While fewer fashions are made for plus size women, you'll find that the ones that are tend to be more affordable which actually works to your advantage.

Here are some of the best places to go online for great plus size casual fashions at an affordable price!

1. Silhouette www.silhouette.com has very affordable fashions in a wide range, from denim to silky night-on-the-town clothing, up to size 26.

2. Lane Bryant www.lanebryant.com is one of the pioneers of sexy, fashionable plus size clothing. Sign up for their email list to get coupons on a regular basis. They sell fashions from size 12 to 28. Look at their clearance section to find some great deals.

3. Chadwick's www.chadwicks.com has been around for a long time selling conservative, but pretty, clothes. Their models are suspiciously thin on the website, but I have gotten a few nice pieces there.

4. Avenue www.avenue.com is like Chadwick's with a New York flair. You won't find gypsy tops here, but you'll find some nice line-lengthening jackets and great jeans. And their sizes go up to 32!

5. Roaman's www.roamans.com used to be something of an "old-ladies" store, but it has totally reinvented itself. You can find beautiful stretch velvets and trendy tops in sizes up to 44. Look for special deals for new web visitors.

6. Size Appeal www.sizeappeal.com has a great assortment of sexy clothes, proving once more that "frumpy" is not a synonym for "plus size." While base prices are slightly high, sales on still-fantastic and dramatic pieces are Wal-Mart range.

7. Kiyonna www.kiyonna.com shows beautiful plus size women wearing beautiful plus size clothing – much nicer than the companies that use skinny women faking it! Prices are average, but no discount as far as I can find other than end-of-season clearances. They do have sizes up to 32.

8. PacificPlex www.pacificplex.com is perfect for teen plus size girls. From formals to jeans, you can find the size you need here – even misses plus.

9. Alight www.alight.com sells really trendy, youngish clothes to size 28, including a fantastic selection of "little black dresses." Warning: while some of the clothes are very reasonably price, the really nice things can be pricey.

10. Igigi www.igigi.com is one of my personal favorites and happens to the first company who gave me the opportunity to model plus size clothing years ago. You'll truly feel beautiful wearing their plus size fashions.

11. Overstock www.overstock.com has been known for its great deals for a long time. Don't get carried away when you shop here for bargains; you can find name-brand and designer clothing including plus size clothing for as little as 20% of its original price.

After years of study on the size and structure of American women, plus size women, including plus size teens and junior plus size females, have gotten the attention of the clothing industry and designers.

Plus size beautiful women have moved beyond the expected plus size maternity clothes to be sized and fitted with plus size special occasion dresses that include plus size party dresses, prom dresses and wedding dresses.

More and more fashion shows are including plus size models. More and more designers are creating new and colorful plus size women's apparel to cater to this large segment of America's population. Women boutiques are opening up all across America and online offering every thing from plus size lingerie to plus size Wedding dresses and gowns to meet the needs of their clientele.

As the summer enters the second half of August, our attention to fashions begins to change like the color of leaves on the trees that mark fall's arrival. This Summer into Fall Styles will have a new look for plus size clothing for women this fall. Plus size fashions for women this fall, like with every September, will be putting away the plus size swimwear, tankinis, skirtinis, swimdresses, and cover-ups in favor of warmer outerwear and separates.

Junior plus size urban trendy clothing will include hoodies, sweatshirts, sweatpants, and sweaters. The designers will introduce fall fashion colors into these new fall looks. These plus size clothes will be trendy and sexy when women mix and match these plus size women's separates.

Plus size pantsuits, blouses, blazers, wrap sweaters, cardigans, kimono sleeve sweaters, pencil skirts, gored skirts, a line skirts, tops, turtlenecks and long sleeve mock turtlenecks will create a bright fresh fall look for women in these fall fashions. Plus size wide leg jeans and 5 pocket jeans will keep the fun alive rolling around in a pile of colorful leaves or a night out clubbing.

Fall wedding planners will have a wide choice of plus size wedding dresses and gowns. Bridesmaid's fall wedding color dresses in all sizes are available. A plus size Mother of the Bride pant suit will fit quite comfortably for those cool October Weddings.

