Wednesday, June 13, 2007

SPOTLIGHT: Saigewear.com


by: Christina Bentley


Devon Ball, like many plus size women, struggled to find clothing that were both fashionable and flattering...coming to the realization that the market constantly overlooks many basic elements in design for plus-size clothes. To that end, she established Saige Wear in 2001, a clothing line of active and leisure wear designed with plus sizes in mind (from size 10 -3X) .


"Where are the clothes that make us feel good and are affordable?" the former plus size model recalls saying to her friends and family. Saige Wear's goal is to make women look and feel their best in whatever they wear. "I also want to help them overcome stereotypical attitudes towards what defines them", says Ball. "Through these clothes, I aim to give women a positive state of mind.


Saige Wear is about an attitude. And if a woman feels good in the clothes she wears, she would be willing to celebrate who she is. Feeling confident and sexy inspires women to live the life they imagined." In addition to athletic apparel, Saige Wear offers hats, belts, undergarments, candles, soaps, lotions and inspirational books. Most sought after items include bra and panty sets, zipper hats and track suits.


Saige Wear is available online at http://www.saigewear.com/!

Monday, June 11, 2007

MOM: Angela Adderly

Interview by: Christina Bentley
Stunning, talented and versatile are just a few of the words used to describe plus size model Angela Adderly! Although Angela is new to the business, she is already making her mark. You can find this Greek and Bahamian beauty featured in Buxom Boutique, Fashion Overdose, More Beautiful Woman, and Plush Cat Club.
Some of her other credits include being a semi finalist for Elegant Plus Logo/Cover Model contest and a runway model for Hollywood Shop Til' you Drop. Angela is in the process of launching her own website www.AngelaAdderly.com.

How did you get started modeling? How did you get started with Buxom?
I didn't even know that plus size modeling existed, I knew I loved fashion and saw the models on some websites but didn't know where to get started. I came across Buxom's page and they were having a model search so I entered and was one of the winners for the 2006 Model Search.

What do you think are your strengths as a model? What makes you stand out?
My strength is having wonderful photographer's like Chanel Rene and Satu, also I feel very comfortable in front of the camera. I try to always be conscious of my body and poses. I think what makes plus sized models stand out in general is our attitude. We're happy, outgoing, and vivacious and I'm sure its very refreshing.

What are your current projects?
Right now I am trying to encourage a Plus Size community here in Las Vegas including fashion shows, nights out for curvy women and a support system so that when Buxom is ready to expand, we'll be ready A collaboration I'm continuously working on is with Ahmad the Producer and Owner of Cinematic Lifestyle here in Las Vegas.

What does size acceptance mean to you?
Having the world realize that beauty is not a size and that healthy, buxom women are a mainstay in our society not only today but in the future. Not only should there be acceptance by others but we should also truly accept and love ourselves just the way we are.

Advice for aspiring models?
Get out there, meet people, knock on every door and you will get answers. Have fun with yourself, if you feel nervous then you will look nervous. Oh and don't worry about what people think, because most likely they are thinking that you are beautiful!

How has Buxom helped you?
The friends I've made, the confidence I've gained, the experiences I've had are all priceless. Buxom is a family and a support system that helped me realize a lot of my aspirations.

What is favorite part about Buxom?
All the girls are so unique in both looks and personality, Buxom showcases so many genres of women.

What do you think makes Buxom different?
I feel Buxom is different in the way it represents the models, sophisticated, intelligent, fun, playful, alluring, and sexy the way it should be through confidence and beauty.

Goals for the future?
I hope to be a big part of Buxom and continue to meet more wonderful photographers, plus size designers and models. I hope to eventually be able to do what I love full-time.

Saturday, June 2, 2007

ADVICE: Straight Talk with Sanaz

Q: “I am a bigger girl and I never feel uncomfortable with myself or my weight except when I go to a party/event with a lot of people. I feel out of place or awkward when I first enter the room. Do you have any suggestions on how to feel more confident making an entrance instead of feeling like everyone is thinking about how fat I am?"
-Cheryl, 21
San Marcos, Ca

A: First things first, Cheryl…Nobody is looking at you thinking about how fat you THINK you are. Most of the time, people at parties are so self-involved that they are thinking about how they look to YOU. Everyone, fat or skinny, short or tall, feels a little awkward about entering a room if they lack confidence. Nothing is stronger that a thick chick that knows she’s fly. It makes skinny girls want to eat a burger.
So next time you are going to a party or event with a lot of people, put your sexy outfit on, get your hair and makeup right and get in front of the mirror. Practice this grand entrance you are so worried about and fake it till you make it!


Q: “I have been with my boyfriend now for 5 years and he has always had a thing for big beautiful women! At first this was great because he always liked me for who I am, but now I want to lose weight so that I can feel better and be healthier, and he is not supportive. He told me if I lose weight he wont be attracted to me anymore. I’m at a point where I am ready to start eating healthy and exercising and I want to make a change to make myself happier, but I don’t want to upset my boyfriend either. What should I do?"
-Tamika, 29
Chicago, IL

A: That’s great, your boyfriend loves big beautiful women! Here’s a question for you…if you get sick, because you are not healthy, will he be by your side and take care of you? If the answer is yes, then he really loves you in which case he will want the best for you, which is to be healthy. If the answer is no, then he’s not worth risking your health for.
Its just WRONG for someone who “loves you” to hold you back and not support you when you are trying to better yourself. I personally think he could be controlling and doesn’t want you to lose weight because he is scared that if and when you do, that you will leave him. Whatever the circumstances may be, you know that your health is the most important thing right now. Lets see if he’s in it for the long haul! Good luck with your weight loss!

