The Limited’s Chief Executive Officer, Linda Heasley says she wanted to test the shop-in-shop experience before opening stand-alone Eloquii stores in order to provide a unified experience for the curvy girl and her straight sized sister. Heasley acknowledges that “larger sizes” usually get buried in stores, but that won’t be the case with Eloquii.
Walk into Limited with your curves held high as you pass by the storefront display and ample signage showcasing plus sized clothes while your slender sisters shop alongside you.  Eloquii has even taken the extra step to provide its shopper with in store iPads so they can browse the online collection as well.

www.eloquii.com

I am so excited that someone in the fashion industry has finally realized that sometimes shopping can be rough on a curvy gal.  It was this very experience that caused Heasley to make Eloquii present in stores – so that curvy girls could have a positive shopping experience with choice and quality.  The in-store shopping experience should invoke a boutique feel as you browse racks filled with current fun styles like white skinny jeans and pencil skirts.

www.eloquii.com

Fashionistas, your voice will actually be heard and considered when it comes to what Eloquii carries in stores and online.  Limited’s fresh plus size line was launched because the Limited customers let their voices be heard and asked for more range in sizes.  I encourage you to let your voices be heard!  Don’t stop telling designers and stores what you hearts desire when it comes to fashion.

In Peace and Curves,
Ashley

Enter for your chance to win by tweeting this giveaway below.  Earn additional entry points by following us on twitter too!
Contest ends 5/15/12 and a winner will be selected at random and notified via email within 48 hours.
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Founder and CEO, Jon Alagem created this new and exciting app.  Alagem and two other silent investors, created the fashion forward app so that you can share photos from your own library and post it to the Trendabl network.  He says, “A user will be able to take a picture and apply a filter to it, then they can either post it right away to their friends or they can add more information.”  You’ll be able to tag your photos according to label, price, retail availability and more!

Just like other social networking sites, anyone is able to join.  Alagem felt this app would be a great tool for retailers and fashion brands!  He has already compiled a pretty impressive group of celebrity designers for the launch of the site, such as Kate Olsen, Barneys New York, Diane von Furstenberg, Ashley and Mary-Kate Olsen, Michael Kors, Current/Elliott, Harley Viera-Newton and Brad Foreski.

As of now, Nicky Hilton, Whitney Port and the contemporary lines Equipment and Joie are confirmed members.  The largest following seems to be for the Olsen twins.  Mary-Kate Olsen says they “are excited to work with Trendabl, what we believe will be a dynamic social networking platform for the fashion world.”  She continued to say, “Trendabl will change the way people share and discover fashion.

www.trendabl.com

Trendabl will also allow you to not only post on their site, but also share it with your friends on Facebook, Twitter and Tumblr.  Trend setting made easy!  Similar to Instagram, you’ll be able to “like” and comment on the posts and you can see what trend or style is getting the most attention under the “popular” section.  Who you follow is your choice, whether it is friends, celebrities or brands.

What sets Trendabl apart from the rest you may ask?  Alagem says, “We’re going out there and getting a lot of brands, celebrities, designers, bloggers, etc., and getting them to come on and be a part of this.”

Want to hear the best news?  The Trendabl app is free and available on iTunes.  Alagem plans to spread the app to other smart phones, but for now it is available on the iPhone.  The next step for Trendabl is a web site and then e-commerce.

This new app is bound to spread like wildfire and not only help you and I spread the word about the latest fashion trends, but also keep us informed about what our favorite brands and celebrity influences are doing in the fashion world!  This includes all of our curvy favorites as well!!  So many curvy fashion trends and designers, so little time.  Now, go!!  What are you waiting for curvy fashionistas?  Start spreading the fashion word!!

Always, Erin

FatshionInsider.com

The Curvy Style Bloggers

The Curvy Style Bloggers

Brand hosts for this unique shopping event include Lane Bryant, Kmart LYS and Simply Be USA.  Each of these brands will be previewing items from their new collections at the event.  Get your official sneak peek!

Several other sponsors have donated gift cards and product to be given away during contests at the event…contests they are calling “Tweet It” contests!  Sounds like a fun way to win some fashionable swag!  These sponsors include Rachel Pally, Sonsi, The Lip Bar, Sally Hansen’s Salon Effects and Mizani Hair Care.

SHOP & SWAP is happening TUESDAY, MAY 1^ST from 6-9PM at the TAMMANY HALL 152 ORCHARD STREET in NYC!

To go just RSVP to info@fatshioninsider.com today!!

The event is CASH ONLY.

Enjoy!!

Talbots.com $128 and IGIGI.com $132 (left to right)

The Busty – if you feel like your twins are your best lady lumps start with a supportive bra that fits you right and is comfortable.  Then find a cute frock that offers thicker straps so you can hoist those ta-tas proudly underneath.  Try to find a dress that hugs your top half and creates a slimming line – you don’t have to show a lot of skin to be sexy.  You can always pair a cropped cardigan with your favorite dress for that extra layer of comfort.
Short Legs – if you feel like you were absent the day the universe handed out height then gain a few inches by opting for a maxi dress that is belted slightly higher than your natural waist. Not only will your stems look fierce, but you can flatter your tummy by choosing a flowing fabric like jersey.  Pair with a slender sandal and you’ll look like you belong on a runway.

