Too Fat For Fashion

What Ever Happened To...

2009-12-31T10:51:00.001-05:00

And were back! Just in time for 2010.
neplusultras.wordpress.com

Please update your bookmarks!

Questions for Erika!

2009-07-06T11:27:00.005-04:00

I know, I know. We last posted in March, no one's reading any more (and we don't blame you - feel free to flee to more post-y blogs) and now we ask a favour...

Plus-size lingerie specialist Simply Yours is filming an interview soon with the very beautiful Erika Elfwencrona, and they want questions from YOU!

If there's anyone left out there who doesn't hate me and Miss J for selling out and concentrating on our mainstream fashion day-jobs (there's a crunch! We gotta pay rent!) and forgetting about the blog, please comment with your questions - is there enough work out there or are there not enough plus-size labels? Has she ever been asked to lose weight? Has she got any fab style tips?

Y'all can come up with better questions than that, I'm sure. My brain is on epic Andy-Roddick-at-the-second-set-tie-break-whoops-let's-just-choke fail today. (Sorry. Poor A.Rod.)

Here's the lovely Erika:

Best questions will be used in a 'So-and-so who reads TFFF wants to know…' type format and selections from the interview will go online over the next few months. Ready, set, comment - keep it clean, keep it non-mean, etc.

PS. We do love you guys and I'm sorry for our non post-y-ness. I really am. I tried and we're trying, but it may be the case that TFFF was just a few glorious months of bloggy goodness. We'll leave our archives up for as long as Blogger is in existence, basically, but more posts… never say never, and all that, but, um, yeah. Mea culpa. There are FANTASTIC plus-size blogs out there, share amongst yourselves, go forth and multiply their readerships. We'll put the word out if we come back for good. x

Lame or Lane?

2009-03-11T17:02:00.006-04:00

Miss J has talked before on this site about LB and its plus-sized selection, a post which generated a lot of comment.

I have to say, I don't think the new spring/summer collection is half bad. Yes, there are some of the usual iffy suspects. But there are a few cute pieces to be had, and I think there's definitely been an improvement somewhere along the line. Though maybe I am just being swayed by better styling?

It's been so long since I was a teenager I don't know whether teenage girls these days still go through the tie-dye, joss sticks, hairband on the forehead, hippy phase? If they do the long red-pink ombre maxi-skirt is totally cute, and I love the styling with the little jacket, belt and bangles.

The colour on the periwinkle ruffle top is maybe a little too garish for me, but online there are a ton of examples of feminine ruffled tops in colours that are a little more "fashion", deep jewels, plums and teals, for example. And I love that model's haircut.

I'm also totally digging this dress:

Maybe it's just because that's the loose, sexy silhouette I'm into right now; but the pleats! The bang-on-the-knee finish! The way it skims!

So what do we think? Have you guys seen a (slight) improvement, are my eyes playing tricks, or are we seeing the usual seasonal trend, wherein spring/summer looks are always better than autumn/winter ones in the plus-sized fashion world? (I'm sorry, but it's true: sexy tanks, sweet dresses, cute v-necks, etc, always seem to be better than the winter offerings, which are inevitably dowdy.)

Lane Bryant
Toll-free telephone: 866.886.4731
lanebryant.com

Drive-by posting

2009-02-23T12:49:00.004-05:00

As soon as London Fashion Week dies down a bit*, we'll do a round-up of Oscars fashion (Winners: Mickey Rourke's dead doggie necklace; Losers: Kate Winslet's helmet hair, Heidi Klum's gelled hair, Zac Ephron's gelled hair. Gel was a theme. And not a good one). In the meantime, Oscars fash coverage is obviously all over the web, but I'd be remiss not to salute my colleagues' sterling work and suggest you head to:

In Style!

Oh, and Nicholas Hoult from Skins = very tall, while Lydia Hearst = could fit in my handbag. She's like 3ft tall.

*I SRSLY need a CrackBerry to keep up with blogging. That, or one of those time-travel necklace things what Hermione Granger has in Prisoner of Azkaban. Or a souped-up DeLorean.

Happy Monday, all!

Quick hits

2009-02-19T09:08:00.006-05:00

The first issue of LOVE magazine, featuring TFFF-favourite Beth Ditto on the cover, is out today!

For more, see Love Magazine or Love Magazine Blog.

Thoughts? (Bear in mind the colours on the picture above seem to have gone somewhat awry. Click the links for a better vers.)

I think she looks f***ing fantastic.

EDIT: Links should be fixed now, sorry!!

And ruffles have ridges

2009-02-03T15:52:00.007-05:00

This spring, fashion's going GIRLIE! We've had quite a few autumn/winter seasons now with grey, navy and black as the predominant colours; with strong tailoring and ladylike chic the top trends. Which, sure, chic is as chic does. Who didn't love Carla Bruni-Sarkozy's Première Madame Dior ensembles on her state visit to England last year?

But also... yawn. Just a little bit. Unless you - sans clothes and styling - are naturally chic and ladylike, ladylike chic tends to look a little, well, dull. If you have a tendency, a la me, towards ladders in your tights, holes in your jumpers, scuffs on your shoes, voomph-y hair and a bosom, yer mid-calf-length skirts, flat ballet shoes and gamine jumpers just look mousy.

I like my fashion like I like my cereal: with a little SNAP! CRACKLE! POP! And one of my favourite trends for spring/summer 2009 is the girlie trend, which encompasses ruffles, embellishments, florals, sweet detailing such as lace, ribbons and bows, and blush-colours.

First up, let's look at ruffles. For the curvy girl, ruffles can be a little tricky, as they will accentuate and enlarge wherever they adorn. We all know there's nothing wrong with looking bigger, but some bigger just isn't flattering. Think of how unflattering large boobs look with a high-neck or turtleneck jumper; all matronly and, frankly, sow-like. Whereas a fitted v-neck flatters and is actually way more demure.

Similarly, ruffles adorning a bosom that nature was already quite generous to? You will look like a big meringue cake. Or Glenda the Good Witch of the North.

Equally, ruffles on more slender areas can be counter-intuitive: if you have an hourglass shape, for instance, a ruffle diagonally across the middle as on many dresses will just hide your waist, making you look squat.

Obviously there are exceptions (check out our picks, below), and it does all depend on the size and the 'fall' of the ruffle; i.e. is it made from a stiff fabric with many layers to stick straight up, or is it just a loose, bias-cut flimsy layer (clue: you want the latter)?

If you're nervous about the sheer volume that ruffles can bring to the party, or you actually prefer a more chic, streamlined look, check out the myriad ruffled and sculptured accessories on offer and use these to give a nod to the trend instead.

The Too Fat For Fashion Edit
Click to shop!

TOP ROW Blue umbrella, £9.50, Marks & Spencer; turquoise bag, £79, Boden; navy blue ballet flat, £138, Lanvin
MIDDLE ROW Black dress, $29.99, Target (up to US22); Navy dress, £125, Coast (up to UK18); blue gloves, £42, Sara Berman
BOTTOM ROW Pink dress, £85, Monsoon (up to UK22); red wallet, £100, Felix Rey; red watch, £74, Betsey Johnson

Let's do it for our country, for the red, white and the blue!

2009-01-28T15:49:00.004-05:00

Okay, so we're over a week late for an "Inauguration Fashion Fever!" post, but whatever. It takes a girl some time to recover from swooningly handsome men taking charge all sexy-like. But enough about my personal life, let's talk Obama! Ahahahaha.

Let's celebrate with some patriotic accessories! (The Union Flag colour-scheme means this works for Brits too, though our PM is rather less debonair. Unless you like dour, nail-bitten Scots who look like they were born wearing an ill-fitting suit. It might be a thing.)

Gold metal dollar-sign necklace, GirlProps
Acrylic Hope brooch, Gilbert & George at Tatty Devine
Cotton and nylon star-print socks, Topshop
Leather star sandals, Marc by Marc Jacobs at Net-a-Porter
Fabric and wood nautical sandals, Stella McCartney at Net-a-Porter

untitled no. 1

2009-01-25T10:35:00.003-05:00

O hai there! We're back! Let's blame... OMG, lookit over there! ::ducks and runs::

Anyhoo. Before we get into some trend predictions and credit-crunch-a-riffic fashion (and I mean thrifty - screw Vogue et al with their "a £2,000 shoe is an investment item! Buy two, stimulate the economy!" so-called thriftiness), let's have a quick post and run, and a call to arms for our little TFFF community.

Every week in the G2 section of The Grauniad is a feature called Private Lives, which is essentially a Dear Deidre problem page type jobby, only you, the middle-class bearded lentil-eating sandal-wearing composting hippie do-gooder reader, provide the solutions! Linda Blair (the psychologist, not Regan the devil child) then gives the profesh view.

Take a look at the archives, if you will, to see what sort of probs and answers come up, then ponder next week's question:

My 23-year-old sister is seriously overweight. It's not a matter of education or lack of knowledge about nutrition - she knows what good, healthy food looks like - and would naturally opt for a salad rather than a plate of chips. However, her portion sizes are very big and she eats more often than she needs to. It is a habit she has got into over the years - she says she still feels hungry if she eats the same amount as I do. I think she has come to associate food with love; she seems to feel that eating to excess generates good feelings, even if the results have the opposite effect on her self-esteem. As a family, we are passionate about food; we all enjoy cooking and regularly have great family meals together.

My sister doesn't complain about her weight, she dresses well and looks good.

However, she sometimes mentions that she is larger than she would like to be. The rest of my family are naturally fairly thin, which makes it harder to say anything. I have broached the subject as subtly as possible in the past and she got very upset. I believe she would prefer to be thinner and doesn't like the fact that I'm reminding her of that. Despite this, as far as I'm aware, she's never been on a diet. Our family is close and my sister has a supportive partner, who also likes his food.

How do I get through to her, without damaging our relationship, that she will be happier if she eats less and exercises more?

If you've got a view or a response, you can email private.lives@guardian.co.uk by Tuesday morning (UK time); or just have at it in the comments section here and we'll have our own discussion.

Then I promise soon we'll have some proper fashion content and try to once more be a bit more frequent with posting. It's not my fault that UFO abducted me.

Let's go hell for leather!

2008-11-26T15:54:00.003-05:00

Hey you guys, sorry for the week-plus absence. Christmas deadlines are fast upon us! Thanks for all the great comments on our return and the response to the new posts. It's really cool to get comments, good or bad (we prefer the good, obvie) and the general discussion. You all rule.

And a happy Thanksgiving to all our US readers! As a Thanksgiving treat, enjoy these Gok Wan videos. (Don't worry, we haven't become a schill for Gok or indeed any other product, brand or entity. TFFF remains independent, yo!) With apologies for the lameness of visuals this week, I'm having internet/laptop difficulties, without further ado, this week's post!

***

Today we're going to look at... leather trousers. That's right: yer proper grrr, rock chick, pure raw sex appeal leather trews. I know, the last time we saw these babies was on Ross Gellar, but they're everywhere this winter and frankly, I see nothing about this trend that should stop plus-sizes from rocking the hell out of it too.

The inspiration

L-R: Givenchy, Christopher Kane, Alexander McQueen, all autumn/winter 2008

For trouser options... those at the smaller end of the scale, i.e. UK 14, could try Marks & Spencer's version, £129. Spiegel.com has a pair on sale for $54.99.

But what we'd really recommend - and yes, we know this'll sound weird - is specialist leather sites fround through Google. There are about a bajillion leather sites, ranging from goth to Eighties to motorcycle to chaps to fetish to lingerie, which do leather trousers, and they tend to have a much better range of sizes than name-brands because they're niche, so they don't have the customer base to support being elitist and size-snobby. We say, google plus-size leather trousers/pants, maybe throw in your nearest town/city name to perhaps find a store or company near you to save on shipping, and narrow it down from there depending on whether you like an Eighties, biker, goth, fetish, country, or plain-old leather jean look.

I know that sounds like the lamest fashion advice ever - Google it! - but this is one of the few trends that I think is better served by tiny, random brands which have been doing leather trews for years, plus you're way more likely to find plus-sizing. (Having spent the last couple hours Googling to make sure I'm not talking nonsense, I know whereof I speak.)

Here's how TFFF would style it.

Almost Lipstick in Black Honey, £12, Clinique
Gold metal necklace, £10, Asos
Patent platform peep-toes, £54.99 Red Or Dead
Tunic, $34, Torrid
Volumising Mousse, £4.99, James Brown London

The trick is to go sleek with the pant, voluminous with the top, high with the heels, big with the hair, and lots with the gold necklaces - try buying a ton of cheap individual gold-look necklaces from somewhere cheap such as H&M, Asos or Claire's and layering them up. Finish with a smoky eye and pale lip, or nude eye and a red lip. TFFF likes Lipstick in Ruby Woo, by MAC.

Shrinking violets need not apply!

Gok it goin' on

2008-11-16T09:56:00.007-05:00

As the proud owner of Double D breasts, I loathe underwear shopping. Just awful. You ping into Agent Provocateur, or Myla, or even good ol' Marks & Sparkles, hoping for... silk! Satin! Pretty, frothy knickers! Little slips of delicate fabric, chiffon ribbons, gorgeous colours, yummy delicious girlie smalls.

And yeah, you find them. In an A cup. As you progress through the racks, the frills 'n' froth disappear, to be replaced with inch-wide straps. Four-hook bras. Giant cups that cover everything. Some of that is just practical: I like a wide back to my bra as much as the next large-breasted girl. Wide straps under a T-shirt for day? Great. But what about when you're wearing a low-cut top? Not even necessarily in a racy way, just... nothing makes you look more sow-like than encasing large boobs in a poloneck. I can't see how covering the top of the breast with the cup provides any extra support. Whither the balconettes, the 3/4 cups?

A bunch of you emailed the Ask TFFF hotline asking this very question. A special shout-out to reader Sarah, who we were too late to help, but kindly emailed us some pics of her awesome finds, and who's basically eye-meltingly hot. So, well done her! But clearly, we're all having trouble finding everything from fancy bras to basic knicks.

Thank heavens then for women's champion Gok Wan, who has teamed up with online lingerie purveyor Simply Yours to create an 11-piece range of underwear in non-electric-shock-giving fabrics, not repellant to the eye (I know I'm not alone in owning any number of grandma-esque parachute bras that have to be kept firmly hidden away), in the following sizes:

Sizes 8 to 32 (UK)
Cup sizes A to G
Back size 30 to 46

On the downside, Gok was also responsible for the naming of the pieces. Those familiar with his TV shows, How To Look Good Naked and Miss Naked Beauty, will be aware that he is fond of a stupid name or two for faintly titallating body parts. 'Bangers' is, I think, my least favourite - we're adults, for goodness' sake. They're called breasts. I'll also except boobs, but a banger is, in any case, a sausage, and heaven help you if your breasts look like sausages. Anyhoo, names for the Simply Yours range:

Banger Booster (aaaaargh)
Slicker Knicker (ugh)
Boobylicious Basque (please, please stop)
and Sex Kitten Corset (when will the lambs stop screaming?)

However, one thing I love, love, love about the collection is the styling in the photographs:

Clockwise from top left: Divine Outline, £45; Curve Controller, £55; Sex Kitten Corset, £45; and Sassy Slip, £55; all Gok Wan Lingerie For Simply Yours
You know why? These are photos styled and shot by people that are genuinely plus-size friendly. You might not be able to see in these smaller sized shots, but the high-res versions I have show that the stretchmarks on the model's stretchmarks have not been airbrushed out. There's nothing shaming about stretchmarks, and if you're big, you're likely to have them. These photos acknowledge that.

My most favourite thing though? The dude in the background. It's subtle, but brilliant, and something I'd love to see more of when marketing clothing for plus-sizes: the acknowledgement of plus-size sexuality. These pictures are sexy.

I think the general theme of the shoot is basically your average lingerie ad: Sunday morning, airy loft apartment, you've got the newspapers and you're trying to figure out where to go for brunch. Boyfriend wears his pyjama bottoms, girlfriend the top. Pillow fights, slo-mo, so far, so familiar.

In this scenario, girlfriend eventually gets it together to get dressed, amusingly modelling her new underwear, while her hottie mctotty of a boyfriend takes photos of her, flirts away, and tries to persuade her that pancakes are lame anyway, they should just stay in and have some awesome sex.

Seriously. This is how a straight-size underwear shoot would be styled. The extra-special cherry on the awesome icing on the yummy cake? That's a straight-size male model right there. It would have been so easy, and so wrong, to hire a plus-size male model to be the plus-size model's fake photoshoot boyfriend. I've nothing against plus-size men or plus-size models of any gender getting work, obviously, but how great that the photos acknowledge that hey, not only are plus-size women attractive and sexy, but universally so.

There's no qualifier, no 'attractive... to other fat people' or 'attractive... for what they are'. No weird plus/thin miscegenation-style antics going on. No. It's just a lovely curvy girl being admired. Which, frankly, rocks. I may even forgive Gok the name 'Banger Booster'.

Gok Wan Lingerie For Simply Yours, from £22. Simply Yours; 0871 231 2000

My massage brings all the boys to the yard

2008-11-10T15:08:00.006-05:00

It's the first real post of our return and I'm going to be entirely selfish and talk about Neal's Yard, massages, and beauty products, rather than dive right into the nitty-gritty of plus fashion. (All that stuff to come, promise!)

London's super-cool Neal's Yard, the tiniest, shoppiest courtyard in the capital

Right, we've had Halloween (I came as the credit crunch, thinking I was all clever, then I read the Halloween post on Stuff White People Like and had my dreams once again kiboshed), then there was some sort of election, not sure if you guys heard about that... and swiftly on the heels of that, came Guy Fawkes Night, at least if you're British. (This is where we incite religious hatred by burning effigies of Roman Catholics to celebrate the defeat of Medieval terrorism. And there are toffee apples.)

Anyhoo: the calendar moves on pretty fast in the autumn; all that's left is Remembrance Day tomorrow, and then we're on the home stretch to Christmas/Chrismukkah/Happy Birthday Jesus Day/present-giving. November through December is basically an unholy combination of cold weather, festive parties, and a hella lot of shopping. (How you guys cope with Thanksgiving in the mix is beyond me.)

One of my favourite brands, Neal's Yard Remedies (they of the beautiful blue glass bottles and delicious-smelling organic goodies), has introduced the Retail Therapy massage throughout the UK for Christmas. The massage comes in two "flavours", Refresh, and Relax, which was my chosen option.

I'm not a crazy fan of massage, as I find being touched by people - even friends, relatives, boyfriends! - quite uncomfortable, but this was genuinely a revelation. As a long-term certified insomniac, I can say it's the best sleep solution evah. I slept like the dead after my 30-minute massage last Thursday.

This somnambulant miracle was brought to me by the hands of Denise Monroe, former model and wife of jewellery designer Alex Monroe, which added a level of glamour to proceedings. Incidentally, how beautiful are these Alex Monroe pieces?

Jewellery by Alex Monroe; 00 44 (0)20 7703 8507; alexmonroe.com

Er, anyway. One post at a time! Retail Therapy massages are available at Neal's Yard stores throughout the UK. £35 (London) or £25 (regional)for 30 minutes, including a gift box of two products to take away, worth £10. These also double as excellent presents/stocking fillers (depending on how generous you are), as I can attest, having already pawned some off on friends pretending I was treating them. I'm a charmer! Call 00 44 (0)1747 834634 to book, or visit the website.

Refresh is quite zingy, all geranium and orange, whilst relax is arnica, rose and pomegranate. I'm currently also using Neal's Yard orange flower shampoo and conditioner (£10 each), which is doing excellent work and smells delicious - combining nicely with my housemate's Christmassy-scented ginger and vanilla. (Organic Ginger and Vanilla Bath Oil, organic Ginger and Vanilla Body Lotion, and a Ginger and Vanilla Candle, £27.50 the set.)

Anyway, like I said I'm not usually a big massage fan but this really was the business, totally soothing, sorted my sleep problems out for a night or two, and at only half an hour didn't interfere with my ridonk schedule. Plus anytime a beauty treatment comes with products included in the price, it's a good thing, particularly PCC (post credit crunch).

Keep tuning in for a review of Gok Wan's new lingerie range and latest TV show, Miss Naked Beauty - and a shout-out to reader Sarah for her awesome underwear (in a sisterhood yay! sort of way rather than a creepy old dude in a basement way) - and then we'll finally get round to answering your questions, I've been wading through the 50 or so emails (!!!) we've got and trying to triage according to whose wedding/party/outfit emergency is soonest!

You go back to her, and I go back to blog

2008-11-09T11:27:00.003-05:00

Hi, everyone!

Yes, it's been a million years. No, we have no excuses. The dog did not, in fact, eat our homework. Mr Nobody didn't do it and run away. Your TFFF correspondents just got busy: Miss J and I both upgraded from semi-professional fashion hacks to the real deal, and goodness, but that was a shock to system.

But hey, we're back now. I'm not promising that we can bring you thrice-daily updates, or anything, but then we never did. But a regularly scheduled dose of fat-friendly fashion coverage and a stern critique of the industry a few times a week? That, we can do.

We'll be doing a bit of a re-design, too, and bringing back long-neglected features such as Ask TFFF* (we might actually answer the questions this time around, instead of nodding sagely and saying, "What a good question" then scampering off the Starbucks for a dark cherry mocha (so good) and forgetting all about it), perfect 10s, how tos, and the like.

What else can you expect from the return of the blog? In the next few weeks, look out for:

A look around Europe's biggest shopping centre, Westfield in London's White City. Is it a white elephant or sparkling monument to capitalism? (Or indeed both.) And, more importantly, how many shops in the 43-acre development cater to plus-sizes?
Christmas round-ups: the best gifts and goodies that are both size- and purse-friendly.
Clickity-click! We review, compare'n'contrast the many 'virtual wardrobe' sites that have sprung up around the web over the last year: the good, the bad, the plus-sizes available, the irritating software you have to download and cram your hard drive with just to play Cher-inClueless with your clothes.
How to wear winter's hot trends and wear to buy 'em, from ruffles to leather trousers.
Tightening your belt: how to update your look in these (yawn) credit crunchian times.
The joy of Retail Therapy massages at Neal's Yard, available throughout November and December for stressed UK shoppers.
First Lady Fabulosity: the Michelle Obama look! How to look as chic as Mrs O.
Reviews and lush pics of cool girls' champion Gok Wan, plus editorials on Miss Naked Beauty and more.
All the TFFF-related fashion, beauty and celeb news and gossip as and when it happens.

*Yes, Ask TFFF has quite a backlog of emails and questions! Mea culpa. Rest assured that these will be trawled through over the coming weeks and we'll try to answer as fast and as best as we can.

In short: yeah, baby - we're back.

Stardust Memories : Who Got It Right?

2008-06-18T21:18:00.004-04:00

And were back! The red carpet doesn't stop for one second and in the past few weeks curvy stars have been front and center displaying their fashionable finest - but not every look is a hit. While its up to us to keep track of who is wearing what - its up to you to tell us just what you think about these looks. First up we have Jennifer Hudson at the MTV Movie awards in a crisp white number but what is up with the visible bra? Not just the straps but almost the entire bra is on display. Are you feeling the overt cleavage? Or do you think less is more?

Now I personally love Beth Ditto's continuing parade of McQueen that she's been wearing lately. This is no exception - I think the print is phenomenal and it goes so well with her wild hair and accessories. This might not be everyone's cup of tea but for me this is an ace in the hole.

Nikki Blonsky's all black and lace ensemble is a little too safe for my tastes but you can't deny that she looks great. The red belt is a nice touch, I wouldn't have minded seeing more of that bright color on her.

Rounding out the bunch we've got my least favorite of the group. I think this faux-Pucci print on Jill Scott does nothing for her. There is something about those geometric prints that makes me think Tron...

Now I've made my picks but how do you feel about this month's dose of star style? Love/hate them all? Like them OK? Anyone who can explain that pastel Tron sack Jill Scott is wearing in a logical manner gets bonus points.

Miss Piggy

2008-05-28T17:17:00.005-04:00

We're not shallow, lipstick-and-shoe-obsessed girls here at TFFF Towers, y'know...well, we're not just shallow, lipstick-and-shoe-obsessed girls. Sometimes we expand our cultural horizons and watch the telly, read magazines, or, er, shop for homeware instead of fashion. How deep is that?

On that note, let's talk Live Action Telly, or, as it's more commonly known, theatre. The papers here are currently full of news 'n' reviews for the latest Neil LaBute play to be staged in London. Fat Pig, starring TV's Robert Webb (of the embarrassingly excellent Peep Show), Kris Marshall (of, um, the BT ads), Joanna Page (of the piss-poor Gavin and Stacey, that people will keep insisting is good, even though THEY ARE WRONG (I'll brook no argument on this)), and Ella Smith (of that Holby City episode, one time) as the eponymous 'fat pig'; is basically a theatrical version of Shallow Hal.

Robert Webb's Tom falls for Ella Smith's Helen; his colleagues, Joanna Page's rejected Jeannie, and Kris Marshall's Carter, mock him soundly for dating a fattie. Meanwhile, from what I've gleaned, Helen happily chows down and teaches them all valuable life lessons. Or something. Given it's LaBute, I'm guessing there's not an awful lot of hugging, sharing and learning going on...

