The plus size fashion magazine Ma-Grande-Taille.com, the sister site of Plus Size and Tall, was one of the first of its kind launched in France where 40% of French women wear a clothes size 44 and up. The internet magazine launched in 2007 and has been growing ever since. And now, 5 years later, they have launched the first ever iPad application dedicated to plus size fashion and celebrities. The app, called MaGrandeTaille, is available worldwide, for free, in the Apple App Store.

The MaGrandeTaille iPad application is revolutionary: the first plus size fashion magazine in a glamorous format! The application MaGrandeTaille allows you to receive new issues of the magazine on a regular basis. The iPad application will let MaGrandeTaille users enjoy glamorous photos of plus size models like Brazilian star Fluvia Lacerda and Whitney Thompson (America’s Next Top Model winner), read in-depth articles about celebs such as Adele and Beth Ditto, as well as enjoy great fashion selections. Despite the fact the content is in French, users of any language can still enjoy the high quality images which are prevalent throughout and will appeal to any fashionista.

The MaGrandeTaille iPad application is a joint venture between the UK magazine Beautiful and Ma-Grande-Taille.com. Sue Thomason from Beautiful and Thibault Masson & Corinne from Ma-Great Taille.com have come together to present this innovative application. If you do not have an iPad, do not worry. You can also turn the virtual pages of this magazine at www.ma-grande-taille.com/beautiful. There will also be an android version of this application launched later this month. Download and take a look at this iPad application today and let us know your impression. We do not think you will be disappointed.

MaGrandeTaille iPad application

MaGrandeTaille iPad application

MaGrandeTaille iPad application

Turn the virtual pages of this magazine at www.ma-grande-taille.com/beautiful and download for free in the Apple App Store.

Open End Clothes are the latest range to join the Navabi family, with a trendy feel for young and curvy fashionistas. With a collection encompassing a mixture of tailored everyday basics and retro beauties for special occasions, get ready to fall in love with the Open End clothes philosophy.

(l-r) Open End Printed T-shirt (£64.90), Open End Jacket with faux fur (£110.90), Open End Dress with ribbon (£64.90)

The Open End clothes range (www.plus-size-tall.com/nav-open) has an effortless chic feel to it and comes in a size range of a UK 12 – 26. We have fallen in love with the Open End Printed T-shirt (£64.90) which features the beautiful face of Sophia Loren screen printed onto a 100% cotton shirt. The round neckline and short sleeves make this is a casual item, perfect to team with skinny jeans and a granddad cardigan for days shopping in the city, or catching a movie with friends.

Our next pick is the Open End Jacket with faux fur (£110.90), a nostalgic pilot-inspired leather-effect jacket which is super warm and waiting to be snuggled into. Wear with brown boots and aviators for an 80s kick, and be Top Gun in the fashion stakes.

Our final item is the Open End Dress with ribbon (£64.90), which is a modern take on a Norwegian pattern. The bow is an adorable touch, and is perfect worn with black or red tights, knee high boots and a long, button less cardigan.

To view these items and the rest of the range, visit the Open End clothes portion of the Navabi website by going to www.plus-size-tall.com/nav-open.

Carmakoma plus size fashion comprises an original mix of feminine style with a modern edge, resulting in trendy, fashionable clothing  for the curvy, plus sized woman. Ranging from a UK size 14 – 26, women can find designs amongst the collection which are guaranteed to fit every taste, occasion and body type. With Carmakoma plus size fashion now available at both OneStopPlus and Castaluna, we’ve had a look at both websites to compare choice, prices and shipping costs.

Selection from One Stop Plus

OneStopPlus has the advantage that it is based in the UK, and therefore they are able to keep delivery costs to a minimum at just £3.99, and free when you spend over £100. However they currently only have three Carmakoma plus size fashion items on their website – one top, one belt and a single skirt.

