Sunday Omony (link to her website: www.sundayomony.com), is a plus size model from Kitgum, Uganda. Her story is truly inspiring, since besides being a plus size model and promoting healthy body image, she also has time for lots of humanitarian work. Sunday was kind enough to answer some questions for us.

1. You are originally from Uganda, but where is home for you currently?
Calgary, Alberta, Canada

2. When did you start modeling?
I started modeling in 2004.

3. When you first started out in the industry, did you ever feel the pressure to “lose weight, and do sample size modeling” or have you always been comfortable in your genre?
Yes, when I was 16 years old I did feel pressure to lose weight. I was trying to achieve an unrealistic body that was unattainable for me. When I got started in plus-size modeling later I felt very comfortable with my body and being my natural size. I feel that the plus size division is right for me because I know I’ll never be a size four nor do I desire to be.

4. What do you love about being a plus-size model?
I love being a plus-size model because I don’t have to change my body. I can be my natural size and promote a healthy body image. I think that all sizes should be celebrated and represented in the fashion industry.
5. When you’re not working, what are your favorite things to do?
Travel, road trips, concerts and art exhibits.

6. People often wonder if models dress according to the latest fashion also in their everyday life, how would you describe your style?
My style is always changing. At the moment it’s colorful, classy, floral and vintage. I love wearing accessories. Belts are a great accessory for curvy women. I’m glad that there are trendy plus-size fashions available to women these days.
7. What advice would you have for an inspiring girl with the dream of becoming a model?
I encourage aspiring models to be proud of themselves, their bodies and never give up on their dreams. Surround themselves with positive people that believe in them. I think it’s important to join agencies that are excited about you and want you to succeed. Always do your research and ask lots of questions.

8. You said, you are passionate about humanitarian work and involved with many organizations, can you talk a little about that?
I’m involved with many organizations such as GuluWalk, Hearts 4 Peace and Unicef. I’m the new spokesperson for Hearts 4 Peace, an organization that offers services and courses in conflict transformation and social justice. I’m honored for this wonderful opportunity as I value and support the initiative of Hearts 4 Peace.

9. Words of wisdom for all our aspiring readers out there?
Always dream big and never give up on your dreams. Believe in yourself and your talents.

Thank you again Sunday!

Shafonne Myers is a professional wedding planner and since she is a proud plus size woman herself, she is dedicated to making other plus size brides‘ wedding days special. As she feels that plus size brides don’t get even half as much inspiration as standard size brides, she has created a plus size wedding blog (link: www.prettypearbride.com). She was also kind enough to answer a few questions about herself and her blog so that our readers would know who to turn to when planning their big day.

1. Shafonne, please tell us a bit about yourself and what you do.
I’m a 31 year old mother of two, Broady (9months) and Saniya Alexis (5 years) and a wife to my husband Jimmy of 7 years, together for 15.  I’m a certified wedding and event planner who started out in the business to create amazing and memorable weddings.  I then branched out into the cyber world of wedding industry blogging and created Divas and Weddings, wedding inspiration for the wedding diva.  I loved being able to share with the world my creative visions and take on weddings.  I myself being a plus size bride noticed that there were no resources, like Style Me Pretty and other wedding blogs for plus size brides so my mission was clear: merge my love for blogging and wedding planning with creating a place for plus size brides to see themselves in wedding inspiration.

2. As I read from your website you have a Bachelors of Science in Biology, but instead you decided to become a professional wedding planner. What lead you to make such a turn in your career?
Well, I was always the cool and social science person, as they called me in college.  Everyone was always like “you are a biology person but you’re so social and fun.  So I’ve always had that planning, social vibe to me. While in college I was in charge of the whole social/events organization on my campus so I definitely got my fix of social and planning even when I had my science side.  And when I graduated, I did the science/medical thing but I always had my hand in the event planning realm.  So eventually my husband told to go out and start my own company.  So here we are.
3. How would you describe your blog to a first-time reader?
Pretty Pear Bride (link: www.prettypearbride.com) is where plus size brides can get the bridal inspiration that they long for with brides that look like them and information that pertain to them.  I found it so frustrating when planning my wedding that I never saw a bride that was plus size.  So I wasn’t able to get that inspiration that other brides get when they see pictures of pretty dresses and undergarments and such that they can envision themselves in.

4. I am sure a lot of our readers would like to know what are the current trends in plus size wedding dresses?
Plus size wedding dresses have come a loooooong way from 7 years ago when I got married.  There are so many options for plus size brides now.  The dresses that I’m in love with right now are pretty much anything A-line.  A-line dresses are so versatile and really make any body type look AMAZING. I’m also feeling the Grecian, or empire waist look. Surprisingly plus size brides think that these dresses don’t look good on them because of the way the dress falls but this is such a misconception because the material is typically lighter weight and not bulky which is a huge plus for plus size brides.  I also like the corset style dresses.  This is an immediate way to slim down a waist line and give a plus size bride a wonderful silhouette.5. Also, could you make some recommendations for the wedding guests – which brands are now fashionable for the plus sizes?
Once again, I have to say plus size designs have improved so much and there are so many more options out there for us.  My favs are Monif C, sassy and sexy all in one. I love it.  I have also just come upon IGIGI and I’m digging her fashions.  I like them for nice, classy evening wear for gala events, fundraisers and black tie as well as bridal fashions.