Robert Webb and Ella Smith in Fat Pig, at Trafalgar Studios

Now, your correspondents haven't actually read or seen the play, so I can't pass judgement, but I thought I'd share some of the stuff that's floating around, and open it up for discussion.

Here's some choice quotes from the articles and reviews:

"Other people may consider it a problem – they think that if you wanted to be thinner, you could, and there's also that transition we make from fat to lazy. But why are we so judgemental about other people? Helen is insecure – she says she's 'pretty OK', but that's not really OK. Not that that's anything peculiar to people who are overweight."
Neil LaBute
The Independent

"Famed for exploring the heartlessness of America's heartlands, LaBute treats the Tom-Helen affair with superb emotional accuracy. Their first encounter is beautifully done: Helen swathing herself in self-deprecating irony ("big people are jolly, remember?") and Tom, in a don't-mention-the-war manner, desperately trying to avoid all size jokes. All their scenes ring tenderly true, with LaBute showing how two people, in spite of social pressures, can be drawn together by shared tastes, sexual appetites, and matching conversational rhythms."
Michael Billington
The Guardian

"LaBute is often described in interviews as a bear, even a big cuddly bear, and in the programme he makes it clear that he identifies with Helen, the 'overweight, sensible and perfectly lovely heroine of Fat Pig' who, like him, is 'a stress eater'. But as he would agree, there's a rather obvious difference, which is that she's a woman and more easily mocked than most plus-sized men. Indeed, Kris Marshall's Carter can't disguise his hilarity when his office chum, Robert Webb's Tom, falls for Ella Smith's Helen, who stuffs herself with pizza or whatever else is going."
Benedict Nightingale
The Times

"He is uncharacteristically soft on his fat heroine. To be as overweight as Helen is not normal, but LaBute doesn't inquire why she has put on so many surplus pounds, jeopardising both her health and her romantic life. All he's concerned with is the cruelty of the thin mocking the fat, and our lack of courage in accepting human differences."
Charles Spencer
The Telegraph

So, opening this up for discussion -- a change from our remit of fashion, I know, but worth talking about nonetheless. For me, a lot of the reviews (particularly that Telegraph one) focus on 'why is Helen fat?' rather than on the broader (no pun intended) points of the play; preferring instead to judge the character (and therefore the actress) as 'not normal', unhealthy, greedy, all the usual suspects.

Barneys & Friends: Simon Doonan Does Plus Sizes?

2008-05-24T18:07:00.005-04:00

And now for something a little bit unexpected, fashion week fixture and Barney's Creative Director, Simon Doonan has expressed interest in creating a plus sized line.

If Simon Doonan designed a clothing line he'd focus on an oft-overlooked demographic. “I would love to do a plus-size line,” he told us at last night’s El Museo gala at Cipriani. "I think there’s a huge opportunity for doing clothes that are size 12 and up."

Doonan noted it's ridiculously hard to become a somebody as a fashion designer these days. "There’s more designers than the world would ever need in a hundred million years, there’s more clothing lines, there’s 400 bloody shows in the New York fashion week. So there’s no shortage for womenswear. But I think there’s an opportunity to do insanely great things in the plus-size market," he said (ahem, Project Runway alums). He continued, "As a freakishly undersized male, I understand the plight of the oversized female. You know that thing of looking for clothes and they’re not there."

Having a selection of plus sized clothes at Barneys would be heavenly but will this ever come to fruition? My inner skeptic says no but perhaps I'm just jaded. This is one of the few times I have ever heard anyone in his position express interest in making plus sized clothing but as we all know having an interest in doing something and actually taking the initiative to do it are two very different things. He does however make an excellent point - there is a need for high quality clothing in plus sizes, only a handful of designers are making anything for the plus sized market. I'm sure Mr. Doonan would be a welcome edition - he has loads of personal style and his book Eccentric Glamour was a witty ode to fashion non-conformity. Lets see if he puts his money where his mouth is.

Gossip Girl: Beth Ditto In Nylon

2008-05-23T17:23:00.003-04:00

Our girl Beth Ditto has got 8 pages in this month's Nylon, outlining what fashion means to her, the Gossip's plans for the future and how fame has changed her life. While I am not a fan of the no eyebrows look on Beth - or anyone of that matter - I think the pictures are quite fierce. Got to love that custom Jeremy Scott dress - very Beth if you ask me.

Do you love it? Or are roadway sign dresses and glitter leggings not your thing?

Oooooh Dramaz... : Whitney Wins Top Model

2008-05-20T16:17:00.006-04:00

The internet has been buzzing about Whitney Thompson winning America's Next Top Model and becoming the first "plus-sized" (and I use the term lightly since Whitney is only a size 10 or so) model to win the competition.

Now on the one hand you have the naysayers who feel this is a great big publicity stunt and on the other you have the overly optimistic news items acting like the results of a reality show are going to really change the tides of fashion. Since I didn't watch this cycle and can't judge based on Whitney's overall performance I can only base what I think of her on her polaroids and the few modeling shots up on Elite. I do like what I've heard of her in a couple articles.

"I'm not going to lose 50 pounds — if someone asks me to do that, I'll go to another [modeling] agency," she said. "I've already heard online from boys and girls all over the world who are dealing with eating disorders. They're thanking me for standing up and saying, 'I am a plus-size model and I am beautiful.'"

From what I can see she's a classic beauty with a lovely look - but was we all know all the real interesting stuff on ANTM happens behind the scenes and feel free to fill me in since I missed it this time around.

Thoughts on Whitney's win? Love it? Hate it? Does it even matter anyway since lets face it the only girls to go on to have legitimate fashion careers on that show were not the winners.

Barefoot in the park

2008-05-12T15:57:00.007-04:00

'Twas in the spring, then spring became the summer, it got too hot to wear a cardigan... uh, I don't know where I'm going with that too-poor-to-be-a-parody, so let's just move right along to today's topic: skincare! I don't know about you, but I've been revelling in the recent warm weather: sunbathing every day, skipping to work in skirts, bare legs and sandals, getting my skin out...

...and of course, all that sun, combined with already dry skin that's been under wraps all winter, has taken its toll. I'm in need of some serious skincare TLC, and have bust open my cupboard full of ultra-rich body butters, oils and moisturisers to try and quench my dry skin. Because when you're flashing the flesh in a summer dress, skin needs to be plump, dewy, and happy.

Annoyingly, you can no longer seem to get one of my favourite body moisturisers, the Barefoot Doctor's Damn Sexy Heavenly Body Butter. This might have something to do with the fact the good doctor had sex with a bunch of his patients, major scandal, and so on; but c'mon, what's a bit of unprofessional behaviour when moisturised skin is at stake?

Here are some of my favourites:

Bidadari Shimmering Body Souffle, by Sanctuary, comes in a pleasingly heavy glass jar with a fancy metal fastening: you feel special just popping open the lid, before you've even plunged your fingers into the jellyish souffle. The texture is soft and wobbly, like lightly whipped cream, and spreads easily and generously: you only need a small blob for each leg, rather than a whopping great handful. The scent is an acquired taste, however, and it is a shimmer product: but subtly so, adding a gentle glimmer to sheeny skin, rather than a Pussycat Dolls-style glitter overload.

Soap and Glory Big Butter Lemon, Flowers and Orange, comes in a bog-standard plastic pot, but don't let the whiff of cheap packaging fool ya: this product is scent-sational! (Yes, I went there. No, I'm not proud.) I actually like the kitschtastic Rainbow Brite-ish packaging, but it's not the chicest product out there. However, it does smell creamily, dreamily good, and butters you up a treat.

Buffy the Backside Slayer, a butt-buffing body butter bar by Lush, is practically perfect in every way: it's a little bit gritty, to exfoliate; it's a little bit greasy, to moisturise; it's a little bit scented; it leaves buttucks so peachy you could make cobbler with them; and it's got a funny name. If it doesn't leave you as bootilicious as it should, try the more emoliant Aqua Mirabilis bar instead: just as good, minus the great name.

Cocoa Buttercream Frosting Body Butter is not for the mature palate: in fact, none of Jaqua's products are. They may come in sophisticated card boxes, with elegantly stickered tubs inside, but they all basically smell like a 6-year-old sugar addict's dream. If you like chocolate, vanilla, icing, sugar, marshmallows, etc., this is no bad thing. The thick butter spreads on skin brilliantly, though it is really, really rich -- use just a couple of times a week, and be warned, wasps and bees will probably follow you around.

[Sorry everyone -- Photobucket hates booty, for some reason. Image will be restored when I'm back in my Bunker O' Photoshop. Sheesh. I bet Style.com never has this problem.]
Bidadari Shimmering Body Souffle, £9.95 by Sanctuary
Buffy the Backside Slayer, from £4.50 by Lush
"touch me then try to leave" body cream, $28.00 by Benefit
Soap and Glory Big Butter Lemon, Flowers and Orange, £9.50 at Boots
Johnson's Baby Oil, $5.29 from Drugstore.com
Cocoa Buttercream Frosting Body Butter, $22.00 by Jaqua

Enjoy showing off your beautiful new skin this summer, but: don't forget to use suntan lotion and after-sun!!! You'll thank me when you're old and yet un-wrinkly. You may feel greasier than Peter Andre, and have to wash your sheets all the damn time, but seriously: USE SUNSCREEN!!! [/End of TFFF mini-lecture]

Sweet Little Nothings: Bras for Bigger Busts

2008-05-07T23:48:00.001-04:00

Once you pass a certain cup size finding a cute bra is a needle in a haystack search. Everything tends towards representing one of the three Bs - Blah, Beige or Boring. Its as though lingerie designers think aesthetic sensibility decreases as cup size increases. Past a C cup and the lingo becomes all about "support" possibly because after taking one look at the myriad of plain beige bras a girl really does need a group hug - as such were going to focus on three brands that provide some much needed eye candy.

FREYA
Now this is some seriously cute stuff - if you've ever wondered where Elle Woods would buy her undies look no further. While there is a good mix of basic and bold the really over the top bras are what make this line special. As far as sizing goes Freya has the biggest selection of all the brands - they extend up to a J cup though make sure to measure and follow the sizing guide carefully. As I said what I love about these are their penchant for brightness. The whimsical color combinations and details really make the bras fun. I personally love The Daisy bra for its sheer joie de vivre. The lime green and hot pink are so relentlessly girly I can't help but smile.

Pricing: $$$
Sizes: C - J
Sugar or Spice?: Sugar
Available @: Figleaves.com & Several retail locations

FAYREFORM
Ooh la la! These are among the more decadent offerings with styles that scream boudoir moreso than bedroom. Lots of lace and little bows - it all screams French coquette or madame depending on who you ask. Everything is very sensual and elegant - the sort of stuff one might wish to save for a special occasion but nuts to that, every day is special. Since I mentioned coquettes before I have to say that the Paragon bra is absolutely perfect if one is feeling particularly coquettish. Its sexy black lace but the pastel accents make it just a little delicate.

Pricing: $$$ - $$$
Sizes:
Sugar or Spice?: Spice
Available @: Bare Necessities.com & Several retail locations

CACIQUE
I am going to have to give credit where credit is due - when it comes to cute underthings Lane Bryant actually delivers. While the vast majority of their product line underwhelms me the Cacique intimates line is chock full of very attractive non-run of the mill bras in a wide range of sizes. Granted, the styles tend to be more sugar than spice but high five to LB for doing something right for once. The Polka Dot Plunge bra is a particularly cute option with its retro styled polka dots.

Pricing: $
Sizes: B - H
Sugar or Spice: Sugar
Available @ : Lane Bryant nationwide

Alright ladies, I've put up my picks for cute bras. What are yours? Where do you look for cute bras?

Color by Technicolor: Wearing Springs Neons

2008-04-29T17:40:00.007-04:00

I don't know about anyone else but I'm all about color right now. Not just color but the brightest most saturated brights in existence. Weeks of bronchitis and all things drab have left me eager for the full Crayola box selection. Since it is spring - and the stores are full of the latest in almost florescent color - its the perfect time to explore all that is bright and punchy. Of course we know that color this vivid can be a bit tricky so we have a little guide to navigating the dos and donts of bright colors.

Bold Color at Jil Sander, Sonia Rykiel and Marc by Marc Jacobs

1. Keep It Simple: Neon colors pack a punch all by themselves so one can keep the patterns to a minimum. Too much pattern and color could wind up looking too loud - or worse yet too 80s if done wrong. There is a fine line between looking chic and looking like an extra from a Duran Duran video. If you absolutely must go you're going to go for a pattern make sure its balanced - the right mix of neutral and bold. You might even want to try one of the numerous Balenciaga inspired floral patterns that abound this season.

2. Adjusting the Levels: There is bright and then there is BRIGHT. Neon can be very harsh so its important to pick the right shades to flatter your skintone. In general the warmer toned brights are more universally flattering - instead of an acid yellow go for a sunnier shade. Its important to always consult a mirror before wearing bright colors because the undertones in your skin play such a role in which shades will work best.

3. Balance: Head to toe neon is best left for fashion editorials and raves. Balance out your brights with subtler colors. Neutrals are great for this but don't be afraid to experiment with unexpected color combinations. Look at how well the pale pink and bright orange combo works at Jil Sander - sometimes a pastel or muted color can work just as well as a neutral.

4. Be Fearless: Fashion magazines are filled with crap about how black is slimming and blah blah wear dark colors if you aren't size 0. Forget all that garbage. Its spring - no one wants to be dressed like they're on the way to a funeral. Color is an incredible way to stand out in a crowd - however if you do feel shy about wearing such bright colors try a bright handbag or shoes instead.

Yellow Belted Mac - Evans, Black Straight Leg Jeans - Old Navy, Green Suede Bag - Derek Lam (in stores only), Yellow & Beige Pumps - L.A.M.B., Oversized Sunglasses - Tom Ford, Andy Warhol Union Square Fragrance - Bond No. 9

Now I've put together a little outfit with a lot of color that I think shows off a wearable version of this trend. We've got a great little top from Evans, in the perfect lemon yellow shade paired with classic black jeans from Old Navy. I think this combo is just great for spring and very easy to wear. For added interest we've got an equally juicy combo of accessories - amazing colorblocked pumps from L.A.M.B. (their shoes are consistently offbeat quirky) and an apple green suede bag from Derek Lam. Notice that the top and shoes are yellow but the bag is green - you don't want to do all one color its good to have a bit of difference to mix things up. Top it all off with a pair of over the top Tom Ford sunglasses and a spritz of Bond No. 9's latest pop art fragrance and you're good to go.

Will you be wearing bright colors this spring or are you planning on skipping this trend? I've already started up on it to be honest and I don't plan on stopping until the weather cools down.

Illustrating a point

2008-04-18T08:39:00.010-04:00

With illustration such a big trend this spring (check out UK Vogue's round-up of illustrated cosmetics' packaging, and, duh, Prada's drool-worthy Flower Faerie collection), I couldn't, Carrie "Now On the Big Screen and Thus Totally Relevant in 2008" Bradshaw-style, help but wonder: do fashion's illustrations influence the size debate?

One of the most oft-cited idiotic excuses designers use to defend their choice of wafer-thin models on the catwalks, is some variation on the "curves – breasts and thighs and rounded bits - ruin the line of the clothes"/"the design was perfect on paper, it gets distorted by breasts" etc.

What they're talking about is how the ideal of the design, on paper, works differently when translated into fabric and placed on a real body. Inevitably, when one designs in a 2D paper format, the final result will be different. You're going from a painting to an object. Yet, rather than accept that the finished piece (a dress, skirt, trouser, what have you), is the real design, and the original illustration is merely a piece of artistic whimsy, designers all too often cling to the illustration as the perfect realisation of the design, with the clothing itself a poor facsimile of what could have been.

In a sane world, we would shake our heads and say, "But isn't the point of designing clothes to design, well, clothes? So if you can't design a dress on paper that works well when made, you're not very good at your job. And if you only want to design dresses on paper, go off and be a painter, or a full-time illustrator."

But this is fashion. So instead, as we've seen, we blame the models for distorting the design/ruining the line/stretching the fabric. That's not exactly what I want to examine here: we've discussed designers' wacky views of women's bodies on the catwalk fairly often; let's now move the discussion over to how they imagine women's bodies.

Ever noticed that the women in fashion illustrations have something in common, both with each other, and with catwalk models? Let's take a look:

Ceci n'est pas des femmes

Aside from the issues of race (seriously, where are the non-Caucasian fashion illustrations? Is there some massive shortage of brown ink that we don't know about?), the distortions of illustrated women's bodies are just insane.

It's no wonder designers see a difference between their designs as idealised on paper, and the finished product. It's one thing to add a dash of fantasy to illustrations - they are, after all, an artwork in themselves. But they should be secondary to the real deal, secondary to the reason those illustrations exist in the first place: the clothes.

Yet designers persist in cladding imaginary girls thinner than the paper they're drawn on. I'd love to see the illustrations done by plus designers: Anna Scholz, Marina Rinaldi, et al. Do they, too, whisk their pencil and conjure whippet-thin women, or are their drawings more closely related to the end product?

Do these illustrations matter? Should we concentrate solely on real women, on getting plus-sized models into the magazines and onto the catwalks alongside their thinner colleagues, rather than distracting ourselves with the semantics of cartoons?

I think it matters. Because when you write, or draw, you have absolute freedom. There isn't a client saying, "customers won't respond to an advert with a black model"; or a stylist saying, "fat chicks won't fit into these sample sizes". There aren't real-world, financial implications. Unless you're drawing to commission from a fashion magazine, in which case, are the magazines specifiying "thin imaginary models only, please - and make them white"?

There's just paper, pencil, and imagination. Every race, height, hair colour, size is at your disposal when you illustrate. And yet, even when there are no limits, all we see is thin.

"Tonight, Matthew, I'm going to be..."

2008-04-12T10:49:00.010-04:00

Who wasn't in love with the star prints shown by The Kaiser at Chanel, and Stefano Pilati at Yves Saint Laurent, this season? So 1920s Americana, so patriotic, so red white and blue, so "let's do it for our country!" "Oh, Lewis!"...*

The answer to this mostly rhetorical question is, of course, NOBODY. The world has gone star(k) staring mad. (See what I did?!) London's Oxford Street-Regent Street high-street hub has turned into the MGM of yesteryear: more stars than there are in the heavens. Yet as the lights go out all over Europe, I forget about all Hollywood, because ~~Doris Day could never make me cheer up, quite the way those French girls always could~~ the high-street, usually a place (state of mind?) I am likely to pledge my firstborn unto for ripping off catwalk looks at lemonade prices, has, on this occasion, GONE TOO FAR.

STARS ARE EVERYWHERE. IT'S FREAKING ME OUT.

But, and yet. I still love the star prints. How can one not? It's spring! (Allegedly.) What could be funner and flirtier than a navy, star-printed shortie jumpsuit and a pair of fabulous sunglasses? Unfortunately, not only does everybody else love the look, it ain't subtle. If three lasses all wear jumper dresses to the same bar, no-one would know. Three of you wear a star-print -- even in wildly varying forms, a jumpsuit here, a cardigan there -- oh, the jokes will never end. Yet there is still, to quote Heaven 17: temptation.

Here's how to indulge in the trend without going starry-eyed:

Clockwise from top left:
Stila All-Over Liquid Shimmer, $22 from Stila.com
Stila All-Over Shimmer Eyes in #7, Champagne, $18 from Stila.com
Magic Stars, £0.44 from Sweetiebag.com
Fresh Supernova Mascara, $25 from Sephora.com
Angel by Thierry Mugler, $45 from Sephora.com
Silver Star Chain, $9.99 from GirlProps.com
Barry M Dazzle Dusts, £4.50 from Superdrug.com
Champagne Supernova Bath Bomb, £2.65 from Lush.co.uk

If that little lot isn't ample sufficiency, well...why not have a read of the excellent Star, and its even better sequel, Star Struck, by noted author Pamela Anderson?

*Quick poll: who was hotter -- Lewis from Grease 2, or Kenickie from Grease? Or has Jeff Conaway's latterday behaviour/appearance negated all Kenix hotness forever? One to ponder...

Independent Women

2008-03-31T08:05:00.003-04:00

The Independent on Sunday yesterday carried a story in their news section on the new size acceptance, citing Adele, Marina Rinaldi, the size 16 winner of the Surrey heat of the Miss England competition, and the monthly online magazine Just As Beautiful.

(Is it sour grapes to harumph about poor journalism by saying they totally should have mentioned Too Fat For Fashion...?)

Have a read, and, as ever, let us know what you think.

Adieu tristesse, bonjour tristesse...

2008-03-29T13:27:00.011-04:00

Many thanks to all of our readers who commented or emailed suggestions for my continental European shopping trip! Unfortunately in amongst all the walking and eating (oh my, the eating... if anybody can tell me where I can get pickled garlic cloves in the UK, I will be forever grateful), I didn't do an awful lot of shopping. But I did pick up a few vintage and flea market finds, which I shall share with you now, just for funsies.

Mi amor & sic amor
10 & 20 rue du Pont Louis-Philippe
www.mi-amor.com

Cute 'n' kitsch jewellery and accessories -- like a half-burned cigarette pin, with tiny red paste jewels at the 'lit' tip, for €10. Also, the cutest and most expensive postcards in the world. Sure, you can write home to everyone you know on ugtastic 6-for-a-Euro cards, but if you like things pretty, drop a whole Euro (each!) on the carte postale from this delightful shop. (Also in the vicinity: the most wonderful music, stationery and specialist boutiques you could hope for.)

Ladurée
Champs Elysées & other addresses
www.laduree.fr

OMG. OMG. Even if I say 'fairytale' and 'chocolate box' and 'cherubs on the ceiling', I can't convey how fabulous this tea room/Purveyor of Heavenly Macaroons is. Quite simply the best macaroons in the world -- in flavours such as chocolate, rose petal, pistachio, raspberry, cherry, vanilla, Champagne, and Indian rose. Thank heavens there is a branch in London.

Free P Star
8 Ste-Croix-de-la-Bretonnerie

I found an amazing leather satchel here for €5, as well as a sparkly gold jumper (€3), and a fabulous and very on-trend red ruffled dress (€10), which I plan to wear with slouchy knee-high tan leather boots for a '70s feel. All are pictured below. This boutique is awesomely rummage-y, and fantasticly cheap: so refreshing after London's vintage shops, which, thanks to Kate Moss, all charge outrageous prices. Also, the best falafel in the world are sold nearby...fact. There are a bunch of other great vintage shops nearby, and at one of these I found the other leather satchel I bought, for €20 (I have a leather satchel weakness...), but foolishly didn't take down the name.

Colette
213 rue Saint-Honoré
www.colette.fr

I didn't buy much here, mostly because I'm on a writer's income (and not the JK Rowling sort), but I did pick up a totally cute Liberty-print stuffed rabbit toy/objét-type-thing, since it was nearly Easter. Check him out, below -- €10 totally well spent! I also got a badge reading, ma vie est tout à fait fascinante. I wish I'd picked up the book as well (which is available at Amazon France -- or Amazonique, as I like to (wrongly) call it), but I'd just dropped €30 on Time For Action (There's No Option) About Feminism at the delightful Palais de Tokyo, I couldn't really justify it.

(Ooh, also at the Palais de Tokyo, I got another badge, this one featuring a little pink foot, and the text 'Cinderalla's quest'. I'm starting to add up the hows, whys and wherefores of how I came home broke...)

Finally, at various tackorama tourist souvenir shops and flea markets, I picked up an adorable and kitsch Eiffel Tower bracelet, made out of gold-painted cheap metal sure to turn my wrist green, and a selection of silver rings (in Amsterdam), all pictured below.

Clockwise from left: red ruffled dress, €10 at Free P Star, and detail; gold spangly jumper, €3 at Free P Star; leather satchel, €20 from vintage shop, um, nearby Free P Star (I'm so unhelpful), and detail; floral lapin, €10 from Colette; and totally different brown leather satchel, €5 from Free P Star.

Clockwise from top left: Silver rings, in amethyst, jade, coral and tiger eye, €2 each from an Amsterdam market; Eiffel Tower bracelet, €6 from the tourist shop opposite Fontaine St Michel in Paris.

That's it, kids. Thanks for all your help and suggestions, I'm only sorry I was unable to make good on them all, being somewhat distracted by Danish hair models and delicious macaroons. Oh! and in Copenhagen, I picked up a red-on-white fitted men's tee from the lovely Oscar Bar Cafe, a friendly and fab gay bar staffed exclusively by adorable Thierry Henry lookalikes.

Ah, shopping. How you make my life sparkle. Verily, I feel like Carla Bruni-Sarkozy, without the midgety and creepy husband.

ZZ Tops...and Dresses: Salon Z's Latest Offerings

2008-03-27T16:49:00.006-04:00

Maybe its just me but I've always felt like Saks' Salon Z was a little lacking. They've long been held up as one of the recommended plus sized high end outpost but lets face it things can be little (or alot) matronly. Which is fine if you're older or have a more conservative look but what if you want something a little younger or hipper? Contemporary wear is the largest gaping hole in the plus sized market as far as I'm concerned and Salon Z has been dragging behind its main competition Nordstrom Encore in the coolness department.