Plus size career clothing, evening and cocktail dresses will provide women the proper apparel for the work place and those important evening gatherings with the corporation's bosses, co-workers, and clients.

As back-to-school sales commercials punctuate our television programs and the daily newspapers sell full page ads for all of our children's school needs with Labor Day approaching, let these signs be a reminder to you to begin shopping now for your new fall plus-size wardrobe. Many of the best bargains you will find are on the internet for all your plus size needs for both work and play.

With present day economics of high gas prices and higher prices in the market place due to these same fuel costs for the manufacturer and retailer, one can find SPECIAL SAVINGS for ONLINE INTERNET SHOPPING ONLY, and many websites provide FREE SHIPPING with an advertised dollar amount of purchases. This saves time and money for you, the customer.

 

For years, plus size teens and young adults had little in the way of choice for fashionable, youthful clothing. They were forced to shop at "fat" stores, and find the least conservative styles at the "plus size ladies or guys" store. Manufacturers and retail stores would call all their plus size clothing, "teen friendly" when in reality the large flower print smock type blouses didn't even really appeal to old ladies! It took years for the s/m/l designer mindset to realize that the majority of women and men, let alone teens aren't s/m/l.

Plus size pre-teens had it even worse. At that awkward growing stage, pre-teens had to buy jeans that were way too baggy, long and shapeless and even with alteration, they would grow out of them quickly. Swimming suits for pre-teens went to size 14 or 16 if they were lucky, and they were never sized properly or attractive. JC Penneys and Sears were about the only common brick and mortar stores with some choice for plus size pre-teen and plus size teen fashion. And of course, back then in the 80s and early 90s there wasn't an internet and catalog companies didn't cater to plus size teens either! Going back further, the fashion world all but ignored plus size people in general. There might be one large size store in town and the mumu house dress and the boxy navy suit were all they carried. Plus size teenage girls in the 50s and 60s had to resort to wearing men's jeans and slacks and shirts in order not to look like a 60 year old grandmother. The 70s brought an appreciation and realization that one size did not fit all, and jean companies began to stretch their line to size 18 and 20 with some fashionable choices. Richard Simmons came on the fashion scene in the early 80s and brought a recognition that plus size women and men were people too and might want some style in the wardrobe. But it still took another 20 years for fashion to embrace a teenage, youthful plus size look.

Thank goodness times have changed! Finally the fashion world has recognized there is a market for young, hip, plus size clothing and the internet is the delivery vehicle. The internet has forced choice on the fashion manufacturers and they are slowly realizing the demand is there and profitable. Forward thinking companies like Alight, Always for Me, Torrid, b&lu, Lane Bryant and The Avenue are delivering plus size teen fashions, in many choices and styles. Plus size teens still can't find many options at the mall but that will no doubt change as the popularity of the online plus size teen stores becomes evident. Television shows like Oprah, Tyra and The View are featuring plus size fashion shows as the norm and not the exception. The waif model is morphing into a more realistic body type and fashion designers are building their styles on "normal" women, rather than designing a size 0 and making it larger for their plus size customers.

This notion that plus size teens would rather hide because of their weight problem and then not need fashion is being replaced with the realization that with body acceptance comes a greater ability to deal with weight issues. Again, stars like Oprah, Tyra and plus size model Emme have consistently asked for change in the way society treats plus size teens and adults. Slowly our image of a beautiful woman or attractive man isn't limited to skin and bones, but includes all shapes and sizes. This new, healthy way of looking at size and style will ultimately help plus size teens feel better about themselves both mentally and physically. Hopefully the fashion world will embrace these new body types and retail possibilities and continue to expand their lines with plus size clothing actually made just for plus size teens.

 


We have been told that wearing black makes us look thin. Black clothing has become much more than funeral or cocktail party attire. It used to be inappropriate to wear black to a wedding. Not anymore. Black evening dresses make up at least half of the outfits at every wedding or cocktail reception. In fact, it is still the main staple of many women's wardrobes - and this is especially true if the woman is over a size two.

