My visit to the Playtex Bra HQ. I meet a bra expert and a bra giveaway for you!

Four of my bras can be used as a flotation device in case of emergency

Yesterday I went to the Playtex HQ in midtown Manhattan. A few months ago Playtex asked women to write in and say why they would want to win a bra makeover. 10 women from around the U.S. have been flown to New York City and this week they have been filming their “webisodes” showing them being fitted for their new bra wardrobe.

I was invited by Playtex to share their experience. The pic you see above is the contents of the goodie bag that I was given as a gift for participating.

Years ago I wrote off Playtex bras because I just didn’t think that they had anything for me. Yesterday I found out that Playtex in NOT your grandmother’s bra anymore. The fabric is very pretty but more importantly, gone are the bullet boobs.

Mary, the Playtex fit consultant (AKA “boobie expert”) worked with me for over an hour. We tried on lots of bras and working with the inventory that they had in the showroom, I found three styles that worked for me. There may be more Playtex bras that I could wear and I’ll go to Macy’s or Penney’s to try on more. Also, I am a 38 or 40 DDD depending on the style of bra because just like any other item of clothing, they are all cut differently.

Next week I’ll be posting a video of my time spent with Mary and we’ll share some important information on fit, style, and comfort. I even get fitted right on camera to show you exactly where to place the measuring tape. Until then, here is a video on their website to help get you started on the path to perfectly fitted bras.

And now for another giveaway! Please leave a comment below saying why you need a new bra. Winner will be chosen by a random method and posted here one day next week, probably next Thursday but sometimes I’m a day or so late with these things.

You can get fitted for a Playtex bra and Shop for Plus Size Women’s clothing at macys.com

I heart Jessica Svoboda, Anna Scholz and Lee Lee’s Valise

Thursday – 8:00 p.m.

Last night was so damn fabulous that I almost did not go directly to bed when I got home at 1:00 a.m. I almost went directly to my computer so that I could tell you all about my fun night. That way you could entertained while eating your oatmeal in the morning. But my husband, the practical one, had other ideas and so off to dream land went I where visions of sugar plums and designer clothes danced in my head.

I attended a designer trunk show in Brooklyn and you are going to be so happy that I was there on your behalf! There was wine my friends, and delightful little bites of mozzarella, tomato and basil on crusty bread because Lisa Dolan, owner and enchantress of Lee Lee’s Valise, knows how to do it right.

I was greeted with a glass of bubbly the moment I stepped inside. Let me tell you that after driving an hour on the BQE in rush hour there is no better tonic and all-around refresher than a glass of Prosecco. This weekend I’ll be enjoying Godiva & Champagne – elegant, decadent and delicious. Exclusively from Wine.com.

At this moment with Prosecco poised at my ruby red lips I, your intrepid fashion reporter, realized that I left my digital camera at home. Sigh. And egad. And oy vey. Thank goodness there were photogs aplenty there last night and pictures will be posted at a later date. Mea Culpa!

With drink in hand I made a bee line directly for Anna Scholz. At 6’1″ with long luxurious blonde hair flowing past her shoulders, Madame Scholz is a striking figure. Her clothes are absolutely divine. Anna’s training in fashion design, including making her own patterns, is evident in the details of each piece. She was surrounded by admirers eager for her attention and assistance in pre-ordering items from the samples of the Fall line that she brought with her from England.

The Anna Scholz Fall Line is breathtaking. The pieces I saw featured exquisite fabrics expertly tailored, with elements of shirring and delicate pleating. Her fabrics are luscious and the quality of each piece is something I don’t see that often in plus size fashion. I am so very glad that Anna made time to speak with me about her line, her design vision and the importance of tailoring. We had an exciting conversation and I will share my interview with her in a few days, when I have pics.

I also had a lovely time with the Svoboda sisters, business partners Jessica and Kristen. They are too cute to be believed! I found them both to be very approachable, quick witted and eager to meet their customers. Kristen told me that after so many visits to New York, meeting customers at Lee Lee’s, that they have just as many friends here as at home in California.

I thoroughly enjoyed meeting them both, hearing about running the business from Kristen and talking about fabric design and manufacturing with Jessica. I promise a detailed interview next week, but let me just tell you that the new Fall 2008 Svoboda line is total rock and roll. I tried on a sample pair of hot tangerine jeans that fit so perfectly and looked so great and got me so many compliments as I strutted around showing everyone my ass that they almost had to rip them off my body before I would take them off.