6. For all kinds of reasons, online shopping has become very popular. Do you also shop online?
I do online shop quite often I don’t buy tons of clothes online.  Only because I like to touch and feel things before I buy it.  But surprisingly my mother, is working on getting me to cross over to the online shopping experience for clothes, shoes and stuff.  I know my mom, who would have guessed.

7. Since you are a professional wedding planner, I must ask – what was your wedding day like?
My wedding was lovely it was on the 20^th floor of a building in the city of Richmond, Va and I loved it. I was able to have the panoramic views without being outside. I’m not much of an outdoorsy person.  Everyone looked amazing. The majority of my bridal party were plus size so even then I had fashions that looked fantastic on plus size figures. We kept it small about 75 people so that we could interact with everyone and feel like were able to actually talk to our guests.  And to make sure that we had everything we wanted: open bar, great food, wonderful cake and we didn’t break the bank or have to take out a loan to pay for it.

8. One last word?
Be true to You!!

Thank you again, Shafonne. Her blog : www.prettypearbride.com.

Sarah Conley created her StyleIT fashion blog in 2006. In this interview, she tells us about her love for fashion and her great knowledge of technology. But Sarah is more than just another fashion blogger: she’s a “Fashion & Beauty Social Media Strategist”. Find out more about Sarah and her StyleIT  blog.

1/ Sarah, tell us about yourself. How did you get started in fashion blogging?

I began StyleIT (styleitonline.com) in October of 2006 as an outlet. I lived in Arkansas at the time, which might as well be considered a fashion wasteland. I’d always had a passion for fashion & beauty products, and was the go-to person for style advice in my circle of friends. Plus, I’d always spent way too much time online (since I was 15), so it was a natural merging of my passions.

2/ Your current job title is “Fashion & Beauty Social Media Strategist”. Does that mean that you spend your days on Facebook and Twitter, chatting with others and that you actually get paid for it?

Haha indeed! We help fashion & beauty brands develop online strategies and then we help them execute them. A lot of that involves Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and digital engagement.

3/ The name of your blog is StyleIT (http://www.styleitonline.com). Its tag line is “Where the fashion nerd meets the pop culture obsessed”. Do you feel that you are sitting at the juncture of tech and fashion?

I’ve always been that girl that knows too much about everything that used to be considered “useless”. From who wore what dress at the awards shows, to the latest release from Apple and every beauty product in between, it actually comes in handy these days!

4/ What are the topics that you cover the most on StyleIT?

I’d like to think it’s everything between fashion, beauty and tech, however if I had to pick one, I’d say beauty posts are probably what comes to mind the most.

5/ You are active beyond your own blog. What kind of tweets do you send that get the most reactions from your 4,700+ followers?

It’s really funny you should ask that – they are generally the most random tweets that I don’t find interesting at all that will get the greatest reaction from my followers. Sometimes the most exciting things go unnoticed.

6/ I like the section of your blog called “On the Plus Side”. Can you tell us about this section?

Thank you! It took a really long time for me to be comfortable enough to begin sharing really personal parts of myself. It was really through the help of my photographer, Kimberley Williamson, that I began to come out of my shell. She is such a warm, wonderful and talented person, her encouragement really helped me to embrace being comfortable in front of the camera. From there, it was just as simple as running out during a 15 minute break for an outfit photo. The rest is history!

7/ I found your post about V Magazine’s Size issue very thoughtful. Do you think that the current interest in plus size fashion from the mainstream fashion magazine is here to stay?

Some days I’d like to think so, other days I think it’s a fad. I think the power of the internet has given many women, like myself, to stand up and be proud of who they are. If that’s a fad, I hope it never goes away. In terms of fashion’s obsession with plus size women, I honestly don’t care if they recognize us or not – as long as it makes more brands realize that there is a viable market out there, full of women who can purchase and wear their clothing.

8/ One last word?

Thanks so much for contacting me, Thibault!  I’m really grateful to have formed all the relationships and to have met all the people I have in the past three years through fashion blogging. It’s such an amazing community and I hope it continues to stay this way!  Be sure to follow all my escapades at New York Fashion Week by following me on Twitter @StyleIT.

Link: styleitonline.com

Big Girl’s Blouse London is both a fashion blog and a personal shopping service. It caters to all kinds of clients, but specializes in plus fashion. Ursula Gross-Hohnacker, founder of BigGirlsBlouseLondon.com, has kindly accepted to tell us more about her services. Find out abour her career with Bergdorf Goodman, Neiman Marcus and Selfridges. Ursula also tells about being a personal shopper in London and about here favourite trends for this Spring.

