Full Figure Fashion Week 2009

You may have heard about Full Figure Fashion Week already and I am so proud to be involved in this extraordinary event. I’ve been working with buyers and the designers who are participating in the fashion show, to create a Buyer’s Market — sort of a mini-trade show for boutiques carrying plus size lines to meet with emerging designers.

There are people coming in from all over the country and even a boutique owner from Paris, a fashionable city without plus size fashion. To all those boutique owners I’ve spoken with over the past few weeks, I am honored to work in the same industry. As a group, I found you all to be dedicated, joyful entrepreneurs. May you all make your quarterly quotas and may your income streams be plentiful!

WELCOME TO FULL FIGURED FASHION WEEK

In America alone, there are 40 million women over size 14, spending $25 billion a year on clothing, or a quarter of all clothing sales, according to American Demographics. So, why isn’t there a Fashion Week event dedicated to showcasing fashions available to the curvy consumer?

There wasn’t…until NOW!

A partnership of independent fashion designers, retailers, event producers, models and plus industry businesses, Full Figured Fashion Week (FFFWeek) was created to increase economic development in the area of plus size fashion design, clothing merchandising and plus modeling. Our goal is to highlight the very best in plus size fashions – both retail and independent designers, while providing an inaugural showcase of talented designers, models, stylists and plus industry businesses that serve the plus size consumer.

It is estimated that this long overdue and highly anticipated three-day fashion extravaganza (June 25-27, 2009) will debut before an audience of over 1500+ plus size fashion enthusiasts, style mavens, models, boutiques, vendors and the media.

The FFFWeek finale showcase, which will take place on Saturday, June 27th, 2009 at The Prince George Ballroom, will feature the runway collections of high-end plus size fashion boutiques, retail stores and local and out of state independent designers.

History is about to be made—We hope you’ll join us!

And the big announcement of the day:
Discount tickets are available for groups of 5 or 10 Curvy Divas and Their Friends!
Here’s the link Full Figure Fashion Week 2009

THURSDAY, June 25, 2009

FFFWeek Welcome Event 12:00 – 4:00PM
Re/Dress New York
109 Boerum Place (bet. Pacific and Dean Sreets), F or G train to Bergen Street, Brooklyn, NY

Description: Kick-off event to welcome our out of town guests. Meet FFFWeek’s organizers and supporters while enjoying premium shopping at the Re/Dress boutique. ***Re/Dress boutique will donate 10% of sales made from the event to our non profit partner, PPWAP.
Sponsors: FFFWeek, Re/Dress Boutique
Admission: Free Admission but must RSVP w/ names to RSVPKickoff@fffweek.com by 6/22/09

Designers Showcase & Networking Event 6:00 – 10:00PM
Showcase starts at 7:30PM

Club Blvd 199 Bowery (at Spring Street), New York, NY
Description: Fashion showcase featuring designs by en.v. new york. Networking reception hosted by X’Change Modeling

Charitable Gift Giving for Purses And Pockets With A Purpose:
Meet Tracey V. Bell (Chairman and President, PPWAP) and Kim Coles (Global Spokesperson, PPWAP) and donate a modestly used Purse (or Pocket Wallet), which will be bundled with personal care products and counseling services for women/children in Domestic Violence Shelters. For all monetary donations of $25 or more, PPWAP will be gifting the donor with a free 100% organic candle made with pure essential oils. We need your support. All major credit cards and debit cards with MC/Visa logo accepted. COME AND DONATE YOUR PURSE. WE NEED YOU!!
Sponsors: FFFWeek, X’Change Modeling , Purses And Pockets With A Purpose , Ashley Stewart, Structure Wardrobe & Styling , Corinthia Peoples Designs , Hyperion Entertainment Inc.
Admission:$10.00 if you are not on the guest list which closed at 8:00 AM on June 16th. If you are on the guest list, you must arrive by 7:00 PM or pay the $10.00 admission fee. If you RSVP’d before June 16th, we have your name on the list, but you and your party must arrive by 7:00 PM.

FRIDAY, June 26, 2009

Buyers Market 1:00 – 4:00PM

Location: Private

Description: A buyers sales event that will connect plus size fashion buyers and boutique owners with participating FFFWeek designers/suppliers in a private, one-on-one environment.
Target Audience: Designers and Buyers. If you represent a retail outlet please contact me directly at corinna@thislushlife.com for an invitation to this private event.
Sponsors: FFFWeek, J. Biggins Consulting, The Plus Size Marketing Group, This Lush Life

Panel Discussion – “The State of the Curvy Community” 3:00 – 5:00PM

Please note there is now a waiting list for this event. RSVP is closed until a larger space can be found.

