I came across the below story today in Grazia and really couldn’t believe what I was reading. A study has shown that by using what is classed at plus size models in advertisements the consumer is likely to suffer from low self- esteem and therefore less likely to buy. Read the story for yourself and let me know your thoughts.

Though many in the fashion industry insist curves have made a comeback – swapping waifish for voluptuous models on the catwalks and crowning Christina Hendricks the modern man’s crumpet – it may be unwise for big brands to follow suit. Though Dove and Debenhams have had success using ‘real women’ in their ads, according to a new study, fuller figured models don’t encourage us to buy.

“We found that overweight consumers demonstrated lower self-esteem, and therefore less enthusiasm about buying products, after exposure to ANY size models in ads,” said Naomi Mandel, a marketing professor who led the study, “And, normal-weight consumers experienced lower self-esteem after exposure to heavy models….than after exposure to moderately thin models.”

These results tie in with a study which came out last October published in the Journal of Consumer Research that found, ‘overweight women’s self-esteem always decreases, regardless of the model they look at.’ However, on the flip side, ‘Underweight women’s self-esteem always increases, regardless of the model they look at’ (which contradicts the most recent poll).

The thing that instantly springs to mind is non of this is healthy! We need to get to the route of the problem of low self esteem. What is it about the models that makes us feel inadequate? For me, it’s the fact that the clothes they are wearing will not suit my incredibly short frame. I can’t understand why we can’t have models that represent real bodies – so there is a selection and styles to suit all body shapes, I would want to buy those clothes!

If you are looking for real representation in fashion then please sign our petition to get the body diversity we deserve to see!

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If you have been captured by the new tales of Alice in Wonderland then take a look at Simple Be’s new collections.

Plus size fashion retailer Simply Be have just launched their brand new ‘Get the Look’ collections online; catwalk inspired creations in sizes 14-32. Shoppers can choose from two top new trends: ‘Wonderland’ and ‘Pretty in Pinks’. With the release of Tim Burton’s latest masterpiece starring Johnny Depp, this spring fashion has a fervour for all things Alice – and at Simply Be it’s no exception.

Venture down the rabbit hole to the heart of the trend with the ‘Wonderland’ collection, featuring bold motifs in a playing card colour palette of red, white and black. Military style studs and buttons toughen up feminine skirt and tunic shapes as does this season’s edgy essential – the motorbike jean.

Or, for a gorgeously girly look, go for ‘Pretty in Pinks’. Spring’s latest prints really steal the show here, ranging from fabulous florals to graphic abstract designs, while muted neutrals and monochrome get freshened up with a liberal splash of eye-popping pink. Layer with a boyfriend blazer in black or soft grey for an extra on-trend twist. The boyfriend jacket looks set to stay in style for some time to come, making it a great investment buy.

The micro-collections are limited edition so fashion-savvy shoppers are advised to pick up their favourite pieces early – before they sell out! Each outfit in the collection is accompanied by an online catwalk video so web visitors can see how the garment moves and hangs before they buy.

Simply Be launch their ‘Get the Look’ collections twice a season, in addition to their main plus size clothing collection. The main collection is available online and by catalogue, and comprises outfits for all occasions, from stylish office ideas to going-out glam, all in sizes 14-32. Curvy fashionistas can also complete their look with Simply Be’s wide fit fashion footwear and great fitting lingerie available up to JJ cup and 56 back. ‘Wonderland’ and ‘Pretty in Pinks’ are available to buy now at www.simplybe.co.uk.

One of our true advocates and supporter, plus size model Vanessa Reece has shared some exciting news – she is now officially the fit model for ASOS Curve.

As you all know, ASOS recently launched their Curve collection to cater for women with fuller figures. Vanessa’s role is now very much involved in every stage of the creation and making of the clothes, as they plan to bring out further additions to their range.

Vanessa has been modelling for over five years now and she is very excited about the opportunity to really make an impact on the clothes curvy women will be wearing.

Vanessa has a fantastic website where she offers updates on her career, she also discusses her health as a plus size model and advocates what is happening in the plus size industry, sign up to her newsletter to keep updated by visiting her website www.vanessareece.com.

The Curvy Fashionista, Marie Denee has just done a wonderful interview with Vanessa, so take a look at her website to find out what a fit model is and more about the processes Vanessa will be involved in, and to find out what Vanessa has in store for us in the future.

Don’t forget to share your opinion on ASOS Curve’s community group page. Tell them your honest opinion on the collection and ask any questions!

Congratulations Vanessa!

This Morning’s show-biz reporter, Alison Hammond, will be creating a brand new plus size range for Yours clothing.

Here’s what Yours had to say:

“Alison will be selecting a range of clothes to create ‘Alison Hammond for Yours Clothing’ – real clothes for real women.