Selection from Castaluna

Castaluna offers a much larger range from Carmakoma plus size fashion, with almost 70 items found amongst their selection. However with the prices in Euros rather than sterling, it is worth noting that you pay a slightly inflated price for having that choice. And with postage starting from £14, it is certainly not the cheapest way to shop. With the international postage fee and currency fluctuation, that €30 dress has suddenly almost doubled in price. That said, you do have the advantage of wearing an item of clothing which isn’t available on the high street, and probably not in high circulation when waltzing though the festive party season.

OneStopPlus and Castaluna both have advantages to shopping with them, and there is no denying that Carmakoma plus size fashion is perfect for all of the impending seasonal fun. You can visit both sites and see their offerings by visiting www.plus-size-tall.com/osp-carmakoma and www.plus-size-tall.com/casta-carmakoma.

Award winning plus size clothing retailer Evans (website: Evans.co.uk) has now opened its internet doors in the US. Evans has recently launched EvansUSA.com which caters to its US shoppers offering them mostly all of the brands that are available in the UK. Evans has had collection collaborations with musicians Beth Ditto and Chaka Khan. If you are in the US and have never heard of Evans think of it like a mix of the classy conservativeness of Lane Bryant mixed with some fashionable youthfulness from Torrid, Evans provides a very nice in between. Evans USA offers US sizes from 10-28 which is equal to UK sizes 14-32. The prices are in US dollars and even though the prices do look higher they are about the same as the UK prices given the currency exchange rate. Below is an example of different pricing of the same dress.

Since Evans is still shipping from the UK, buying from Evans USA will still be just like ordering from Evans UK as far as custom and import duties are concerned which in few cases can cost shoppers. The prices are in the Lane Bryant range so customers can look to spend at least 100 dollars for a full outfit at regular price. On the upside Evans does offer flat rate 5-10 day shipping for $10 and free shipping for orders over $70.

The US site design is still the same as its UK counterpart so shoppers won’t be too rattled with how to get around the site. The US site design does have some drawbacks though, there is still a lot of British lingo on the sight that may be confusing to shoppers in the US, like calling ballet flats pumps when in the US pumps are usually associated with high heels, or the fact that In the lingerie section they still call the panties knickers which can also be a little confusing to American shoppers.

EvansUSA.com

Also on the downside, EvansUsa.com doesn’t have some of the brands that are offered in the UK such as Preslin, Samya, Sienna Couture and Studio NY. There also is not a Evans USA blog, Twitter or Facebook only the UK version.

But with all of that said the site is up just in time for holiday shopping which is perfect for everyone.

Over time there has been quite a stir of what what plus size women should and shouldn’t wear to enhance their look. Today I going to shed some light on some of the style myths that have been spread around the plus size fashion world. Many of these myths are untrue and under the right circumstances easily proved false.

NO PLEATED SKIRTS

Stylists used to say that pleats almost never look good on a plus size figure. Now this isn’t completely untrue, the key to wearing pleats is to stay away from wide and stiff pleats like those reminiscent of a schoolgirl uniform, because these types of pleats do in fact make you look wider than you actually are. Instead try shallow, softer pleats that are in chiffon like fabrics like the midi and maxi pleated skirts that are really on trend right now. These skirts will glide over your curves and give a hint of romanticism to an outfit.

MINIS ARE NOT FOR PLUS SIZE WOMEN

Now this is definitely a complete myth. Miniskirts and mini dresses, of course when worn for the right occasions, are completely acceptable for a plus size figure. If you have a great pair of legs don’t hide them. When it comes to minis keep this rule in mind, If the mini is at or below the longest of your fingertips when standing then you’re good to go, if the mini is shorter than your fingertips add a pair of leggings. Peek-a-boo moments never did anyone any good. If you’re still unsure about the length you can always wear tights or pantyhose underneath.

SLIMMING SHAPEWEAR IS A PLUS SIZE GIRLS BEST FRIEND

Now I know what you’re going to say, “No not my slimmers, they’re a godsend!” Actually slimming shapewear can hurt more than it can help. It can make you look bigger than you are and put lumps in the wrong places if not sized properly. The key to this problem is investing in smoothers not slimmers. You will actually look a lot better in your clothing if you focus concern on how much your underwear smooths instead of how much it slims you.