1/ Ursula, tell us about yourself. How did your career in fashion led you to create BigGirlsBlouseLondon.com?

I have spent the majority of my working life in fashion.

First by training in a buying office and going onto working for the British buying offices of US stores Bergdorf Goodman and Neiman Marcus. I then went onto being a personal shopper for Selfridges in London, which was my main inspiration for Biggirlsblouselondon.com.

Being larger myself I knew how difficult it was to buy fashion clothing but as a personal shopper I saw how distressing it could get for some women who were literally turned away because of their size and our lack of stock catering for women even from a size 16.

When I began at Selfridges they stocked fantastic labels such as Givenchy in large sizes and the pleasure I had dressing clients in special outfits was wonderful but eventually the stock disappeared and we started treating women of size very badly indeed. I started to take a professional interest in plus-sizes and their availability in London, which over a few years led me to start thinking of a website/blog.

2/ What are the topics that  your site covers most often (related to fashion or not)?

Biggirlsblouselondon.com really started as an online business card for me to get a bit of notice but very quickly grew. The idea is to look at plus-size fashion more at a designer level, to review collections and to attract designers and companies who want to be seen more by their audience. I look at fashion trends, footwear, lingerie and accessories – which are very important. The latest area is bridal which has been so much fun and has attracted a lot of attention.

BGB is not a protest blog, although when we find fashion news or items we think should be written about we will – it is designed to be much more fun and positive with what I like to call a brighter outlook than most.

3/ You also offer a personal shopping service. Could you tell us more about it?

I am a personal shopper and offer the service to everyone but with a specialisation in plus-sizes. It can be whatever a potential client wants it to be from simple wardrobe and styling advice right through to personalised shopping outings. I currently work with executives who see me twice a year for wardrobe and seasonal shopping sessions, which could be just a single day or as much as four or five separate days to prepare them for the season.

4/ What is the most frequent mistake that curvy girls make when it comes to buying an outfit?

I cannot say that there is a single mistake done but there are a few things a curvy woman should do before going shopping. The first is to be honest with themselves and know their size and shape - to learn what suits them but not be intimidated by too many magazine articles or so-called fashion experts whom they have never met.

I have had so many clients at Selfridges who have come in clutching a picture of a pop start or TV celebrity and saying to me – ‘I want to look like that’. Do not be over-influenced by articles or even friends who think they know how you should look – use them as guides only and if you are really unsure of what you want – go to a professional first who will guide you in the right direction.

The final thing is to research shopping areas that do have plus-size shops or departments as there can be nothing more demoralizing than preparing for a shopping trip only to find nothing available for you – plan ahead!

5/ What are you 3 favorite clothing brands of the moment?

My three favourite brands – based on Autumn/Winter ‘09 would probably be – Elomi lingerie because they know what a curvy woman needs in her lingerie drawer when it come to fit, quality and comfort. Evans winter collection was spot-on. Their coats were fabulous and they did some great little cocktail dresses. My third choice would be Mica Paris for SimplyBe – I hope she carries on working for them.

I have not made up my mind about Spring/Summer yet.

6/ You know a lot about trends. What are the trends among plus-size brands this Spring?

Fifties Euro-Cinema look gives a bit of glamour. I have seen the ‘boyfriend’ trend taking hold for early spring and denim features strongly. Lots of pattern, applied decoration and colour – Black and white, red and metallic fabrications are favoured. An exotic theme slowly comes through and the music festival look comes back but slightly more ethereal including print maxi dresses for high summer

7/ Do you think that UK brands and retailers (e.g. Evans, Dorothy Perkins, etc.) are more attractive that US brands?

Yes, because they are more trend driven - but not necessarily better in quality.

8/ Do you know any French plus size brands?

No I do not know any French brands it is an area I would love to get to know better as the concentration here is more on British, US, German and Danish brands.

9/ Could you name a few high end brands for curvy ladies à la Elena Miro that you would recommend?

My higher end brand favourites would be Anna Scholz for her design consistency, IGIGI who make beautiful dresses for curvier women, Now, Nation of Women from Persona for their modern outlook. I am always on the lookout for more!

10/ How can you be reached?

I can be contacted from my site ugh@biggirlsblouselondon.com.

Site : http://www.biggirlsblouselondon.com

Since 2008, the Fat Girl’s Guide to Living (aka FGG) gives fashion advice and living tips to women with “real bodies’. Tee, Toni, and Michelle created fatgirlsguidetoliving.com, but their readers are also very active contributors to the site. Tee has accepted this interview for Plus-Size-Tall.com. Find out about her goals, her favourite brands, and her top advice for women who struggle with their weight.

1/ Tell us about the team behind the Fat Girl’s Guide to Living. Is one of you the resident fashion expert?

