A long weekend is good for more than just taking in the sun, there is lot’s of shopping to be done as well. Below are some great plus size brands who are giving our wallets a little break this Memorial Day holiday!
OneStopPlus.com – Up to 60% off best summer styles and 20% off orders $65 or more with code OSPMEMORIAL
Forever21.com – New arrivals on sale
Eloquii.com – Summer steals $50 off every purchase of $150 or more
Our editor Madeline Jones continues to celebrate the joy of fashion on television shopping networks HSN, TSC (Canada), and QVCUK.
* WATCH HER LIVE ON HSN – May 31st at 11:00 am and 6:00PM
* Watch ONLINE by visiting hsn.com and clicking on WATCH LIVE
“I know I’m supposed to only be focused on selling clothes but it’s such a great opportunity to speak body positivity to so many people. I can’t help myself!” – Madeline Jones
After two very successful drops her first SUMMER DROP is here. When we asked where her inspiration came from she said, “This collection is my version of quiet luxury. No, you will not be paying thousands for an item but the aesthetic and luxury are present throughout this drop. I leaned into hues of moss, sunset orange, and off-white and added new fabrics like stretch lace and stretch linen. Also, lots of pockets!“
Shop the entire collection on HSN, QVCUK, and TSC here: linktr.ee/everydayjones
Follow everydayJONES by Madeline Jones on social media
instagram.com/every_dayjones/
facebook.com/everydayJonesbyMadelineJones
It can feel like the entire world is focused on your every move and every word, waiting for you to say or do something they can use to tear down your reputation.
It’s exhausting—and it’s why taking care of yourself is so important.
In honor of Black History Month, I wanted to share this guide to help you make sure that you are taking care of yourself every single day so that you can be your best self for everyone else around you!
You need food. It literally keeps your body alive, so make sure to eat at least one time every day!
This seems obvious, but sometimes we forget about it! Make sure you’re drinking plenty of water throughout the day—it’ll help flush out toxins and keep your energy levels up.
Sleep is important for everyone, but especially when you’re a black woman who has to deal with all kinds of BS every day just because of who you are (and not because of anything else). Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise! You need sleep! Sleep gives us the energy we need to keep going each day without losing our minds or giving up entirely on society as a whole (or even just ourselves).
Get a massage or other type of bodywork—it’s a great way to relax and decompress after a long day at work.
Practice gratitude every morning and night by writing down three things you’re grateful for in your journal or telling yourself out loud what they are before bedtime.
Take time for yourself in whatever way works best for you—whether that’s reading a book or taking a bath or just sitting outside for 15 minutes in peace and quiet.
Get clear on what you deserve—and don’t settle for less than that. You can’t really love yourself if you don’t know what makes you happy and then pursue those things. If you want to be happy, start by figuring out what makes you happy and go after it.
You are not responsible for how other people feel or what they think about your life, so stop worrying about them so much. You don’t have time for that! Focus on yourself and let others do their own thing without your interference (unless they ask for it).
The plus size fashion retailer will be rolling out a new set of revolutionary mannequins featuring a variety of skin tones, which is reflective of the brand’s ethnically diverse consumer base.
The size-14 mannequins come in four skin tones, taking inspiration from the beauty industry, which has made strides in showcasing different skin tones in marketing campaigns and in-store ads.
Lane Bryant is the first major retailer in North America to launch mannequins with different skin tones, according to the brand. These mannequins will make their first appearance at Lane Bryant’s new Columbus, Ohio store.
This is a great addition to their in-store imagery, mailers and social media channels, which feature customers of different skin tones.
It’s so important for customers to see models and mannequins that they can identity with, so this was a smart choice for Lane Bryant to make as we enter a new decade.
Stay tuned to the blog for updates on what other stores will be included in the mannequin roll-out and IF there will be mannequins in different sizes as well.
What do you think of Lane Bryant rolling out mannequins in different skin tones in their stores? Follow us on social media and let us know: @plusmodelmag: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter
Have you seen our February 2020 cover celebrating Black History Month with the beautiful Jazzmine Carthon (sponsored by City Chic)? Click here to check it out!
We’re definitely ending the year with so many wins for the plus-size industry and here are 10 of our favorites from 2019:
This was the year we saw visibly plus size women (size 18+) front and center. With the average American woman now a size 18, we say, it’s about damn time.
From Tess Holliday gracing the July 2019 cover of Nylon to Lizzo ending the year on the cover of British Vogue, visibly plus size women were showing the world that they can exist in a larger body that may not be the perfect hourglass shape and be confident, happy and beautiful.
Universal Standard also continued to push the envelope by using a size 34/36 model on their website, which we predict will prompt other brands to use larger models alongside their usual size-14 and size-18 ones.
2019 was definitely the year of exciting brand launches, especially focused on a customer that hasn’t really been talked about… the high-end luxury buyer. New brands such as Ryllace and Henning directly serve that customer with luxe closet staples and quality basics. This new wave of luxury high-end brands forces the industry to recognize that plus size women are worth quality-made clothing and will spend the money to buy them.
