionable jackets and coats, work suits are always a little mission impossible if you are an 18 plus. The main problem I have with this is that I feel that a well cut suit is one of the most flattering outfits on a curvy figure.

That is why I was so pleased to find a new line of workwear at Curvety.com. I am assured that the line will be growing over the coming months to include more choice in size and style. Right now they only have up to a size 26 (this will grow to a 36 to match their other lines) but the three new styles available are all flattering and on trend, Particularly the very smart waistcoat suit which I am rushing to buy now before it sells out as I think it will offer just the right mix of fashion while making me look presentable and professional in the office.

Igigi features at BET Awards

Two plus-size models dressed in the IGIGI Crown Jewels Velvet Gown in Onyx will escort host Kat Williams in the opening act at BET (Black Entertainment Television, a tribute to urban music artists at the top of their game. They have once again chosen to use dresses made by the fashion house in a performance at the 2007 Hip Hop Awards. Actress Mo’Nique and accompanying dancers had previously worn Shimmering Dress in Silver by IGIGI in the opening act of BET Awards in June 2007.

Yuliya Zeltser, IGIGI Founder and Designer has said “I am thrilled that yet another IGIGI gown makes it on BET in less than six months. Stylist Katja Dandri of Dandri Design chose to work with us again based on the feedback she got on the design and quality of the dresses from the previous BET Awards show.”

The crown velvet gown is an original IGIGI design in velvet adorned by sparkly, elegant rhinestones. It is available to buy in the UK at Curvety.com.

New Curvety Own Label Brand

Curvety.com, a UK based plus size clothing specialist, has started developing its own label. You can now purchase from their Curvety branded line of evening and day dresses in UK sizes 18 to 36.

Curvety.com have always sold fab plus size clothing on behalf of worldwide deigners such as Igigi and Kiyonna. These lines are still available but over the coming months Curvety plans to add more and more of their own styles in sizes made exclusively for the UK public. There is a severe lack of UK brands catering for a size 32 or over so this is a welcome development.