Toni, Michelle and I met many years ago through my blog at adventurejournalist.com, and had worked together on a couple of projects in the past. We also happen to all be struggling with weight, and with the idea of putting ourselves out there despite it. When I got the idea for FGG back in 2008, they were the first people I thought of — both creative and full of great ideas for what we call “mindful decadence.”

None of us came to our posts at FGG with an intimate knowledge of fashion, we’ve all been learning as we go. Our readers, many of whom are hardcore plus-size fashionistas, have helped a great deal.

2/ What are the topics that you cover most often (related to fashion or not)?

I’d say the biggest topics are split between fashion (and how to find it, if you’re fashion-challenged like we are) and getting outdoors and enjoying activities that are usually associated with women who are athletic, like canoeing or snowshoeing.

3/ Why do you think that your readers like to hear from you?

I think we’re a practical, real, balanced voice in a world that easily gets divided into the camps of perpetual cynicism and empty cheerleading with topics like weight and body image. We also have fun with our guides, but keep it useful and real-world, the combination of which has ended up being infectious and motivated some of our readers to do things they’d never done before. Or at least not in a very long time!

4/ What is the most frequent mistake that curvy girls make when it comes to buying an outfit?

I just learned this myself in the last couple of years: a lot of women with curves like me (or let’s face it, bumps and dimples and rolls and pouches) are tempted to hide their shape behind shapeless, boxy and/or baggy clothing, thinking it’s going to minimize flaws and take attention away from their figure.

But I’ve found the opposite is true. Loose-fitting clothing can actually make a woman look larger than she is, even frumpy or sloppy. And our posture tends to change when we have clothing draping from ourselves. Clothes that aren’t tight but have attention paid to shape and form, that accentuate shape, actually make us look smaller and more confident.

5/ Do you think that the current interest in plus size fashion from mainstream magazines (e.g. Glamour, V Magazine) is here to stay?

I sure hope so! The shift toward body-size diversity has been great to watch, and I think we’ll see that domino throughout the industry over the next couple of years. I think the “real bodies” movement needs to be careful, though, and understand that real bodies (i.e, true diversity) embraces ALL sizes. Not just ours.

6/ What are your 3 favorite clothing brands of the moment?

Admitting this to a French fashion magazine may be a career-killer, but I have to admit: I’m a sucker for budget basics. Give me a pair of nice-fitting jeans (Torrid jeans are great) and some basic solid shirts from Sonoma or Westbound and a pair of Ugg boots and I’m a happy girl. I CAN say that because I’ve been spending a lot of time at the gym lately, that I’ve really been impressed with Danskin‘s new NOW line in plus sizes. I could live in those.

7/ I love your “Ask FGG” section. Could you explain to our readers what it is and how they can participate?

That’s one of my favorites, too! One of the best things about FGG is the community of readers so ready help each other out. When someone has a question (for instance, “where can I find plus-sized fencing gear?”) they post it in a comment on the site (ttp://www.fatgirlsguidetoliving.com), tweet it to us (@fatgirlsguide) or email it – and we put it in the queue.

We research the answer as best we can, post what we found, and then turn it over to our readers for additional comments and advice. We’ve had some lively conversations and lots of great suggestions come out of those posts.

8/ One last word?

You bet. There is nothing more I’d love to see come from the time and energy Toni, Michelle and I put into FGG than the abandonment of the “I can’t do that” presumption. The scarcity mentality of dieting is counterproductive to true health, the victim mentalities you sometimes see volleyed around isn’t doing that community any favors, and the “maybe someday” approach to everything — from traveling to outdoor recreation to wearing a certain dress to sex and dating — keeps us held back unnecessarily, which keeps us in a cycle of shame that gets harder and harder to get out of.

My advice to women struggling with weight, whether it’s 10 pounds or 200, is: TRY EVERYTHING. Not when you’ve lost 50 pounds, not when you’ve fit into your old jeans. But NOW.  I guarantee you’ll surprise yourself…and then want to keep surprising yourself again and again and again.

Thank you Tee for your time.

Fat Girl’s Guide to Living : http://www.fatgirlsguidetoliving.com

Marie Denee, a.k.a. The Curvy Fashionsita, has successfully launched her own online store, MarieDenee.com. In this interview, she talks about her goals, her drive, the brands she sells and about the importance of community building.

1/ Tell us about your store. Why did you launch it?

MarieDenee was launched to provide contemporary plus size options for the discerning Curvy.Confident.Chic. plus size woman. My boutique is an extension of my blog, The Curvy Fashionista. Ideally it is where I would go shop, after reading the blog. Designer fashion, high quality, high fashion, and high style!

2/ What brands and sizes do you sell?

Sizes start at a 14 or 1X and go u pto what that specific designer carries, so it will vary. Some fashion a up to a 3X and some fashion a 4X. It depends. As far as designers go, I carry various ones, and it will vary by season! Right now, I carry Kingley and Posh, Amanda Uprichard, David Kahn, Gayla Bentley, Spree Girl Curves, B.G.U., some exclusives from Jibri, and much more to come!

3/ Any special deals that you would recommend at the moment?