Photo, Henning
Popular mainstream brands also expanded their size ranges to get in on the $30 billion dollar industry, such as Anthropologie, American Eagle and Madewell. With adidas recently launching up to size 4X in select styles and looking to expand on that in 2020, we’re excited to see where this will lead in the new decade.
Eloquii made the spring season a little brighter and bolder this year with their collaboration with celebrity makeup artist Priscilla Ono. Lane Bryant partnered with plus-size style influencer Rochelle Johnson of Beauticurve for a fresh and feminine collection.
Photo, Fashion to Figure
And Fashion to Figure’s collabs with influencers Nadia Aboulhosn and Sarah Rae Vargas gave us sexy and classy, along with snake print wide calf boots that plus-size fashionistas are still coveting.
There were some collab fails this year (we won’t name names) but if these successful collaborations are any indication of what’s to come in 2020, we can’t wait!
This year, we saw iconic designers such as Diane Von Furstenberg (via 11 Honoré), Betsey Johnson (via Dia & Co), Veronica Beard, Tanya Taylor, Rebecca Minkoff (via Stitch Fix) and Hilary Macmillan expand their sizing, with most notably, Macmillan offering up to a size 4X.
Speaking of 11 Honoré, they are truly disrupting the designer fashion world and changing the belief that only straight size women wear designer clothing. When looking at the designer list on their site, we see well-known names such as Dolce & Cabbana, Rachel Comey and Carolina Herrera available in plus sizes. While only Herrera goes up to a 24, we see this as a step in the right direction, as we walk into a new decade.
In June, Nike stirred quite a bit of controversy when it made a bold move, adding plus-size mannequins to their UK flagship store.
This came as no surprise to us as they have been integrating plus sizes into their assortment and working with key plus-size influencers, as well as partnering with Alabama State plus-size dance team The Honeybeez on a feature.
When Cyrus dropped her new video “Mother’s Daughter” during the summer, who knew including a visibly plus-size model in it would cause an uproar?
The model, Angelina Duplisea, is not a size-14 hourglass shape with a flat tummy. And Cyrus was trying to show the beauty of all in her video. The comments that were posted on social media were downright horrible and no one deserves to be shamed in that way. Ever.
We wrote back then:
“One of the biggest takeaways from this video launch and the aftermath is that fat hatred is still prevalent in the world and there is still a ton of work to be done within the body positive movement.”
Let’s hope the 2020’s see less fat hatred and more body positivity. And kudos to Cyrus for speaking up after the launch, in defense of Duplisea.
Let’s be honest, it’s been Lizzo’s year and again, we say, it’s about damn time!
Three’s a charm in Lizzo’s case as it was her third album “Cuz I Love You” that helped her achieve mainstream success.
From earning eight Grammy nominations and three American Music Awards to an appearance on Saturday Night Live (which will be the final episode of the year and decade) and a small role in J Lo’s movie Hustlers, Lizzo was everywhere this year.
She also graced the cover of British Vogue, and Time Magazine named her their Entertainer of the Year, as did Entertainment Weekly. She had 61.6 million listeners on Spotify this year alone and Apple Music called her Breakthrough Artist of the Year.
Despite her single “Good as Hell” being three years old, that record and “Truth Hurts” were both on the Billboard Hot 100 at the same time. Lizzo is so well-known to the point where she was even an answer to a Jeopardy question.
We would not be surprised if Lizzo made an appearance during the Super Bowl Halftime Show in 2020 since JLo is the headliner with Shakera. After 8 years of touring and putting in the work, we’re happy to see Lizzo finally getting her due and kicking off a new decade in a successful place.
When the Curvy Kili Crew announced that they would be hiking up Mt Kilimanjaro on International Women’s Day 2019, we were in awe. Twenty plus size women of many shapes and sizes made that climb, showing the world that larger bodies can not only move but soar.
Curvy Kili Crew leader Christa Singleton climbed Mount Kilimanjaro in 2016 and as a self-described “slow, fat hiker”, the experience was life-changing and inspired her to go back. All the women in the crew have their own empowering story as to what inspired them to hike, however one goal unified them: to have this amazing experience with other women who understand what it’s like to be fat and active.
Crew member Deb Malkin summed it up perfectly:
“The chance to go on a great adventure with other plus-size/fat women was something I couldn’t miss, an experience of a lifetime. We all know what it’s like to be in the back of the pack. We will meet this challenge together.”
In 2020, the crew will head back to Kilimanjaro in February, Peru/Machu Picchu in July and then to Iceland in August. And you can join the crew on any of these hiking trips. Click here for more info.
This was the year the plus-size industry finally got its own awards show. The Full Figured Industry Awards (the FFIAS) took place, with categories such as Model of the Year, Photographer of the Year, Retailer of the Year and others.
With key industry professionals such as celebrity stylist Timothy Snell, IMG model Zach Miko and Project Runway model winner Liris Crosse in the building, the awards show was a wonderful opportunity for those in the industry to be recognized for their hard work.
Most of the industry goes unseen by the mainstream media/fashion industry so to be honored by your own community is a major win. And of course, the red carpet fashion was pure slayage. We can’t wait for next year!