Thanks Lisa for a great time, and for bringing beautiful plus size fashion to an intimate and luxurious boutique. See you soon and send me those pictures!

Spring Fashion: Business Casual

There was a time when I considered wearing casual clothes to the office to be an unforgivable offense. I have usually worked in very corporate environments and I loved wearing all my “dry clean only” suits and silk blouses. Not that I had a lot of money – I was very fond of the Macy’s One Day Sale and I admit that I have often found perfect Liz Claiborne blouses at Goodwill. I honestly have not found the accumulation of a corporate wardrobe to be very expensive as I seem to spend about the same amount of money on casual clothes. I feel that a corporate wardrobe is the correct uniform for an office job, just as wearing sneakers, jeans and a t-shirt to the park would be appropriate for a picnic but certainly not for the Board Room. Regardless of how the dress code culture is changing in this country I still cringe when a young new employee walks past my office wearing something more suitable for a Saturday night party or perhaps a bowling alley.

But sadly, my adorable yet questionably built 1948 little log cabin that I call home desperately needs a new roof and there is no room for dry cleaning in my newly revised budget. Yes I have used those dry-cleaning dryer bags but fluffing your clothes is not the same as actually washing them. This combined with my absolute ineptitude with regards to laundry in general and I have decided to take a long hard look at Business Casual. The office where I currently work has a Business Casual dress code and they allow jeans on Fridays. Even the top executives here wear jeans on those days and I actually feel a bit of a naughty thrill walking into the office wearing jeans on Fridays. And yes, I should probably get out of the house more often.

I’ve been looking through the plus size clothing sites that are listed on This Lush Life for full figured casual yet office appropriate clothing, and it seems that my new Business Casual wardrobe will include poly-blends since the cost of 100% cotton is significantly higher. Most of the clothing that I will be ordering claims to be machine washable, and since now for the first time since I was nine years old I actually have a washer and dryer under the same roof where I live I feel it is time for me to overcome my fear of doing laundry.

I can tell you that the thought of washing all my clothes myself rather than just dumping everything in my closet at the dry cleaner gives me the kind of headache you only get from inhaling too much bleach, which by the way, I have done. In fact, for full laundry disclosure purposes I will admit that just last night I took the shower curtain and the plastic lining out of the wash and threw both into the dryer. Never mind the fact that I know very well (because I have done this before) that the polyester shower curtain will be fine and that the plastic lining will be completely shredded if put it in the dryer. But I didn’t let that stop me from destroying a perfectly fine shower curtain liner! Oh yes, I am determined! I have also added bleach to a load full of color items resulting in a not-very-corporate tied-dyed collection of cotton button up shirts, and I have washed a load of whites with both a cup of bleach (perfectly appropriate) and a single red sock (not so appropriate) resulting in several horrifying Pepto pink items.

So with my amazing ability to destroy entire wardrobes with a single spin cycle I am going forth into uncharted territory and relaxing my corporate attire to reflect Business Casual. I won’t go as far as those Google guys (I’ll never wear sneakers to the office!) but perhaps I can find a happy medium.

I’ll be posting my explorations into Business Casual as the clothes that I have been ordering begin arriving.

Wish me luck!

Lee Lee’s Valise Mentioned in Time Out New York

“Brooklyn – This plus-size boutique fills a need for stores catering to larger ladies. Bedecked with three chandeliers, the quaint parlor carries trendy garb from a slew of companies including Tadashi, Donna Ricco and B&Lu—all in sizes from 12 to 24.

Full-figured lasses can pluck flattering lingerie from Spanks, Prima Donna and Hanky Panky. 368 Court St at President St, Carroll Gardens (718-246-5337)”

I wrote about Lee Lee’s Valise last summer not long after she opened. Lisa (AKA Lee Lee) is very enthusiastic about fashion for fuller figures and her place is a truly groovy hangout for any fashionable fat girl.

One thing that Time Out New York did NOT mention is that Lee Lee’s Valise is having a Super Bowl Sales Party! She will be serving champagne and appetizers for the girls who want to shop before, during and after the game.

I would recommend that we meet at Lee Lee’s for shopping and champagne on Sunday but I expect to be winning my office pool and feel a need to stay glued to the TV set. But you should definitely go on Super Bowl Sunday because Lee Lee is so totally awesome.

