JMS new clothing line is a win for plus size women.
I was very pleased to be invited to the unveiling of the new fashion line from JMS. You are undoubtedly familiar with the exclusively plus size manufacturer. I’ve liked this company for a long time, not just because they made quality bras for my size, but because they use plus size models in all their marketing. The clothing seen in the ads is “actual size” and I applaud the company for their use of larger size models.
Maybe you already wear their bras and panties, sportswear and bathing suits? I sure do. Good fabrics, well made, and they fit well because the fit models that they use are size 18/20, not size 4 and sized up. JMS is now sharing what they know about clothing that fits a full-figure with a new line of casual wear.
Admittedly, I was a little nervous. Sure they know sportswear, but there’s a big difference between sweatpants and a well fitting maxi dress that caresses your curves and floats like a summer day on a Caribbean island from shoulder to ankle. Turns out, they know how to do that too. I am honestly very pleased with this collection.
The show was at their corporate offices in midtown Manhattan. My good friend Terri Murray, a professional plus-size model and the President of the Association of Image Consultants International (New York Tri-State Chapter), came along for the event.
After the show I was given a private exclusive tour of the clothing with Janet Freedman, Director of Design for Hanes and JMS. Besides talking about our fabulous grandmothers who taught us how to build a wardrobe, we spent time examining the product. I can tell you that the clothes look good on walking models — meaning that the fabric drapes and moves well on a body in motion, and that the pieces are well made. Seams are strong, details like beading and trim are not going to come off in the first wash and best of all each piece ranges from $6 – $22. Grandma Rose, who spent her life working as a seamstress and expert milliner in NYC sweatshops always said, “it’s better to have 5 or 6 very well made pieces in your closet and build an outfit with other, simpler pieces. Don’t break the bank bubbeleh.” Grandma Rose would approve of this new collection.
JMS has signed an exclusive with Walmart and the line will be available through the JMS website and in Walmart stores around the country. There will be new items in stores monthly. At a time when we are seeing the complete removal of plus size sections from department store selling floors, Walmart has chosen to dramatically increase the plus size section on their selling floor. The line is available in sized 16-28 and some items to 5x.
Janet, a plus size woman herself, shared with me her passion for bringing affordable contemporary casual wear to the marketplace. “Look at your budget and buy the best pieces you can afford that will mix and match with what you already have. Clothing that is made well will look good whether you are running errands or going out to dinner. I can change the entire look of my outfit with a few accessories and the basic pieces cost a total of $64. Our new line is all about celebrating our curves!” Sounds good to me. I certainly plan on wearing these clothes. I think they are perfect additions to my wardrobe and will offer affordable flexibility in outfit planning.
Janet has graciously agreed to make herself available to A Celebration of Curves readers. Here is your opportunity to talk directly to the designer of an international clothing line. She has offered (quite amazingly I think) that if you comment here on things you want from a fashion line, things that are missing in your wardrobe, fit problems, and style needs, “please let me know so that I can make it for them.” I have rarely felt such a heartfelt and personal connection between a company and their customer. Now, let’s go shopping!
Just one thing: Plus-size does not = tall. Or even average height. I am 5’1″ and thankfully can hem a pair of pants because otherwise I would have nothing to wear. Being an 18 does not also mean I must be 5’8″. Please offer pants in shorter lengths. This is not to JMS in particular, but the plus-sized fashion industry as a whole.
I agree with Kristin! I’m 5’3″ (maybe 5’4″ on a good day) but quite curvy. Most plus sized things drag on me – and heaven forbid a plus-sized skirt hit me anywhere above the mid-calf. Even “short” skirts tend to hit me around the ankles, because they’re built for my best friend (who has less on top than I do, but about 8 inches more of leg).
The other thing that I never seem to see done well is a button-up shirt. As a professional woman, I have actually gotten a lot of crap for not wearing “tailored” clothing. I am actually wearing a button-up right now that is better than most, but I still need to wear it with an undershirt because the buttons have a tendency to pop open at a moment’s notice. Many other ones I’ve tried aren’t made for curves – so they end up looking very sloppy. Still others have pockets on the breasts (and, um, HELLO? I am a 38 F… No more attention need be on my breasts!).