Salon Z looks from Amanda Uprichard, Alice & Trixie and Lewis Cho

Not one to be outdone Salon Z seems to be stepping up its game - with new editions from popular designers like Alice & Trixie, Lewis Cho, Maiya and Amanda Uprichard they seem to really be trying to update things. While these aren't full collections - only about three pieces per designer - I like that some of the hip labels you'd see on Shopbop or Net-A-Porter are adapting their popular styles for larger sizes. Its about time don't you think? Though I do see a bit of my pet peeve jersey fabric I'm happy to see even more silks. Everything Salon Z goes up to size 24 but the good stuff goes quickly. Everything is available for pre-order at the moment but it should be in stores / ship out soon.

See anything you're interested in? Personally I'm jonesing for the Alice & Trixie Cassandra Dress in the Moroccan black color but I find myself tempted by quite a few of items. I really hope Saks expands these collections and continues them -all of these designers have larger collections for straight sizes so it would be nice to see all the same options for plus.

Keen On Boys : Elena Miro F/W 08

2008-03-18T19:10:00.008-04:00

Now I can't begin to talk about fashion weeks without taking a look at what Elena Miro has to offer. As the sole plus sized company to do a full fledged show during the major fashion weeks (and why is that - Marina Rinaldi and co please step up) its important to see just what they're doing each season. This wasn't my favorite Elena Miro collection ever - some of the styling seemed a little too "office" for my tastes - but there were elements of it that I really loved. This season the overall theme seemed very androgynous and just a little tough - quite different from what were used to seeing for plus sizes. I always feel as though plus sized clothing suffers from an excess of frills and frou frou. I mean seriously how many floaty floral print print empire waist ensembles can feasibly fit into anyones closet? Sometimes you need a harder edge and I really welcome that.

Definite inspiration was being drawn from from Ralph Lauren's tux and tails Spring 08 collection and some of the edgier items had an almost Rag & Bone feel. Everything had a distinct personality - you've got the black fur (hopefully faux) jacket that looks like its been pulled out of Kate Moss' closet, all manner of almost Chrissy Hynde-esque little blazers and ties and of course the right amount of shine. More than wanting exact pieces I found myself getting a inspiration from the elements within the show itself - especially those great sequined accents.

Ok I totally fibbed - I need that sequined blazer in my life. How do you like this collection - love it, hate it, need something in your closet this minute? View the full collection at Style.it

I Want It All & I Want It Now!

2008-03-15T12:54:00.006-04:00

Since I run on my own unique (read: late) schedule I've got the last of the 7 things. Granted I've been cheating and I've already started my spring shopping but here are a few things I really want (read: need) in my closet for spring. A bit preppier than I usually go but if there ever was a time for channelling Lily Pulitzer it would be springtime.

Diptyque Candles
After a long hard day sometimes all you want to do is take a nice bath and light a candle. There is something so relaxing about filing the room with an intoxicating fragrance and there's really nothing more intoxicating and luxurious than a Diptyque. You know that feeling you get after a glass of wine? This is it - only in candle form. Sure they are pricey but the scents are unusual and last FOREVER (I really do mean that - days after you burn one the smell stays in the room) Oponnax is a spicy oriental scent I have been itching to try - right now my entire home is scented with the delicious Baies.

Y-Mail
The entire YSL Y-mail collection is adorable - I'm partial to the bags (of course) but the line encompasses all manner of ad ons from bracelets to clutches. I'm not usually one for an article of clothing that says the name of the designer - who really wants to be a billboard - but these little totes and wallets hark back to the good old says of snail mail. Remember letters? Those things we used to write out on stationary back before email took over. They were pretty great weren't they? I love the little stamp detail and address on these accessories and the silver tote scratches my itch for a metallic bag.

At YSL Boutiques & Neiman Marcus

Slingbacks
The second the calendar hits March I want to throw out all my boots and start wearing any and everything thats strappy. Unfortunately the weather is working against me at the moment but the second temperatures raise I'm heading out for slingbacks and loads of em. I've already ordered this pair of Theory slingbacks from Piperlime so I'm just one pedicure away from having some fun.

Shu Uemura Lipglosses
I know you guys, I don't have to explain why lipgloss made my list. Everyone knows lipglosses and spring are like PB and J. The Shu Uemura variant are the perfect texture and they've got the most delightful jam flavors.

Raf Simons Redux
I'm big on fashion books - if there is a designer I love I'm liable to pick up a book or two on them. I'm quite excited to read and see Raf Simons Redux as I love the look of his spare minimalist designs both for his own label and for Jil Sander.

Kenneth Jay Lane Bracelets
These are just awesome - I've been craving them for months but finally took the plunge. Almost every animal you can think up (lions, tigers and bears oh my) but in an intricate bracelet form. Some of the models even double as watches for added functionality. And if you'd rather not have a little zebra or seahorse strapped to your arm there are about a thousand non-fauna bracelets to choose from as well.

Beaded accents
Beading is on absolutely everything lately from dresses to shoes - the whole look is very 1960s prep set chic but can easily go from trendy to overdone with an excess of stones. I love a bit of beading around the neckline for an accent - it really spices up an ordinary item like a cardigan or sheath. I'm especially fond of this Banana Republic cardigan I just picked up in two colors - yellow and brown. Its got the perfect amount of detailing and is just the thing to throw over a sun dress once it heats up.

Check Banana stores for this one, the website has unfortunately sold out on the XL

Grabby Hands

2008-03-13T14:07:00.009-04:00

And now for part two in our Hot List 2008, or things I'm totally excited about this year.

Clockwise from top left: black sunglasses
Hexagonal panel box bag, £25 from Topshop, available in apple green, teal, black and gold (not available on the website)
Floral blouse, also from Topshop
5ml perfume oil, from Black Phoenix Alchemy Lab, $17.50
Trouser jeans
Chloe Saskia bag, price varies at Brown's, Bergdorf's and Net a Porter
Purple Haze nail polish, $18 at Rescue Beauty Lounge

Bold Bags
I'm fond of these two bags for their unique shapes and bright colours. The Chloe Saskia, which comes in all varieties of style and colour, is a knockout with its scrumptious bold leathers and Lucite handles (classier than a pair of clear heels). Topshop's Hexagonal Panel Box Bag is perfect for getting away from giant “could fit an Olsen twin in this” bags and has just enough space for your essentials for a night out or an afternoon in the park.

Chunky black sunglasses
I own a gazillion pairs of trendy sunglasses (turquoise Wayfarers!) thanks to Forever 21 and ebay but am on the lookout for my one perfect pair this year, preferably black. My fave source is ebay’s Smash Vintage, who always have the cutest vintage inspired styles and great customer service to boot

Violet nail polish
I stocked up on tons of dark colours this winter but for spring and summer I am all about bright purple shades. I like Rescue Beauty Lounge's new hue, Purple Haze, as well as Nail's Inc's Belgrave Place and OPI's Do You Lilac It.

Dainty prints
Like Topshop's floral blouses and skirts for spring

Smelling nice
On my list for spring fragrance: Black Phoenix Alchemy Lab’s “The Passionate Shepherd to His Love” perfume oil based on the Christopher Marlowe poem (limited edition love poem oils run until March 23). Notes of heather, clover, Irish moss, English ivy, tea rose and carnation guaranteed to make you want to frolic in a grassy field.

Trouser jeans
As much as I love my skinny jeans I don’t know if I want to go through another warm season with denim sticking to my legs
Available: Old Navy, Gap, Svoboda

I'm Mrs Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous

2008-03-12T16:51:00.006-04:00

Thanks for the Paris recs, you guys: I'm super-psyched for my shopping extravaganza. So much so that I bought new tan leather boots today in preparation. Why give Paris all the credit card love, right?

Now, onto Miss J's latest brainwave of brilliance. We, the contributing writers of this site, and actual professional fashion peeps to boot, are going to share with you our 2008 Hot Lists. Unlike the hot lists/what's cool now/must-haves that you'll see in glossy magazines, which are more or less paid for by PRs and corporations, these lists are 100% genuine. If we love it, covet it, and stare madly at it whilst security edges towards us, concerned by that evil glint in our eye, it goes on the blog. If a PR offers us bribes, but we're not so taken with their wares, we turn down the bribes. (Unless it's like, a YSL Downtown bag. We're not insane.)

Clockwise from top left: Motherfucker gold chain, $12.99 from Girl Props
Vogue Covers, £24 from Amazon
Adele's 19 album, around £8 from Amazon
Undercover x P.A.M. Black Mass Lamp, price on request from selected dealers
Ms Angie Dickinson, priceless
Thrrrob rouge powder, $28 from Benefit.com
Juno Hamburger Phone, $15.99 from Sourcing Map

Hamburger Phone, as inspired by Juno

I'm sensing a general Michael Cera and Ellen Page backlash in my 'hood right now, and let me tell you, I'm against it. I won't have a word said against Juno, my girl EP (nor her tomboyish Oscars appearance), or my desperate need to have a hamburger phone just like our heroine's.

Petrol-blue trench from Peekaboo Vintage

Tragically I had to leave this on the hanger, and have no photograph, since it's not available online, and security dudes are kind of twitchy about peeps taking photographs of stock in case customers are secretly super-fly catwalk designers ripping off ideas. But if you were to imagine Angie Dickinson in turquoise trenchcoat form, well, that's what this fabulous coat would be like. My entire look is basically Angie inspired right now. I can't explain it, but I try and channel Ms Dickinson daily.

Vogue Covers: On Fashion's Front Page

Love it or hate it, you can't deny it – like Summer Roberts, Vogue is undeniable. This collection has covers from the heady days of models on the cover, illustrations from back in the day when Conde Nast was too cheap to fork out for a camera, and the current lousy era of Siennamilleritis, a nasty condition that affects fashion magazines like moths destroy clothing.

Undercover x P.A.M. Black Mass Lamp

You know how some days, you're reading Elle Deco and thinking, "Wow, this is lame, and kinda beige"? Whatever happened to the days of pimping out your pad serial-killer style? With this awesome lamp there's no need to go on a multi-state spree to collect enough skin for a lampshade – the designers behind Undercover and P.A.M. have done the work for you. [No humans were harmed in the making of this boss light.]

19 by Adele

Plus-size heroine, supercool teen (and damn all these kids on my lawn making successes of themselves whilst they're still, like, 12, or whatever), and soulful singer – Kanye West called her single, Chasing Pavements, "dope!!!!!!!". (Exclamation marks Mr West's. See what happens when you're a college dropout? Your punctuation goes all flooey.) Also, I covet her umbrella in this picture. Rhianna's not the only one with awesome taste in rainwear.

Thrrrob Face Powder by Benefit

Benefit's powders are all practically perfect in every way, but this new pink blush is doubly so. When you are very pale owing to the drains in this house, a la the heroine of Daisy Ashford's The Young Visiters [sic], and you must excuse yourself to put some rouge on your cheeks, use this pleasing pink powder.

Motherfucker necklace

Five very wise philosophers, aka the Spice Girls, once said, "Silence is golden... but shouting is fun." This necklace is both golden AND shouty, and is therefore awesome. I'd love to be tasteful and considered each day, but a girl can only fit so many little black cocktail dresses into her wardrobe before she gets bored and has to pull on her stomping boots, fix on this necklace, and go out spoilin' for a fight.

So that's my brain right now. In 2008, I want to be Angie Dickinson, wearing pink blush, crude jewellery, sitting in my serial-killer lair listening to Adele whilst calling up cute boys on my burg' phone and flicking through Vogue covers. Possibly accessorised with nail polish in Schiaparelli pink, but y'know, I'm not fussy on the details.

You know you love me, xoxo ~~Gossip Girl~~ Harriet Olivia

I love Paris in the springtime...

2008-03-10T12:39:00.003-04:00

...and I love you readers every season!

That little dose of love comes from a favour I must ask: yes, instead of ASK TFFF, I'm cheekily introducing a one-off feature called, TFFF Asks You!.

The deal is, I'm heading to Paris this Friday, followed by a quick hop-and-a-skip to Copenhagen and Amsterdam. I've hit up all three cities before, but the emphasis has always been on food, and booze, and partying, and booze, and culture, yup, definitely culture. Um.

This time around I'd like to swipe my credit card until it melts, and also do a lil' Continental European research to bring back to the blog and share with the world at large. So, does anyone have any recommendations of where to begin, particular chains, boutiques, shopping areas, places to look out for? Predominantly in Paris but recs for the other cities would be good.

Email me, or use the ASK TFFF address, or leave a comment, or send a smoke signal: whatever. When I return I'll write the whole kit'n'caboodle into a post for future reference... and hopefully post pictures of my spoils as well.

Thank you!

Junk in the Trunk

2008-03-03T16:08:00.005-05:00

For all of you New York/metro readers out there: Brooklyn plus size boutique Lee Lee's Valise is hosting an Anna Scholz and Jessica Svoboda trunk show (with champagne!) Thursday, March 6 from 6 to 9 PM. Anna and Jessica will be previewing their Fall/Winter lines and of course there will be the opportunity to browse their Spring/Summer offerings currently being sold at the boutique. Lee Lee's says "We usually sell out of particular items and sizes quickly so we want to give you the opportunity to get a head start on the Fall/Winter 2008. We will be happy to reserve particular garments as we have done with Spring 2008. We will be taking advance orders on your favorite items for Fall/Winter after this sneak peak of what these great designers have to offer."

Lee Lee's Valise
368 Court Street (corner of President)
Brooklyn, NY 11231
718-246-5337
leeleesvalise.com
One block from the F or G train at the Carroll Street Station

Forget Paris

2008-02-28T20:14:00.003-05:00

This is Ali Michael.

Ali was essentially locked out of Paris fashion week due to the fact that her legs were "too fat" after she stopped starving herself and gained 5lbs. She went from opening big shows and being everywhere to being cast for only one show, Yohji Yamamoto.

Miss Michael was last season's model du jour, and she looks wraithlike, with a still-developing body and a 23-inch waist. But this season, after gaining five pounds, Miss Michael was told by casting directors for the runway shows that her legs were too plump, according to her mother, Mary Ann Michael, who travels with her daughter to appointments and shows. And so, after doing a string of major supermodel shows in September, Miss Michael snared only the Yohji Yamamoto show in Paris this time around.

23 inch waist and she's too fat to walk in Paris.

It's hard to imagine Miss Michael, a willowy, 5-foot-9-inch teenager, being told her legs are too fat. Last season, Miss Michael made herself sick keeping her weight down, said her mother. Miss Michael's reward was to be heralded as the next supermodel.

I would say something much more profound and eloquent about this entire situation but I'm actually choking on my rage. Yes, nothing has changed, yes things are just as bad as the have ever been but everything I really want to say is an expletive.

Cape Fear

2008-02-28T15:10:00.003-05:00

(Aside: you wouldn't believe how thrilled I am by the title to this post. I keep giggling at my own genius. I toyed briefly with "Get Cape! Wear Cape! Fly!" but it seemed too exciteable.)

Apologies, gals and... other gals, for the long absence of ASK TFFF: what with dashing between London, Milan, and Paris; securing exclusive interviews with Valentino designer Alessandra Facchinetti ahead of her debut ready-to-wear show in Paris today (yes, I am showing off); and a busy schedule of throwing cellphones at assistants and dashing in and out of rehab, we've had barely a minute to turn our collective attention to your pressing questions.

Enough: this week's question comes from the lovely Tina, of somewhere in Germany, who asks, "Würde ein Kap einer curvy Abbildung entsprechen? Mit und was würde ein es tragen?"

Just kidding! With thanks to Babelfish for that hilarity. Really, the question was: "Am I cape capeable? Will I look like a swash-buckling dandy highwayman, or perhaps a badly-drawn superhero? And is there something besides the jeans-into-boots combo I can wear my swishy half-coat, half-bat accessory with?"

Firstly, the pitfalls. The cape reeeeeeeaaaaaaaaaaally needs to be long: a dinky lil' cape just won't cut it. However generous the cut, inevitably your generous bosom will cause the short cape -- or capelet -- to rest 'pon it, forming more of a ruff. And you will look like this:

"Something is always wrong, Balders. The fact that I am not a millionaire aristocrat with the sexual capacity of a rutting rhino is a constant niggle."

There's some sartorial whimsy to Blackadder's look, yes, but I'm going to go ahead and assume that he's not anyone's style guru. Also, avoid red, unless, well... y'know:

So, length; lots of material -- a cape should swish and hang free, rather than stretch tight over shoulders. Those are the only rules. As for what to wear it with: as capes are fairly loose, they go well with a form-fitting silhouette. If the skinny jeans + flat boots + cape look is a little too equestrian/Nazi Mufti Day for your tastes, a pencil skirt and fitted tank would look great; ditto skinny fit jeans with a little pair of heels; or perhaps a well-fitted dress -- think the Galaxy -- to the knee. A cape layered over a loose tunic, baggy sweater dress, or floor-length skirt/maxi dress, may make you look just slightly like you're wearing a duvet, and possibly that you're out for a day of shoplifting pillows.

Ultimately, it's all about whether you feel you can carry off the DRAMA! of a cape. (Yes, they are so dramatic that it deserves capitals and an exclam. Remember, Batman wears one.) Just experiment!

Unfortunately at the time of going to what I shall laughably call 'press', there were few capes to be seen on the high street. Or indeed, the interwebs. Occasionally they come into fashion, but more often are to be found at flea markets, vintage stores, charity shops, and eBay. Though if any of our delightful readers has seen a cape or two at a proper shop and wants to email me the link, I'd gladly re-edit the post and pass their eagle eye off as my own.

Turning coal to diamante

2008-02-21T07:25:00.003-05:00

Spangly designer Julien MacDonald, famous for his orangey skin, sparkly dresses, and delight in dressing nubile young starlets in bum-grazing dresses on the red carpet, dressed Gossip singer Beth Ditto for the BRIT Awards last night:

What do you think? Personally I'm not a fan of MacDonald's chandelier chic (and not just because I've never gotten into one of his shows...), but it's great to see a 'name' designer reintepreting his work for a plus-size icon, and Beth looks fabbity.

Fat is a Feminist Issue

2008-02-18T10:39:00.005-05:00

Quick drive-by posting: Kira Cochrane, Women's Editor at my beloved Grauniad, has a new column, The Feminist Dieter.

Personally, I think it's a really brave, honest and quite beautiful piece of writing. You may disagree, but I urge you to read it in full. Extracts:

"And you know what? I didn't mind. In fact, as I started to escape the fug I had been in, looked down and noticed my belly, I realised that being fat was kind of cool. Sure, there were downsides. I no longer looked good in jeans. My bra cups were bigger than my head. My tights rubbed together as I walked, making me sound like a particularly large and irritating cricket. But there were pluses, too.

Most of all, being fat meant that I was suddenly cast out of that uniquely depressing dance that goes on - particularly between women - of policing each other's weight."

"I understand why women engage in these conversations, and why we feel that if we don't apologise for the space we take up, we're afraid that someone else will get in first and cut us down. I understand, too, that for some women these conversations are actually a way of highlighting just how thin they are, thus shoring up their place in some vast unspoken pecking order. And while I find it utterly depressing that a woman would feel that her weight - or lack of it - represents her major achievement, given that we live in a society in which women are, on average, paid 17% less than men, make up only a fifth of MPs, a 10th of leading company directors, and have little choice but to watch in horror as less than 6% of reported rape cases end in a conviction, I can understand why women often don't feel that they or their abilities are really valued, and try to assert whatever small slice of power they can through drawing attention to their body by denigrating it. I understand it, and I don't blame anyone who does it, and I have done it myself, but I also really hate it. It is boring. It is tiring. It is sad."

What do you all think? Also, in other publishing news: remember that hilarious letter in W that we posted about here, where the delightful Coral from Denver explained to us all that fat girls like cookies, but not fashion? Well, Saturday's Guardian (why yes, that is all I read...) Weekend section has that letter's complete opposite, I thought I'd share:

"Is there no end to the bossy misogyny of fashion? Of course not. But Hadley Freeman's comments (Looking Good, February 9) on cleavage are naive, too. Doesn't she realise that if you have big breasts, fashion leaves you no option but to wear cleavage as an act of resistance? Nothing fashion makes either fits a voluptuous figure, or looks nice on it, except for the ubiquitous and by now rather dull wrap dresses. If fashion is so bloody clever, why doesn't it come up with things that look nice on us? Oh, and thanks so much for the subtle reinterpretation of the ancient truth that women with big breasts are stupid. We need reminding - we're so dim it still hasn't sunk in yet." Louisa Young, London W12

Louisa, honey, I think I kind of love you.

Jersey Girls

2008-02-11T11:40:00.001-05:00

Before we jump full force into our fashion week coverage (from the epic beauty of Peter Som for Bill Blass to the head scratching beauty of Marc Jacobs) were going to look at another designers foray into the plus market. Norma Kamali has introduced her first plus sized styles, available for pre-order at Nordstrom.

The collection looks promising, not much there yet but the drape dress looks great and hopefully there will be more soon. Another stylish option out there for plus-sized girls from an impeccable designer but I do have to wonder at the proliferation of jersey on the plus sized market. Granted, Kamali is known for popularizing jersey in the 80s so she's a natural fit but does anyone else feel like they're entering the local athletic supply store every time they hit the plus size department nowadays? Jersey is popular across the board but much like the millennial obsession with velour I can't help but wonder how such a patently difficult fabric has become so beloved.

Dirty is in her lover's arms, it is London in the morning

2008-01-31T16:03:00.000-05:00

Word up, readers. A number of you have, in the past few months, written in asking for plus-size shopping recommendations in London. And each time I've lazily replied, with some hilarious comment about how I'll be sure to put up my answers on the site soon, totally look out for them, etc., etc. It took Miss J's fabulous and popular innovation, Ask TFFF, to spur me to action. That, and threats of violence.

Remember, we're weird here in the uck, as no-one pronounces 'UK', so you need to add two sizes to your US size to work out your UK size. E.g. US 16 is a UK 20. All the sizes in this post are UK.

Let's start with Zone 1's shopping hub, around the misery-fest of Oxford Circus and Bond Street tube stations...

High Street

Store: Primark
Flagship: Oxford Street
Tube: Marble Arch or Bond Street
Sizes: Up to 18/20, generous

High-street mecca for everyone because dresses cost £10! Knickers for a pound! Scarves, earrings and bags abound for a fiver! Definition of fast fashion, it's very trendy but very unethical, made by orphans in far distant lands, etc. But their stuff is totally cute, so...every cloud.

Store: Monsoon
Address: Oxford Street/London-wide
Tube: Oxford Circus
Sizes: 8-22.

Think 'Boho Luxe': lots of blouses and dresses, very silk/satin/embellished. They have lovely accessories and jewellery too, very affordable, and a sister shop called Accessorize which is (clue in the name...) accessories only.

Store: Evans
Address: Plaza Centre, Oxford Street/London-wide
Tube: Oxford Circus/Tottenham Court Road
Sizes: 16-32.

Great for knee-high boots with room in the calves. Owned by the same company as Topshop, it used to be terrible but it's getting better, though still quite polyester-focussed.

Store: Dorothy Perkins
Address: Oxford Street
Tube: Oxford Circus/Tottenham Court Road
Sizes: 6-22.

Marginally less cool than Topshop but also less expensive, owned by the same umbrella company. Cute tops and blouses, although it's somewhat mumsy -- think Marks and Spencer for old-before-their-time twenty-somethings. Uh, but you can find nice things if you have a rummage, and it's all in sizes 6-22, rather than a separate plus range. Plus Tall, Petite and Maternity ranges.

Store: New Look
Flagship: Oxford Street
Tube: Bond Street/Marble Arch
Sizes: Inspire Range, 16-26

The flagship is a walk-up with fabulous gold steps leading into HEAVEN: New Look has the BEST range of shoes on the high-street. That's fact, and not journalistic hyperbole. The clothes are so-so, but I've found some fab H&M-esque numbers there, and obviously OMG GILES DEACON!!! does a range. Walk right past the Lily Allen tat though.

Department Stores/Boutiques

Store: Base
Address: Monmouth Street, Covent Garden
Tube: Leicester Square/Covent Garden
Sizes: 16-28

Specialist plus-size only boutique.

Store: Selfridges
Address: Oxford Street
Tube: Bond Street
Sizes: up to 26 for selected brands.

Stocks Marina Rinaldi.

Store: Harrods
Address: Knightsbridge
Tube: Knightsbridge

Harrods' Plus Collections department stocks Anna Scholz (up to size 28), Elena Miro (Elena Miro also has a shop on Regent Street), Gianfranco Ferre, and Persona.

Store: Beige
Address: New Cavendish Street
Tube: Bond Street
Sizes: 16-28

Specialist boutique that stocks Elena Miro, Persona, Oui, Hucke, Wille, Elena Grunert, Alain Weiz...

Underwear and Hosiery

Store: Rigby & Peller
Address: Conduit Street (pronounced 'Cund-it', which, whilst not rude, for some reason makes me snort and chuckle)
Tube: Oxford Circus
Sizes: up to 40G

Titty galore! R&P does expensive, but fabulous, lingerie. They have a super-strict measuring service (their mission is to get people into the right bra!), without being Trinny and Susannah-ish about their titty-wrangling, and carry sizes up to 40G. It's fairly expensive but so, so worth it for their stuff, or even just to get measured right as they really know what they're doing.