Kiyonna.com $128 and Nordstrom.com $98 (left to right)

Small Chested – if you feel like giving your top half a little oompf then go for dress with a feminine ruffle on top of a fitted bodice.  You will draw attention to your smaller part and by default, will make your waist look smaller!  Try adding a fun pin or broach for a little added pizazz.
The Botticelli Babe – if you’re curvy, but not as daring as your hour glass shaped -sister then look for a wrap dress that helps to define your goddess given curves.  I like faux-wrap dresses that are securely sewn together – that way you can rock the allure of a wrap dress with the comfort of a basic frock.

Nordstrom.com (Calvin Klein) $148 and Kiyonna.com $128 (left to right)

Take a good look in the mirror and learn how to fall in love with what you see.  Have fun playing up your best features and tell me what you discover!

In Peace and Curves,
Ashley

This is the first year Coachella will be happening over two weekends in Indio, California.  The first weekend started today, April 13th – 15th and the next weekend is April 20th – 22nd.

Big Girl Runway cannot attend this year, but we would love to see what fabulous curvy fashion ensembles our reader’s have put together for the event!  Send us photos!  We would love to see what totally trendy outfit you have put together for each day of the festival.  With each photo sent BGR will post your photo to our facebook page creating our very own Coachella fashion log.

Photo by: Brian Van Der Brug/Los Angeles Times

At the end of the second weekend BGR will announce one Coachella fashionista as “Best Dressed” and that person will win a $50 ShopBop.com gift card!

You have told us what fashion trends you love this Spring…now show us what you’ve got!  Pictures being accepted now.

*SEND PHOTOS TO info@biggirlrunway.com

Wilder started to design her own clothes as a young adult.  Being a plus sized gal herself she became fed up with the lack of options to express her unique flair through fashion.  The California native says it has been her ambition to create high fashion clothing for plus sized women and teens.  Divas, I think you will agree with me – Miss Wilder is well on her way to achieving that goal.

Creator of Cult of California, Jen Wilder

Cult of California is geared toward the smart, sophisticated, powerful plus sized woman from 25-40.  What drives me wild about Wilder’s new line is that it reflects how she feels about her own body. Wilder maintains a “healthy at every size” mentality and isn’t afraid of looking and feeling good no matter what size.  She sees fashion as a place for inclusion for all women.  This makes the line’s tagline of “worship the altar of you” very fitting.

The inspiration for Cult of California came from Wilder’s experience working at Equinox gym during college.  Wilder knows what it is like to fall in love with a darling little matching workout outfit only to find that it only goes up to a size large.

Cult of California, Bent Prism Design Group

Cult of California, Crystal Cave Design Group

Wilder has designed innovative pieces that are specifically made for curvy bodies.  She has really kept the curvy girl in mind with work out pants that stub out chub rub to sports bras that will actually support your twins in order to create comfortable fashion forward clothes.  She has made it a point to break away from the stereo type that plus size has to equal big and frumpy.

Cult of California will be available this spring through their website, which will be up and running soon.  Wilder says the line will eventually hit retail stores too.  You can catch a sneak peak in her look book available on Facebook this month!

In Peace and Curves,

Ashley

You can check out the PDF of this fabulous 12 page spread HERE.

You will find articles and advertisements from all our beloved full figure fashion brands and industry professionals.  Plus Model Magazine is featured on the front page of the supplement where they have styled 6 well-known and lovely full figure models.  Emme, Supermodel and Founder of EmmeNation.com speaks out on the opening page, along with other industry professionals like Madeline Figueroa-Jones of Plus Model Magazine, Marie Denee of The Curvy Fashionista, and Catherine Schuller.  There is even some thoughts, advice and insight from some of the industry’s leading brands such as Olga Intimates, Bare Necessities, Ulla Popken and Sorella Swim.

Swimwear article in Media Planet's Full Figure Fashion March 2012

With publishing companies like Media Planet USA partnering with full figure fashion brands and professionals I think we will continue to see big things happening for the industry!!  Thank you Media Planet for giving us a platform where our voices can be heard…

I am so excited to see what is ahead for the fashion industry!!

Jessica Petersen, Founder of Big Girl Runway

A competition that not only gives curvy ladies a voice, but helps them to flaunt what they’ve got!  How awesome is that?  This competition breaks down the walls that have been built by the standards of society and these voluptuous women get to strut the catwalk like any other model in fabulous collections from wonderful designers that cater to big, bold and beautiful models.  The whole thing was created to address the needs of the curvy ladies in the fashion industry!  Great, right?  Not only do the models get to showcase what their mammas gave them, but the designers who specialize in clothing these buxom women get to show off their lines as well!!

If you ask me, this curvy competition is just what the doctor ordered for the plus-size fashion industry!  So, if you want to flaunt your curvy silhouette and be the next Ms. Curvaceous UK 2012 click below for further details.

Ms Curvaceous UK

What are you waiting for??  Go get ‘em girls!!!

Always,

Erin Dunphy

Photo of Ashley Credit: Greg Kessler - Marie Claire Website

Well now, it is obvious that she owns her curvy silhouette and uses all of her expertise on everyday women of all shapes and sizes, 6’ models too!

You can follow her on Twitter @stylewatchmag or @ashley_falcon

Or checkout her website at ashleyfalcon.com

Always,

Erin