We have filled our closets and drawers with outfit after outfit more depressing than a rainy day simply because we want to appear slender. How ridiculous is that? First of all, we aren't all slender. Half of all American women are over a size fourteen, and half of those women are over a size twenty. That's no reason to dress like we're headed to a funeral. Wake up ladies!

The simple truth is that 50 years ago, a full-figured woman was not only more accepted, she was found to be quite attractive by society at large. Why is that different now? What changed? Although we should all strive to be healthy, celebrating who we are, as we are right now is powerful and fabulous. We are not a cookie-cutter society here in this country. We are taught the value of the individual from the first days we get here. Who you are and your personal style is a great thing! It is something to develop with joy and a sense of daring fun. After all, why not?

Plus size fashion is FUN. It is a hugely intimate expression of who you are as a woman. It can translate everything from what you do for a living to the mood you are in that day. Exploring the vibrant colors of the rainbow, discovering what works well with your skin tones and complexion, and throwing away (one by one) the closet full of funeral garb can be a cause for celebration! One outfit at a time, you can discover a new woman - one worth spending a few dollars on to express her best assets and her sense of style.

And if you don't know where to begin, simply start with the holidays and the seasons. Treat yourself to a vibrant pink blouse for Valentine's Day or a bright lime green skirt for St. Patrick's Day. Choose a beautiful orange sweater for the first day of autumn and a yellow jacket for the start of spring. There is no good reason anymore NOT to have fun with color in your wardrobe.

Go crazy and express yourself with a splash of color every chance you get. Collect a host of vibrant silk scarves to accent your wardrobe as you begin this process. You'll be surprised at the reactions of others and how happy it just might make you feel.

After all, it's a beautiful life and well worth "painting the town red" to fully enjoy! Get out there and go for it ladies! Have fun!

Sometimes finding a dress for a special occasion can be quite a task if you are a plus size woman. Often times, you may find it is hard to find places that will have the type of dress that you are looking for so you will have that look you want for the event you are going to attend. You will want to take into consideration the type of event that you are going to be attending. You do not want to go with a wedding reception dress if you are going to an awards dinner.

Once you know what type of event it is, you can do some research on the types of dresses that people are wearing to events such as the one you are going to. The next step in your search would be to sit down and decide on how much you can spend. Dresses for special occasions are usually not cheap, so you will want to shop around a bit to find what bargains are out there. Many women are starting to realize that there are actually coupons available for some of the more popular plus size fashion stores to help them save money.

You will want to look at the patterns that are available. There are many patterns that can take away pounds and then again, there are some that can add pounds to a woman. You will want to try to stay away from the patterns that include large floral designs and they will most definitely make you look much larger then you are. If you want to go with a print, then you will want to try to go with prints that lean toward bold blocks. Strips are also something you will want to watch out for. If you wear stripes one way, you will accentuate your figure, whereas the other direction will add more to the curves of your body. You have to be very aware of your style.

So just where do you find these coupons to help you get that dress you want? Well one of the first places to look would be the local ads in newspaper. Most often, local papers offer weekly coupons with their Sunday paper. Most often, the best place to look would be the internet for coupons for the plus size shops. These coupons can save you a great deal on many different types of dresses. You will see such coupons that offer $15 off a $50 purchase, $25 off a $75 purchase and $75 off $250. Then if you use these coupons on clearance items or items that are on sale, your savings can be doubled or even tripled.

There is no need to spend a fortune to look fabulous for that special occasion. You need to know where to shop and where to find the good coupons. Once you know the shops to go to and you are armed with the special savings, you will have that dream dress in no time at all.

There's a certain magic that comes with being a celebrity. They are dynamic; they are engaging. In fact, even though we never meet them, they often become role models. Through their work, they invite us to look into ourselves and find the magic inside each of us. For plus size women, these role models also have something that we often have very little of - confidence. Even those female celebrities who struggle with their weight and body image seem to know that they have something magical and unique, and that it has nothing to do with the size of their derriere or the number on the tag of their blouse.

Like all human beings, starlets come in an endless array of shapes and sizes - they come in the slender variety by the dozens - and they come in the not-so-slender category, like fuller-figured retired supermodel Tyra Banks. Season after season, Tyra uses her popular show, America's Next Top Model, to champion plus size women at every turn. It was very exciting to see a plus size model finally win the title of "America's Next Top Model," Whitney Thompson. And no conversation about plus-size role models would be complete without Oprah Winfrey - the queen of the modern-day weight battle.