Store: Marks & Spencer
Flagship: Oxford Street
Tube: Bond Street/Marble Arch

Cheap and basic bras, but a great selection: black/white/beige/nude T-shirt bras; multi-way bras, strapless, bright colours, lacy, sports, underwire-free, shaper, minimiser, maximiser... M&S is boob central, basically.

As in my last post, Marks & Sparkles also do plus-size hosiery, and lots of plus-size items. Most of their clothing is horrifically frumpy, but - and Jeremy Paxman be damned - for bras, knickers, vests, socks, hosiery, and basics, you can't go too far wrong.

Accessories

Store: Topshop Flagship
Flagship: Oxford Street
Tube: Oxford Circus
Sizes: N/A

Philip Green is an evil skeezeball, and Topshop's sizing system verges on sadistic, but daaaaaaaaaaaaaaamn the ground floor accessories section at their flagship is worth it. Handbags, belts, purses, scarfs, hairpieces, makeup, telephones and household items, earrings, necklaces, concessions and pop-up shops, everything... You'll find shoes in the basement, too.

Store: Liberty
Address: Regent Street/Great Marlborough Street
Tube: Oxford Circus/Piccadilly Circus

Liberty is lovely. It's like Tiffany's. It can do no wrong. Be soothed by designer handbags, inordinately expensive perfume and lovely, lovely things on the ground floor, before tripping up the fabulous staircase to the shoe section... Plus you can have Champagne & oysters there...yum.

Vintage and Ethical

From Liberty, stroll through Carnaby Street (ignore American Apparel and check out shoes in Office and bath things in Lush) to Soho, which has a bajillion adorable little streets where porn shops/sex cinemas sit cheek-by-jowl with little boutiques/vintage shops. Do try not to mix the two up.

West London: Rellik (vintage), and From Somewhere (ethical).
Soho and East London: Beyond Retro (vintage), and Junky Styling (ethical).
Victoria: Cornucopia (vintage).
South: Radio Days (vintage).

Apparently London has all this other shit, like Buckingham Palace, the Queen, Royal Parks, the Tower, Dungeons, museums, galleries, theatres, and shit. But who cares, right?

Readers' Recommendations

Don't forget to check out the comments to this post, which is full of personal recommendations from fashionable Brits: including suggestions for larger-sized shoes, a couple of mentions for excellent lingerie company Bravissimo, which I shamefully forgot to include, and other tried-and-tested outlets.

Legs & Co.

2008-01-28T15:09:00.000-05:00

Legs are leg - wait for it - endary!

To quote Mrs Doubtfire star Sally Field: "You like us! You really like us!" Who would have thunk, when harsh taskmistress Miss J issued a clarion call for your questions, that we'd be so inundated with responses? Did y'all have nothing to do this weekend but consider your sartorial dilemmas?

Luckily for our readers, here at TFFF Towers we have an entire troupe of trained minions -- Oompa Loompas, actually, on the lend from Johnny Depp -- whom we send a-scurrying to research the answers to your every fash-related question. (In addition to their day-to-day tasks, which mostly consist of fetching caffeinated beverages, and baking us apple crumble on our whim.)

The wee Oompas' first question comes courtesy of reader The Dowdydiva, who this season will be taking inspiration from childhood favourite, Rainbow Brite and the Colour Kids. She asks, "Whither wouldst one purchase tights/pantyhose/hosiery in Fire Engine Red or Royal Blue, rather than Neutrals In The Theme Of Grandma?" Adding, "I'm tall, in the manner of cool hepcat Allison Janney, so tights with tallness, please."

Here's what my favourite Oompa Loompa (Montgomery J. Penthouse) uncovered:

1. 60 Denier Bright Tights, £4 from M&S. Available in Purple, Teal, Pink (shown), Apple Red, and Black. (UK delivery only.) M&S, despite Jeremy Paxman being a hater, also have a grool selection of other styles, including lace, leopard-print, ribbed, and zigzag. Available in sizes S, M, L, and XL (up to skirt size 24).

2. Cotton Footless Tights, $11 from Hue. Available in Black, Coffee, Grey, White, Apple Red and Pink; and in sizes 1, 2, 3, and 4 (100lbs to 250lbs). Hue also have leggings, fishnets, capris and socks.

Finally, like Vanessa Williams, we saved the best 'til last:

3. Solid Colour Tights, $8 from We Love Colors. They're not kidding with the title: these babies are available in 45 bright colours, and in sizes up to 330lbs/over 6' tall. Plus the online store has footless tights, metallics, leggings...

Who You Gonna Call?

2008-01-25T22:48:00.000-05:00

Though we try at TFFF to tackle subjects near and dear to the hearts of our readers we can always go one step further. As such were opening up the lines for our first ever advice column - ASK TFFF.

Got a problem? Give us a ring!

Want to know where you can find a great pair of plus sized jeans? How to wear the hottest accessories? Or maybe even just wear to get a good pair of shoes for work. Anything pertaining to fashion advice goes and each week we'll pick a special letter and answer it in depth. Think of us as an emergency fashion help line - or ready to wear Ghostbusters, depending on the level of your problem. We're ready to tackle anything as long as it has something to do with getting you dressed.

To throw a question our way email us at:
ASKTFFF@GMAIL.COM

I look forward to hearing from you guys!

La Belle Americane

2008-01-23T10:47:00.000-05:00

Every so often there is an editorial that just gets under your skin - something that stands out in your memory as being completely flawless in its execution. La Belle Americane is one such edit for me. Shot for Vogue Paris by Patrick Demarchelier and styled by Carine Roitfeld, it really doesn't get much better in terms of creative talent. Add to this the fact that it showcases Ms. Crystal Renn, looking fierce in the hottest designer looks and you've got a recipe for perfection. If there were a high fashion plus sized monthly (and lets cross our fingers that one day there is) I would hope that this is what some of the content would look like. Until then I have my old issues of Vogue Paris and a big dream.

Thanks to Kasper & West Mags from tFS for the scans

Food for thought : I feel like I've seen more plus sized models in Vogue Paris per capita than I've ever seen in US Vogue with the noted exception of the shape issue and even then... Anyone else notice this? Whenever I can find a great edit featuring a plus model I'll post for inspiration but I feel as though (at least based on what I've seen) the majority of these pictures are in European magazines as opposed to American ones.

Back to the Future

2008-01-14T15:14:00.000-05:00

You've seen all the catwalk shows, you've read the magazines, you've even spotted a trend or two on the high street... but you're still not clear on what 2008 holds for your wardrobe. Luckily, TFFF has gazed into its crystal ball (it's big and shiny and fabulous! -- we're thinking of having it set into platinum, wearing it on our ring finger, and pretending we're engaged to.. I dunno, someone fashionable), and possibly we also interviewed Dawn Pedersen, the Creative Director of trend-spotting company TRENDZINE, to let our readers know what the future holds...

The lovely Dawn was in Milan -- working on trends for S/S '09! -- at the time of the interview, so we're talking staccato keywords rather than in-depth answers, but we hope this helps in planning your shopping in this, the last year to end in an '08' in the first decade of this century.

Keywords for 2008

Transparency (lighter fabrics, look out for the new sheer cropped pants layered under dresses set to take over from leggings). Clean lines (split-level layering less decoration and more focus on fabric quality). New softer trousers (this season's jodhpur shape morphs into a softer ethnic pant for summer). Lux sportswear in fabulous fabrics for any occasion. Consumers will slowly edge out of 'it bag' mode and move towards other luxuries, i.e. expensive watches and jewellery will gain ground.

Length

Extremes will be the hottest news from daring cocktail shorts to midi and long length dresses.

Shape

The waist continues to be a focal point but generally clothes follow a slim straight silhouette.

Colour

Expect the unexpected; darker than usual in summer and pastels in winter. Mixtures of neutrals and flashes of brights.

Prints

Lots of floral patterns especially on lighter sheer fabrics. Fantasy style prints (take over from gothic symbols)

Fast versus Ethical Fashion

Fast fashion -- there's always room for fast fashion stores that supply cheap, trend-led clothing. The media attention surrounding eco-fashion was big last year and the interest should continue. Consumers are in the driving seat and will make the biggest difference. Designers mustn't rely on the 'Eco' tag and make design the primary consideration to attract more consumers.

***

Don't forget to scroll down to my Heels.com post, where you can save 10% off shoes, exclusively to TFFF, until the end of January -- only 17 days left!

What's Wrong With This Picture?

2008-01-07T17:42:00.000-05:00

This is the New Arrivals front page at Lane Bryant.

Pinstripes and loud prints galore!

What do you see? Besides the obvious answer of a whole lot of ugly.

No offense to anyone who might like these shirts but we have to admit that these are not exactly the most fashion forward pieces. I'm not trying to pick on LB since they are not the only ones guilty of this sort of thing but sometimes I find myself shocked by the sheer amount of ugly clothes that are pitched at plus sized women. Go into any plus sized chain or the plus department in almost any store and you will find a wide array of loud prints and muumuu shapes. Things that aren't only unhip and unflattering but are just plain garish. Either that or the most dull assortment vertical striped button downs you've ever seen in your life. Granted some stores claim they're trying appeal to an older consumer within their plus sized departments but is the older consumer really looking to wear something made out of disco era curtains? I doubt it.

There are a always a few treasures amidst the trash but sometimes its like searching for a speck of gold in a landfill. I know we've talked about designers and stores that don't carry plus sized clothes but why are the offerings so very limited within stores that are meant to cater to plus clientele? Do the powers that be just not care or is there the idea that if you're plus sized you just don't have a clue about fashion anyway?

I would love to hear opinions about this since on the whole I just don't get it.

TFFF Interview: Rachel Clark

2008-01-04T16:01:00.000-05:00

As much as we've tried to cover all aspects of the skinny model issue its difficult to know exactly what goes on behind the scenes. What is it really like for the girls in the industry and how are they affected? Before the holidays I had the opportunity to ask a few questions to Rachel Clark, a young model on the rise and one of the current faces of Louis Vuitton about the industry, its pressures and what its like to be a model nowadays.

TFFF: When did you first become interested in modeling? How did you get your start?

RACHEL: I wasn't very interested before I started (I was a complete geek tomboy, not a girlie girl), I just went on a whim for it after a hurricane came through and I lost my apartment and my job. I walked into an agency and they signed me on the spot in Miami basically. I lived a few hours from my agency in Florida so I didn't really have much of an opportunity to work while I was there. When I was shipped to New York last February I signed with Supreme who instantly put me smack-dab in the middle of fashion week and I've been in New York ever since.

TFFF: What is the relationship between an agency and a model in terms of health?

RACHEL: I know my agency maintains a very close and caring relationship with all their models. We depend on each other so it's always good to be aware and connected. From my experience, the agency is always on the ball and quick to schedule doctor's appointments for the girls' immediately as things arise because it is important for us to be in good health and to handle medical issues as soon as possible ensures our fluid schedules. I've been scheduled appointments on the spot for a wide range of things, from wisdom teeth to anxiety and even ear aches from frequent flying.

TFFF: Have you ever felt any personal pressure to lose weight from anyone within the industry?

RACHEL: Never. Not once. I have a crazy fast metabolism though and an inability to gain weight so I have to eat constantly to keep weight on which has landed me a notorious rep for eating obnoxious amounts of terrible food with ALL of my agencies. The drivers in foreign countries always gave me a hard time with my constant McDonalds and KFC runs in between shows. Sometimes they would even have it waiting for me when I'd come out from a show. Heck, the head of MDC (Models.com) even refers to me as mayo queen which is just too cute to let go.

TFFF: How do you keep a positive and healthy outlook?

RACHEL: Well I don't really have anything bringing it down in the first place -besides the occasional guy on the street who yells "eat a sandwich" Of course I reply "make it." You have to be able to take criticism and know how to let it roll off you. Understanding and having a lot of patience for negatively inflicting people while knowing and being comfortable with yourself and even being able to laugh at yourself now and then works wonders.

TFFF: Do you feel the media has blown issues regarding model weight out of proportion?

RACHEL: I'd sooner believe people are more influenced by the likes of well known celebrities blaring extreme weight loss across the gossip mags and tabloids if anything. I don't know a single 10 year old girl who knows any runway models but they sure as heck know the names of certain party happy "It" girls in Hollywood. Claiming that people are suffering the influences of such vague concepts as "all those skinny runway models" or fashion in general is really just another media scapegoat for those who can't accept responsibility for their own personal decisions they've allowed themselves to be victimized by.

From a medical standpoint, an eating disorder is considered a mental disorder in one form or another. In most cases they're coupled with addictive personalities, depression, anxiety, and even subtle hints of masochistic tendencies. For the imbalanced factors that aren't genetic, one could go to a psychiatrist who would have a field day trying to pin point which subconscious deep seeded issues provoke the behavior and mindset of a person who suffers from such disorders. I've yet to hear of a diagnosis that blamed a magazine for a disorder that requires such a cocktail of imbalances.

TFFF: Do you think regulations would be helpful or harmful for models?

RACHEL: Well it depends on the purpose of the regulations. The issue divides here for a lot of people. Some feel controversy and concern over the health of the models, others are concerned about the influence the image generates. If it's to get rid of the image of skinny models then it would be harmful to the employment status of all those skinny models, that's a given.

For health, of course there should be a healthy model regulation (who on earth wants sick models?) but health is not truly defined by how thin a girl looks so it would be difficult to enforce. It would be discrimination if a girl who appeared too thin was in perfect health and was barred from working. Statistically there will be a few women out of however so many who suffer from an eating disorder, I do not doubt that a few of those women happen to be models and the statistic of them being so could increase for those who are not well taken care of. The family and friends of the deceased models who were found to suffer from eating disorders claimed they knew of their next-to-nothing eating habits and yet did nothing to intervene or help. Common sense and awareness from their agencies or anyone who observed such behavior could have saved them, their families, and prevented the waves of controversy and finger pointing from staining what many of us would have as honest work.

TFFF: What shows are you looking forward to for F/W?

RACHEL Are you kidding? All I'm looking forward to right now is Christmas break!

Heel we are now, entertain us

2008-01-04T14:29:00.000-05:00

Dear reader

Have we told you lately that we love you? 'Cause we do. We could demonstrate our affection in numerous ways -- blowing kisses, sending love poetry, making awkward sexual advances to be sternly rebuffed, whatever.

Instead, we give you this, to say a happy new year, and thanks for reading:

Save 10% throughout January at online shoe heaven, Heels.Com, exclusively to Too Fat For Fashion, by entering the coupon code 'keep10' at checkout:

Heels.com is, as the name suggests, a shoe-tastic e-tailer, featuring shoes from designers like Betsey Johnson, Marc by Marc Jacobs, and LAMB. Like Cher from Clueless, I'm very picky about my shoes, and joyously, this site lets you narrow your choice by style, brand, colour, heel height and size -- or a combination! Check it out, and happy shopping:

Clockwise from bottom left: Cognac flat with zipper flower detail, $347.99, Marc by Marc Jacobs; Cream-and-black vintage court, $234.99, Betsey Johnson; Leopard-print stiletto, $81.99, Steve Madden; Black-and-white peep toe, $212.99, BCBG Maxazria; Brown leather buckled mary-jane, $124.99, by Corso Como. All from Heels.Com.

Are You Afraid of the Dark?

2008-01-02T15:49:00.000-05:00

Dark lips at Dolce, Lanvin & in W
There is a certain drama to dark lips that is incomparable - we live in a sheer lipgloss, lipbalm kind of world so to go dark is something extra glamorous, reserved for those times when you don't want to blend in. We've been seeing strong boldly colored lips on the runways and in the pages of magazines for awhile now but what's the best way to wear this look without overdoing it? Since I'm absolutely in love with this sophisticated look I've got a few helpful tips to get you started.

First of all you want to make sure your lips are in their best condition possible. Dark lipstick will highlight any dead or dry skin you might have on your lips so be sure to exfoliate your lips. A lip exfoliator like The Body Shop Lip Scruff can get rid of any icky dead skin and a lipbalm like Lush Lip Service can keep your lips moisturized and looking great its time for the fun.

Prep your lips with a bit of primer so your lipstick will last longer and look its best. Philosophy Big Mouth, is a great one that helps lips look smoother. Once your lips are prepped and primed its time for color. Use a lip liner to fill in around your lips. I like to use a neutral colored liner instead of one that matches my lipstick exactly. That way if my lipstick fades I'm not left with a brightly colored ring around my mouth.

When it comes to applying the lipstick itself use a lip brush instead of applying it straight from the tube. This will allow for a much more precise application - since the color is so dark you don't want any unfinished edges or smearing. Take your time and fill in the lips slowly.

Now that you know how to apply the lip color its important to know what shades to work with. You don't want to go too dark - it will only look goth and dated but you don't want to go too light either as it defeats the purpose. The overall look should be rich and plummy in color. Be sure to try a few shades on before you decide. I love Lipstick Queen's Berry shades in Berry Saint and Berry Sinner. One is sheer (Saint) for the times when you want a more day (and office) friendly look and the other is rich dark matte (Sinner) for evening. Both are the exact same shade just in different formulations and the berry color looks lovely on almost any skintone.

Naturally when doing a really dark lip the rest of your makeup should be kept to a minimum. Dark lips with a dark eye often can look too theatrical, you're better off letting the focus stay on one feature. Keep your eyeshadow, blush and any extras neutral - let your lips do the talking.

Do you wear deep dark lip colors? Red is in a class by itself of course - I'm talking the really deep plums were seeing right now. What are some of your favorite shades? Apart from the Lipstick Queen shades I really love Russian Doll & Tamango by NARS.

Back To Black

2007-12-28T14:12:00.000-05:00

Head to toe black is all over the runways right now. Granted black has never gone out of style (how could it?) but wearing black is one of those things that looks considerably easier than it is. A completely black outfit can look sleek and modern but it can also look bland and boring. Since there's a trick to doing anything right we've got a few helpful hints on how to get the most out of this trend.

Color Theories: Neo-grunge black at Alexander Wang & Preppy at Rag & Bone

Quality: The best way to look great in all black is to go for a higher fabric quality. Just say no to those evil polyblend black pants they sell (does anyone remember these from their misspent youth, I sure do) or the fade to grey blends that bleed out after one wash. Invest in something substantial - a nice wool, a shantung silk, or a rich velvet. You'll be able to get a lot of wear out of anything black so the higher price is worth it.

Tailor Made: When it doubt, have it tailored. This is a rule for life but its especially important when wearing all black. Black can be forgiving but any and all fit problems become even more evident once color is taken out of the equation. If tailoring isn't your thing, look for pieces that are cut well. A good cut is a girls best friend.

Texture: Black offers you an incredible opportunity to be fearless with texture. The monochromatic look calls for added interest and playing with texture is a great way to do it. Go for an unexpected material. You might not do a completely patent coat were it electric blue or red but in black it can look stunning. Have fun with it - sequins, wools, even lace looks good in black.

Detail: Whether it be exciting texture, unusual shape or unique accents always look for black pieces with a little something extra. This rule could apply for all neutral pieces - you always want something that takes the basic color and pushes it in a unique direction.

The Slimming Myth: I hate this. Wearing all black won't make you look thinner. Its a silly reason to wear black as far as I'm concerned. Wear black because it goes with almost everything or because its a great backdrop for color. Don't wear it due to some random rule.

Care: Nothing is worse than faded black clothing. It almost always looks bad and once your clothing has faded the only way to bring them back to their natural color is through dyeing. Even then you've only got a 50% success rate. Its far easier to prevent the problem by using a special detergent for dark colors like WOOLITE® Dark Laundry. It helps your dark clothing maintain its color.

Accessorize It: Since black is so neutral you can really go nuts with the accessories. As a rule I think wearing all black makes its so important to have a great shoe or bag. Look at the styling at Alexander Wang. The colors are muted but the shoes are wild - custom Manolo's if you're looking for em. With an all black background people will notice your accessories even more so wear your best.

As always we present an outfit that combines a few personal favorites pertaining to this look. I loved the laid back look at Alexander Wang (as if you couldn't tell) so I sought to create something that matched that vibe - a little minimal, a little rock n'roll and very urbane.

First we have a great top with subtle detailing. You don't want your black top to be plain - choose something with unique details or texture like this great Sweet Pea shirt with tied sleeves. . Its little touches that really make the outfit. Next up we've got an amazing Old Navy pencil skirt. Now of course you can choose any pencil skirt you like but this one has great button detailing on the front. Of course no outfit is complete with out a great pair of shoes and a bag so we have an a great pair of ankle boots and a gorgeous patent bag. The Cynthia Vincent Ankle boots are a bit of a change from the basic pumps and the patent Anya Hindmarch Jourdan bag is a real treat. It has a great mix of patent and suede as well as this really subtle navy detailing. In keeping with the theme of minimalism the jewelry is similarly pared down, just a simple Bing Bang locket, on thin gold chains.

I can't do a look without a couple of covet worthy beauty products so we've got Sue Devitt's Lash Line Enhancer, perfect for giving the absolute thinnest line possible and giving the look of incredibly thick eyelashes. Miller Harris' Coeur de Fluer, a fresh, airy mix of mimosa and sweet pea to counterbalance the severity of all this darkness. And of course Bumble and Bumble Surf Hair for that "I roll out of bed looking this fabulous" bedhead.

How do you like to spice up your basic black? I'm sure you guys have some interesting hints of your own.

Union City Blues

2007-12-14T06:51:00.000-05:00

It's good news Friday here at TFFF HQ! The British actors' union Equity has been approached by a model coalition asking to join. That's right, kids: modelling is going unionised.

United we stand, divided we fall

Apparently some major, major names have signed up -- but sadly they don't yet want to be identified. Rocking the boat in the fashion industry -- which isn't exactly union-friendly -- is still difficult.

But how great is this? Maybe it's because I'm from a union family, but I think this is excellent news. We've long discussed the difficulties inherent in changing modelling conditions, and some have put forward the idea of a models' union. Models have agencies, sure, but each girl has a different agent -- and they're just there to find work, not necessarily ensure conditions are fair.

Because modelling is so individualised, and very often it's a one-model-per-shoot situation, they're separated from their peers, and inevitably find it difficult to stand up for their rights: for health and safety, fair wages, heck, even a lunch break. Let alone the real issue: what size they're 'allowed' to be. I'm not suggesting that we'll see the union and the industry sit down for talks and hash out a specific weight requirement that will satisfy both parties, because that's crazy talk: but we might see a move towards models having the power, a move towards sample sizes being made to fit the models, and not the other way around. Because really: cutting fabric to fit a girl makes so much more sense than shrinking a girl to fit the fabric.

Martin Brown, a spokesman for Equity, had this to say:

"Models have no voice; no one is listening to them and no one is asking them what they want. We were approached earlier this year by a group of models who said they needed a union. They complained they had no one to represent them and that if something went wrong and they went to their agencies they were warned not to complain because they would not work again."

These Boots Were Made For Walkin...

2007-12-10T04:50:00.000-05:00

A good boot is hard to find but its an essential for the winter months when the typical ballet flats and skimmers are just not going to be enough to protect a girl from the elements. Unfortunately most manufacturers have forgotten the fact that boots, unlike other shoes cannot be measured just by standard shoe size. A ridiculous conceit given that a boot covers about half your leg! You'd think they'd alot for the fact that different people have different calf sizes but seemingly that would require too much common sense for them to handle.

As such TFFF attempts to take a little bit of the guesswork out of things by showcasing our favorite wide calf boots for winter. We've got gorgeous colors, amazing leathers and a few good links just in case you want to look for something a little different than what we've offered.

A few boots worth lusting after

I'm skipping past some of the usual suspects - we all know the Avenue has a good selection of wide calf boots and that Silhouettes has always got you covered but it may come as a surprise that preppy favorite J. Crew offers a decent selection of extended calf boots as well. My personal favorites being the classic Tenley high heel - an exceedingly versatile chocolate brown boot and the Richmond low heel, a great flat pair for the days when you just don't feel like bothering with anything high.

There's also a wealth of online boutiques with great little boots. DUO Boots has wide selection of everything from the funky to the everyday. I love the Messina, a ruched vintage inspired pair, the Moselle, another ruched style but this time in creamy suede. Of course for anyone who loves the equestrian look there is the Bonn, an amazing heeled boot thats equal parts equestrian and cowgirl - especially in that perfect weathered grey color. DUO also has so many great options that its fun just to look around. Another online shop that impressed me was Buckles and Bows. A UK outpost (don't worry they ship to the US) with the truly amazing Pout Boots, an absolute must even if they're temporarily out of stock. Buckles and Bows also has great range of everything from animal print to Chloe-redux stacked heels so snoop around you're sure to find something you're into.

I'd like to think that there's a little something for everyone - and if for some reason you don't have wide calves but just love cute boots almost all these styles come in a smaller calf versions too.

So those are my favorite boots right now - what are yours? How will you be keeping your feet warm this season? For the love of all thats right and good don't say Uggs.

