Manolo for the Big Girl

British Department store chain John Lewis announced recently that they will be introducing new, larger-sized mannequins at their Peterborough branch. If the mannequins go over well there, they will be used throughout the chain soon.

The current mannequins used by John Lewis are equivilant to a US size 10. The average British woman wears approximately a size 16. The mannequins are size 14. This means the mannequins will still be smaller than the average customer, but by a much smaller margin.

In response to recent criticism of unrealistic images being used to sell women’s clothing, the chain made the somewhat radical decision to use a size twelve model on the cover of a recent swimsuit catalogue. The model, Lauren Moller, was brought in from South Africa because none of the agencies John Lewis usually hires models from had a girl that large on their books. They were directed to agencies that work with plus-size models.

“We were astonished,” a representative of the company said. “Size 12 isn’t big. It’s still quite slim.”

The catalogue was a hit, sales skyrocketed, and the company has decided to see if more of the same approach will continue to be successful.

So if any Big Girl readers are in Peterborough anytime soon, be sure to visit the local John Lewis and weigh in on the new mannequins.

The Stuart Weitzman Benidorm slides with Swarovski crystals are on sale, 28% off, at Zappos!  Available in sizes 5.5 to 8.5, also in wide widths!

If you have been saving your money to treat yourself to some excellent shoes, now is the time . . .

Gold . . .

Silver . . .

Black . . .

A friendly reader recently pointed out an interesting site to me. It’s called VoluptuArt. I think their mission can best be expressed by this quote from the site about how they choose the pieces they sell:

We look for art & gifts that portray bodies of all sizes, shapes, ethnicities, ages & genders that “embody” a sense of aliveness through joy, contemplation, quiet movement, love, connection, sensuality, sexiness, self-love…. We’ve also chosen images of nature, animals & spirital symbology that represent curves & fullness. You’ll find full, round animals that bring forth a smile or a giggle, and spiritual symbology that encourges you to take a breath - to remember what is important in your life, and to be grateful for all that works in your life, including your amazing body.

Okay, it’s a little wordy and fuzzy around the edges, but the attitude is great. What’s more, the site is full of gift items, both practical and whimsically decorative that do celebrate a wide variety of sizes, shapes, and ethnicities, as well as both sexes. From Venus of Willendorf ink stamps, to Love Your Body tee shirts, to glittery pink scales that don’t read the numbers, but tell you you weigh ‘perfect’ or ’sassy,’ to sculpures of beautiful, bountiful women of varying ethnicities, to mugs and towel hooks and bookmarks with positive images of large women of all ages, there are plenty of fun, practical, and attractive items to make you smile.

I think the attitude of the site is best summed up by artist Judie Bomberger’s image which is used as the logo for the site. If this lovely, curvy lady dancing in her red dress makes you smile, then go see what else is in store for you on this site.

New Yorkers! Don’t miss the Fat Girl Flea Market, details are at Fat Chic.

What former supermodel called :Make Me a Supermodel” contestant and aspiring size 12 catwalker Jen Hunter “fat, lazy and greedy“? Find out at Passionate About Plus Size.

Right Fit, wrong smell? Something’s funky over at Pretty Pear.

God save the Queen. Thick Misses gives us a peak at Queen Latifah’s spread in Ebony (and yes, I’ve already asked where to buy the coats)

So your best gay friend is moving abroad to live with his boyfriend in a very trendy London flat, and has decided to have his last American hurrah at a downtown bar of which you have never heard. You wish to look chic and elegant for your friend, and yet a little bit “on the edge” and daring as the party is, after all, in a bar. What will you wear on your feets?

Perhaps these startingly fresh (in more ways than one) and unforgettable shoes by Stuart Weitzman, whom we love.

Happy shopping and happy weekend!

xoxo, Francesca

Our internet friend Margo sent us a link to an interesting newspaper article about the inadequacies of sports bras:

Dr Scurr said that the design of bras, including sports bras, was unable to cope with the three-dimenional movement which stretched the tissue and caused discomfort. “Bras are designed to support up and down movement,” she said. “We found they move up and down, from side to side, and back and forward. Previous research has only looked at vertical movement, which we found contributes only 50 per cent of the overall movement.

“Breasts move in three dimensions. Current bra design is inadequate and I think it is putting women off exercising. There really are women who want to do exercise but who don’t have the bras to cope. It is only recently that bra design has turned to science. There was no research. It’s like designing a car without first thinking, ‘What is the purpose of this?’ We need to think, why do we need bras? What do we need them to do?”