Ripley Grier Studios
520 8th Avenue (bet. 36th and 37th Streets)
16th Floor, Room 17C
New York, NY
*** Must have I.D. to enter bldg.

Description: This panel discussion will address the current state of the plus-size community and the significance of Full Figured Fashion Week, through the eyes of the industry’s leaders, bringing different perspectives from various experiences and points of view.

* Sharon Quinn, “The Runway Diva,” will moderate the discussion. Accompanying her in this discussion is:
* Cassy Jones- McBride- US Director of the Fuller Woman Network,
* Deb Malkin- Owner of Re/Dress NY,
* Glen Johnson- Owner of Full Figure Plus and a Member of The Curvy Collective,
* K. L. Belvin- Author of “Man In Transition”,
* Mia Amber- Model, Actress, Creative Editor of Plus Model Magazine,
* Maddy Figueroa-Jones – Editor in Chief of Plus Model Magazine

Sponsors: FFFWeek, The Curvy Collective, Fuller Woman Expo, Igigi
Admission: Free Admission but list closed until further notice

FFFWeek Media Reception 6:00 – 10:00PM

Taj Lounge (Mezzanine Level)
48 W 21st St (bet. 5th and 6th Aves.) New York, NY
Description: Official press party for FFFWeek
Target Audience: Press, Designers, Models
Sponsors: FFFWeek, Curvesity Entertainment
Admission: By Invitation Only

FFFWeek Full Figured Friday Night! We have NYC Entertainment SEWN Up!
10:30 PM – 1:00 AM

Sage Theatre
711 7th Ave.(bet. 47th & 48th St.), New York, NY
Description: Mini-Concert hosted by Queen Aishah – comedienne, actress, radio personality, and philanthropist. Performances by
Queen Aishah, Crystal P., (Detroit’s new Queen of Comedy) and
The Glamazons, the fierce foursome plus size pop group whose mission is to show the world that talent comes in all sizes.
Sponsors: FFFWeek, Curvesity Entertainment
Admission: $20.00 in advance or at the door (INCLUDES mini concert and Friday night afterparty below)
Note: No tickets will be mailed. Check-in at the door – please bring photo I.D.

FFFWeek Friday Night Dance Party 10:00 PM – 3:00 AM
Stitch Lounge
247 West 37th St. (bet. 7th & 8th Ave), New York, NY
Description: Dance, mix, mingle, drink, network or grab a bite to eat while celebrating our historical event New York style with old and new friends. Music by some of NY’s Finest DJ’s.
Sponsors: FFFWeek, Curvesity Entertainment
Admission: $15.00 in advance. More @ the door.
****If you purchase a ticket to the mini concert above, you do not need a tix for this event as it is included.
****Online tickets must be purchased BEFORE 6 PM on June 26th.
Note: No tickets will be mailed. Check-in at the door – please bring photo I.D.

SATURDAY, June 27, 2009

Small Business Workshop – “Marketing Your Business Or Organization Online”
10:00AM – 12:30PM
Ripley Grier Studios
520 8th Avenue, (bet. 36th and 37th Streets)
16th Floor, Room 16M
New York, NY
*** Must have I.D. to enter bldg.

Description: 1.5 hour workshop on Marketing Your Business or Organization online using Facebook, Twitter and Your Website. *All attendees will receive a free website analysis (value $295) or blog analysis (value $145)
Target Audience: Small Business Owners, Models, etc. ANYONE who wants to strengthen their online presence by utilizing social media.
Sponsors: FFFWeek, J. Biggins Consulting, The Plus Size Marketing Group
Admission: $50.00 registration by 6/12/09

Curves in the City – Shopping Soiree 11:00AM – 3:00PM

Ripley Grier Studios
520 8th Avenue (bet. 36th and 37th Streets), 16th Floor, Room 17D, New York, NY
*** Must have I.D. to enter bldg.

Description iscount shopping with participating FFFWeek designers and vendors
Sponsors: FFFWeek, The Curvy Collective
Admission: $25.00 VIP, $15 General Admission Tickets

Note: No tickets will be mailed, check in at the door –please bring photo I.D.