Elena Miro S/S 08

2007-12-04T10:30:00.000-05:00

Now that its officially freezing and bitter cold I think its time for a little touch of warm. What better way to channel the heat of summer than by looking at the gorgeousness of Elena Miro S/S 08. Granted its probably too icy to even think about wearing a little cutout swimsuit or minidress but keep these styles in mind for the future. Everything presented this season was very silvery, I couldn't help but be reminded of Fendi's S/S Collection last year in terms of the colors and textures presented. The use of the light chiffon and silk is also lovely this season. Those tied at the neck blouses are sure to look great with anything.

I'd have to say that my very favorite look is the first one - there is something unique about that snakeprint jacket. It can see it being paired with jeans just as easily as I can see it being paired with that skirt and blouse number. What were your favorite looks? View the full collection at The Fashion Spot

(PRODUCT) DITTO

2007-12-01T11:40:00.000-05:00

Today is special for many reasons: one, it's Saturday, and that means it's the weekend -- yay! Two, it's the first day of advent -- yay! And three, it's World AIDS Day.

"What on earth has charity got to do with fashion?" I hear you cry. Well, shrug off your fur gown, tell the paps to put aside their cameras, give the cabana boy a rest from mixing your margaritas for a moment, and I'll tell you.

Gap supports (Product) RED, and, in conjunction with World AIDS day, they have created a special, ultra-fashionable collection. It's curated by Katie Grand, Editor-In-Chief of POP Magazine, and consists of special one-off (and cheap!) versions of iconic products. So you know the Mulberry 'Roxanne' bag you've been coveting? Gap (Product) RED have it for eighty-five quid.

There are also pieces by: Stephen Jones, Pierre Hardy, Giles Deacon, House of Holland, ck Calvin Klein, and Proenza Schouler, and 50% of profits from sales of each piece from this collection will help fund anti-retroviral drugs for women and children affected by AIDS and HIV in Africa.

The stand-out piece is, of course, a grey T-shirt featuring a montage of images from the POP magazine photoshoot with TFFF favourite, Beth Ditto, photographed by Steven Klein. A mere £19.50!

Gap (PRODUCT) RED Collection curated by Katie Grand is only available from Gap's flagship London and Paris stores, or Dover Street Market in London, and Colette in Paris, from today. Enquiries: 00 44 (0)20 7408 4500. Happy shopping!

Lip Service

2007-11-29T08:28:00.000-05:00

Doesn't winter suck? I know I keep waxing lyrical about tweeds and leather boots, or sounding positively Julie Andrews-esque as I talk about warm woollen mittens, and, okay, I do enjoy a Gingerbread Latte or ten. But: the hair frizz! The dried skin from biting cold winds and too much central heating! The mottled hands from constantly losing my gloves! The ugh, the everything!

The biggest body victim each winter is my lips -- I'm a lip licker, especially when I'm stressed. I constantly suck, bite, lick and chew on my own face, like a reaver, when I'm writing or drawing, or whatever. (I'm doing it right now.) Add this saliva overdose to the wintery weather, and you have a recipe for disaster.

Luckily, I am a lipbalm addict. I should go to Lipbalm Anonymous meetings and take the twelve-step plan. Except I'm assuming that one of those steps would be to give up the 'balm. That I cannot do. I was clearing out my handbag yesterday, since it had become so heavy, and discovered I was toting around no fewer than SIXTEEN lip balms, glosses, and sticks. Sixteen.

A quick rummage in my coat and jean pockets confirmed that the total about my person was an almost-too-embarrassing-to-confess twenty-one. You read that correctly: in addition to the sixteen in my bag, I had scattered some further five balms throughout my pockets, just in case.

Because the thing is, winter can have its great moments: drinking peppermint hot chocolate by the fireside, eating Lebkuchen whilst watching The Great Escape for the hundredth time, kissing your honey...and what fun is kissing with chapped, winter lips? To make your winter magical, dip a finger into one of these:

Burts Bees Beeswax Lipbalm Tin, $3.00, from Burts Bees; Rose & Co. Apothecary Sweet Violet Salve, £5.00, from Rose & Co; Carmex, $1.49, from CVS; Smith's Rosebud Salve, $6.00, from Sephora; Sheer Gold Lip Shimmer salve, £5.00 from Liz Earle; L'Occitane Honey Harvest Creamy Honey Lip Balm, $10.00, from Kiss Fix; Benetint Lipbalm, $20.00 from Benefit; Lip Service, £3.95, from Lush; Vaseline Lip Therapy with Aloe Vera, £0.96, from Boots; Kiehl's Moisturising Lipgloss in Black Raspberry, $11.50, from Kiehl's.

Perfect 10: Baby, It's Cold Outside

2007-11-21T06:44:00.000-05:00

After a number of successful shopping trips, (including forcing the Gap to reduce a navy blue Italian Merino wool sweater to £20, thanks to a teeny tiny hole in the sleeve, that once darned was invisible!), wherein I returned home laden with deliciously wintery things, I got to thinking about my perfect capsule winter wardrobe.

The eagle-eyed among you will spot twelve items. But two are boots, so that's eleven. And my Perfect Ten goes up to eleven. So neener neener.

I realised that though the objects are often the same for all of us -- a fine-knit sweater, leather boots, a coat -- the execution is often very different. One woman's perfect winter coat is another woman's charity donation. You know how you can read a fashion spread on a particular accessory, say...hats, and it can really put you off if the stylist hasn't found at least one hat that you love? And then you get all grumpy about the lack of nice hats and kick the magazine across the room and vow to go hatless, because everything's so unfair?! (And when I say 'you' I mean 'me', obvie. I am a grumpy fashion diva.)

So rather than scouring my look-books to share a specific Perfect Ten with you, I've listed my desires with a brief explanation as to why I prefer them that way. These are all illustrated by my fair hand so you have some dorky visuals to amuse you; but really I'd like to hear what your Perfect Ten would be. Are you a leather or Wellington boot gal? Do you eschew gloves in favour of a muffler? Hate hats and love earwarmers? Wear the same coat for years on end but stock up annually on thermal undergarments?

Share your shopping secrets with fellow TFFF readers: perhaps you know the best place to get knee-high boots with room in the calf; or coats with extra room for boobs that still nip in at the waist. Here are my ten pieces that I can't live without each winter:

1. The Boot.

For me, they have to be leather. One pair of knee-highs: flat, black, riding-boots, often with a buckle detail at the reverse. It just happens to be the most stylish option, for me. I also like to have a pair of scruffy, scuffy, flat ankle boots. I prefer these to be somewhat deconstucted: no zip, no buckle, no fuss, no muss. Just some sort of slip on, battered boot, maybe with a leather tie. Must be flat, must be tan leather. To be worn with opaque tights, legwarmers and miniskirts.

2. The Tweed Skirt.

I have several winter skirts (including a leather miniskirt, so I may not be the most sensible judge of what constitutes winter wear...), but my favourite this season is a tweed, mid-calf pencil/fishtail skirt. Look for a lined version. On a cold day, with knee-high riding boots, this will keep you warm and make you look like a sexy schoolmarm. (Wear with a thin black alice band for extra oomph.) I'm loathe to ever say one body type looks better than another in any style; but in this case I'll make an exception. Pencil skirts just seem tailor made for plus bodies: the shape of the skirt and the roundness of bottoms and thighs are just MFEO.

3. The Hat.

I may have a drawful of woollen beanies and snuggly things, and a gorgeous tweed-and-gold Phillip Treacy number, but I always return to the old faithful: a flat cap. It keeps you warm and keeps the rain off, without fuzzing up your hair like a beanie would; plus there's something so chic about a cap, especially when worn with a blazer, spectacles and leather school satchel. I especially like versions in corduroy.

4. The Scarf.

So many of us press the same tattered old scarf into service year after year, often ruining a chic outfit with its tatty, weathered tassels. Scarves need love too! This season I'll be channelling Isadora Duncan (without the horrific fatal accident...) with a long, chunky-knit scarf. So versatile: wrap it round and round your neck to imitate the Giles catwalk look; double it and loop it through itself to channel Posh Redbrick University Student style; or simply knot it and let it trail to your toes (best paired with wide-leg trousers and a tank top).

5. The Jumper.

Deepest, inkiest, darkest navy blue. Cashmere or Italian Merino wool. Fine knit as you can get. V-neck. Simple. Fitted. Good cuffs. Throw as much money as you can spare at this item. Accept no substitutes. Chunky sweaters look good piled up on the shelves, but make anyone bigger than a B cup look like they have uni-boob. A fine-knit sweater is infinitely more practical: layer it over a white shirt, or wear on its own (with a camisole for added warmth), or top it with a cardigan, depending on how hot or cold you run.

6. The Slip.

Something about winter brings out the old-fashioned in me: the chilly weather makes me want to dress like a lady. Perhaps its simply to prevent hypothermia, but rarely a day goes by that I don't put on a slip underneath my outfit. It stops itchy wool jumpers scratching, gives you an extra layer of luxurious cosiness, and just makes you feel good. A silk camisole is a must-have, for me. I love them in blush pink or skin tones, rather than anything overtly underwear-y.

7. The Jean.

A good, warm, smart winter jean is a must have. In summer you can totally get away with a scruffy old pair with a hole in the bum, bobbles on the knee and frayed hems, teamed with rubber flip-flops and a vintage tee. But winter demands a little more structure. Wide-leg is not only on-trend, but hides a multitude of sins: I can wear socks and leg warmers under these babies without disrupting the line. They also look excellent paired with a jumper or a blouse (see below), or with a tank-top and a long traily scarf for an all-over 1970s look.

8. The Blouse.

Winter demands a luxe styling, and what's more luxe than a silk blouse? Something classic, with a twist: I have a plum silk blouse (a little like the picture would be if it wasn't rubbish) that I've had for several seasons now, and it never goes out of style. Choose something soft and feminine, in rich, plummy jewel tones, with a fun detail, like lace, or buttons, or a languid bow at the neck.

9. The Accessory.

Some would argue that the hat and the scarf are themselves accessories. I would put those people out on the street in English weather until they admitted that they are necessities, and bought me a cake. The brooch is the most versatile accessory for winter. Bangles get tangled in your sleeves, and earrings/necklaces get 'lost' in amongst hats and scarves and layers. You want something that 'finishes' the outfit without overdoing it. You can use a good brooch to pin your scarf, adorn your hat, add a finishing touch to the sweater, or jazz up a coat or blazer. Scour charity shops for cheapy costume jewellery versions.

10. The Coat.

Last winter I bought the yummiest coat: from Ghost, it was a sort of grey-lavender, bruised winter sky colour; deep v-neck; double-breasted jacket; in thick wool felt. I could just hug it. However it only suited trouser-based outfits: it looked great with a jean and neck scarf, but pair it with anything based around a dress or skirt? No. This year I'm going for a classic darkest navy, almost black-blue, long coat. I'm too short to go full-length, but around the knee area, I think. Gold buttons and gold brocade optional -- I may customise whatever I find myself.

So, go on: what will you be wearing this winter?

Models Eating Food...Sort of

2007-11-17T17:13:00.000-05:00

New York Magazine's weekly The New York Diet column is a guilty pleasure of mine - it asks notable New Yorkers to share what they've munched on for a week and then publishes every detail. Now while I know some will bristle at the very idea of a food diary I have to say the results are strangely fascinating. I would never guessed that bubbly society fixture Tinsley Mortimer loved to chow down on steak and creamed spinach or that Mims was addicted to habichuela con dulce. Like it or not what we eat is a part of who we are. From the dishes we grew up on to our favorite snacks it all adds up to being a small bit of our personalities and sometimes reading these little blurbs can give a glimpse into someone's world. I have to admit to wondering just what my steady stream of soy lattes or undying love of avocados says about me but I suppose thats a separate entry.

This week the featured New Yorker is Aussie model Catherine McNeil, whose pouty lips and soulful eyes have been featured in the latest Versace ads. While I have to admit that Catherine has a beautiful face I can't help but be a little weirded out by the entries in her food diary.

Catherine McNeil and mixed greens.
Wednesday, November 7  - I worked from 11 am to 7 p.m., shooting for Another magazine. I had a handful of nuts and some fruit for breakfast on the job. For lunch I had some vegetables and salad. When I got home, I was so tired that I passed out, so I didn’t eat dinner.

Thursday, November 8 -  I had some scrambled eggs and fruit on the shoot. For lunch I had salad. I worked late and then went home and fell asleep, so I missed dinner again.

I don't like the sound of that at all. Maybe I'm missing something but that seems like a very low calorie intake. Especially for someone who is working all day. Don't get me wrong I am all for veggies and fruit and the sea bass at Barolo is great but there is something massively weird about her passing out two days in a row. Its a bit horrifying I have to say - just looking at what she's listed as is it seems as though she's not really eating all that much and while I know the whole "models don't eat a lot" thing isn't exactly news I feel like its still jarring. This is a teenager! She's still growing, she shouldn't be passing out. Period.

I much preferred model Missy Rayder's food diary from a few months back.

Sunday, March 4 - I went to Bar 6. I don’t know what they do, but no one’s French fries can compare to theirs. They’re long, thin, and they’re really greasy and super-crispy. I always get the turkey burger there. It’s a great neighborhood place to have — it’s easy and they’re open really late if you get hungry at midnight.

For dinner I went to Do Hwa; it’s the sister restaurant of Dok Suni’s. I always get the obok salad — it has noodles in it and it’s spicy — and the bulgogi, the beef you wrap up in lettuce.

Yes I am highlighting the french fry bit. Honestly, how often do you hear a model professing her love for anything that actually contains carbs. Missy had her veggies too but she also had lobster rolls, omelette's, guacamole, tamales and even a trip to Cold Stone Creamery. Her choices seemed realistic and she seemed to ::gasp:: actually enjoy eating. At the very least when I read through her selections I actually get the feeling that food wasn't a distant memory for her.

What says you? Should we worry about McNeil based on a weeks worth of information or am I jumping the gun with this?

Special thanks to Lorena for pointing me in the direction of Ms. McNeil's entry!

She's a total Betty!

2007-11-15T07:43:00.000-05:00

My favourite luxury sportswear brand, Sweaty Betty, has just launched a new plus size range, in UK sizes 16 to 20 (approx. US 12 to 16): B.Betty. Excellently, the range consists of the most popular items from the standard collection, re-cut to fit the fuller figure (rather than the usual practice of selling totally different stuff from the rest of the store).

Rose rolldown pant, £45; Razi V-neck Tee, £38; Ruth Plunge Vest, £35, all B.Betty at Sweaty Betty.

If you head to the Sweaty Betty website before 19 December, you can get an awesome 10% discount off the B.Betty plus size collection. Just type B.Betty in the box when you checkout.

Hunting High & Low: "It’s not the toes," said Piglet, "so much as the ears."

2007-11-06T10:48:00.000-05:00

In my case, it's not the ears, so much as the fingers. I rarely feel the cold anywhere except in my hands, which, come winter with its super fun combo of biting winds, low temperatures and icicles raining from the sky, makes my hands do an impression of a James Bond film: COLD-FINGERRRRRRRRRR!

Thank heavens then, for hand fashions: no glove, no love, as I believe the old saying goes. (Or as Mitch Leery once memorably said, "no hat, no glove".)

Not only will gloves keep your fingers toasty warm, but they're in fashion every season, unlike legwarmers, which are ridiculously practical, deliciously warm, but only occasionally trendy. There's also a myriad of options for covering your fingers (not even including anything dirty):

The Original: a woollen glove.
The Hobo: a woollen fingerless glove.
The Kaiser: a leather fingerless glove.
The Cruella DeVille: a long satin glove worn with cocktail rings on top.
The Ralph Wiggum: woollen mittens.
The Hybrid: a woollen, fingerless glove with an optional mitten-top.
The Assassin: a regular leather glove.
The You-Will-Get-Bullied: your choice of glove or mitten cunningly accessorised with a long ribbon threaded through the arms of your coat, so as not to lose them.

...and so on. Here's a selection of TFFF's favourites, in all sorts of styles, all available online: let your fingers do the walking!

SMITTEN KITTEN (under $20): Green knitted glove with button, by Topshop; Teal jersey glove with bow detail, by Miss Selfridge; Purple angora mitten with cord, by Urban Outfitters; Fingerless cashmere glove, by COS; Patchwork crochet fingerless glove, by Monsoon Accessorize.
ALL YOU NEED IS GLOVE ($30 to $85): Gold metallic leather fingerless glove, by Topshop; Purple leather glove with buckle, by Urban Outfitters; Cashmere-lined brown leather glove, by LL Bean; Hot pink leather glove with poppers, by Oasis; Twisted Twee 'Lovers' glove set, at Not On The High Street.
WOULDN’T IT BE GLOVELY? ($100 or more): Marc by Marc Jacobs woollen ruched 'Jolie' glove, at E Luxury; Raspberry leather 'Classic' glove, by Liberty; Moschino Cheap & Chic suede glove with charm, at Net-a-Porter; Burberry Prorsum leather gauntlet glove, at Net-a-Porter; Coffee python and lambskin driving mitten or iced coffee python and lambskin driving mitten, price on application, by Causse Gantier (Karl Lagerfeld’s glove manufacturer of choice!).

Next time...hats! and scarves!

All you need is positivity!

2007-11-02T11:09:00.000-04:00

We here at Too Fat For Fashion love us some J.Hud, so when we heard this quote, from the Avon Foundation Gala earlier this week, we had to share it:

"I have the height of a model, the breasts that people pay for and the lips that everybody wants, so why should I change? I wouldn’t change myself for anything or anybody. That will never happen."

It kind of reminds me of that fabulous Grey's Anatomy quote (back when the show was still good and zeitgeisty, okay?!) from Cristina: "You are eight feet tall. Your boobs are perfect. Your hair is down to there. If I were you I would just walk around naked all the time. I wouldn't have a job, I wouldn't have any skills, I wouldn't even know how to read. I would just be... naked."

Jennifer Hudson showing off the figure in question. No news yet on fashion credits -- if anyone knows the designer behind these fab dresses please email TFFF at the usual address!

Pink to make the boys wink!

2007-11-01T08:14:00.000-04:00

A somewhat girlie headline, but I am somewhat girlie. (Or, as my editor told me recently, "you write like Teen Vogue on crack". To which I say, pass me the pipe and renew my subscription!) I'm not entirely sure that pink does make the boys wink -- it might be that, like the thoroughly disproved 'boys don't make passes at girls who wear glasses', it's a saying that evolved purely on the basis of rhyme.

Maybe if the word for wink was, I dunno, wurple, it'd be purple to make the boys wurple, and the entire pink/wink construct is actually just a cutesy phrase to make pink sound delicious and loveable and great and sell us lots of stuff we don't need. But that sounds like crazy commie paranoia or something. (Ooh, is it a coincidence that Communists are called pinkos? Um, yes, probably.) Anyway: I love pink! And purple, incidentally, which is another of this season's top colours. But this post is about pink: I can only hope it doesn't make everyone wink madly at their screens until their bosses make them take a leave of absence.

Even UK Vogue agrees, with a hot-pink themed cover, an entirely pink photoshoot, and lots of pink make-up to spookily convert Sophie Dahl into Debbie Harry in this month's issue:

The high fashion take on pink is to wear it head-to-toe. Which looks great on the glossy pages of a magazine, but not so much in real life (although you will cheer up your fellow commuters on the bus). A head-to-toe pink theme will probably leave you looking as if your sartorial heroines are one or any of the following:

L-R: Strawberry Shortcake; Kaylee from Firefly, Glinda the Good Witch of the North.

And whilst I agree with Strawberry Shortcake that life is delicious, especially if you're a good witch, not a bad witch, I have no desire to look like a marshmallow or a layer cake. I'm just kooky that way. Instead, a chicer way to add a rosy touch to your look this winter is with cosmetics and accessories. Just a touch of pink about your outfit gives a nod to the trend without making you look like a five-year-old. Here are Too Fat For Fashion's favourite pink pieces:

Clockwise from top left: Cherry print umbrella, £12 from Monsoon / Accessorise; Pink court shoe by Kurt Geiger, £85 from Asos; Sephora Piiink range starts at $2; Hard Candy Vintage Nail Polish, $7 at Sephora; Anna Lou initial necklace (other letters available), £18 from Asos; Pink hoop earrings, $2.99 from Urban Outfitters; Frederic Malle Lipstick Rose scent, from €90, from Editions de Parfums; Benefit Powder Pop (including my eternal favourite blusher, Dandelion), $30, and 10, $28, both from Benefit; Scarlett's Deluxe Palette, $34 from Stila; Raspberry beret, £12 from Topshop.

The Clique Five : S/S 08 Collections

2007-10-29T14:33:00.000-04:00

The S/S 08 Collections have come and gone with all their hoopla and excitement. We've had plenty of time to review and reflect so its only fair to look back on all that was and see what lessons can be learned. I like to think of the collections as a template for what's coming and while there were a few shows that made me scratch my head (Vuitton, anyone) there is a great deal worth talking about. As such here are my personal top 10 shows this season complete thing things I feel every woman at every size can incorporate into their wardrobes. Ignore the bobblehead models (Natasha Poly, what happened) and focus on the great tips and tricks to be learned from these sartorial flights of fancy.

1. HERMES | COMPLETE COLLECTION

This was the absolute show of the season for me. To be honest I found most of the S/S 08 offering to be a tad boring but this was completely and utterly beautiful. Sure Gaultier has done Indain inspired collections before but I'd say this ranks among his absolute best. Everything from the colors to the exquisite detailing worked for me. Look at those silks! Don't you just want to touch them!

Trend to Try: Layering. The best thing about Hermes this season was the ingenious layering and draping. Its hard to go wrong in that direction when you're being influenced by saris but we can all take a page from the book of Gaultier on this.

2. LANVIN | COMPLETE COLLECTION | VIDEO

Alber Elbaz is my favorite so I'm completely biased but I can't help but think that this was an exceptionally strong collection. Everything was feminine and unfussy not to mention refined. I loved the beautiful ruffles, the satin dresses in those incredible jewel tones and the parade of must have accessories. I love how the heavy charmed necklaces and brooches provide a subtle alternative to bling and the shoes were as decadent as ever.

Trend to Try: Shine. The Lanvin show contained several dresses that were very heavy on the sequins. The effect was lovely and completely non-Vegas showgirl. Sequins can interject a little glamour into an otherwise normal outfit and now is good time to try them especially in these monochromatic combinations.

3. 3.1 PHILIP LIM | COMPLETE COLLECTION

I always love Phillip Lim because the clothes look like things one could really put together themselves. There's never anything so over the top or ridiculous that makes you go huh. Its all just young, wearable, sportswear. I really loved the color pallate this time around The mix of neutrals, neons and metallics was really beautiful. These are just things you want in your closet - a great trench, the perfect cardigan, a couple of choice mini skirts, items every girl can appreciate.

Trend to Try: Brights. Lim highlighted the usual beiges and greys will wild pops of red, yellow and orange. This is another cool way to spice up your outfits and also really inexpensive. It doesn't matter whether your brights come from Target or Barneys, as long as you pair them with nuetral colors they'll look amazing.

4. BURBERRY PRORSUM | COMPLETE COLLECTION | VIDEO

Christopher Bailey called the women that inspired his collection "luxury warriors" and it absolutely shows. From the shield sunglasses (the better to protect you from paparazzi flashes) to the studded almost military coats the models looks ready for battle but in a good way. I love how strong all the clothes were - there was nothing girly or prissy just a lot of hard lines and high heels. Add to this the fact that Bailey touched on every single current trend in one show. Thorough as always.

Trend to Try: Belted. Almost every single outfit at Burberry was secured with a thin studded belt. From the dresses to the coats, even the blouses - everything was paired with some variation of this belt. It just goes to show you how one solid belt purchase is all you need. Go for something unusual and you can pair it with almost anything.

5. VIKTOR & ROLF | COMPLETE COLLECTION | VIDEO

This is my wild card pick. Personally, I loved every minute but I know some people hated it. I thought it was an incredibly romantic and paired down collection especially for Viktor and Rolf. Remember last season? The conveyor belt and the wooden clogs? Yeah, I repress the bad memories too. This on the other hand was just splendid - black, white, pink, loads of adorable little violin appliqués. Just lovely. Completely reminiscent of the harlequins that inspired this collection. I wouldn't advocate a giant violin necklace in every day life but on the runway it was just too dreamy.

Trend to Try: Ruffles. Every other piece V&R sent down the runway had some variation of a ruffle on it. From the subtle detailing at the collar to a full blown ruffled jacket. There is something very delicate and youthful about that sort of detailing and we'll be seeing a lot of it in the near future.

What did you guys love/hate this season? I was quite taken with Nina Ricci and even the much maligned Balenciaga collection. Vuitton didn't do it for me but it was lovely to see a few of my favorite supermodels on the catwalk again.

How Sweet It Is!

2007-10-29T13:50:00.000-04:00

TFFF never got to properly celebrate our anniversary (can you believe its been over a year) but thankfully our friends at Vosges Haute Chocolate were kind enough to send us a some delectable chocolate in honor of it.

As a rule I only talk about things I actually like on the blog so believe me when I say I love this stuff. I might actually be addicted to the Macha Tea Bar, its that good. I just wanted to give a little shout out and say thanks to Paige and co. for treating us to these incredible delicacies.