Ending the year and decade on a positive note, the major bridal retailer announced that it will no longer charge more for plus size wedding gowns. This new policy will include bridesmaids’ gowns as well.
For those of you who are unfamiliar with the term “fat tax”, it’s when plus-size customers are charged more for clothing, visiting a spa or salon, etc. It’s been called unfair and some even say it fat-shames customers. The fat tax is especially prevalent in the bridal market, where manufacturers charge more for extra fabric, beading and lace.
Jim Marcum, CEO of David’s Bridal said in an official statement:
“On average, the upcharge for a plus size wedding gown is nearly 15 percent, and we do not believe that a woman’s size should determine how much she pays. Since I started at David’s Bridal just over four months ago, I have made it my number one priority to serve all brides, making it our mission to remind every bride that she is beautiful.”
Now that’s how you start a new decade! Thank you, David’s Bridal!
2019 was an exciting year and as we usher in a new decade, we can’t wait to see what happens next in the plus-size industry and beyond.
[divider] . [/divider]What were some of your favorite plus size moments of 2019? Follow us on social media and let us know: @plusmodelmag: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter
That comment Loni Love made, “There are no real plus size icons for me” has resulted in taking the focus off her recent holiday collection with Ashley Stewart and putting more focus on plus size women voicing their opinions on Love’s comments, including naming many plus size icons, white and black.
And it appears Love’s way of listening to those opinions is to block those individuals, most recently blocking plus size model and Project Runway model winner Liris Crosse, after having a heated discussion in a series of tweets.
As many in the fashion industry know, plus and mainstream, Crosse is a veteran in the modeling game. She has had a successful career in modeling for 20+ years, as well as acting, hosting and public speaking. She is now an author and has a successful Boot Camp program she developed for aspiring models. She was dubbed the Naomi Campbell of Plus by the media and was the first plus size model to win the model competition on Project Runway.
So when Jami Griggs of the blog Style Over Size responded to Love on Twitter, mentioning Crosse and Ashley Graham are plus size icons, it ignited a heated conversation, which resulted in Love blocking both Griggs and Crosse. See the exchange below (Screenshots courtesy of Liris Crosse/Twitter):
Author Danielle James wrote in that infamous article for Hello Beautiful:
“Loni Love is a pioneer in the industry for plus size women from being a hilarious comedian to having a successful talk show as well as an acting career and an author. One thing about Love is that she has always empowered plus size women, particularly Black plus size women, while on and off the set.”
We don’t dispute Love’s career accolades or her contribution in empowering women with those boss moves. However, after that interview, her recent interactions with plus size women, most of whom are Black, are not empowering other plus size women. What it’s doing is showing a side of Love that is not plus positive at all.
These women are simply trying to point out that there are plus size icons out there, including recent ones in the last five years. Past or present, that is a fact… the plus size industry is full of plus size icons in many areas, including fashion.
To echo Crosse, we haven’t been afforded the mainstream press opportunities to become the type of plus size icon that Love is apparently seeking.
Your words are not helping to elevate us, Loni Love. And that’s not the definition of empowering plus size women.
Instead of blocking our voices, we hope you will consider humbling yourself and actually listening to what we’re saying. You might actually find that plus size icon you seek in the process and learn more about the plus size industry.
We reached out to Loni Love for comment and no response has been received as of the publishing of this article.
What do you think of Loni Love and her “no plus size icons” comment? Follow us on social media and sound off: @plusmodelmag: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter
Whether soft or bold, this season’s Pantone color palette is showing itself in a stunning array of color choices.
PLUS Model combed the web to find the perfect plus fashions featuring each gorgeous color![divider] . [/divider]
VINCE CAMUTO Drawstring Sleeve Top from Nordstrom
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Colorblock One-Piece Swimsuit with Tie from Eloquii
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Jessica Howard Cold-Shoulder Ruffle Dress from Macy’s
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JM Collection Cold-Shoulder Dress, Created for Macy’s
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GIBSON Living in Yellow Claire Cardigan from Nordstrom
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Pleat Cold Shoulder Top from City Chic
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Ruffle Hem Wrap Dress from Eloquii
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Lavender Floral Maxi Dress from City Chic
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Longitude Feline High-Neck Swimsuit from Swmisuits For All
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Bow Neckline Sheath Dress from Eloquii
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Smocked Sleeve Fit and Flare Dress from Eloquii
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Cold Shoulder Ruffle Blouse from Avenue
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New Plus Model Castings and Opportunities!
Unveiling the Power of Self-Care Rituals: Insights into Mental Wellness
SwimStar All Stars Partnership With Renowned Plus-size Model and Swimsuits For All Ambassador, Denise Bidot
May 9 Edition – Our Favorite Plus Size Style Moments Of The Week
Get to Know Our Cover Model Sharon Dumfries…
Welcome to Our May Issue of PLUS Model Magazine
April 25 Edition – Our Favorite Plus Size Style Moments Of The Week
Finding Balance in a Digital World: The Rise of Digital Detoxes