Finale Runway Showcase 7:00 – 11:00PM
Red carpet VIP Arrivals at 6:00 PM
Doors Open at 7:00 PM, Showtime: 8:00 PM

The Prince George Ballroom
15 E. 27th St. (bet. Madison and Fifth Aves.) New York, NY
Description: Semi-formal, finale designer showcase featuring the collections of:

* Agape Goddess Wear
* Ashley Stewart
* Big Girls United (BGU)
* Candi Apple Couture
* Jewel Shannon Designs
* LaMaica Fashions
* Monif C. Plus Sizes
* Osun Designs
* Qristyl Frazier Designs
* Robert E. Knight (presented by PLUS Model Magazine)
* Sealed with a Kiss Designs (SWAK)

Sponsors: FFFWeek, The Plus Academy, Ashley Stewart
Admission: No tickets at door

Note: No tickets will be mailed, check in at the door –please bring photo I.D.
1 Ticket @ $45.00
5 Tickets @ $40.00 ea.
10 Tickets @ $35.00 ea.

Official FFFWeek Afterparty 10:00PM – 4:00AM
Tavern on the Green
Central Park West and West 67th Street, New York, NY
Description:Celebratory dance party commemorating the first ever Full Figured Fashion Week. Music by “Chuck” The Triple Threat of Power 105.1 FM
Sponsors: FFFWeek, Bigger and Better Thangs Entertainment, HSS&A Inc.
Attire: Semi-formal
Admission: $20.00 in advance

Wednesday party at Katra in New York City

All photos can be viewed in my Flickr Stream

Last night I put on my black dress and headed down to the Lower East for a cocktail party thrown by my dear friend Gwen Devoe, Owner of Devoe Events, Inc.. Gwen is a former plus model who now specializes in plus model training, development and management. Gwen has been a long time advocate and supporter of increasing the visibility of fuller figures on fashion runways.

We are working together to organize the first Full Figured Fashion Week in New York City, June 25-27, 2009. I’ll be posting more pics of events and I really hope you can come and see the fashion shows, dance at the parties and do some shopping.

Fashion week is about so much more than the runway shows. During fashion week is when buyers and designers have an opportunity to meet and get business done. Because plus size fashion is not usually included in the shows, designers and retailers suffer. I am very excited to be a part of Full Figured Fashion Week, and I know that it will be mean good things for the industry and for all women interested in buying fashionable clothes.

Random Rants and Dubious Doubts

I am obsessed with food. I just am. That is the truth of my daily existence. I am constantly thinking about food. How much time has passed since I last ate and how soon can I reasonably eat again? What will I eat next? Where am I going to eat? Will I cook or will I order in? I am happy – what can I eat? I am sad – what can I eat?

The question of whether or not I should be obsessed with food is really no one else’s business. It is just a fact of my life that I deal with the same way I deal with everything else in my life like flossing and determining the best location in my kitchen for the compost bucket. I just deal with it privately and with as much grace as I can muster.

My point is — it’s my life. I don’t get in your face about how much makeup you wear, but since you asked — I think you are wearing too much foundation. You look like a clown with that heavy pancake on your face, that shade of lipstick makes your skin look green, and heavy blue eyeshadow went out in the 1970’s and honestly, it didn’t look good back then.

Haters Not Welcome Here. People who post comments on this blog about what other people eat, how much other people eat, whether or not they should eat what they eat, and what type of person is a person who eats whatever it is that you think is the wrong amount of food will just not be tolerated and will be promptly deleted. I am horrified by the virulent comments that I delete on a regular basis. This is a free country and your viewpoints are protected by the constitution. I’d like to remind you that mine are too.

I don’t talk much about my eating here and maybe I should but I fear that once I start to be truthful about obsessive eating then I will want to talk about painful memories like the misery of childhood taunting from kids at school, teachers and even my own parents. Once I start to openly write about weight loss and weight gain I will want to talk about all those emotions that we share but that I would rather intellectualize about in terms of society and philosophy. Once I start then there is no going back and I would so much rather tell you about the new Danskin plus size line of Activewear and Dancewear in sizes up to 4x. Finally something to wear to Big Moves classes! Click here to purchase Danskin Women’s Dancewear. Enjoy Free Shipping on orders of $75 or more!

Fashion is fun. Fat hatred sucks.

I don’t come to your house and make fun of your curtains but now that I’ve brought it up…you should probably reconsider those sheers in your bathroom.