Now, since were already on the subject of chocolate feel free to chime in with your favorites.

One, Two, Three Is Sesame Street

2007-10-23T11:45:00.000-04:00

Forgive me readers, for I have sinned: the beauty of the blogosphere (aside, obviously, from the word "blog" which I like to use as often as possible in the hopes that somehow, somewhere, Anna Wintour will cry out in pain and she won't know why) is that you can update round the clock, bringing readers the fashion news even before it has happened.

Yet here we are and I think the last update from your Euro correspondent was way back in the mists of time...when Rachel Zoe still had representation, when Professor McGonagall still had hopes that Albus would one day see what lay beneath her stern robes, when it wasn't so flipping cold.

Mea culpa. However please accept a number of delays between now and December as I struggle to complete my magnum opus on teen television. I hope to cast aside such worthy issues as "does Dan Scott from One Tree Hill use hair straighteners?" and "isn't Canada too cold for people to frolic al fresco like I'm seeing on Falcon Beach?" every now and then to bring you various fashion tidbits from across the pond.

Penelope Cruz for Spanish fashion label Mango

Like today's subject, inspired by a piece from The Independent, all about the Spanish fashion industry and standardised sizing on clothes:

Following years of complaints from frustrated consumers, the Spanish government has acted to bring order to the chaotic disparity of clothes sizes. The socialist health ministry, which has responsibility for consumer affairs, has struck an unprecedented deal with big Spanish retailers, manufacturers and trade associations to standardise clothes sizes and end consumer confusion.

...

Last month technicians from Spain's health ministry visited the first of 59 towns across the country to measure 10,415 Spanish women, aged between 12 and 70, to find out what size and shape the nation's females really are.

...

The aim is to promote "a realisable image of healthy beauty – neither Rubens women nor anorexic girls", according to the health minister, Bernat Soria. "It is our commitment that beauty and health go hand in hand."

The article goes on to note that the standardised system will also include promises from retailers to size up their window mannequins to at least a UK 10 (US 6), and to incorporate size UK 18 (US 14) into all ranges rather than treating it as a 'special' size and hiding it away.

It might sound like only a tentative move towards body acceptance, but UK 18 is one size larger than Topshop and many other uber-fashionable high street brands. Short of a bloody revolution and overthrowing the ateliers, or something, I think moves like this -- one step, or size, at a time -- are the way we're going to get progress in the industry.

The thrust of the article is less about the irritants of being one size in one store and another in another (annoying though that is, you eventually get to know your Size Per Store), and more about the negative effects differing sizes can have on body image. I can't speak for every Brit, but one of the delights of shopping in the US for us is -- aside from the strong pound and everything being totally cheaper anyway -- going down two sizes. Sometimes we'll buy stuff just to waft around and be all "I'm size 8!"

It's less fun shopping in continental Europe and coming out with a size 44 or whatever (not least because I really don't understand what that is). I have to assume that it's something metric that makes no sense compared to our thoroughly simple system of sizing things in pints, guineas and shillings.

Hastily constructed and not necessarily accurate size converter.

It's just too much. Like why do France and Spain go from a 46 to 50 in one sizing step? Just to be difficult and, y'know, French? What's with Japan going for the odd numbers? If S starts that low, do plus sizes end up being called XXXXXXXXL? Because that will look silly on the label and make nobody happy. And don't even get me started on Gap doing that annoying Sizes 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, etc. Size 3 isn't a size! Soylent Green is people!

I'm actually wearing right now: a Gap vest, Size S/P (?!), a Primark cardigan, Size 8-10 (so...in between sizes?), and Stella McCartney for Adidas track pants, Size 12 (the only label that gives a conversion to all other sizes, except, weirdly, the US).* Number-number style sizing I can cope with, up to a point, for stuff like cardigans or whatever -- if they're not meant to be fitted, I guess a random one-size-fits-several attitude is acceptable. Plus it's Primark. BUT 'S/P' IS NOT A SIZE.

*I'm at home and it's cold and I'm poorly! Please don't judge me on this mishmash.

Am I alone? Do y'all find yourself wandering around stores just utterly perplexed and guesstimating the size? Feeling crappy when you go up two or four numbers? I do think that using numbers or graded size words plays into this: would one strive for a size zero if it were called something else? And as pointed out above, if you start sizing S at a UK 10, you pretty quickly run out of options except to just keep adding Xs in the manner of the stalkery love notes I write to Bryan Greenberg until ~~he gets a restraining order~~, um, you can't fit any more on the label.

I personally think the fashion industry needs to steal a leaf from the food industry's book (perhaps playing speedknob on it, and writing 'I smell' for good measure, then flicking its pigtails), and, following Spain's lead, standardise the lot. Perhaps not worldwide, but cutting a swathe across continents so you can flit between, say, London, Paris and Milan buying up a storm without having to carry a calculator. As each country's population has changed a great deal, and differently, measuring 10,000+ women seems a good place to start in drawing up the new sizing.

(If they can also make bra manufacturers stick to the same sizing chart, I and my boobs would say a hearty thank you also.)

Then when they're done measuring and cutting and sticking and drawing and deciding, (you know, the all powerful 'they'), a system that doesn't involve ever increasing numbers or judgey words would be super. I'd far rather be a size green or a size fabulous than a size 12 anyway. How great would that be? Not only are you the same size in every store, but it's a positive (if totally random) word, that bears no relation to any other size words. So instead of having people sniffle that they're now a size delicious and need to diet back down to size effervescent, they..wouldn't.

After the Fall : Autumn Fragrances

2007-10-15T13:15:00.000-04:00

The weather is finally cold enough to be called fall without my resorting to irony. As such its high time to switch the summer fresh scent staples and head into deeper, darker, sexier perfume territory. All those heavy decadent scents that were too pronounced back in summer are just perfect for fall. Now is not the time for a whisper of lemon zest and a hint of lily - fall is when we have free reign to break out the tuberose and go wild so we might as well enjoy it. As such here are six perfume winners, tried and tested - no hyped up scents that fail to make the grade, no ridiculous celebrity perfumes (why would anyone even want to smell like Britney Spears at this point) , just six incredible warm, heady, sensual scents you should try right now.

Les Nuits d'Hadrien

Notes : Green Mandarin, tangerine, bergamot, Sicilian lemon, ylang-ylang, cumin, sandalwood, white musk, amber, vanilla

Everyone knows that Eau de Hadrien is pretty much summer in a bottle. Its the kind of bright, sunny citrus that you want to just bathe in the moment the temperature hits past 75. Nuits d'Hadrien takes that essence and deepens into something great for all year round. You still get that initial burst of rich lemon but its surrounded by spicy woody notes that are intoxicating. Best of all its always stays fresh and clean - a great bonus for anyone looking to change their scent for the season without getting into anything too intense.

Premier Figuier
Notes : Fig, fig leaf, milk of almond, sandalwood and coconut

Delicious. Absolutely and completely delicious. You'll be licking at your wrist it smells that good and while that prospect might not seem particularly enticing something has to be said about a sweet and infinitely addictive fig scent. There is something about this perfume that is completely quirky - if you want a break from the usual florals or zesty citrus blends Premier Figuier is delightful. And for an even more intense experience try the Extreme version.

Gucci by Gucci

Notes : Guava, raspberry, pear, Tahitian Tiare flower, orange blossom, spider lily, patchouli, honey and musk

Anyone who knows me knows that I've had my issues with Gucci since Tom Ford left. Sorry Frida, I just can't get excited about the clothes anymore but that doesn't stop me from enjoying the latest scent to the fullest. A smoky mix of patchouli, amber and enough fruit to make a smoothie that dries down into something musky and close to the skin. Gorgeous enough to make me forget all about the horror of those plaid pants they showed for fall. If anything this veers back to the houses 1970s disco roots - there is something very Studio 54 about the whole deal from the scent itself to the print ads and even the bottle its all just decadent.

Serge Lutens Un Bois de Vanille

Notes : Vanilla, Bitter Almond, Musk, Licorice, Sandalwood, Coconut Milk

Do you know that feeling of curling up by a fireside with a warm cup of tea on the coldest day of the year? This is that feeling in a bottle. Warm vanilla spice mingled with a creamy caramelized sugar and sandalwood. There is something comforting about it but at the same time its just a little dangerous. You can smell the hint of smoke that keeps this from being just another milk and cookies vanilla scent.

Narciso Rodriguez for Her

Notes: Honey Flower, Solar Musk, Orange Blossom, Osmanthus, Amberlyn, Vanilla, Tactile Musk, Tactile Woods, Vetiver.

Musk is one of those love it or hate it things. There's something animalistic about it that either you respond to or your don't. Personally I can't get enough of it but I know its not for everyone. Thankfully Narciso Rodriguez for her exists - a musk thats just dirty enough for the bad girls but still clean enough that you can pair it with pearls and a twinset without resorting to irony. Plus there is more than a fair amount of amber in the mix - a complete fall fragrance standby.

Carnal Flower

Notes: Bergamot, Melon, Eucalyptus, Ylang Ylang, Salycilates, Jasmine, Tuberose absolute, Orange Blossom absolute Coconut,White Musks

Alright. Here's where we separate the girls from the women. Carnal Flower is not for the faint of heart - its deep, entrancing and completely sexy. The words strong and powerful come to mind when I think of this. A blast of tuberose completely anthethetical to any you've had before. This isn't Fracas 2.0, its something new. A green freshly picked tuberose mixed with jasmine that dries down to a deep dark musk. Intoxicating and so luxurious. Its rare to find something that combines green and warm so expertly but this does.

What will you ladies be wearing this fall in the fragrance department? I've got my Carnal Flower right here but the new Tom Ford Black Orchid Voile de Fleur is also high on my list this time around.

Wonders Never Cease...

2007-10-07T02:30:00.001-04:00

Never thought I'd see the day but Kaiser has rejected 3 models from the Chanel S/S show for being far too thin.

Models Raquel Zimmerman, Julia Dunstall and Vlada Roslyakova with Karl Lagerfeld at Chanel S/S 08

Karl Lagerfeld revealed in Paris he had taken a dramatic stand on the size zero issue by rejecting three models for his Chanel catwalk show yesterday (Friday) because they were 'too skinny'.

"It is the first time I have ever done something like this," he said.

"I have nothing against skinny girls. But these were terrible. They looked as if they had grown up in a Third World country with no food to eat.

"I sent them back to the agency. I did not think they should be modeling," said the designer.

He described the three models – who he did not identify – as being so thin as to look 'almost deformed' and agreed his stance may persuade other designers to follow suit.

I can't help but be curious as to which girls he sent packing (though I have my suspicions) but of course thats just my inner gossip fiend working over time. Kudos to Karl for actually doing that in his rude very Karl way. Granted, Karl is no friend to anyone over a size 4 but I give him credit for sending the girls home. This is one of the few times I've heard of a big designer sending girls back for being too thin and this is Karl "The girls are not anorexic but the clothes are" Lagerfeld, who has defended the size zero trend in the past. Good to see that he's changing his tune or at least altering it slightly. I really am curious as to which girls were sent back - usually its very known models (or up and coming) who get cast for Chanel and for someone to be so thin that Karl thinks they look bad they would have to be essentially transparent.

One small step I suppose. I hope more designers aren't afraid to send girls back to their agencies.

Smoke & Mirrors

2007-09-29T01:14:00.000-04:00

I remember being around 12 when it occurred to me that all my favorite models had one thing in common - cigarettes. It seemed at the time like an odd shared habit given the little I knew about cigarettes themselves but I couldn't help but notice that in every other runway picture or behind the scenes photograph the models were standing around sipping champagne and puffing on Marlboros. The images were so prevalent that I began to merely consider smoking to be one of those things models did - much like wearing fancy clothes or knowing how to walk in 6 inch heels. It was just part of their job.

It wasn't until a year or so later that I learned models use cigarettes to avoid getting hungry and suddenly it made sense.

Snejana Onopka lights up

This week The New York Times has an article Still Too Thin, and Getting Younger on the rampant use of cigarettes and other appetite suppressants along with the continuously decreasing age of fashion models. Its a sobering (and depressing) look into the tactics girls use to keep themselves waifish. The facts are unsurprising yet still manage to be staggering - a few choice excerpts:

There, one might be startled to find, scattered on the makeup table alongside the iPod and the Motorola SLVR (a device that electronics blogs approvingly call the anorexic phone), other currently common tools of the trade like Vicodin, clenbuterol and Marlboro Lights.

Vicodin, of course, is the prescription painkiller Eminem liked so much he immortalized it on “The Slim Shady LP,” and a drug better appreciated in the fashion business for its appetite-suppressing powers than for the truly unappetizing truth that it is only slightly less addictive than heroin. Clenbuterol is a steroid used by athletes, horse trainers and models to reduce body fat (one study of clenbuterol in horses showed significant weight reduction in a matter of weeks). “A lot of girls are using it now to keep their weight down,” said Kelly Cutrone, the founder of People’s Revolution, a fashion production company.

The one thing you will never hear anyone utter a peep of concern about when it comes to models is smoking. Yet it’s pretty common knowledge that they smoke more than long-haul truckers, road workers or Sylvia Sidney in “Beetlejuice.” The blue-collar reference here is intentional since, despite its putative glamour, a modeling gig is more like that of a supermarket checker than one would imagine. Both draw on a work force that tends to be uneducated and young.

. . .

No matter where, fashion-show readying areas all seem subject to local fire-safety standards, which designers observe by posting No Smoking signs prominently above the communal ashtray. Models smoke every place and all the time, in a nimbus of backstage hairspray, in alleyways at the rare shows (Prada, Bottega Veneta) whose designers won’t permit smoking indoors. They smoke at smart fashion parties and in the little Smart cars their agencies use to ferry them from one casting to the next. They smoke in a number of surprisingly tolerant restaurants here, of course, because the maître d’ has not been born who would tell the gorgeously sultry 18-year-old Australian Catherine McNeil to stamp out her cigarette.

. . .

It happens that there’s a sinister circularity in this process. Killing appetite is one reason people reach for a Marlboro. And there is no question that dieting is an occupational necessity for the girls paid to make the refined but punishingly slim clothes that Raf Simons showed in his much-lauded Jil Sander show on Tuesday (brave and courageous were words that were used a lot) look chic and also humanly feasible to wear.

It is also true that smoking to lose weight only leads to more smoking. Or at least that is what animal studies linking food deprivation to the use of stimulants have found. When the fashion community is used to its next fit of moral dudgeon and wakes up again to the problems of underweight girls and the largely hidden abuse of things like clenbuterol, it will be worth reminding them that there is good science demonstrating that when you starve an animal, you make it a lot more vulnerable to self-abuse.

I think this last bit really hits the nail on the head. The standards that many of these girls are place under are in unrealistic and in general unhealthy and given the relative ages of models (the article mentions girls as young as 12) its easy to see how very vulnerable they can be to eating disorders and/or drug use. Take a girl away from her family, dump her in a strange city or country and tell her that her job is dependent only on her ability to fit into clothing small enough to be sold at Baby Gap and its going to create problems. End of story.

As informative as this piece was it didn't seem to offer any solutions and lets face it the fashion world isn't exactly looking for them either. Things are still business as usual. Now depending on your views on cigarettes you may or may not feel that models smoking is a big deal but I think we can all agree that the use of cigarettes in place of food is a bad thing, not to mention the use of steroids and prescription drugs.

As always I ask you to tell me how this makes you feel - right now I can't help but feel frustration. After all the talk of model regulations it seems nothing has changed at all.

Thanks to Harini for linking me to this article and reminding me to check my beloved Thursday Styles

A Leg Up: Fall's Wide Leg Pants

2007-09-27T19:42:00.000-04:00

And were back! TFFF is fresh from vacation with a glow in our cheeks and our 100th post!

Of course now that we are back we must bid adieu to one of last years trademark trends.

Goodbye skinny denim! We hardly knew ye!

The time has come to usher in a new (new-old anyway) silohuette and while some of us are ecstatic about this development there are others who are clutching their drainpipe jeans in horror at the very prospect of wide leg pants. Its not hard to understand why - for every vision of Kate Hepburn in perfect high waisted trousers there is another equally prevalent image of shapeless baggy pants with legs so big they look like skirts. Wide legs pants can look chic just as easily as they can look bad so its important to know just how to wear this trend.

The Late Great Katherine Hepburn and the pants she made famous

Fit
The most important thing with wide legs (and with everything else for that matter) is fit. You want your pants to fit perfectly. Never too wide and never too tight. The perfect wide legs will be roomy throughout the entire leg.

Wide Legs on the Runway at Givenchy, Proenza & Phillip Lim

Note how the pants are full throughout the entire leg - if a pair of pants nips in at the thigh too much or is tight in general just wont look right. Form fitted is not the look were going for with these. Granted no one wants the very baggy "these pants are two sizes too big" look either so pay attention to how the pants skim over your body.

Length
Different strokes for different folks. I am an advocate of having just a little extra length on your wide leg pants incase you wish to wear heels. However no one wants to drown in excess fabric. If you are shorter your pants need to be hemmed accordingly, if you are taller they need to be extended accordingly. With wide leg pants slight differences in pant length are very apparent so its good to be conscious of these subtle differences.

Wide legs themselves are coming in different lengths as well now - there are of course wide leg capris and even shorts but the same rules apply. Make sure to try them on before buying. Too short on a wide leg can look like you've unintentionally worn high waters.

Proportions
I say this about everything but proportion is so important. Wide leg pants require the same amount of attention paid to proportion as skinny jeans do. If you're going for a wide leg its best to pair it with a smaller top. A flowing tunic top can look good as well but make sure its belted or cinched at the waist. Pairing a large top with large bottoms can be too much. Since the pants are already baggy its good to structure them with a fitted top or jacket.

Waist
High waists. Oh high waists. I'll be the first to admit they look cool. There is something very 1970s retro about a pair of pants with wide legs and a high waist there is no denying the popularity of this trend but buyer beware the trend is not particularly flattering. Be sure not to go too high - anything that cuts you off right under the boob are is almost guaranteed to look bad. And stick to darker colors - high waisted pants are already tricky and a dark color just makes things automatically flattering.

Accessorizing
Heels. Heels. Heels. I don't now how many times I have to say it but heels. If you are shorter (or even if you're not) heels will elongate your frame and make your wide leg pants look better. Try a great pair or platforms (more on those later this week) and I guarantee you wont regret it.

Since the waist is the focus of your outfit you'll want to invest in a good belt - something more interesting than the usual basic black.

So how do you feel about the resurgence of the wide leg? Will you be wearing this trend or is it something you'll skip? I'm quite excited for wide legs to be honest - even the high waist variety. There is something a little ladylike about the whole trend that appeals to me - I've already gotten a couple pairs now I just need this weather to cool down so I can wear them.

The Story So Far

2007-09-18T10:31:00.000-04:00

Looks from (top row) John Rocha's S/S 08 catwalk show at the BFC tent and (bottom row) Basso & Brooke's S/S 08 catwalk show at the Louise T Blouin Institute, at London Fashion Week.

Yesterday's shows included the long-established John Rocha, print specialists Basso & Brooke, and today's uber-boring Nicole Farhi.

What's black and white and bored all over? John Rocha's S/S 2008 show. In contrast to my trumpeting in the last post of the return of colour, Rocha showed a structurally dull collection barely enlivened with the few dashes of colour on show. The predominant palette of black, grey, linen and cream might have worked on outlandish or desirable pieces, but a basic black cotton shift is only really desirable when it's on sale at H&M for a tenner. The one high point came in the form of a dark turquoise liquid leather coat (shown above), which whilst totally covetable wasn't gasp-out-loud waiting-list-worthy.

Basso & Brooke more than made up for the disappointments earlier in the day, despite forcing us to trek from sunny South Kensington out to an industrial estate in the middle of nowhere (Shepherd's Bush). A sunny weekend had given way to freezing cold weather and the crowd outside the show was furious to be kept waiting in the street when they could have been safe in the confines of the BFC tent, but those of us lucky enough to score front row seats (i.e., me) were ushered into the inner sanctum straight away to pounce on our goodie bags. Thanks to L'Oreal I'm now the proud owner of 2 eyeshadows, 2 lipsticks, the entire De-maq Expert range, Elnett hairspray, spray-on fake tan and some sort of weirdo collagen wrinkle filler. Sometimes dashing across London on three different buses in four inch heels is totally worth it...

The goodies put everyone in the mood to be nice about the collection, but bribery was unnecessary: it was stellar. Highly structured cocktail dresses with boning and stiffened fabrics were overlaid with waves of chiffon, folded to flatter, all in Basso & Brooke's signature prints. Floor-length competed with cocktail competed with sporty competed with body-con: the bubble hem seen at the previous day's Eley Kishimoto show popped up again, and the sporty-style hooded and drawstringed styles were again in evidence.

Sadly Nicole Farhi's show (which finished barely an hour ago -- if this computer were a press this entry would be hot off it) could be summed up in far fewer words: "blah". Ply us with champagne and canapes beforehand all you like Farhi, nothing will get me drunk enough to think that cheap high street-style gap-year-in-India cotton prints on elasticated dresses are a good idea. Photos not yet up but after tomorrow's shows I may post a couple.

London Calling!

2007-09-17T08:30:00.000-04:00

As autumn rolls around, so do Spring Summer fashion shows, designed to taunt you with lovely summery clothes that you won't be able to buy or wear for another six months. Luckily at London Fashion Week on Saturday Ben de Lisi was on hand to show a series of dresses no-one in their right mind would lust after, thus sparing the fashion pack from dramatic sighs and desperate attempts at time travel. Instead we sat happy in the knowledge that we have a full season of delicious winter tailoring ahead, all dark looks and 1940s styles, before we have to contend with what next spring apparently has to offer.

From just two shows seen so far -- Ben de Lisi and Eley Kishimoto, it seems safe to say that colour is back, in a big way. You know how the fall fashion issues of all the glossies triumphantly trumpeted the return to tailoring and an end to oversized smocks and babydoll dresses, no more footless tights and back to body con? Yeah, that's not going to last long -- the one saving grace of the return of the smock / tunic is that for next year, a touch of body con has carried over, so we're no longer looking at shapeless sack dresses: clever details in the cut, together with subtle pleats or darts, give a waist and silhouette to even the most oversized dress.

Okay, so spring and summer have always been about dresses anyway, but Eley Kishimoto's offerings last night, in their collection titled 'Village Fete', were predominantly loose smocks, oversize tunics worn with bubble-hemmed skirts, and flowing, voluminous fabrics. All in eye-watering prints - a touch of leftover nu rave seemed to have influenced some of the dresses, with fabrics printed in giant chain designs in hot pink and neon green; whilst others were straight of 1970s Laura Ashley-ville (but in a cute way). The florals worked best -- everything from a wartime kind of print reminiscent of winceyette pyjamas, to flocked wallpaper styles -- as anything in neon right now just seems so wrong.

Ben de Lisi meanwhile seemed convinced that what we all want to wear is a long-sleeved all-over-sequinned horizontal rainbow striped dress, which makes me wince to type - imagine looking at the thing. There were also one too many minidresses adorned with giant sequin discs, a look last seen in Austin Powers, where it should have stayed. (I'm not this designer's biggest fan.)

But off the catwalk, and in reality, most of the colours shown so far have been bright, but flattering, and nothing perks you up after winter like a pop of colour. Remember last winter's palette of grey and navy resulted in the neon explosion? Luckily this winter is less bland, with plums and muted jewel tones, so the necessary post-winter colour explosion is similarly muted -- it doesn't need to be neon to make its point.

So although Eley Kishimoto did show those pink/green dresses, the real stand-out pieces were in chocolate brown silk, dove grey polka dots, mustard or rose pink prints, or a classic 1970s orange/chocolate/blue floral -- think your granny's tea-tray and you're close:

Looks from Eley Kishimoto S/S 2008 catwalk show (top row), and (bottom row) Ben de Lisi S/S 2008 catwalk show, both at the BFC tent at London Fashion Week.

I actually really adore the Eley Kishimoto stuff -- it's cutesy yet quirky in that slightly Luella way, I think. They really got it spot on with their show title -- it is very village fete. Those old-fashioned florals make me want to get my baking on and win a rosette (something they adorned some of the dresses with!), but there are enough modern twists to make it clothing not costume. I especially like the way they play with volume and silhouette to almost reverse-emphasise the waist: the bubble/gathered hem on most of the skirts plus the tunics that kick-flare at the waist creates an unusual apple silhouette, emphasising legs and shoulders as body con and leaving the torso uncluttered.

More updates live from London Fashion Week until Thursday; right now I'm off to John Rocha and later Basso & Brooke.

Will Success Spoil Beth Ditto?

2007-09-14T13:21:00.000-04:00

Its hard to keep up with Beth Ditto this month. She's moved from rockin' musician to full fledged fashion icon with an editorial in the Fall/Winter issue of cutting edge British glossy Pop and an interview in the September edition of Vogue Paris, arguably the single most important fashion magazine in existence.