So what is it about these particular women? Is it that they love themselves just a little more than the rest of us? Or is it simply that they ask US to love ourselves more - and to own EVERYTHING magical about ourselves that has NOTHING to do with our bodies?

Because I think that most of us look at their struggles with weight and often think, "Who cares?" When I see Wynonna Judd or Oprah struggling with their weight over and over, I never stop being amazed that they would even CARE about that. They are accomplished and fantastic, after all, and their beauty is NOT up for debate. So the question I am then led to ask is this: What does that say about me???

Much to my amazement, time after time, the answer is that I stop seeing myself from the outside - as a "plus size" woman - and instead, I see myself as a PHENOMENAL woman. My beauty is also not up for debate - not even by me! And it does NOT depend on the size of my a**.

Believing that our worth is proportionately tied to our size (in adverse ratios, I might add) is as awful as believing that it is tied to our race, or our bank account, or the neighborhood we live in. It's just another form of lies and false division. The WORST insult is when I do it to myself.

That is why I so often write about the importance of plus size fashion and having a killer wardrobe - because I am NOT going to let my magic be overlooked just because I'm hiding in the crowd, embarrassed about my weight. There's so much more to me that really matters in this world. My style matters. My vision matters. My PASSION matters. My ability to inspire others, my capacity to spot great ideas, my savvy when it comes to marketing and positioning - all of that matters. My fat a**? Not so much. And that, quite simply, is how I feel about that.

After years of study on the size and structure of American women, plus size women, including plus size teens and junior plus size females, have gotten the attention of the clothing industry and designers. Plus size beautiful women have moved beyond the expected plus size maternity clothes to be sized and fitted with plus size special occasion dresses that include plus size party dresses, prom dresses and wedding dresses.

More and more fashion shows are including plus size models. More and more designers are creating new, colorful, dressy and sexy plus size women's apparel to cater to this large segment of America's population. Women boutiques are opening up all across America and online offering everything from sexy plus size lingerie to plus size Wedding dresses and gowns to meet the needs of their clientele.

As the summer enters the second half of August, our attention to fashions begins to change like the color of leaves on the trees that mark fall's arrival. This Summer into Fall Styles will have a new look for plus size clothing for women this fall. Plus size fashions for women this fall, like with every September, will be putting away the plus size swimwear, tankinis, skirtinis, swimdresses, and cover-ups in favor of warmer outerwear and separates.

Junior plus size urban trendy clothing will include hoodies, sweatshirts, sweatpants, and sweaters. The designers will introduce fall fashion colors into these new fall looks. These plus size clothes will be trendy and sexy when women mix and match these plus size women's separates.

Trendy plus size pantsuits, blouses, blazers, wrap sweaters, cardigans, kimono sleeve sweaters, pencil skirts, gored skirts, a line skirts, tops, turtlenecks and long sleeve mock turtlenecks will create a bright fresh fall look for women in these fall fashions. Plus size wide leg jeans and 5 pocket jeans will keep the fun alive rolling around in a pile of colorful leaves or a night out clubbing.

Fall wedding planners will have a wide choice of plus size wedding dresses and gowns. Bridesmaid's fall wedding color dresses in all sizes are available. A plus size Mother of the Bride pant suit will fit quite comfortably for those cool October Weddings.

Plus size career clothing, evening and cocktail dresses will provide women with the proper apparel for the work place and those important evening gatherings with the corporation's bosses, co-workers, and clients.

As back-to-school sales commercials punctuate our television programs and the daily newspapers sell full page ads for all of our children's school needs as Labor Day approaches, let these signs be a reminder to you to begin shopping now for your new fall plus-size wardrobe. Many of the best bargains you will find are on the internet for all your plus size needs for both work and play.

With present day economics of high gas prices and higher prices in the market place due to these same fuel costs for the manufacturer and retailer, one can find SPECIAL SAVINGS for Online Internet Shopping Only, and many websites provide FREE SHIPPING with an advertised dollar amount of purchases. This saves time and money for you, the customer.