Plus Size with Style – Enjoy What You Have

Have you ever tried on something in your size but it just didn’t look right? Even though it fits great it just doesn’t feel like “it’s you.” I watch women go through it all the time in department store dressing rooms. She goes in with an armload of goodies and walks out with tears in her eyes. She then launches into a tirade of everything that is wrong with her body and if only she were some other size or shape then everything that she tried on would look just right. This can cause enough heartache that a woman resorts to buying something on impulse that doesn’t look great.

It is my opinion that finding your style has less to do with your body type, your hair color, or whether your skin tone is a Winter or a Summer and everything to do with how you feel about yourself when you look in the mirror. So today let’s discuss how to find your very own style in terms of enjoying what you have.

Plus Size Style

The good news is that the best plus size fashion designers are now using plus size models. As plus size women are insisting on size positive images we are seeing more and more fashionable images of full figured women in media. At This Lush Life, in our plus size women’s clothes department, we exclusively represent companies using plus size models. If they sell plus size women’s clothes but they don’t show those clothes on plus size models then we won’t post what they have to offer.

There are many places on the web where you can read about the right hem lengths, the right necklines, how to coordinate patterns and colors and how to tie a scarf. Personally, I watch What Not to Wear on TLC with religious fervor. So rather than worry about what they are wearing on the runways this season — in this article, let’s focus on what’s going on in your head.

Dressing Room Depression

You bought a dress in a department store. You loved it in the dressing room. It hugs your hips in the best way possible, shows the right amount of cleavage and drapes perfectly over your bottom. You were happy in the store because you found something that fit so well but why does it just not seem right the first time you put it on at home?

You bought a dress online. You did everything right. You measured yourself, you measured the dress, you saw it on a model with a similar shape as yours and it looked great on her. You try it on and it fits perfectly so why does it just not feel right when you put it on in your bedroom?

Curing the Dressing Room Blues

Remember that dressing rooms lie! Dressing rooms lie. They do. They are sneaky and they will lie to you. Some are perfectly lit and highlight your beautiful checkbones and make you forget that a v-neck is better for you than a boat neck. There really is such a thing as a slenderizing mirror and chances are they have one at the store but you don’t have one at home.

The photographs in catalogs and magazines lie! Photographs lie. They do. Not only are those models surrounded by a team of people fussing with their makeup, hair and clothes between each and every shot but even the models don’t really look like the photographs after all the re-touching.

So how do I enjoy what I have and feel good about Plus Size Style?

1. Create a place where royalty would want to dress. Choose a corner of your bedroom and make it a sacred place for self adoration. Use Feng Shui, toss a coin or throw a dart but you must have a spot that is just for you to gaze lovingly at your perfect body in a full length mirror.

2. Did she say full length mirror? Yes, she did say full length mirror! You know in your heart that I’m right so go out there and invest in a good one. After all, you are going to be spending a lot of time in front of it admiring your luscious curves so you want something beautiful to frame your image.

3. Take a deep breath. Take a shower. Do your hair. Get ready like you’ve got a date with George Clooney…or Ellen Degeneres…whomever you are into. Light candles. Have a glass of champagne and put some fresh strawberries and chocolates in a bowl within easy reach. Play a Diana Krall CD. Remember that you are a goddess.

4. Take good look. God did not make any mistakes with you. You are beautiful. Now – pull your shoulders back and say three nice things about what you see. I mean it. Three…but feel free to say more. I like my eyes. I like the shape of my shoulders. I like the curve from the small of my back down to my right hip. This is really important. I do this every day. Sometimes I love what I see in the mirror and sometimes I don’t but I won’t leave the house without saying at least three nice things about my body.

Presenting the Stylish Plus Size Woman

I guarantee that whatever you try on now will feel differently than it did before. Can you guess why? It’s because you will stand differently. You will hold your head up, pull your shoulders back and be ready to toss out anything from your closet that doesn’t flatter your perfect frame. You don’t have to settle for something you don’t really love just because it hides a body you don’t love. And when you go out, even wearing something from the back of your closet, it might feel new and you might feel like the most stylish woman you know.

There is no reason to wait to like yourself more. Start today and then share this with a friend.

Interview with fashion designer Monif C.

OK kiddies. Here it is. I have not yet replaced my digital camera-to-laptop cord so I am just going to let you have it and I will add the pics to Flickr soon. When you ask? I said soon! Damn woman why do you have to get all up in my face about it?!