We Big Girls are painfully (pun intended) aware of the challenges in finding a good over-the-shoulder-boulder-holder which is appropriate for sports. Francesca sincerely hopes that bra manufacturers answer our wrenching pleas!

These are 3 very different books, about which Francesca often thinks, and to which Francesca often returns.

The Handmaid’s Tale is a futuristic take on what would happen if a male oligarchy took over American society at the same time that fertility rates plummeted. Told from the perspective of a concubine, this story is truly unforgettable - a feminist nightmare, really. Very juicy and compelling.

First published in 1868, The Moonstone is considered the first mystery novel in the English language; it set frameworks such as multiple suspects and red herrings. The story begins when a young British girl receives a large and mysterious diamond, rumored to have been stolen from India, for her birthday. It is stolen that night from her home, and the subsequent investigation is detailed by a few different (often humorous) narrators, such as house servants and guests from the celebration. If you don’t mind 19th-century language, and you like mysteries (as does Francesca!) then this is a satisfying read. (It also works as a literary relic of Imperial England.)

Joy in the Morning is the least-known of Francesca’s favorite books, despite its having been written by the author of A Tree Grows in Brooklyn. It is the story of a young, newly-married couple and their conflicts: she is 18 and uneducated, he is in college taking the classes she only dreams of attending; they are poor; their parents are against the marriage; and she gets pregnant (after the wedding). No, this is not an early version of “For Keeps.” It’s a charming and inspiring book, with a heroine who is both naive and plucky.

Happy reading!

xoxo, Francesca

We all have it, that one item of clothing we can never quite find. Whether it’s a replacement for your old jeans that made your badonka go donk or the perfect ruby red crocodile clutch, what –sartorially speaking– are you still looking for?

A superfantastic reader from scenic Boston provides a tip for the Big Girls!

. . . . let me tell you about my little secret place to shop online that is actually almost embarrassing. It’s HSN! I know, I know, it isn’t cool to buy clothes off TV, as everyone seems to think that only shut-ins buy things from them, but I’ve found so many things on their website that come in larger sizes and are superfantastic, that I wanted to share it.

They carry almost all of their clothes up to 3X (some things even 4X), and they don’t charge extra for the larger sizes (unlike most other retailers). They even carry BELTS up to 3X! Even the ones the tiny girls can buy! Which is awesome, because I can never find belts. . . . . Seriously, take a few minutes to look around at their site; I think you’ll be surprised at what you can find.

One other bonus — sometimes you can spread the payments out over a few months. Which is great for the superfantastic shopper with the limited budget (like me) . . . .

Your biggest blogfan,

Betsy

Francesca took Betsy’s suggestion and spent a few minutes poking around at hsn.com’s fashion section, and indeed almost every dress and top to which Francesca clicked was available in sizes 1x, 2x, and 3x. One was also available in 1x-3x Petite as well! Francesca was not always impressed by the quality of the materials there, but must admit that there are items which are good finds, like this suede pleated jacket which impresses Francesca greatly and is available up to 3x:

So, thank you, Betsy, for the tip. Indeed this was an unexpected and pleasant surprise.

Happy shopping!

xoxo, Francesca

First let me tell you what I love about Soprano’s star Aida Turturro pictured here at the 2007 Emmys.

I love her age and season-appropriate makeup. I love that she’s laughing. I love that while she may be twice the size of most of her female colleagues she looks like she’s having twice the fun, too.

However (yes there’s a however, you know I don’t just say nice things and be done with it) there is A Lot Going On with this look. I mentioned this before –and will mention it again– that especially when one is a big girl not blessed with great height, one must be extra vigilant not to overdo it with the floaty fabric and the lace and the beadwork and the big fluffity hair.

There’s got to be restraint somewhere–a sleeker ‘do, bare arm instead of the not-fooling-anybody wrap– or else you’ll just get gobbled up by the mass of your own ensemble.

Spiritual soul mate and illustrated big girl Ursula the Sea Witch shows us a better way.

See? Hair away from the face, simple accessories. This is how it’s done. So remember ladies, next time you’ve got to dress up, remember Ursula here. To quote an ex-boyfriend –who may or may not have been talking about the tentacled temptress– “she may be evil, but damn, she always looks fantasic.”