Friday, June 1, 2007

OPINION: True to Plus?

by: Amanda Boucher
In Business Economics 101, you are taught that a smart business person will advertise in a way that allows their customers to relate to the product you are selling. You want the customer to be able to picture themselves wearing your product, using your product, or the product becoming a part of their lifestyle. Ideally, if this is achieved the customer will then want to purchase your product, thus making your business successful.

With this thought in mind…

Plus size clothing lines generally sell sizes 14-28, which makes their customers plus size women sizes 14-28. So why are they using models to advertise their clothing that are sizes 10-14?!? This just doesn’t make sense to me! How is a model that is a size 10 or 12 going to accurately display your product when you don’t even sell their size clothes?

Think about it…

Of course a tight fitting shirt or dress is going to look just fine on a woman who is a size 10-14 and is 5’9” or taller. Generally a woman that size is toned, has a flat stomach, and is basically just a thicker version of a size 7. How would that same shirt look on a woman who is a size 18, 24, or even a 28? Females from the middle ranges to upper end of plus sizes have bigger curves, bigger breast, rolls, back chub, and their bellies tend to be rounder on the bottom. How is that shirt going to look on those bodies? On the bodies of the women who actually FIT into the clothing that they are selling?

Personally, because of how plus size companies advertise, I can’t shop online or from catalogs because I cannot picture how I would look in the company’s clothing. It has been my experience that I will be shopping online and see a shirt that I like. Then, I get it in the mail a couple days later and although it is big enough, it is not what I thought it would be. For example, I put it on and see that it is too short and doesn’t cover my belly, it clings to my body or sides too much, the material is see through and not flattering for a plus size woman, or it just looks like a completely different shirt than the one on the website, once it is on MY body. Had the company used a REAL plus size woman to model their clothes, I could have found a shirt that would have worked better for me…which would have guaranteed me becoming a repeat customer.

Going back to the business economics lesson…wouldn’t it make more sense to advertise plus size clothing on models that are the same sizes of the clothes that they sell, which are the same sizes that their customers wear?

I have heard the argument that smaller models are used in advertisements because it creates a fantasy to the plus size woman, that if they buy this clothing , they can look like the model. WHAT?!? I don’t live in a fantasy world and 95% or more of the plus size women that I know, don’t either. We look at these models and think “This is ridiculous. Why are all these skinny women all over this catalog? How am I supposed to get a real feel for what these clothes will look like on me?” and we get frustrated. I would NEVER think that if I put a particular item of clothing on that a size 10 is modeling, that it is going to morph me into a flat tummied, toned, 5’9” bleach blond woman or that it will look the same on me that it does on her…but then again, I don’t use drugs! ;)

I have also heard the argument that people don’t like seeing sizes 18-28 on print because they look too big. WHO doesn’t like it…the executives of the companies, skinny people who aren’t going to buy the clothes, owners of stores who aren’t selling the clothes?!? I would like more clarification on this. If these companies want to make money, they should only worry about the thoughts and concerns of their customer…the PLUS size WOMAN. Anyone else not liking how big an 18-28 looks on print, doesn’t matter. They will not be spending their money on the company’s product…WE will.

Plus size women in America spend almost twice as much on clothes than average size women. Why? First of all…our clothes are more expensive because it takes more material to make them and because the demand is high and the availability is low. Second of all, it’s hard for us to find clothes that we like that are fashionable and that fit properly. We end up buying things and wearing them one time, still feeling unsatisfied, and then we go out and look for something else.

Here is a statement for all the plus size clothing lines out there…

If the money that pays your salary, that feeds your family, that keeps your business going, is coming from PLUS SIZE WOMEN…then you need to accommodate our wants and needs and make your advertising more plus friendly so we will WANT to buy your clothes. There are thousands of classy, beautiful, photogenic women who are sizes 14-28 that would be more than able to model plus size clothing and look wonderful, while giving the plus size consumer a better idea of how THEY would look in the clothes that THEY are going to buy.

This is agreed upon by the majority of plus size women. So now the question is…

How do we get the advertising world and the plus size industry to hear the voice of their customers, the plus size woman?

I think we can start by voicing our complaints to the websites, catalogs, and companies that advertise with size 10-14 models. Each company has a customer service email address that can be found somewhere on the website or catalog, or an address that can be provided by the store. Hopefully if enough complaints are received, it might spark the interest of someone higher up in the company.

Another way is by supporting companies and plus size clothing lines that use specialty plus models, or in other words…models that are REAL plus size women. Buxom Entertainment is just one of the many companies that are trying to change the way plus size clothing is advertised. We are a small company and taking baby steps trying to change the plus size industry. I am not saying that you have to buy from our Boutique to make a difference. Just offer us your support and commend us and companies LIKE us on the strides that we are making in the size acceptance movement.

Let’s voice our opinions and show the major plus size clothing lines like Lane Bryant and Torrid, that this is what we want to see in their ads! We want to see the same size women modeling their clothes that are going to be buying their clothes! Nothing is going to happen over night, but in order for change to even start to happen, we have to start somewhere.