Eh hem… And so here is my interview with the fantabulous Monif C.
____________________________________________________________

Driving south on the Taconic towards New York City and I am in heaven. It’s a glorious sunny spring day. Delicate clouds in the sky look like they were painted and hung in place on a perfect blue background. What better day than today to meet with the fabulous Monif C. and discuss the glamorous life of fashion industry trend setter, her brilliant fashion line for full-figured women, her decision to open a boutique in the heart of New York City’s garment district, and boys. Oh yes, certainly we must discuss boys!

Monif reclines on a gold chair looking every part the fashion icon when I walk into her office. The space is cozy and elegant. Monif tells me that she decided to move her office from New Jersey to the garment district of New York City so that she could be closer to all facets of the production of her line. Aside from some of her fabrics, which are imported, every aspect of her line is made in the U.S.A. “My patterns are cut right around the corner. Every part of my line is made within walking distance. This way I can watch each step of the production. Also, if a customer needs something custom or altered we can handle it very quickly.” Monif takes great pride in the superb customer service she offers. “It’s the foundation of my business.”

Clothing racks line the walls with beautiful clothes that make me want to strip and start trying things on immediately. But I restrained myself until the end of our interview. There is also jewelry made by a designer creating custom pieces for fuller figures as a boutique exclusive. Personally I really appreciate it when a long necklace lands either above or beyond my bust. When the chain falls right into my cleavage . . . well it’s not really the desired effect now is it?

And yes, we did in fact talk about boys. Mostly I talked about my husband. We’re still newlyweds, you know. I intended to get all kinds of personal information about Monif’s love life and tell you all about it here but honestly, once I start talking about my big hunk of man I lose my train of thought. Where was I? Oh right, the interview!

Monif told me that as long as she continues to get her clothes in front of the people, then the people will continue to appreciate what she is doing. She isn’t very concerned about seeing her name on the racks in big department stores. It would be nice, yes. But what is really important to her is that she wants you to know that she designs just for you.

Monif has the eye of a sculptor when it comes to fashion design. She chisels fabric to enhance a woman’s natural curves with the use of darts in all the right places. Knowing that if the dress leaves your body at the bosom then there must be a way to bring it back in to embrace the waist and so, when I finally had my chance to try on the very same dress that Monif designed exclusively for Queen Latifah (and worn once by her Majesty) I was the recipient of that artistry. Monif’s creations floated on my body with ease, without restraints and in harmony with my curves. Wearing Monif’s clothing is a divine experience.

Monif C. Plus Sizes New York Boutique Store located at 325 W. 38th Street, Suite 1007 New York, NY 10018. For store hours call 1 (212)842-1641

Monif C. Boutique Grand Opening

Monif C. opens the first plus size contemporary clothing boutique next week. This is very exciting news.

I absolutely love Monif’s designs. They are contemporary without being too trendy — these clothes are meant to be staples in your wardrobe and you will wear them for several seasons, she uses quality material and really understands how to sew a seam to hug a curve. Monif is a delightful person to spend time with and the opening of her boutique is a tremendous step forward in full figured fashion. If you are in the New York area I encourage you to stop by during the opening weekend festivities. I know I’ll be there!

I’ll share the press release that I received:

Monif C. Announces the Grand Opening of their
New York Plus Size Boutique

NEW YORK, NY – June 1, 2007, Monif C. changes the way New York plus
size fashionistas shop with Manhattan’s first contemporary clothing
boutique catering to curvy, confident, and stylish plus size women.
Thursday June 14, 2007 marks the Grand Opening of the Monif C. Plus
Sizes Boutique in Midtown Manhattan. Monif C. Plus Sizes is a
contemporary, designer clothing line that was launched in September
2005. Co-owned by mother/daughter team, Monif and Elaine Clarke,
Monif C. was conceived to reaffirm every woman’s desire for an
inspired life, luxury, and unadulterated sex appeal.

Known for her debut during Olympus Fashion Week Fall 2005, and
features on The View, BET’s Rip The Runway, the Tyra Banks Show, and
TLC’s What Not To Wear, among others, Monif C. is bringing fashion to
plus size consumers who would otherwise have no outlet to get their
contemporary fashion fix. Monif’s line of sexy, stylish dresses for plus size
women can be purchased online at Monif C., in specialty boutiques worldwide, and now live and in full color at the Monif C. Plus Sizes New York Boutique.

Monif Clarke created Monif C. as a result of her own frustrations with
the fashion industry’s view of the plus-size market. “There is a new
perspective amongst plus size women that says, “I can be
sophisticated, sexy, and I want to show off my curves. I wanted to
create plus sized clothing that even “skinny” women would want to
buy.” Who says plus sizes can’t be sexy, luxurious, and feminine?