The Size Hero edit in Pop, styled by Katie Grand and shot by Steven Klein is as artistic and eye catching as the magazine's typical fare and features a glammed up Beth cavorting with male model Blake in the seasons choice outfits. Many specially made for Ditto just for the shoot - glamorous clothing yes but its a bit disheartening to know that the average girl will never have a shot at any of these things. I wouldn't mind a Hussien Chalayan dress in my closet, thats for sure.

The Vogue Paris interview contains a couple of very beautiful snaps and what appears to be a profile focused mainly on The Gossip's success. Though with my rather appalling command of the french language I could be entirely wrong. Eternal gratitude to anyone who can provide accurate translation.

It seems as though Beth is becoming more and more known, not just for her band but also for her status as a plus sized woman in an industry that isn't particularly known for his celebration of difference. I can't help but wonder whether the fashion press truly embraces her or if they are merely latching on to her seemingly endless cache of cool. Magazine's like Pop and Vogue Paris are known for being cutting edge so seeing Beth within their pages isn't as much of a shock but as Beth becomes more well known and ultimately more mainstream does the impact of her message get diluted? Is it less about plus sized girls and more about Beth Ditto, Rock Star?

How do you feel about the fashion world's current love affair with Beth?

Thanks to Dieselmax at tFS for scanning the lovely preview of Pop's editorial

What's In A Name? : Designer Capsules the Pros & Cons

2007-09-10T13:48:00.001-04:00

It seems like every designer under the sun is teaming up with a mass market chain to launch a cheaper line - whether it be a limited edition capsule (Temperley and Loeffler Randall for Target) or a full fledged collection (Vera Wang for Kohls) but what does this mean for plus size girls? Designers have not been particularly eager to cater to the plus sized consumer in their personal lines so who is to say things will get any better in these new diffusion lines? Besides what's should you even look for when shopping one of these? Since were about to hit critical mass with the upcoming launches of Vera, Temperley, Cavalli for H&M and so on so forth TFFF presents a pros & cons guide to navigating the wealth of options that will present themselves this fall.

An image from Vera Wang for Kohls

PRO: Things are cheaper
CON: Things are cheaper...
Ok this is the most obvious plus sign. Designer clothes for less money. Sounds simple enough but remember that cheaper means - cheaper production values, less frills and lower fabric quality. Make no mistake about it a shirt from a diffusion line is not going to be the same quality as one from the main line. In some respects one is paying for the cache of having a designer name on their clothing. If you see anything that looks subpar your best bet is to just leave it right there in the store. I know it can be hard not get caught up in the moment (with a lot of these things the rush of full combat shopping is half the excitement) but don't buy anything you wouldn't buy if it didn't have a fancy logo or name stamped on it.

PRO: Sizes are bigger
CON: Not that much bigger
For many designers (especially the younger labels) their version of a large is a 10. Yeah you read that correctly - ten. Now this isn't the case for all designers (one of these days I'm just going to make a list of designers and the sizes they go up to) but as we all know the vast majority of the high priced labels run a bit small. In these new cheaper lines the sizing is a little larger but not enough to cater to every one. H&M's designer collections go up to about a size 14 (they went up to 16 until Karl complained, way to go Kaiser), Target's Go-International collections hit a size 13 juniors and the new Kohl's for Vera Wang cuts off at size 16. Its a start but there is still a long way to go before everyone gets to benefit from this. Of course there are exceptions to this rule and as we all know the advent of vanity sizing has turned the world on its head so take the time to try everything on if you can. You may be surprised - many of the lines tend to run large since stores would seemingly prefer to completely alter the numbers listed instead of just offering more sizes.

PRO: Things are trendy
CON: Things are trendy
If you're looking for an affordable way to bring the latest looks into your wardrobe diffusion lines are perfect. You can stock up on incredibly trendy pieces like layered knits and bubble skirts, cropped wide leg pants, etc without feeling bad about spending oodles on things that will be passe in a few seasons. However if you want classic pieces that will last then these wont be particularly useful. Even when basics are provide they typically wont be built to last. Sometimes its better to pay a little more for something that can be used over and over again.

PRO: Everyone is doing it.
CON: SERIOUSLY Everyone is doing it.
If you value not wearing the same thing as everyone else its tough to see 10 girls walking down the street in the exact same Viktor and Rolf top (can you tell that was me the day after the H&M collection last year) so be mindful of the fact that many other people will be wearing the same exact thing as you are if you buy from one of these collections.

And now a whos who of what's to be offered in the coming months with my thoughts on what's hot.

The Good Stuff: Two looks from Vera Wang, including the gold skirt of my dreams, Loeffler Randall for Target woven bag, clutch & flats & two delectable looks from Temperley for Target

- Vera Wang for Kohls: I'm going to shop this collection later this week and I cannot wait. Visit the Kohl's microsite to see most of the collection or just open up every magazine this month to see the gorgeous ads. Almost everything looks like fun but I am particularly obsessed with the gold brocade skirt. Very Proenza Schouler S/S 07, no?
VER WANG IN STORES NOW

- Temperley for Target: LOVE IT. I'm in completely non-objective love with the vast majority of this collection. My only wish is that the sizes weren't just for juniors! C'mon Target! You can do better than this! They should be going up much higher than just 13. All that aside there are some great finds, they've even gone and redone one of Temperley's signature long flowing floral dresses for this collection. TheGo International site is still selling the Libertine collection but watch that space for pieces from Temperley.

TEMPERLEY IN STORES : SEPTEMBER 15th

- Loeffler Randall for Target: An all accessories collection from the hip Brooklyn shoe duo who won the 2007 CFDA award for best accessories. Now I'm completely addicted to their main line - I think they're possibly my favorite shoe designers right now. Granted, with Target prices you can't really get the sumptuous fabrics they usually use but the designs are still attractive and you don't have to shell out $300 and up for a pair. There are also great bags, I'm especially impressed with the woven Bottega-esque hobo. Take a gander for yourself at a preview on Elle.com Since there is still awhile to go before 08 treat yourself to one of their main line shoes in the meantime. You wont be disappointed.

LOEFFLER RANDALL IN STORES EARLY 2008

- Cavalli for H&M: Either you love Cavalli or you hate it. Lately I admit to loving it - things aren't as wham bam as they used to be but they're certainly much more wearable. Lets face it, who besides J.Lo was really going to wear a neon green feathered low cut gown anywhere? Few people can pull that off or even want to for that matter. But in recent seasons we've seen a bit of refinement come to the house previously known for bold in your face sex appeal. The H&M collabo seems to follow this pattern and though were still a couple months away I can safely say that this one will be worth that massive line around 5th avenue.

CAVALLI IN STORES: NOVEMBER 07

Happy shopping! I know I cannot wait, anyone see anything that catches their eyes?

TFFF is back under the tents for Fashion Week this season so stay tuned for updates on the latest happenings. Not just for fall but also for the S/S 08 shows.

Beautifully Human: Jill Scott in Essence

2007-09-08T00:12:00.000-04:00

R&B Soul singer Jill Scott is on the cover of this month's Essence talking about her music, personal struggles and the pressure to lose weight within the music industry.

Once I started looking for a record deal, I had a trainer. And the trainer told me that I would never sell a record if I didn’t lose weight.

Personally, I sincerely hope she told that trainer off but the very fact that anyone would even say that gives insight into how body conscious the entertainment world is. As intense as the beauty standards for fashion are its easy to sometimes forget that fashion isn't the only industry wherein this pressure exists. The music world enforces its own rules and standards for its female performers. Lately it seems as though the most important thing a singer can do is look "good". With the seemingly endless stream of disposable popstars and drum machine heavy songs more reliant on audio editing programs ProTools than singing talent looks play an increasingly important part in the marketing of music. Reading through the Jill Scott piece I couldn't help but think of this editorial from a few months ago on the importance of sexiness as a marketing tool.

She was an "amazing talent," a young singer with a wonderful voice who wrote beautiful songs. But she was no beauty, plus flat-chested and overweight to boot.

Remembering the aspiring star, music executive Jody Gerson still feels terrible about thinking: "She's never going to get signed, even though she's fabulous."

Its a shame to think just how low actual talent ranks in the scheme of things. How do you feel about stars being asked or told to lose weight in order to secure record deals? I think we can all agree that it is a reprehensible practice but how prevalent do you think it is / can a star succeed if they don't fit the typical cookie cutter?

Back to fashion, I think Jill looks amazing in her red velvet Igigi dress! Absolutely gorgeous - she seems positively regal especially posing on that chaise.

It's raining, it's pouring, it's a Monsoon

2007-09-03T10:40:00.000-04:00

I'm very busy and important, but I just have time to tell you that as I was sprinting along Oxford Street in my horrifically high heels (sort of like a better dressed and less irritating Carrie Bradshaw - now with 100% less whimsy!), I spotted something ne'er before seen on the high street, did a double take, and nearly broke my neck. I'm so coooooooooooooool.

Said spazzmoddery was caused by seeing, writ large in hot fuschia lettering across the window of Monsoon, "Sizes 8 to 22 available in store".

!!!

Okay, it's not 'Storming of the Bastille'-level of important (and why that should pop into my head as a 'scale of importance reference' I don't know), but for a moderately expensive upscale high street chain to not just stock plus sizes, but -- gasp -- announce it, brazenly, in hot pink lettering, is kind of unusual, non? Especially since most shops, as we've learned, prefer to keep their bigger sizes online and away from sensitive customers, in case they catch fat, or something.

(See how I pulled it all together after the random Bastille reference by writing 'no' as 'non'? C'est professional fashion writing!)

In celebration of Monsoon's out-and-proud sizing policy, here's some bits and pieces from their current crop:

Clockwise: Suede baker boy hat, £25; Olive embroidered blouse, £40; Gold sequin bag, £28; Herringbone jacket, £95; Plum leather boots, £75; Lace-up shoe, £70; Sequin detail tunic top, £50.

I sort of want to have sex with the Herringbone jacket, it's so fab. Is that weird? I couldn't help but wonder...

Hunting High & Low : Lace Up Oxford Heels

2007-08-22T23:28:00.000-04:00

Lace up high heeled oxfords are my accessory obsession for fall. Perhaps its just my prep school past creeping up but there is something so appealing about a good oxford. They're familiar, cute and they go with everything from jeans to skirts. Add on a high heel and you get a girlish take on a traditionally masculine staple. It seems like every other shoe maker is coming out with their own unique take on this trend. Here are a few options from affordable to extravagant.

UNDER $100 | Maroon Patent Oxfords $89 - Steve Madden | Metallic Silver Oxfords $34 - Delia's | Tartan Oxfords $89 - Steve Madden
$100 - $250 | Black Patent Oxfords $280 - Stuart Weisman | Grey Suede Oxfords - Circa Joan & David | Black & White Spectator Pumps - Betsey Johnson $230
$250 & Up | Two-tone Oxfords $450 - Marc by Marc Jacobs | Black & Gold Patent Oxfords $695 - Christian Louboutin | Spectator Pumps $575 - Bally
I love those little silver booties from Delia's they're so cute and cheap. Granted, silver shoes aren't the most practical fashion item but at that price practicality just goes out the window. For a bigger splurge I've been wanting those Bally's so badly. They keep popping up in editorials and catching my eye - they remind me so much of spats. I may just have to treat myself...

Anyone else digging this trend? I think these will look so great paired with jeans - can't wait to start wearing them.

Anna Scholz F/W 07

2007-08-20T18:07:00.000-04:00

Can we talk about how cute all of this is? Amazing. That gold swing coat is mine - I don't care if I have to charter a jet to London just to get it. Its just mine.

But enough about me. The new Anna Scholz fall collection, modeled by perennial favorite Crystal Renn, is smart and chic. I think there is a little something for everyone - if you're big on 1960s mod (like me), color blocked new rave, or just want a nice good ol' fashioned fall dress there is something for you. What I like best is how cool everything is - too often plus sized fashions can be just a little lacking in that department but everything here from the unique silhouettes to the arty photography is on point.

Check out the full collection at Anna Scholz.com

It looks like this fall is setting up to be nothing short of amazing when it comes to clothing choices. From the myriad of designers doing capsule collections to the gorgeous new trends and accessories. Were going to be covering it all here from a to z but what are you most excited for this fall? For me its all about the shoes this time around - I plan on living in lace up high heeled oxfords. And that swing coat of course.

Special thanks to Eve for sending me all thelovely Anna Scholz info

TFFF Interview: Lisa of Lee Lee's Valise

2007-08-16T13:55:00.000-04:00

Awhile ago I had the absolute pleasure of speaking to Lisa, the owner and creative force behind Lee Lee's Valise, the incredible Brooklyn plus-size boutique. Lisa's effervescent personality and hard work have helped changed the landscape of downtown / Brooklyn shopping. Boutique shopping is hard enough as is but presents special challenges for plus sized girls - if you think finding sizes is hard try walking into the average NYC boutique where the largest offered size is often a six. Fortunately for us new stores like Lee Lee's offer a haven of fun, fashionable shopping in a pleasant and atmospheric environment.

A peak inside the absolutely gorgeous Lee Lee's Valise, plus sized boutique in Carrol Gardens Brooklyn. Lisa showing off one of the many cute outfits there.

TFFF: How did you get your start in retail?

My retail experience was just shopping! My background was originally in illustration and graphic design - thats where I got my logo. This just needed to be done - I found my purpose on earth. I could use all my experiences positive and negative to figure out whats right.

TFFF: What made you want to do an on site store instead of a web store?

Reason for this store is because I could not shop in my own neighborhood. I didn't have that pleasure of walking into a store and finding something so I wanted to create it. I knew I wasn't alone and that it could make people happy.

TFFF: Why did you feel it was important to have services like on-site alterations?

You want that polished look and that's what does it. You may need a little pinch on the shoulder or a nip here and there - there is always something you can do to make your clothes better. What's been happening a lot though is that the designers that I carry only design for plus sizes. Before you just had to take things and fix them - they weren't made for you they were just the smaller sizes graded up. Now were getting big patterns - you're having a size 12 or 14 fit model.

TFFF: What make's Lee Lee's Valaise special?

A lot of thought was put into every detail. There is a whole feeling - everyone is acknowledged from the moment they walk in to the moment they leave with that gorgeous Euro bag over their shoulders. No one just sneaks in. Its comfortable here - its not a pretentious place. In a way I'm welcoming you into my home. From the way its decorated, to the general atmosphere. I wanted that warm feeling community feeling like in the old school Italian immigrant boutiques where the owners knew all their clients by name.

Some of these women are used to being ignored - I wanted to make it so that I'm not ignoring you. In here you're special.

TFFF: What has the reaction been thus far?

I have had women who come in here who cant spin on their heels fast enough the second they see a size - its like they think they're going to catch a disease. But for every one of those there are 30 happy people. That number to me is much more important - there's so many happy people here and if they can't deal with that its fine.

People have been coming from all over - the Bronx, Upper East Side, Jersey, Astoria - they come here after work and then take the train home when they're done shopping! And the best thing is that I'm trying to create a community here. You don't just walk in and out - we take your email address and send information about upcoming events and the customer service is very personal. I know every item in the store personally and I've mixed and matched them myself so I'm always ready to help. I want it to be fun and exciting why should shopping for a plus sized girl be a chore?

TFFF: What does the future hold for Lee Lee's Valise?

In September I'm going to start carrying some juniors clothes for back to school. I'm also looking into shoes. I want to find great wide width shoes and the best wide calf boots for fall. I would love to be able to bring some bridal clothes here too. Shopping for weddings can be nightmarish.

I'm looking to expand but within this area because I have to be there. So far I've worked here every single day since the store opened. I just feel the need to be here. Maybe that makes me a control freak but because I know all the clothes here I feel its important. So I'd like to super duper concentrate in this location for the time being.

Lee Lee's Valise is located at 368 Court Street Brooklyn, NY 11231. I don't think I could really reccommend this store more - there are unique on site services like the aforementioned alterations. Every plus sized designer you've ever heard of is stocked from Tadashi, Igigi, Kiyonna, Svoboda to Elena Miro and Anna Scholz its all there. Every neighborhood should have a store like this. And Lisa is truly a joy to talk to so makes sure to say hello once you step inside. Upcoming events include the Fall Anna Shoulz Trunk Show and I know everyone is itching to see those gorgeous styles up close and personal.

And click here for a nice 10% off coupon. Can't beat that with a stick.

Ashley Graham by Brian Boulos

2007-08-08T16:31:00.001-04:00

I stumbled upon these fantastic beauty portraits of Ashley Graham by Brian Boulos on Flickr. Now we all know that Ashley is gorgeous but these pictures are amazing - she's really just got the perfect face for makeup. I was especially impressed when I went to Boulous' official site and found out that not only has he shot many of the other gorgeous plus models from Ford but he's only a mere 22 years old! Amazing. Please check out his work there or at this Flickr where he has loads of other lovely shots of plus size models. I really love his photographs, he's got a great use of light and color - not to mention his taste in models.

Those Lazy Hazy Crazy Days

2007-08-06T08:48:00.000-04:00

Let’s talk lounge. And I don’t mean as in lizard (although I can often be found sipping martinis in the company of finger-clickin' gentlemen, listening to "The Girl From Ipanema"). I mean as in the laziest past-time of them all, lounging.

Is sitting on your backside really a past-time? Or is just being indolent? All I know is, the various lounging combinations – a sofa and a TV remote, a bed and a book, a heap of cushions and a stereo, me a blanket and my honey in the park, heck, even a pile of dirty laundry and a porno mag – make me joyously happy.

The first thing to remember is, lounging is not sleeping. If you wake up and then stay in bed under the covers all day, you’re probably depressed and need Prozac, not a fashion blog. Also, if you wear your pyjamas all day and all night, they will eventually develop a nasty crust and you’ll smell. (Trust me on this.) Lounging doesn’t smell. Except maybe of rainbows and kittens and a freshly poured bowl of cereal.

Lounging is that glorious state-of-mind, state-of-being, when, after having got up and showered and breakfasted and all the rest of it, you decide to be slothful. Perhaps you’ll go back to bed – above your duvet but underneath a spare blanket – or maybe you’ll curl up on the sofa, or if it’s sunny even in a deckchair in the garden. Wherever you choose to rest your weary head and paint castles in the sky, you won’t want to be wearing anything uncomfortable.

Lounging clothes walk a fine line between clothes and pyjamas. On the one hand, you want to be comfortable. On the other, should you have to answer the door or maybe walk to the corner shop for extra supplies of M&Ms or whatever, you want to be dressed in something vaguely resembling chic. It’s a perilous line you walk, when you lounge. Although a few pairs of cute cotton pyjama bottoms, the sort with an elasticated waist that look totally cute when paired with a plain coloured tank, might find their way into your lounging wardrobe.

The thing that makes the difference is underwear. If you're wearing clean knickers and a decent bra, you can totally go to the shops in pyjama bottoms, a tank, a cardigan, and flip-flops. Really. Something about being gussied and trussed up underneath your jammies makes them feel like clothes, a fact I took full advantage of for several years in college.

What you want then are jersey layers and wide-legged trousers, fitted hoodies with chic details, camisole vest tops, and sweat pants. So long as everything is clean, ironed, and fits well, it won't look slobby. It doesn't have to be kaftan loose to be comfortable -- a good pair of sweatpants with a very wide waistband will look chic without cutting into you.

It is crazy to spend oodles of money on clothes that will never see the light of day (except for those emergency snack shop visits). Marks and Spencer, John Lewis, Evans, Primark, and all the high-street suspects all do plus sizes (usually up to 28, though Evans run to a 32) with a good selection of jogging bottoms, jersey tops, cardigans and hoodies, in neutral colours, for all your lounging needs.

For some reason there's some sort of ironic thing going on, in that the most comfortable AND stylish picks for lounging around and being idle, are in the sports and fitness wear section. Check out sports shops like Sweaty Betty for the most flattering and comfortable pants -- Stella McCartney for Adidas last season did THE most insanely comfortable and sexy jogging bottoms. You couldn't actually jog in them, but they're nice to wear. Although only up to a Large/UK 14, they're cut very loose and more like a UK 18.

I don't know how I'm supposed to be motivated to go running when the clothes are all soft and yummy and oh look a sofa aaaaaaaaaaand naptime....zzzzzz

Top, from a selection at Toast; Pashmina, £75 at John Lewis; Ballet slippers, £65 from French Sole; Pyjama bottoms, $37.90 at Nordstrom; Jogging bottoms, £9.50 from Marks and Spencer; Chocolate wrap cardigan, £25 at Evans; Draped wrap cover-up, £65 at Boden.

Please tell me you guys have an entire cupboard dedicated to lovely lounging clothes too, so that I don't feel like the only lazybones sittin' in the sun this summer.

Shall We Dance

2007-08-02T15:46:00.000-04:00

The New York Times has an interesting article this week about the Danza Voluminosa, a troupe of plus sized dancers changing attitudes about dance in Cuba.

The prima ballerina of the Danza Voluminosa troupe weighs 286 pounds, and as she thumps gracefully across the floor, she gives new meaning to the words stage presence. Her body is a riotous celebration of weight — of ample belly and breasts, of thick legs and arms, of the crushing reality of gravity.

I thought the article was intriguing - the world of dance (particularly ballet) is one of the most body conscious fields in existence, the idea of an all plus-sized troupe is quite daring. I honestly can't recall ever seeing a dancers on stage who weren't very lithe. I found the opinions of the dancers themselves to be very open and honest - they all seemed to feel as though they were struggling with their weight and expressed concern about that but at the same time they felt uplifted by their ability to use the power of dance to empower themselves and others.

For the dancers, working with Mr. Mas has changed their lives. Several said they suffered from constant embarrassment and guilt over their weight before they began dancing. But dancing has taught them to accept, if not love, their bodies. They also say that after a performance, they feel self-esteem that is foreign to most them, having suffered from the gibes of their peers since childhood.

Barbara Paula, 29, who weighs 275 pounds, has been dancing with the troupe for five years. She said it still felt strange at times to be on stage, as if she were constantly discovering the potential beauty hidden inside her body, which for years was a source of shame for her.

“It’s something new,” she said. “I don’t have this complex anymore that because we are obese, we cannot dance, we cannot walk in the street.”

Full NYT Article

Admittedly I do not come from a dance background so perhaps someone could speak more on the subject of body politics within dance? I'd be quite interested to hear opinions or experiences with regards to that.

Special thanks to Rosa for sending me this article

London Calling

2007-07-30T10:19:00.000-04:00

Your London correspondent apologises for her long absence and begs your forgiveness. And says THANK YOU X 10,000 for everyone who helped me out with my lil' graphics poll. You've totally helped me and hopefully my project will thus be awesome. In exchange I offer you a mini-guide to London's best shopping.

(A very mini guide. London is a shopper's heaven, and there's no possible way to offer a précis to the city -- if you visit with shopping in mind, I'd recommend a specialist guide like Where to Wear. Or emailing me for personalised recommendations. In exchange for coming along with you and pointing at pretty things in the shops and going "ooh!". As such this is just 5 perfect shopping havens. I may have to do a separate department store post to cover the wonders of Fenwicks, Selfridge's, Harvey Nichols and the ultimate in shopping brilliance, Dover Street Market. In fact I think I will.)

Anyway, TFFF founder, moderator and tyrant billionaire Miss J has made up a little cut-out-and-keep guide to the shops I detail below. Here's where I shop:

1. Topshop Flagship
Oxford Circus, London
00 44 (0)845 121 4519
www.topshop.com

The details on Topshop clothes are above and beyond what I expect from the high street; it's marginally more expensive than H&M but earrings won't turn your ears green and buttons won't fall off. It's great both for basics like wifebeaters, and original designs, via the Unique and Boutique labels. The store features regular designer collaborations to keep things fresh, with hot young things like Christopher Kane and Sophia Kokosolaki taking part.

As of yet there's no plus size range but the flagship store is worth a visit just for the accessories floor. That's right: an entire floor devoted to bags, scarves, jewellery, make-up and hosiery. (Shoes are on another level entirely.) There's also a vintage and designer brands section (you're more likely to find plus sizes down here), a personal shopping service, special events, and a caffeine-laden café. Sizes UK 6 - 16, US 2 - 12. Ships internationally.

2. Liberty
Great Marlborough Street, London
00 44 (0)20 7734 1234
www.liberty.co.uk

Liberty...ahhhhhhhh. Where to begin, my old friend? Liberty is, hands down, the nicest store in the world. Tucked away behind Oxford Circus, just round the corner from Carnaby Street, its wide wooden staircases and beautiful architecture are a welcome respite from the bustle of central London.

The central atrium unfolds like the layers of a chocolate cake. The wide, square staircase spins up and up on the right, whilst the upper floors are cut away at the centre, leaving a central column of air and nothingness. The ground floor features perfume, handbags, jewellery and make-up, whilst the layers above reveal designer clothing, haberdasheries, furniture and more. The staircase opens out onto the floor and thanks to the cut-away design you're immediately taken to the left or right, following the banisters through room upon room of quiet fashion solitude.

Gift vouchers are offered in the form of gold coins in velvet pouches; purchases come wrapped in delicious purple paper. Not only can nothing bad happen here, but unlike Tiffany's, you can actually have breakfast at Liberty's - the restaurant offers the most divine pancakes. Sells diffusion labels like Marc by Marc and See by Chloe; also a perfumier, accessories lounge, bag department, vintage furniture and a haberdashery. Sizes - vary according to designer. Utter heaven.