The range reflects Alison and Yours Clothing’s passion for promoting on-trend fashionable clothes for real women just like her and the range will be available exclusively online at www.yoursclothing.co.uk.

She’s the UK’s biggest star and 2008’s ‘Most Popular TV Presenter’. Alison has notched up over 7 years on our screens as the people’s favourite with the personality you never forget! It’s her unforgettable charm and sense of fun that rate her number one with the celebrities too:  she’s tap danced with Renee Zellwegger, rapped with Will Smith, jammed with Russell Crowe and had Pierce Brosnan begging for more.

Known for her quick wit, style and big heart, nobody gets a better interview than Alison. Alison can turn her hand to anything and has an incredible list of UK network shows to her name including: This Morning, Loose Women, Inside Out, BBC Exchange, Celebrity Ready Steady Cook and I’m a Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here.

Alison is also an accomplished actress having appeared in various TV dramas, notably: Boon, Chalkface, Locksmith, Yes and 3 series of the BAFTA awards winning Palace Hill. She’s larger than life and she’s ready to take Yours Clothing by storm.”

Take a look at the sneak preview pictures of Alison visiting Yours to decide on her collection here.

After my interview with Plus Size Tall editor Thibault, we formed a great relationship and here we speak of the Plus Size Tall website and how it all began.

Plus Size Tall is originally French (Ma Grande Taille), what made you decide to create the website and when did it all start?

Well, I quit my job as Marketing Director of online travel agency Ebookers France in June 2007 to launch a couple of fashion magazines online. When I showed to my sister Corinne, she said: “Nice, but there is nothing for me on your sites!”. Indeed, Corinne is a UK size 22. I did some research online and I saw that there was a viable place for an online plus-size fashion magazine in France. Hence, Ma-Grande-Taille.com (i.e. My Plus Size) started out in October 2007.

Would you say there is a lack of plus size fashion in France and Europe?
Up until 2007, I would have said yes. But for the past couple of years, there has been an explosion of options for French and European plus size fashionistas :- existing brands, such as La Redoute’s Taillissime have drastically updated their offering- new clothing brands and online retailers have popped up- the Paris Prêt-à-Porter trade fair now has a plus size fashion corner- US and UK sites like Evans have started selling to Europeans. I think the real problem is that lots of women are not aware of these options, because there is no existing media to let them know. This is why 100% People and Ma-Grande-Taille.com can be useful to both readers and brands, to help them find each other. The sore point is men: the offering is quite lackluster in France, but it also seems that overweight men are even less interested in fashion than thin guys!

What brands would you recommend to me if I had just moved to France and was looking for plus size clothes that would make me feel fabulous?
First off, you ARE fabulous It comes from the inside.  Now, if you were to move to France or if you just came on a shopping trip, here are a few brands you could look at:- Coleen Bow: very romantic clothing, high end, great for women of all sizes, as they offer a wide range of sizes. Cartel de la Mode: cheap and chic, very nice dresses for big girls (currently under construction) Fuegolita: from Marseille, full of sun, colours and energy, Anathéa by Didier Parakian: a French brand that sells really well in Russia, for instance.

Why did you decide to translate Plus Size Tall into English?
On Ma-Grande-Taille.com, our writers often mention UK-based retailers such as Evans, Dorothy Perkins and Yours Clothing. These retailers ship to France and offer great style. So, I thought it was a good idea to give a try with a UK version of our site. I thought that our mix of fashion advice, fashion deals and fashion chatter could maybe interest British readers.

Do you feel you have to change the content of the UK site to fit with the readership here?
Well, 95% of the content on Plus-Size-Tall.com is original; it means that our British writers create their own articles, independently from what is going on the French version. It is a bit like comparing Grazia France and Grazia UK: we talk about the same fashion trends, but they translate into different shopping advice because retailers are different from one country to another. Moreover, pieces about plus-size British celebrities are seldom of interest to French readers, and the same for French celebrities in the UK. But what struck us after a few months was that 30% of our readers actually come from the US! So, we have started introducing a few articles about the US, but always with a British perspective.

Your websites cover a great amount of information; can you highlight the areas on your website?
Plus-Size-Tall.com and Ma-Grande-Taille.com are really about the Outsize Fashion community: what bigger celebs wear, fashion deals from plus size brands, new brands for tall women, where to find trendy wider shoes, health concerns that matter to our readers, etc.

What do you enjoy writing about most?
New brands, new initiatives, new sites … I just like writing about people who decide to invest in the Plus Size and Tall Fashion Industry. It takes courage, because it is difficult to succeed. Moreover, it is sometimes not seen as glamourous, so showing that some people dedicate themselves to changing this industry gives me a thrill.