After successfully creating the Curvy Girls Night Out, a New York City
one-day shopping and pampering event held twice a year, Monif C. would
get calls from many customers pleading for the opportunity to shop
Monif C. year round in New York City. As a plus size woman herself,
Monif understood the frustration of shopping in the New York City
area. “I always wondered why in one of the fashion capitals in the
world I could never find stylish plus size clothing. I am my customer,
and I know that we are stylish, fashion-forward women that are on the go.
We want to be able to come in, and buy a dress to wear to a special
event later that evening. We wanted to provide women in the tri-state
area and visiting tourists the convenience of shopping the Monif C. line.”

At the Monif C. Plus Sizes Boutique, customers will be able to shop
the entire Monif C. line as well as jewelry, large size shoes, body-
shaping undergarments, and accessories hand-picked by Monif C.
herself. Gold drapery, beaded Indian silks, and a white crystal
chandelier highlight the décor of the boutique and complement the
vibrant colors and opulence of the Monif C. line. Curvy women will be
delighted to shop in a chic, upscale boutique where they can shop for
beautiful clothing made specifically for them.

Grand Opening Event:
Thursday June 14, 2007
7 – 10pm
Come shop the Monif C. line at 20% off, cocktails, music, personal
shopping tips, and more!

Monif C. Plus Sizes
New York Plus Size Boutique Store
325 W. 38th Street (bet. 8/9th aves.)
Suite 1007
New York, NY 10018
Open Monday – Saturday, call 212-842-1641 for hours

Dress for Success. Why do women equate successful shoppping with a successful life?

I decided long ago that trying to determine if an outfit looks good while in a store dressing room was an experience that might make me ready for the therapy couch. I am already in an uncomfortable state of mind just looking at myself mostly undressed under fluorescent lights, worrying about the price and worrying about who had this one before me and did she shower? Yeah, I think about that stuff. That’s why I decided to order clothing online, try it on at home with a glass of champagne and a bowl full of strawberries ready for consumption. I hate shopping for clothes…ok that’s not true. I hate trying on clothes in store dressing rooms. So I do it in the comfort of my own home.

So many women equate successful shopping with living a successful life that if we don’t feel good in the items we try on then we feel like we are a failure. Stop the insanity! Sweetie if you love the dress but it doesn’t fit do not buy it thinking that you will lose a few pounds. If you do lost weight it will be out of style byt then anyway. Do not buy it just because you like the lace trim. Only buy it when you love it. There really are clothes that fit you, made just for your body type and you will feel good in them and look like you just got an Oprah Makeover.

We’ll be reviewing some plus size shopping tips over the next few days so stay tuned and please post a comment letting me know what info you want. I am planning on discussing How To Shop for Swimsuit (it’s that time), How to Measure Yourself for a Bra (it’s always that time), and Accessories for Your Body Type.

On a personal note — while we were on vacation in Mexico not too long ago, my friend Deb convinced me to buy a pair of earrings and a bracelet. Both are silver and quite large pieces that I would never have looked at twice if she hadn’t been there to talk sense into me. She is a master of accessories and I will usually just run out the door happy that my hair looks decent…and honestly sometimes I don’t even check my hair until I’m in the car. I wore the pieces to a party recently and I have never received so many compliments on how I look. So now Deb is my accessory consultant. Sometimes you just need a friend as a shopping buddy. I know I do!

maunderings from dissertation hell: Celebrating Curves

Hey everybody! I got my first fan mail! Woo hooo I am sooo excited. Not only because I got a shout out from another blogger but mostly because my ranting about plus size women Celebrating our Curves gave a curvy girl a self-esteem boost and that’s what this is all about.

I very much enjoy reading Maunderings blog about her life written with an hilarious self-mocking tone. She also sells homemade soaps on Ebay – Dr. Sharna’s Natural Soaps.

I felt much less afraid of her proclamations of love after realizing that she makes homemade soaps. After all, why would I be afraid of someone who lives on a remote Texas farm, sees very few people, writes a blog making reference to being from hell, spending her quiet days making soap….oh. Suddenly it sounds like a scene from Misery. hmmmm……

So Dr. Sharna is good for your funny bone, good for your skin and good for the environment! Send her some love people, I think she’s loony…um I mean lonely.

Check it out.
maunderings from dissertation hell: Celebrating Curves