My last comment is that plus-sized clothes often are made for short- or long-waisted people. Which means that they hit this average-waisted person either really high (above my tummy bump) or really low (mid-thigh). With clothes which fit like the former, I get rolls of fat and I get sort of “cut off” in the middle. With clothes which fit like the latter, they sort of swath the whole body and look like mumus. I hope that this collection has some nice-fitting clothes that hit at all sorts of lengths on curvy bodies.
That said, thank you to Corrina for giving us this forum, and thank you to Janet for listening!
Kristen and Elisa those are very important points. Everyone is going to carry fat in different places on their body. One person may be heavier in the butt and thighs while someone else will carry it higher.
It’s a great idea to have tops and pants fit a variety of body shapes within a collection. I doubt they could make each piece that way, but an overall variety throughout the line.
I’ll make sure that Janet sees your comments.
Keep them coming! What fun!
Extend the line up to size 30/32! Most plus-size stores offer up to a 28, which means that those of us who are right at the top end of that range and occasionally need a 30 are sore out of luck in any brick-and-mortar shops.
Also, cheap as the clothing is, I’d like to know that the people making the clothes are making a fair wage. That is, I’m afraid, always my concern with cheap clothing, even when it’s well-made.
I love JMS and never buy bras or undies anywhere else! I buy new clothes there too, when I can afford it, and have rarely been disappointed.
I was thrilled when JMS started offering plus-size bras in a B-cup. But I need a bigger band size! I love the pretty Playtex bras JMS offers, but the band only goes up to 44, and I need a 48. Other brands that go up to a 48B have hugely outsized cups that are more like a D than a B. I can make do with those little bra band extenders, but then the bra doesn’t quite fit right.
This is my first time on this site and I appreciate the review, but I can assure you I will not be buying any JMS clothes or anything else at Wal-Mart ever. It’s really disappointing that they have chosen to associate themselves with that company given their appalling treatment of employees, many of whom are women. I’m agreeing with the post about who and where the clothes are made as well. And this is really disappointing because I have been a long-time customer of clothes through their catalog. I love their undies, and other stuff as well – support JMS but don’t buy it at Wal-Mart!
A few general things that tend to bug me (to say the least) about plus size ranges in general –
The big floral prints (or prints in general). UGH. The top in the second photo above is case in point. Young hip women do not tend to wear these sorts of prints.
The empire line predominance. Some of us fatties do have a defineable waistline. Please make some tops and dresses that highlight this. Empire lines are great but we need a choice of other styles as well.
Most clothes designed for smaller sizes would look great on bigger women if they were simply made bigger. 50s style dresses for example. There are a huge range of these in (Australian) Target right now but they only go up to an 18. They would look awesome on a woman of any size.
Not too much emphasis on sleeveless tops but offering a choice of sleeve style. And shrugs and boleros. A lot of fat woman are conscious of their upper arms. Some aren’t. The key thing is CHOICE.
Big doesn’t always mean big breasted and even the big breasted don’t always want to flaunt their cleavage. Just something to keep in mind.
Some of us like shorter skirts (ie knee length or just above). Some of us like fitted clothes (we aren’t all into the flowy thing).
Jeans etc with elastic waistbands are gross (in my opinion).
Normal clothes just bigger is what I guess my main point is.
I have the exact opposite problem of Kristin. I’m 5’11″ and have a terrible time finding plus-sized shirts that are long enough. And pants, too, but the shirts are the most annoying.
Also, as Elisa pointed out, button-up shirts are terrible and almost always pop open.
Hi Kristin-
I hear you……….JMS gets it, we offer many pant styles in petite, average and tall. You can always check online at http://www.jms.com or http://www.walmart.com if you cannot find them in the store.
Thanks for your response.
Janet