Am I A Fat Traitor? If I (a) have gained weight and (b) I want to lose weight then am I a traitor to the fat positive cause? I think that many of my body positive blogging friends would say yes. I used to be thinner. I don’t hate myself and I actually spend an embarrassing amount of time admiring myself in mirrors. I will tell anyone who stands still long enough to listen that beauty comes in many shapes and sizes, and yet I still think about losing weight. Marilyn Wann told me to stop thinking about losing weight and to surrender all hope of being thinner. Kate Harding told me that my desire to be thin is based on pure fantasy. And yet I still think about losing weight.

I do agree that my desire to be thinner is completely connected with societal pressure and, as Kate shared so eloquently when she wrote The Fantasy of Being Thin I agree with her that I want to be thin because I imagine that I will magically become a more fascinating, more beautiful, more creative woman when my body fits some ideal size and I know that this is complete bullshit. I-agree-completely-with-every-word-Kate-said. But I still want to be thin.

I told my husband last night that “I want my body back.” Yes I said that out loud. To a man who sees me – yes he really sees me – and loves me. I have gained 35 pounds since we met. I have no children but I did spend a year caring for my sick father and I just couldn’t leave the house, I couldn’t work and I stayed home with him and I ate. But my father died two years ago and I have gained more weight since then.

I know my fatosphere blogging friends might be thinking, “You’ve gained weight? So what?” But you don’t understand I’ve gained 35 pounds! I know that some of my fatosphere friends might be thinking “You’ve gained 35 pounds? Who are you to complain? I’ve gained…insert number of pounds here! No matter. Each of us has our own thing about our bodies and this is mine.

I shared with a friend recently that at one time I was so consumed with self-loathing that I had to force myself to say nice things about myself in the mirror before I left the house just to be able to function through the day. And not just nice things about my personality but nice things about my body. I’ve been asked to write a longer article about that experience for another web site and honestly I’ve been avoiding it because it’s so hard to go there.

Writing about those days will mean reliving them in some way and it is just so damn hard to do that.

Lurkers welcome. I know you are here because Google Analytics tell me you are. You don’t post comments but I know you are reading and I thank you. Please don’t do anything you don’t want to do and if you don’t want to comment then please continue to read and not post comments. I just wanted to take a moment to say hello and I appreciate you. I really really do.

How To Shop Online. But will it fit?

Full figure women frequently ask my advice on how to determine whether an outfit will fit them from just looking at a picture. You can make some smart decisions about an outfit based on some basic research that can found right on the website where you are shopping.

In my previous post I counseled on the importance of knowing your body measurements. Now that we’ve made friends with our body shape (“upper arm, meet centimeter….centimeter, meet upper arm”) it’s important to know the specific measurements, cut and shape of that dress with the too-die-for embroidery that you are contemplating.

Every clothing website should have a link to their size chart. There you will find measurements that are equal to a specific size. If a website represents different designers, like alight.com does, then you have a great opportunity to compare the cut and shape of the same size of different items. It’s a good idea to compare each designer because the measurements may vary.

Other factors in determining the drape of a dress are: the weave of the fabric, the way the fabric is cut, the placement of the seams, and the stitches used on those seams.

Look carefully at the pictures to see where the seams are and then look at your wardrobe. Do you have anything cut in a similar way already hanging there? Look at items that you have bought from the same designer. The chances are good that a similar template is used to create the entire line. For instance, an a-line dress with princess seams by Catherines will fit you differently than an a-line dress from Torrid.com

Now that we are intimate with the particulars of our inches, and we have become acquainted with the cut, design and shape of the dress, whether or not that cute little dress with the sequins is going to look fabby on your body still must be determined by your own shape.

Look at two women who are the same height and weight but one is a pear shape and the other a triangle. One will be fuller on top and the other wider on the bottom. The dress will drape differently on each woman. If it doesn’t fit then just move-on to another designer.

It’s truly wonderful that so many plus size clothing designers are using plus size models. How else would I be able to figure out if that daring dress with the plunging neckline from SizeAppeal.com is going to hug my girls, or will they pop out on the dance floor while bumping and griding unless I can see the dress on a model built like I’m built? By the way, this actually happened to me once to the delight of my partner. I was wearing a dress that a friend, an aspiring clothing designer, had made for me. We both learned important lessons that night about how clothes fit!

In fact, almost everything I wear I bought online. I even bought my wedding dress online from the Lane Bryant Bridal Boutique. It fit perfectly and there were no unexpected surprises. Well, except for how amazingly chilly it got that day for our outdoor ceremony!

Many websites now offer free shipping so you may want to have your new wardrobe delivered to your home where you can comfortably try on clothes in privacy.

Corinna Makris
Editor

< This Lush Life for your plus size shopping!

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