What fashion trends do you see for the coming seasons?
Blue is the colour of the 2010 Summer: dark blue with navy-inspired clothing and light blue with clothing made in denim. Tribal and exotic patterns are big, but I really like them on shoes: some sandals look really great with tribal details.

Do you have any future plans for your website?
Quite frankly, I have not devoted enough time to Plus-Size-Tall.com yet. The design of the site is not great, so this is what I will be improving in the next weeks.

There has been a lot of media coverage regarding body sizes; do you think that we will ever see diversity in the fashion industry without it being a media stunt?
There is an undeniable novelty part in this trend; in the end, I do thing that diversity in body sizes will be a regular feature in magazines. It is a matter of sticking to the reality of the market, while still allowing women to see pictures of good-looking models. It is the very definition of “good-looking” that is going to be changed.

Any advice for our readers? Or last words?
I think it is great that your readers have chosen to become members of your online community. So, I congratulate them on their choice. Creating a visible community can help make plus size fashion more important in the eyes of designers and retailers.

Thank you for your time Thibault, it was great speaking with you.

If you are a fashion lover then this news should not pass you by, learn about the new application from ASOS.

ASOS.com, the UK’s leading online fashion store has launched www.asosfollowsfashion.com, a Twitter application bringing together the latest tweets from fashion industry insiders and influencers.

James Hart, eCommerce Director at ASOS.com, said:  “We’ve been chatting to our customers through social media for a few years now but our ASOS colleagues also follow and interact with some of fashion’s greatest through Twitter. With asosfollowsfashion.com, we get to share this passion. It’s a simple tool with a simple goal really; to connect fashion-loving people with real time news and views from the best of the fashion world.”

Featuring categories like ‘The Brands’, ‘The Bloggers’ and ‘The A-List’,  asosfollowsfashion.com helps users to discover interesting fashion tweeters and view real-time fashion news and stories. Encouraging users to help curate the list of featured tweeters, the application also invites them to share their view and highlight any accounts that should be added.

“ASOS.com’s continued growth is due to their consistent ability to innovate with their online activity,” said James Haycock, Managing Director of AdaptiveLab, the creative technology company that built the social media application. “Their open approach to including competitors on the site demonstrates that they really understand the role their brand can play when it comes to social interaction, as this application positions them as a useful resource that will have continued relevance.”

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This is something I have been meaning to post on, after the launch of our Real Bodies Unite campaign, I realised that we weren’t the only ones striving to make a change to the fashion industry’s portrayal of women, and I was happy to see that many people have started their own campaign all over the world!

The National Eating Disorder Information Centre in Canada has launched their ‘Campaign to Cast Responsibly and Retouch Minimally’. They too have launched a petition but they have executed a communications plan that has really got people listening.

The campaign “targets fashion leaders and marketers who are guilty of promoting an impossibly thin look at the exclusion of all others”. To voice their concern they have sent a greetings card and impossibly fitting t-shirt to selected fashion leaders. The card says “Thanks for helping to make me such a successful anorexic.”  Along with the t-shirt that asks them to try it on so they too can feel how we feel when we see their images. It is such a powerful message that cannot be ignored, for this reason they have also started a pledge where these fashion leaders and marketers can promise to change the way they portray women.

They have also put up two posters as trash bins so women can rid themselves of the damaging magazines that make them feel inadequate! What a fantastic idea.

I have signed the petition and so should you! Take a look at their website to see what the t-shirt looks like and learn more about the campaign.

Elena Miro designs what can only be described as absolutely delectable and beautifully sexy clothes for curvy women. Her plus size A/W 2010 collection hit the runway in Milan last week and gosh they are stunning.

Elena Miro has just launched their charitable Dona L’Usato program where customers with Elena Miro clothes can give their old attire back and receive a discount on their new collection.

To watch the new ad campaign, check out Runway Revolution – to which I thank for highlighting this news.

To get a preview of the coming winter collection, go to The Curvy Fashionista

Elena Miro is an Italian designer, if you are looking to buy in the UK, try Beige Plus who have three shops in London, you can also request a catalogue and get updated via email.

Supermodel Erin O’Connor, 32, is co-founder of ‘All Walks Beyond the Catwalk,’ a charity which encourages designers to embrace all women whatever their age or size. Here she explains why we all deserve the very best of British fashion, as reported in the Mirror.

“Modelling for this special issue is an honour, not only because Sarah Brown is editing, but also because I was photographed with a diverse group of women, celebrating what I call “the beauty of diversity”.

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Lauren Koenig is an up and coming plus model who is possibly one of the most persistent and dedicated women to ever grace the cover of DailyVenusDiva.com.  In her brief time modeling she has graced the pages of many magazines (on and offline) and has modeling agencies requesting that she signs with them.

As the cover model of our “Going Green” issue Lauren shares with readers the importance of living a healthy lifestyle and how plus size representation in the media can help make the world a healthier place.

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