Right now I am having a great end of season clearance, with great pieces that will transition you between seasons! You can save anywhere from 40% to 65% off! I would suggest you get your pieces now! J

4/ How do you manage to do so many things at the same time (store, blog twitter, articles, etc.)?

I try my best to stick to a schedule, this works for me! I write four times a week, and try to schedule the articles out, to free up my daytime! As far as really making time for it all? This is my passion, and when you are driven and are surrounded by your passion, you find time for it all!

5/ Do you think that the current interest in plus size fashion from mainstream magazines (e.g. Glamour, V Magazine) is here to stay?

I think it is 50/50. While on one hand I want to scream from the rooftop and shout YES, the reality is, that it is up to us, the blogs, retailers, websites, and communities to keep the fire burning. If we only let what fashion dictates to us and on trend, then we are only setting ourselves up for a disappointment. So to answer your question, I think it is here to stay, be we have to work at it to keep it here.

6/ One last word?

Marie Denee ships internationally! Please visit my online store and support your plus size designers bringing you the latest in plus size fashion! In order to keep options available, we must support, give feedback, share, and encourage our community! If not, then it would have all been in vain!

Thank you Marie.

Useful links:

- MARIE DENEE : http://www.mariedenee.com

- THE CURVY FASHIONISTA : http://www.thecurvyfashionista-mariedenee.com

When Jo Brand came to London she studied then practiced as a psychiatric nurse. This part of her life always features heavily in her stand up routines. She came onto our television screens in the ‘90s on the Saturday Live show and then in her own series Through The Cakehole. Jo Brand came onto the scene at the time comedy was having a shake up; variety and the mothering law jokes were on the way out and jokes about real life told in the comedy club were in. Comedy evolved from this era into what we see and hear now. She was and is one of the pioneers of comedy and an icon for women. She is one of the most memorable British female comics ever.

Her new book and autobiography ‘look back in hunger’ was published on the 1^st October 2009. With a sharp eye for the absurd and in her own unique voice she tells her story for the first time: What possessed her to become a professional comedian in the cut-throat world of stand-up comedy after ten years as a psychiatric nurse? How did she deal with late night drunken audiences? Raised in middle class comfort, she left home in her teens to live with someone entirely inappropriate. Her parents were aghast at her behaviour and attempted to rein in her excesses, finally giving up when she demonstrated that she was not headed for the life of a nun. From her early years growing up in a small south coast town with two brothers who toughened her up, to emerging on stage as ‘The Sea Monster’, Jo Brand tells it like it is with wit, candour and a wonderful sense that life can be ridiculous but there’s always a funny side.

In a recent interview with Jo Brand, The Guardian reports Jo Brand’s autobiography begins with an incident most people would be shaken by even if they had just dreamed it: “she is standing in front of a half-inattentive, half-abusive drunken crowd when a man at the back begins screaming death threats and misogyny. Brand attempts some jokes, some putdowns, but none of it works – he just keeps going. Eventually she walks off, and has to be talked out of beating him over the head with one of the several bottles of Pils she’s imbibed before the show, for courage”. Look Back in Hunger, Jo Brands autobiography is a yarn characterised by a mortal fear of being earnest; of scaring the comedy audience horses with more than two sentences of anything too dark or thoughtful.

The following is a small extract from her book published by Headline and as featured in the Guardian:

The day dad burned my clothes

My friends and I decided we’d like to go out. Someone suggested Last Tango in Paris, the sexy, shocking Marlon Brando vehicle with some very rude scenes in it. I knew my parents would never agree, so I had to concoct an alibi. I told them I was going to see a friend to study. They looked suspicious but accepted my story, and it was at this point I made a cardinal error. I forgot to tell Jane, the friend in question, that she was my alibi.

Off I went to the pictures with seven teenage boys of varying scruffiness. Alcohol and dope were hidden in rucksacks and we all sat in the darkness, feeling deliciously out of touch with reality as the ribald Parisian tale unfolded in front of us.

It seems to be my lot in life to be unlucky at moments of extreme deception, because after I had left, Jane phoned my house to see what I was doing, having forgotten I said I was going to the cinema. On being questioned by my mum she let slip where I was and who with.

I came out of the cinema, giggling and joking, to find both my mum and dad sitting in the car right in front of us, looking extraordinarily unhappy, to put it mildly. Knowing how scary my dad could be, I felt like legging it up the road and never coming back. But he grabbed me. There were some half-hearted attempts on behalf of my escorts to prevent me being hauled off, but they were no match for my dad, who could comfortably be described as incandescent at that point. His glowering anger was too much for any semi-stoned hippy. They melted away……

To find out what happens when her parents get her home and other stories from her life get the book, out now.

The Guardian, Only Thin Peopls Ask Me That, Aida Edemariam, 26/009/09

As reported by the Press Association; according to research carried out by German scientists, victims of the credit crunch are more likely to be loosening belts than tightening them. They claim there is a definite link between being in debt and obesity. Indeed, ‘a study of more than 9,000 individuals found that a quarter of those who were seriously in debt were clinically obese.’