BBW is an acronym for "Big Beautiful Women." In the past, a big beautiful body was associated with health and wealth. As a matter of fact, up until the 1960's, BBW and plus size women were lauded for their beautiful physiques. The plus size woman appeared in almost all of the fashion photographs, films, and paintings of the 1920's-1950's. When did all of this change?

In the 1960's, plus size fashion rapidly disappeared from the covers of magazines and on the silver screen. Many people attribute this changing trend to the first teenage supermodel --Twiggy. Ironically, Twiggy's name suited her slender frame quite well. Instead of plus size blouses, plus size dresses, and skirts, Twiggy wore slinky dresses which hugged her small frame. In 1967, Marshall McLuhan boldly said: "Twiggy is an Xray, not a picture."

Unlike plus size BBW, who portray a picture of health and happiness, Twiggy looked ill at a mere 95 pounds. Unfortunately, women all over the world quickly became unhappy with their bodies and fashion choices. Clothes that were made for small-framed girls were bright, fashionable, and affordable. The options for plus size BBW? Well, let's just say they weren't so glamorous in the 1960's.

BBW and plus size women were largely ignored in the 1970's and 1980's as well. It wasn't until the 1990's that BBW and plus size women had enough. Curvy women and full-figured women were tired of trying to obtain an idea of perfection that was sold to them through every media median. Billboards, magazines, television shows, radio commercials and films portrayed Anna Nicole Smith, Claudia Schiffer, Cindy Crawford, and Kate Moss with their "perfect" bodies in the hottest designer fashions.

Then, as the millennium approached, the world watched in shock as something happened: tabloids and reality television began sharing the private lives of these models. Being thin wasn't as glitzy, glamorous, and easy as it seemed. When the cameras weren't rolling and the photographers weren't around, many of these models struggled to stay thin. BBW and plus size women were finally able to let out a sign of relief. In a fashion-conscious world that oppressed plus size women and BBW for so long, BBW were finally recognized as being healthier than the small-framed models. But, at what cost? How many BBW and plus size women developed eating disorders in their pursuits of thinner bodies? We may never know.

In 2002, the world tuned in to watch the shocking reality sitcom the "Anna Nicole Show." Although Anna Nicole's life inarguably looked disastrous, no one could deny that she had gone from a slim Guess model in the 90's to a plus size BBW over the course of a decade. She eventually experienced success, not only from her reality sitcom, but as a plus size clothing designer. Unfortunately, Anna Nicole Smith died as a result of an overdose. Her untimely death, as well as her son's, is still shrouded by mystery.

Many people wonder if Anna Nicole Smith was the first famous BBW plus size model. It's safe to say that this is disputable. Emme (Melissa) Aronson is recognized as the first BBW plus size model by many high-standing members of the fashion world, and Angellika is the first plus-size model that was inducted into the modeling Hall of Fame. It's all subjective, really.

Nevertheless, all of these women paved the way for plus size BBW all over the world. Women, finally, have been recognized and accepted in every shape and form. Beauty is no longer defined by single digit clothing sizes. BBW and plus size women are beautiful and deserve the opportunity to flaunt their assets and feel comfortable in their own skin.

Does BBW fashion emulate the fashion seen on the runway? It doesn't emulate runway fashion, it is runway fashion. Take a look at what the stars are wearing the next time you seem them in magazines. You're just as likely to find a designer gown on a star like Queen Latifah as you are to see it on a smaller-framed celebrity like Kate Hudson. Designers are finally catering to bigger women. The BBW plus size woman doesn't have to feel ashamed of her wardrobe anymore!

BBW plus size women's fashion is carried by most retailers. Nevertheless, it may feel tricky to find designer BBW clothing, especially if you don't live in the city. Fortunately, online retailers provide a convenient way to shop for BBW plus size pants, shirts, dresses, jackets, and skirts. Shopping for BBW plus size clothing has never been easier or more convenient than it is now. It's time for you to accept your body and love your body the way it is. Find inspiration from plus size models that paved the way for acceptance, self-love, and designer BBW plus size fashion.

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