PRINTS AND PATTERNS ONLY MAKE YOU LOOK BIGGER

This is one of the biggest myths that faces plus size women today. Many women feel this way because they haven’t met a pattern that flattered them. Well I am here to tell you that the key to prints and patterns is balance. When wearing prints and patterns it is better to use prints to balance out top and bottom if you don’t have an hourglass figure or to show off curves. Prints like polka dots are great especially if they are woven in fabric instead of just printed on top. This will give a more natural feel to the dots so they aren’t too loud. Horizontal stripes were once believed to be unflattering on wider figures but the key to overcoming this faux pas depends on the width of said stripes. Thinner stripes will be much more flattering than wider stripes.

BAGGY CLOTHES WILL HIDE YOUR SIZE

Wrong. Baggy clothes are very good at doing one thing, making you look bigger than you actually are. While baggy clothes don’t make you look as big as wearing clothes that are too small would, baggy clothes still are not a good staple when it comes to your wardrobe. If you are conscious about your size and unsure about wear proper fitting clothes remember that nothing will look better on you than clothes that fit. Everyone has something about their curves that they like, so when dressing, dress to accentuate that part of your body. You will look much slimmer and more fashionable than wearing oversized clothes.

Daxon UK is a French online brand catering for the more mature lady, and has recently launched a new tab on it’s website (www.plus-size-tall.com/daxon-uk) which is dedicated solely to plus size fashion.

Daxon UK is part of the Redcats brand, so stands alongside retailers such as La Redoute and as such, you can be sure that Daxon UK will offer quality, functionality and fashion focused items.

(l-r) Suedette Waistcoat (£36), Wide-Leg Trousers (£20), Long Jacket (£74)

The Daxon UK plus size range offers a range of everyday basics and staple separates which easily combine to create effortlessly chic outfits. However it offers more than just clothes; wide fitting shoes up to an EEEEE width are available, as is a selection of everyday underwear and shapewear for when we need a little extra help with that dress.

The Daxon UK website also has a really handy “Shop Your Shape” tool where it searches for recommendations based on whether you are a pear, hourglass, apple or rectangle. This makes the whole shopping experience a lot sleeker, and allows you to worry less about whether it will hide or show off specific parts of your shape, and ensure that you get the most flattering fit each time.

You can visit the website (www.plus-size-tall.com/daxon-uk) to view all of the Daxon UK offerings

Mat Fashion is a trendy and funky fashion line, created especially for girls who really are proud of their curves. Having been made in Athens since 1987, Mat Fashion is now distributed worldwide and has shops across Europe in countries such as Spain and Germany amongst others. Their philosophy is simple; create show-stopping fashions in plus sizes. In fact, Mat Fashion is on a mission to set new standards in women’s plus size fashion, ensuring that their collections are both feminine and sexy, whilst also working as a concept.

With the AW 2011 – 2012 collection having just been released, we have been drooling over the press photos from the Mat Fashion blog. Trendy, fashionable and filled with attitude, the concept images certainly match the clothes in terms of eye catching and fabulousness.

With regards to the launch,  Mat Fashion writes on their website:

Mat. is launching a brand new Fall / Winter 2011-12 Collection, takes a step further and brings a glamorous and comfortable urban collection. Real women know that every look needs a trendy touch, inspired by the brand new trends. The joined forces of the latest styling statements, such as the most wanted colors, sky blue and dark orange, discreet shiny elements, amazing party attitude, neutral cozy looks, mix & match garments, urban and casual easy to wear outfits, inspired by flashing lights, speed and days & nights in the big city, compose a complete unique real-size collection that can’t be missed. Feel free to compose your outstanding image and for sure it will be as fashionable as you!

Feel the city vibe in the mat. way!

Jean Marc Philippe clothes are without a doubt the very height of Parisian plus size chic. Having been part of a family business which has been going for well over twenty years, Jean Marc Philippe clothes have a rock and roll undertone complete with well cut styles to flatter and give an amazing silhouette.