Key factors of the link between being in debt and obesity is the cost of healthy food and ‘a tendency for people worried by debt to “comfort eat”’. The research has further shown that whilst in the past obesity would have been linked to lack of education and occupational status, being obese due to being in debt is independent of these factors. In other words, people from all backgrounds are being effected by the credit crunch and becoming in debt and therefore possibly obese due to cost of healthy food and lifestyles.

Celebrity chef Jamie Oliver agrees that the recession could increase obesity as reported in the Telegraph “The looming recession could contribute to an obesity “horror show”, Jamie Oliver has warned MPs, because people have lost the skills to make healthy meals on a budget.”

A change in lifestyles over the last couple of decades which has seen women prominent in the work place and out of the kitchen, the availability of good quality, if not expensive, ready made meals, and “for the first time in history many people in this country [can] not cook.”  He goes on to say “Tightening budgets will encourage more of [people] to rely on cheap fast food, often high in fat and salt.”

Jamie Oliver believes the government should, through education, encourage more people to cook and restrict the amount of fast food restaurants. Jamie has called the increased numbers of people who are obese a “bloody emergency” as he reports “one in four Britons is now classed as overweight or obese, while the predicted recession could make the situation worse.”

So, will the credit crunch encourage obesity? I think it is true to say that those who have the skill to cook from raw products are at an advantage and can still create affordable healthy meals. However, over the years we have evolved into a culture that craves the time saving convenience of ready made meals which can be easily replaced with cheaper junk food. It also depends on where you live. In our global society we have to realise that raw produce is not available everywhere at affordable prices. Therefore a diet of carbohydrates such as pasta, rice, and potatoes becomes the only option.

As incomes are reduced, people going to the gym, swimming baths, and take part in other sporting activities that require a membership will decline. This could lead to more inactivity and therefore result in an unhealthy lifestyle leading to possible obesity.

What is the answer? Re educating ourselves. We need to re-establish healthy home cooking as far as possible as Jamie Oliver suggests. So what if you can’t afford the gym, running is free, a walk in the country, a bike ride with the family. There are many things we can do to stay healthy. Whilst the credit crunch is a really hard, possibly life altering time, it is also a chance to re-evaluate out lives and establish what is really important.

Sources:

The Telegraph – Jamie Oliver warns MPs ‘recession could worsen obesity crisis’

The Press Association – Credit crunch ‘encouraging obesity’

Jodell Raymond owns Black Cat Plus, a plus-size apparel store. Jodell is also a busy professional, who gives presentations and gives conference. Her sense of fashion led het to open this great online boutique for full-figured women (http://www.blackcatplus.com). She kindly agreed to answer my questions. I was amazed by how much time she has put into giving us so much detail about her boutique, her show room, her favourite brands, and her mission. I would like to thank her again for her time and I hope that you will enjoy her story.

1/ Jodell, you lead a busy life: you own Black Cat Plus, a plus size apparel website, you have a showroom in Rochester, NY, own a consulting business (GenderCorp), and you also teach business in a college! First, how do you manage to do so much?

I have become very good at compartmentalizing my life. I have learned to prioritize, delegate and this was a hard one, to say NO to things that I cannot do. I am energized by ideas, other people’s success and reaching goals I have set for myself and my businesses.

In my businesses, I work with partners–either by formalized agreements-or informal agreements. They are true professionals that I can trust and rely upon to get the job done right. Work becomes easier to manage when you have the right people working with you. One of my favorite quotes is “I would rather wear out than rust out.” I have a lot of interests and, hopefully, will have a long life to pursue those interests. I love talking about business to my college students and using real-life examples from my own business or my clients’ businesses to give them a real-world perspective; I love interacting with my consulting clients–most of them are small business owners like me–and helping them achieve success and I love the fashion industry and helping my customers find that perfect outfit.

2/ Your online boutique, Black Cat Plus ( http://www.blackcatplus.com ), was born out of your own frustration: as a busy professional, you could not find nice looking, plus-size clothings. So you set up your web store. Did I get your story right?

That is correct. There were many times while I was doing presentations that I thought the women were talking about me. They were! They wanted to know where I got my clothes or wanted to ask me style questions after the presentation or training session.

I decided to start my own business after I sold a suit off my back to a woman who attended one of my sessions. She needed it for a big presentation of her own the next day and she did not have time to go out and shop.

3/ Who does your site cater to? Do you also cater to international customers?

The site is geared toward real women with real lives and the desire to wear clothes that reflect their individual style.

We take our mission seriously to help women tell the story of their busy lifestyles through the clothes they choose to wear! We added the show room so that we can have the ability to test styles and get opinions of customers and translate it to a larger market. Because of our dual focus, we can do a lot of the leg work for today’s busy woman and find styles with a fit that works well on the various body types of plus size women.