3. Bullfrog
The Pavement, London
00 44 (0)20 76274123

The high street! My spiritual home! South London, apart from being a notorious gangsta hotspot these days (my 'hood actually is known as "the Hotspot". According to the hysterical tabloid meeja, anyway), has some quality shopping. Aside from the usual branches of high street chains, there are any number of one-off boutiques or smaller chains, like Sweaty Betty.

Among these smaller chains is Bullfrog, which has branches across south London, but my favourite is the one opposite Clapham Common. Mostly because it's practically next door to Starbucks, so when you've made your purchases you can caffeinate up and sit in the sunshine watching hot boys play football and go jogging and stuff. What other high street shopping experience brings you such depths?!

Shoes are a specialty, with brand names ranging from Hush Puppies to Irregular Choice, plus Bullfrog own designs. There's also a small selection of unique jewellery, bags and accessories, together with an entirely random selection of clothing -- some own-name pieces and selected outfits from French Connection and other high-end high-street names.

The boutiques are tiny and adorable, with the friendliest staff in the world, and they seem to change their stock almost daily. Purchase a silk sack dress and some platforms before relaxing on the common and indulging in aforementioned boy-watching. Shopping bliss. Sizes S, M, L - but cut generously. No online or mail order.

4. Beyond Retro
Soho & Brick Lane
00 44 (0)20 7613 3636
www.beyondretro.com

As the Beyond Retro owners say themselves, the new Soho (London) store is "a lush 70s-meets-Victoriana boutique, a heady blend of chandeliers, vintage taxidermy and Hugh Hefner chic". Intrigued (or just nonplussed by that whole 'vintage taxidermy' deal)? The shops stock includes over 10,000 vintage items, sold at wholesale prices, from 1940s pussy-cat bow blouses to 1980s sneakers.

It cannot be described, really. Where the joys of Topshop can be explored online, and Liberty can be happily imagined (I often use Liberty's atrium as a setting when playing a quick game of 'anywhere but here'), Beyond Retro really has to be seen to be believed. It's like an insane wonderland. Sizes: varies from piece to piece. No online or mail order, but worth the price of a plane ticket alone.

5. Browns
South Molton Street
00 44 (0)20 7514 0000
www.brownsfashion.com

Browns is a London landmark, founded in the 1970s. The flagship branch is on South Molton Street, at the heart of the snooty shopping district (you're a stone's throw from Bond Street and Savile Row. Although if you threw that stone you'd probably hit a billionaire in the eye and be sued). Nearby are the brother and sister stores, Browns Men, Browns Bride, Browns Focus (edgier designers), and Browns Labels For Less, the discount outlet.

Browns though is the original. Not to be confused with the equally wonderful, also 1970s born, restaurant chain Browns, which has a branch on St Martin's Lane near Trafalgar Square, and does the best hamburger in London. Why not theme your day? Start by shopping at Browns, choosing from a selection of hip designers like Ann Demeulemeester, Dries Van Noten, Marc Jacobs, Christopher Kane, Ashish, Lanvin and Chloe, hit up Browns Focus for a few more pieces, have lunch at Browns-the-restaurant, and finish spending what few pennies you have left at Browns Labels For Less. Okay, it's not a great theme, but the clothes are. Sizes: Varies according to designer, XS - XL. Ships internationally.

There you have it. As focussed a list as I can possibly give. In the future I'll try and post recommendations on London's historic department stores - which are the most plus friendly (hint: not Harrods, where they kick you out for wearing jeans, let alone being a pound or two overweight); markets, and Shoreditch shopping.

Fashion Film : Hairspray!

2007-07-30T00:36:00.000-04:00

C'mon I had to write about Tracy Turnblad!

I love Hairspray, I've loved it since way back before the musical revamp when it was a John Waters piece de resistance featuring a pre-talk show Ricki Lake and the divine Divine. The original film is just witty, campy and great fun - if you haven't seen it you should Netflix it because its required watching.

One thing I love about Hairspray is how confident the character of Tracy is. Sure she's a little bigger than the other girls (pleasantly plump in her own words) but she's exuberant and feisty and never lets anything stand in her way. She knows she's a great dancer and ultimately its her faith in herself that lets the whole world know it too - by the end of the movie everyone in Baltimore (except the evil Amber Von Tussle of course) is in love with her.

The Many Faces of Tracy
Ok. Enough of my gushing - I think its clear that I enjoy the film. Now as we all know a remake was released a few days ago featuring the lovely Nikki Blonsky (love her - she's been wearing the most amazing outfits on the Hairspray press tour and is a sure candidate for TFFF profile) as Tracey. I have just returned from seeing the film and needless to say I enjoyed every minute. After the singing and dancing what stood out most for me were the incredible candy colored retro costumes. Musicals often have some of the most interesting costumes since the reality they exist in is heightened and the costumes follow suit. In Hairspray everything is almost too cute - even when the characters are supposed to look drab they're still in to die for little shifts and prints. I thought Nicki Blonsky, Queen Latifah, Michelle Pfiffer and Amanda Bynes looked especially good in all that 1960s chic.

Fashion is going through a bit of a late 50s / early 60s moment now as well. From Amy Winehouse's beehive of doom to Galliano's recent Barbara Hutton-redux runway - high hair and bold color are back. As such here are a host of Turnblad approved accessories guaranteed to get you moving.

Welcome to the 60s : Hairspray - Frederic Fekkai Sheer, Tinted Lipbalm - Benefit Benetint , Hair Clip - Juko , Flats - Marc Jacobs Mouse Shoes, Purse - J. Crew tartan clutch (in store only), Necklace - Jules Smith Kiss Kiss Necklace
Those mouse shoes might just be worthy of their own film, ditto for the lips necklace. I don't see how anyone can wear either of those and not burst spontaneously into a song and dance number. There is something so kitschy about those shoes. The hair bows as well - though I suppose kistchy is what one looks for in this instance. Personally I'm jonesing for one of those great skirts everyone had in the movie. Every single female character (Travolta included) had amazing skirts. Rita Ryack's costumes were really just incredible.

Lit From Within: The Summer Glow

2007-07-25T13:31:00.000-04:00

As much focus as there is on makeup most of the fun and attention goes towards color. Its all about the precise shade of eyeshadow, the lipstick of the moment (Peter Som for Lancôme if you must know) anything bright and bold that catches our eyes and gets us excited. Color is king - cosmetics collections are called color stories for a reason. And the right shade of lipstick/eyeshadow or blush is the cosmetic equivalent to that scene in The Wizard of Oz where Dorothy's world goes from bleak beige to glittering technicolor.

But here's the kicker - color means nothing without skin. Your skin is the canvas on which you apply your color so if its not looking good all the trendy shades in the world will not look their best.

Now since its summer everyone on earth is going to tell you to worry about blotting and stopping shine but as appealing as that may seem there is nothing natural about a completely matte face in the middle of a heatwave. Being overly powdered is just as bad as looking greasy - the goal should be a healthy glow that appears to come from within. A since every good look requires a little bit of effort here are the tools you'll need to recreate the look yourselves - along with a few of our favorite products.

PRIMER | NARS PRIMER SPF 20

Banana Boat

CONCEALER | DIOR SKINFLASH
Personally I despise the feel of foundation on a warm day. Its just too much for me - as such I prefer to merely use a concealer to target specific problems. I like using a pen concealer like YSL Touche Eclat or Dior's Skinflash to cover up dark circles and any other little imperfections.

POWDER | SUE DEVITT C-WEED POWDER

LUMINIZER | MAC MINERALIZE SKINFINISHES

very

BLUSH | CARGO BLUSH

"I just pinched my cheeks"

Which products do you use to make your skin glow? Again I'm quite partial to those Skinfinishes - Global Glow might just be my holy grail.

Hips Don't Lie

2007-07-19T19:15:00.000-04:00

Interesting phenomenon sweeping across the runways lately - as models lose their curves clothes gain them. From S/S right through to F/W Couture week we've been seeing an influx of nipped waists and padded hips - the sorts of exaggerated hourglass proportions that we almost never actually see on the runways.

Hippy chic at Dolce, McQueen, Armani Prive and Lacroix
Now while we have yet to see any change in the aesthetic physically I find it interesting that designers are playing with proportion in this way. For so long the ideal has been a sort of straight up and down column or oversized draped sacks- very boyish and boxy overall. It almost seemed as though fashion had forgotten about the very idea of the curve but now its returned but in these surreal corset and bustle-esque dresses. Granted, I'm going to go out on a limb here and say that most of us do not require extra hip padding to fill out a McQueen frock but its interesting that he's added it.

It would seem as though the focus is going back towards the idea of a body that has shape - even if that shape is created via padding. Every magazine from Vogue to Bazaar is talking about the return of sex (because according to fashion lore Tom Ford confiscated sex and took it with him once he left Gucci) and a curvier silhouette would certainly be a sign of such a resurgence because as we all know curves are sexy.

How do you feel about this look? Is it just the fleeting fancy of a few influential designers or a sign of a shift overall?

A favour...

2007-07-18T11:24:00.001-04:00

Hey everyone

I'm going to totally abuse my powers as a contributor to this blog and ask all the readers a wee favour. I'm currently studying hard for an MA and I need a little research help.

Nothing major, just 6 multiple choice questions on graphics and layout for my project. If any of you are surfing and a bit bored, please head over to My MA Project and leave a comment answering the questions there. I promise it won't take more than 2 minutes!

Back to your regularly scheduled fashion...

Old Navy takes the final step in its alienation of the plus size consumer

2007-07-16T01:27:00.000-04:00

After a spring and summer season where it appeared Old Navy was only stocking shorts, pants and skirts in sizes 00-12 in their stores, they finally reached their goal of cutting their Women's Plus department from retail locations, relegating customers to a corner of their website. Much like the dusty old basement corner, hidden amongst childrenswear and maternity I found the women's plus section to be in their store in the Garden State Plaza, Paramus, New Jersey, when a sales associate told me, when asking the availability of an item hanging on a rack of 00s, 2s and 8s, to "try the plus department" (I'll try and excuse the fact that I wear anywhere between a 14 and an 18 in the Old Navy size range, which used to go up to 20, and many of the clothing items in women's plus are too big for me. Also commonly un-fashion forward and at times bordering on dowdy, but that is for another post another time). I was told by one changing room assistant to "check on the website," and another "We don't carry it in that size." Why? "We just don't." By the way, many of the shorts and skirts available this summer to ON's more petite customers were not even made in larger sizes. This all becomes even more particularly frustrating to me to feel conflicted in boycotting this practice when some of their fall items look so cute. On the website, natch.

Get In My Belly

2007-07-12T14:59:00.000-04:00

Another day another series of ads from Brazil.

These ads are from Companhia Athletica, a chain of gyms in Brazil and quite frankly I think they're just really stereotypical. Like a lot of other gym ads they fall back on the idea that all fat people are grotesque eating machines. Look at all the silouhettes they're chowing on ice cream or guzzling down drinks while they suffocate the thin people trapped in their stomachs. Clearly they've devoured these hard-bodied individuals in their mad cannibalistic quest for food. Even the translations "Give your slender body a chance to get rid of you" hammer in the idea that if you're fat you are slovenly and/or unhealthy. And why would you want your body to "get rid of you" in the first place? God forbid you go to the gym, eat the same foods as everyone else and are still heavy. Apparently thats just too much for advertisers to comprehend.

I'm tired of this sort of thing to be honest. Its boring and there are better, more creative ways to advertise a gym. How about promoting the idea that working out and playing sports can be ::gasp:: fun! Last I checked losing weight wasn't the only reason to go to the gym. Staying active and keeping healthy are important and I know a lot of people who don't have six pack abs but still go to the gym regularly or engage in physical activity. The word fat is not synonymous with lazy.

Better yet the could take a page from the book of Crunch and make ads that show all sorts of people go to the gym - even this sexy lady right here.

Now I've got a date with a tennis racquet - perhaps TFFF should do a little feature on the best in plus size fitness gear. I know we've all got a sport or activity we could use some cute accessories for.

Scans You Like It

2007-07-05T08:06:00.000-04:00

As promised at the request of, well, one reader (but I know you all wanna see), here are the scans from the Observer Woman magazine as previously discussed. (You know, the ones that were supposed to be so "shocking" to us.)

The models are Elizabeth Satherlund (blonde) and Kate Smith (brunette). I'm not a big fan of Kate Smith's stuff, but OMG Elizabeth is a total betty, by name and nature.

I'm not so keen on the hairstyling on the cover - I think they could have gone further, for a more styled 1950s polished roll of curls - but I love the effect of the corsetry on the derriere!

What do you think? Holla at us!

Clickity click on the icons for full-sized (no pun intended) images.

Rachel Pally Plus Sizes

2007-07-01T14:52:00.000-04:00

Another fashionable designer is doing plus sizes! So-Cal designer Rachel Pally has teamed up with Nordstrom to produce a plus sized line.

From WWD
Rachel Pally, the Southern California contemporary designer who believes that well-cut jersey flatters all women, is teaming with Nordstrom to launch a plus-size line filled with Empire-waist dresses, wide-leg trousers and her other signature looks for the fall.

A taste of Rachel's signature style
I've really enjoyed Rachel Pally's clothes for awhile now they have that great laid back vibe that L.A. designers just seem to inherently possess. Her clothes also have a reputation for being incredibly comfortable which is always a plus. Nothing is worse than a pretty dress thats a pain to wear. I'm hoping that the Nordstrom's collection will be high quality and full of colorful options just like her straight-sized line.

Thanks to Medina for the heads up about this!

Hunting High & Low: Grab & Go Clutches

2007-06-25T13:22:00.000-04:00

I adore oversized purses. There may be nothing on earth that I like more than a bag that lets me cart around all my worldly goods without looking like a hobo. A giant bag can be a lifesaver because for some of us (read: me) there is no such thing as non-essential item. Last week I discovered that I had seven different lip glosses stuffed into the bottom of my purse. Do I really need seven glosses all at once?

Yes. Of course I do but there are times when one must downsize. Every so often a girl gets tired of dragging everything around with her. Sure a bag can fit your whole life but with everything else we have to deal with daily do you really want to? Sometimes you only need the basics and after months of walking around with purses large enough to be considered luggage I am officially ready for clutches.

A good clutch should be large enough to fit your day to day essentials but since its handheld it should also be small enough to avoid being uncomfortable. The F/W runways were laden with oversized clutch options which look great but can be a little tricky to handle especially once you take out the tissue paper and stuff them with your goodies. After you decide on a size that's right for you anything goes. Chose something neutral or go all out with wild colors and patterns, here we present a variety of options from inexpensive to super luxe.

UNDER 100 : Jeweled Clutch $48 - Steve Madden | Black Striped Clutch $48 - Urban Outfitters, Seersucker Clutch $38 - Amici | Gold Folder Clutch $95 - Ohna Elrich | White Patent Clutch $39 - Nine West

100 -300 : Embroidered Clutch $198 - BCBG Max Azria | Yellow Braided Clutch $295 - Lauren Merkin | Black Python Clutch $150 - Rafe | Black Floral Clutch $195 - Kate Spade | Gunmetal Clutch $195 - Lorelai

300 & UP : Peacock Embroidered Clutch $325 - Isabella Fiore| Croc Pin Clutch - Marc Jacobs (boutiques only) | Blue Suede Clutch $895 - Jimmy Choo | Red Quilted Clutch $1125 - Chanel (boutiques only) | White Quilted Clutch $395 - Marc Jacobs

Personally I'm itching to get my hands on that Isabella Fiore with the peacock feather embroidery. Its just the sort of thing I can see myself wearing and it can go from day to evening which is always a plus for a girl on the go. Is anyone else eager for the new clutches or are larger than life bags still going strong?

Dairy Queens

2007-06-22T07:47:00.000-04:00

This yoghurt advert is to me like ice-cream to Dawson's dad...

Reading Feministing, I came across this post.

Apparently there's a series of adverts for a diet yoghurt that uses iconic images of women, like this --

-- and replaces the original skinny version with a plus-size woman.

The caption reads "Forget about it. Men’s preference will never change. Fit Light Yogurt." (Thanks to joelle once again.)

Apparently after you finish retching in disgust at the hideous fatty, you then rush out and buy some diet yoghurt to make sure you remain attractive to men and diet yo'self down to the original skin'n'bones version.

Apparently, it's 2007.

Her milkshake brings all the boys to the yard...

However, I must now edit, because another dairy-licious thing arrived in my inbox today. To balance out the hideousness of that advert, I bring you the super-sexy fantastic Sara Ramirez. Who has got milk, and got curves, and got It:

Sara Ramirez: bringing me and dairy back together since ought-seven.

Reading Materials

2007-06-19T10:23:00.000-04:00

In an average month, I get through ooh, a third of a rainforest's worth of reading material. A couple of papers a day, stacks of magazines a week, books up to my eyeballs, etc, etc. Something struck me recently as I set off for the park with an afternoon's worth of magazines, planning a lazy, sunshiney day of page-flipping and note-taking. Of the wodge of paper I crammed in my bag, three of the issues were weight-related:

Observer Woman (June 2007): The Body
Elle US (June 2007): The Body Issue
Teen Vogue (June/July 2007): editor's letter and main feature "Weighty Issue"

Let's take them one by one.

Observer Woman

I'm not a massive fan of The Observer's monthly Woman supplement. For those that aren't familiar, The Observer is The Guardian's sister Sunday paper; each week they do a not-that-good flimsy glossy supplement (in addition to the eight billion other Sunday sections) on a theme -- Sport, Food, Music, Woman.

(Hilariously, the three supplements aside from Woman are suffixed Monthly. Sport Monthly, Music Monthly, Food Monthly... one can only assume they wanted to avoid any reference to "your monthlies" and so chose not to call the Woman section Woman Monthly (or Women Monthly, which would make more sense).)

The problem with a Woman supplement is it doesn't really have a coherent theme in the way the other monthly supplements do, or at least the paper hasn't quite decided what exactly Woman is. So it's an awkward hotchpotch of fashion and beauty and fashion and beauty...plus the occasional interview or feature with a Woman of Note. Or a man who works in fashion or beauty. Basically it's a fashion 'n' beauty supplement - and hey, there ain't nothin' wrong with that. Except the paper obviously thinks there is something wrong with that, because Lipstick and Foundation and Dresses and Girlish Fripperies are Shallow; therefore we shall dress them up with the title Woman and throw in the occasional feminist slant to pretend like this isn't Vogue.

So, The Body Issue. It largely avoids the body - there's an interview with Tom Ford, an interview with Anne Sweeney, a list of what's hot or not for summer, lots of writers and peeps sharing their body hang-ups (including - eye-roll - Liz bloody Jones and her body dysmorphia*)...and a very short photo story on swimsuits, featuring four photos of two plus-size models, and an essay on same.

*I'm not making light of actual body dysmorphia. I just hate Liz Jones and think she's old enough to know better. If you're not familiar with this odious excuse for a journalist...ignorance is bliss. Really.

The photos are hot though:

"Are you shocked by these photographs? We were - and we commissioned them. We were there, during the shoot. We watched our models, Kate Smith and Elizabeth Satherlund, get transformed, made-up, and styled. We watched them pose. We studied early Polaroids. But still, we were shocked by the finished product. The photographs seemed illicit, transgressive. They seemed overtly sexual. Fetishistic, almost. They certainly seemed contrary to today's rules on glossy-magazine aesthetics. So much bosom! So much bottom! Such luscious rolls of back fat! Such extravagant thighs! Aren't there laws against this?"

Elle

Elle's Body Issue cover star is Jessica Biel, who I haven't actually heard of except in magazines and gossip pictures accompanied by Justin Timberlake. She's totally one of those stars who I know exactly who they are without knowing how or why they got famous. A TV show? A film? Is she a singer? I could IMDb her but then I remember I don't care.

Anyway, the straplines:

THE BODY ISSUE: Love the One You're With
The 6-Step Bikini Makeover Anyone Can Look Good Almost Naked
How to Lose Those Last 5 Pounds And Why You Shouldn't Bother
"Do I Look Fat In This?" Well... Since You Asked: What Men Really Think
A Little Lipo? What's New, What's Safe

So in order...love your body, but make it over, lose weight by reading these conflicted messages, judge yourself through your fella's eyes, and if all else fails: cosmetic surgery!

No sign of any deviation from the norm in the fashion spreads (in three fashion stories, there are three thin, white, dark-blonde models). There are some interesting stories, but all from the perspective of losing weight and then realising that weight isn't the key to happiness. (The conclusion to these tales is always, hilariously, that the writer discovers it's what's inside that counts, and they have inner peace...inner peace conveniently contained in a newly toned Size 6 bod, but still - inner peace, you guys.)

There's the Mormon who lost 80lbs and had to have her excess loose skin removed by cosmetic surgery, who tells us all about her personal journey and God and wisdom and blah-di-blah...and ends with her gratitude for life and bodies and living: "I can finally say I feel gratitude. Not because I got plastic surgery and look better, but because this is the only body I'll ever have." Okay, then. Betcha you wouldn't have come to that inner-peace conclusion before your four-hour surgery though.

There's the new mother who feels "betrayed" by her body when the excess weight she gained whilst pregnant just won't go away. And by "excess weight" and "just won't go away", she means she gained 45lbs during pregnancy, lost 35lbs of that naturally after the birth through no effort, made some effort to lose the remaining 10lbs...and 'failed' because she still has 5lbs to go. She eventually finds inner peace though, despite that excess weight of...5lbs. (Find me someone who didn't get a few pounds heavier after having had a baby...)

The one article I thought was really interesting was a piece by Walter Kirn basically listing how his ways of seeing had been altered by the women in his life constantly pointing out their flaws to him. I do think it's true that the 'flaws' we see in ourselves and constantly obsess over (my current obsession is that I think my nose has gotten infinitesimally rounder over the last year and is now too wide for my face and needs reducing by 4mm. Really.) are usually not apparent to others.

Sadly Kirn ends with a tale about an ex girlfriend who had "let herself go" and casts "a perfectly oval shadow" (instead of being the petite girl he met and fell for, although since his description of her petiteness involves his not having to move an inch in his seat when she walked in front of him at the cinema, I'm thinking said ex was less "petite" and more "dangerously small," but whatever). After a few digs at her "jumbo bladder" and referring to health issues - even though he's kind enough to say that she was still "mentally sharp under her flab" (yes, really), she dumps him and loses the weight. His conclusion? Not to talk to women when they talk about their bodies. O...kay?

The issue is certainly worth checking out if you're interested, but don't expect to see any plus-size models or valuable arguments.

Teen Vogue

I'll own up to being a total Teen Vogue groupie (teen anything, actually. My long absence from this blog is cuz I'm writing a book on teen television), and am thus likely to defend its every move -- but I'm a groupie for a reason! I genuinely think it has a healthy body image, and is a healthy magazine for young women: it doesn't give the mixed messages (Skinny Stars! Stars Wobbly Bits! Are They Too Thin? Whoops, Stars Ate Too Many Pies!) of a celebby gossip rag, and it features plenty of readers among its pages. There's a good mix of not-too-patronising PSA articles with usefull information, it doesn't preach, and it showcases models and readers of different races and sizes far more frequently than its adult contemporaries on the newstand.

The June/July issue is not a weight/shape/body issue, but it does have an interesting feature on teen attitudes to the whole weight debate. What I enjoyed about it was they had obviously interviewed intelligent articulate teens - but they hadn't stuck just to those teens whose views were safe'. (In other words, they hadn't pre-concluded on the article's behalf, and found teenagers to quote who would say "it's not the magazines' fault, we're all healthy, I like a little cake AND a little exercise!".)

So there are positive quotes:

"I realise they have their body type and I have mine."
"Celebrity magazines promote mixed messages."
"My friends and I...would rather focus on school."

Iffy quotes:

"I could probably lose a few pounds, but I'm in no rush." (Iffy because we don't know if she could stand to lose a few pounds, but there's also nothing wrong with choosing to lose weight and doing so healthily.)

And down right BUH?! outrageous quotes:

"Being thin is more valuable than money."
"America, Jennifer Hudson, Queen Latifah - they're not full-figured. They're fat."
"Would I rather be bigger but healthy, or really thin?"

The mag doesn't offer any conclusions, but it's an interesting read nonetheless.

Similarly, I haven't made up my mind yet on any of these issues of magazines, but if you're looking for reading material to kick-start a debate or offer something beyond the usual, you could do worse.

Monif C Opens In Manhattan!

2007-06-11T15:18:00.000-04:00

As you may have heard the flagship outpost of web favorite Monif C is opening in NYC this week.

Two plus boutique openings in the NYC area in less than a month? Amazing! The opening event will feature a special sale so tri-state area girls check it out!

Grand Opening Event:
Thursday June 14, 2007
7 - 10pm
Come shop the Monif C. line at 20% off, cocktails, music, personal shopping tips, and more!

Monif C. Plus Sizes
New York Plus Size Boutique Store
325 W. 38th Street (bet. 8/9th aves.)
Suite 1007
New York, NY 10018
Open Monday - Saturday, call 212-842-1641 for hours