Jersey Long-Top (£42.90), Fake-Fur Bolero (£100.90), Jersey Balloon-Pants (£42.90)

It is with excitement that a large range of Jean Marc Philippe clothes are now available to purchse through the Navabi website (www.plus-size-tall.com/navabi-jmp) and with many items on sale (like the Fake-Fur Bolero above which is now £100.90, reduced from £207.90) now is the perfect time for a wardrobe update. It is also good to note that many of his items are available in the extended sizes of UK 14 – 32 from the official website (www.jeanmarcphilippe.com). The range is incredibly diverse – there are hints of glamour and decadence with the range of animal prints,  punky rock clashes with distressed stripes and graphic prints, whilst still maintaining a core collection of everyday basics which can be dressed up and down for work and leisure.

View the entire collection here, or visit the Navabi website to get some on sale bargains.

Online destination Style369 is one of the first places to visit for young, stylish, on-trend fashion. And having recently starting to stock new brand Ice Blossom (www.plus-size-tall.com/style369-iceblos), we have cast our eyes over their collection, and see just what they are offering.

Ice Blossom combines feminine and flattering shapes, with Style369 claiming that you’ll “be sure to find a hint of glamour for your wardrobe here”.

(l-r) Ice Blossom Embellished Dress (£45), Ice Blossom Red Maxi Dress (£59.50), Ice Blossom Red Lace Insert Dress (£45)

However, is the Ice Blossom  collection really as glamorous as Style369 claim? Although the brand have some interesting fabrics as part of their range, the shape of the dresses are mostly on the frumpy side, with the emphasis being more on covering up rather than standing out. When compared with other brands aiming at a similar age range such as ASOS Curve, their offering looks drab and dowdy and bordering on middle aged. That’s not to say that some of the pieces individually wouldn’t be good within the right setting – some of the items would be good for the work place, but in no way are they dripping with the promised glamour at all.

Although not terrible,  Ice Blossom has launched by playing it safe. Hopefully as we step into Autumn / Winter, we’ll begin to see more of the glamours undertones which we’ve been teased with.

Brazil’s Fashion Weekend Plus Size event (www.fwps.com.br/index.html) was the first of it’s kind, and is now running strong with it’s fourth year having just taken place. The event, created to cater to Brazilians who traditionally hold a more voluptuous figure with a larger bust and hips, was a move put forward by journalist Renata Poskus Vaz, who writes a blog called Mullherão – literally translated as “Big Woman”

This year, Brazil’s Fashion Weekend Plus Size event took place at the Convention Center Frei Mug, with many brands presenting their Spring / Summer 2012 shows. It has been incredibly refreshing for all these emerging brands to come forward, as with half the population classified as overweight, the fashion focused curvier ladies want to wear the styles that the see showcased at events such as Sao Paulo Fashion Week, and should have every right to as well.

More and more speciality shops for plus size clothing are popping up, with jeans, evening wear and lingerie all becoming more readily available in larger sizes. Renata Poskus Vaz commented that ”Today in Brazil, women have overcome the hurdles of prejudice that used to stop them from entering a plus-size store, which in the past were considered stores for the elderly and grandmothers. But no longer.” As a former plus-size model, Poskus Vaz understands that not all women who wear larger sizes are overweight, but just that some have fuller frames. She has striven to close the gap between the smaller and plus size markets, ensuring that fashionable and well made clothing is available for all, no matter what the label in the garment reads.

Brazil’s Fashion Weekend Plus Size event  showcased smaller Brazilian labels who specialise in plus size garments, with the line-up including Acqua Rose , Bondage , Claudia Nazario , Dardak Jeans , Exuberance , Korukruby Lu Oliva, La Mafe , Lunender , Milanino and Signorelli. And with this year having introduced a business lounge for designers to meet directly with retailers after their shows, hopefully we will see an emergence of larger sizes on both the bodies and shop fronts of Brazil.