Beginning with first collections, women may not know what they wanted or were looking for, but when they see the clothes featured in our collections they realize that this is THE LOOK that they have been searching for.

We have just added international shipping to our site and have seen our sales increase and we are in the process of adding more internationally renowned designers.

4/ What brands do you carry? What are the 3 most popular and why, in your opinion?

We carry, Sienna Rose–the most beautiful silk screened work of art in a top you have ever seen; Kiyonna–their dresses prove to me every day that women still want to be feminine and get dressed up; Roni Rabl for her eclectic designs that are flattering to the plus size woman; Fenini which is proving to be one of our “go to” lines for separates; Comfy USA also for separates—the name says it all; PK Maks for their denim and pants–great for silhouettes that need slimming in the stomach area at a reasonable price point; Saint Joval for made-to-order occasion wear; and Body Works Apparel for affordable active wear. We are adding Linda Lundstrom back into the collection for this fall along with a new line called, A People United.

Right now, our most popular brands can really be put into categories: Not Your Daughter’s Jeans for denim is hands down, our best selling jean. Simply Silk for their beautiful washable silk kimono style jackets that are works of art, and Canadian designer, Diane Kennedy for separates, especially the petite pants and the fabric for her separates is like nothing I have ever felt before.. Lastly, Neon Buddha and Pure & Co. from Canada for their casual wear and hand knit wraps. We cannot keep either in stock.

I think the common thread (pun intended) in all of the brands are fit, fit, and fit. If you have a designer who provides a consistent fit that is universally flattering in appealing styles, patterns and in contemporary colors, in lifestyle appropriate pieces you have a winner! Sounds easy, but it is not. Let me explain what I mean by lifestyle appropriate. We have found that the stay-at-home mom and working professional woman have something in common. They want to look contemporary, have clothing that can be worn from work to play and everything in-between and makes them look and feel fabulous. I have found that while -price is a consideration, it is not THE consideration. If she finds a piece that fits she will buy one in every color and not think twice. It is also not really about age-appropriate clothing anymore, it is more about lifestyle appropriate clothing that is as versatile as she is.

What does concern me about the fashion industry are two things: everything looks the same; you can just switch the labels out, or, the designers forget who they are designing for. I want to look contemporary in my clothing choices, but not silly and I do not want to see the style of dress I am wearing on ten other people either.

We must keep pushing our designers and even the younger designers coming out of school, to focus on plus size and to avoid designing the same old, same old. A challenge? Definitely! But well worth the effort when the designers get it right. And we feature and keep pushing those designers who we feel get it right.

If a line is under-performing we work with the sales rep, and in some cases the manufacturer, to see if we can get it to perform, and if not, we delete that line. We work with manufacturers who work with us and who are looking for a mutually beneficial relationship.

5/ Do you have your own label?

We did have some private label items. And, we started to delve into manufacturing our own private label pieces. But I was quickly reminded of a basic business principle. Don’t expand too far too fast. It is not easy to manufacture. So, we pulled back a bit and are doing more research as to what things are missing in the market, if any, and if so, how we can fill them? We think we have a good idea as to what is missing, but want to test a bit more before we commit.

6/ Do you ever look at plus-size European brands? If so, what do you think of them?

We are adding Alain Weiz this fall. I hunted for that line for two years–it was hard to find a sales rep. I adore Didier Parkian and Anna Scholz but have not added their lines yet, but am looking into adding them. I have a brochure from Didier Parkian that I picked up at market and I just keep it here on my desk because it is so beautiful. We can point to those designers and say, “Here is how not to do same old, same old for plus size.” When I die and go to heaven you can just surround me with their clothes. That would be my idea of heaven.

I have a goal to get to Milano Moda and have signed up for it a number of times, but have not made it over there. I always make a point to walk every trade show so I can get an idea of trends. Adding an international trade show would just help my perspective and I need to make it a point to get there in 2010 especially since we have more global clients now.

7/ Your site contains a wealth of information. For instance, your blog ( http://www.blackcatplus.com/blog/ ) gives a lot of advice. Is it important for you to publish a blog?

Publishing a blog is one way of connecting with our customers. I love to communicate to them and hear from them. I always try to email everyone back personally and everyone gets a signed thank you note from me.

The thing I love the most is getting to know my customers so well that when I am buying I can say, “I know Jane would love this. Or Sue said she needed a dress in this color, I know this will work.” It is harder on the internet to buy with specific customers in mind, but it is a goal for us to get to know our customers and to help them in any way we can with their clothing choices. I also like for my customers to know me on a personal level.

I just helped a grandmother and mother of the bride find something to wear for the wedding. They called me (at my request) at home and we discussed what they had in mind. I did not want any distractions when I talked to them. If a customer needs me I always make sure she can find me. Yes, there is such a thing as a Fashion Emergency, trust me!!

I engaged the sales reps help to help them find something from Simply Silk that they would absolutely love. We did it!! It is that kind of connection, while it may be more of a challenge with the internet that is the reason why I am in business and what keeps me in business.

8/ How does an entrepreneur like you can compete with the likes of Lane Bryant and other big names?

We don’t! We cannot compete with Lane Bryant or Macy’s on price. We will lose. Those stores will have “It” on sale before we even get “It” in the store! We try to find lines that the big retailers do not carry. That is not easy either because it can be a matter of time before they get mass distribution.

We certainly do monitor what the big retailers carry, what they view as trends and how they are catering to their customers. But to directly compete with them would be a plan to fail on our part. Where we can compete is on personalized service and attention and providing the customer with a WOW experience every time she has contact with us.

9/ Where is your showroom located and what can be found there?

The show room is located in Rochester, NY and has the same items as what you see in our on-line store. We were in a local boutique and were providing the plus size selections for that boutique, but it became apparent that they needed their space back so we began to explore different concepts as to what would work for our particular local market/business model. The show room is proving to be the answer.

I think you will find that the retail industry will show some pretty dramatic changes in the next few years. We are doing our best to be proactive in anticipating that shift in the retail industry with our combined show room and shipping facility concept.

10/ One last word?

The plus size fashion industry has come far, but still has a long way to go. I really urge my customers to let us know what they think so that we can take back their comments to our manufacturers and designers so that they can set about the work of making clothes that people want to wear and keep for many years to come. I am energized by the direction that the plus size fashion industry is headed.

We do see glimpses of greatness in designers out there., but we still need to do our homework and commit to working with one another to make it happen. We can never take that customer out of the equation for success. It is really an honor to be in this industry and help women look and feel their best. As I have said, “It is not about what size you wear, it is how you wear your size.”

Gwendolyn DeVoe is a former plus-size model and now  the proud organizer of the first Full Figured Fashion Week. She was kind enough to find some time in her busy schedule to answer a few questions about this ground-breaking  Fashion Week, about her own career, and about her company DeVoe Signature Events. I thank her again for her replies.

1/ The first Full Figured Fashion Week will premiere on June 25-27, in New York City. With 40 million women over size 14 in the USA, wasn’t it about time?

It is ABSOLUTELY about time! The full figured or plus size consumers have been virtually ignored throughout the history of traditional fashion week events. We have grown tired of trying to be accepted and included and have decided to create our own event.

2/ Who can attend this series of events and what will they get out of it?

Several types of events will be held throughout June 25-27th. Each event has a targeted audience. Those who are interested in attending should visit our website (http://www.fffweek.com) and peruse the event schedule and description to determine which events are best suited for them.

3/ What responses did you get from the plus-size fashion industry when you first came up with the idea of this fashion week?

Actually, the initial responses were a bit overwhelming. Since we have been producing plus size fashion related events for many years, we knew we had a strong following, but when international supporters, such as yourself, started to reach out to us, we were simply amazed at how quickly news of the event had spread.

4/ How hard was it to put together the first edition of the Full Figured Fashion Week? Did you get support from the traditional fashion industry?

It was not hard at all. We first started with our colleagues in the plus size fashion industry. After we secured their support, we knew that other beauty industry professionals would come on board, even if was just out of curiosity. We are so very thankful to ALL our supporters and know that this event will be a historical one.

5/ In France, 40% of women are size 12 and over. In the UK and Germany, this proportion is even higher. Does it mean your Full Figured Fashion Week could have a global outreach?

Absolutely! We have already had conversations with colleagues in the UK and in Australia about bringing the event there. So, yes, the global outreach has most definitely begun!

6/ Ms. DeVoe, you have a very strong expertise in the fashion industry, especially in plus-size, stylish clothing. Could you tell our readers about your background?

First and foremost, my expertise in the plus size fashion industry began when after playing basketball in college, I gained weight and had to find new places to shop for clothes. From there, I free-lanced as a plus model for several years. Somewhere in between modeling and being an event planner, I began to produce fashion events with an emphasis on plus size fashion. From there, I opened up The Plus Academy, which is a training and development program for aspiring models. I have since created and produced a number of signature events including Dangerous Curves…the Tour, Full Figured & Fabulous, and Project Curves. Recently, I have added the professional development and management of 10 plus models to my resume. So you see, if it’s not Plus, its not for me!

7/ Your company, DeVoe Signature Events, has several activities beside the Full Figured Fashion Week. Who do they cater to?

DeVoe Signature Events caters to people who aspire to work in industries whose doors have been somewhat closed to plus size individuals. Our events are motivating, empowering and most of all, they are usually the first of their kind.

8/ One last word?

We encourage everyone who has an interest in seeing quality, fashionable clothes on real size models to attend Full Figured Fashion Week in NYC on June 24-27. FFFWeek is not just another fashion show. We want to send a loud message that our consumer dollars will no longer be ignored. We want to see clothes that fit our curves on the runway, worn by models that look like us. Additionally, we want plus size consumers to be aware of the fabulous collections that are available to you and encourage you to support these collections.