Curvy Couture

The Washington Post has a great article in today’s paper about the debate of plus size women in fashion.  The Post addresses the recent debate of model sizes, V magazine, and celebrity sizes.  They post also talks with L.A. based designer Kevan Hall who created the gown that Gabby Sidibe wore to the Globes.  He has worked with a lot of actresses who are not the typical hanger and he says “it’s all about picking the right silhouette for her shape.”

And it doesn’t matter if a woman is a size 2 or a size 16, “you’re always treading lightly. I’ve had actresses who are a size 2 stand in front of me and weep. I’ve had young girls who want to cover their arms and older women who want to cover their arms,” he says. The most significant difference in creating a dress for a larger size is that often a designer has to tamp down his ego. He can’t as easily force his vision onto the woman since she doesn’t have the physique of a hanger.”

Kevan Hall addressed a truth the fashion industry knows very well.  It is much easier for a designer to design clothing for a hanger then it is for someone with curves.  If it was just as easy to design for women with curves as it is for straight sizes, I can guarantee you that there would be a lot more high level designers designing plus clothing.

Hall goes on to say, “But at the end of the day, it’s always really about the client.  Let’s be realistic, after all. What is the end-use of these clothes?”  As we know, and Madison Plus is working to address, the end use of clothing is to present the best version of you to the world!  Clothing is another version of expression and we should all be able to equally express ourselves to the world.  Calling all designers!  Take note!

By: Madison Plus

—If designers today had talent, they could make all bodies look damn good. I wish they would actually challenge themselves…

Wow, I am surprised this is probably the hardest set of questions I have ever had to answer! So, here we go!

befabulous asked: what are your measurements? i am a girl in her twenties. i love my body but it could use some shaping up.

Last time I checked I was a 38-32-45. I weigh about 190 (I hate telling anyone how much I weigh), and am 5’11. Haha, I think everyone thinks they need some shaping up at one point in their lives.  I know I feel that way right now! But thank you so much for the question! :)

morningbird answered: what are your favorite stores to shop at?

Hmmm, this is always a difficult question. But I think I have the most fun shopping at goodwill or salvation army. Why? The hunt! I love digging through clothing looking for the hidden coctail dress, etc. I really do enjoy Target, I am kinda a cheap-o. With the occasional splurge at ModCloth.com. Thanks for the question morningbird! :)

awkwardlyawesome answered: Why are you so damn beautiful?

haha 1st of all you are freaking amazing, and crack me up with your posts. 2nd of all, I really don’t think of myself as “so damn beautiful” so that may be a difficult question to answer. lol 3rd of all Why are YOU so damn beautiful? huh? :)

hidama answered: What’s the physical, emotional, and spirital features that you like about yourself?

Ok. Physical= my waist, I like curves (haha no way?!). Emotional= being nice, I have a hard time being mean to anyone and I like that about myself. Spiritual=free spirited, I like to think of myself as spontaneous and free, and  loving to the world I am living in. :) Good question.

thatgirlnamedsmash answered: What quote inspires you the most?

What a question to ask… This is so hard for me to answer, as you can see from following me I love me some quotations! lol But I will give you my quote of the day today “Other people’s opinion of you does not have to become your reality.” Les Brown.. I like this quote, because I care way too much about what people think, I have to keep reminding myself that it doesn’t matter.

dbmurphy answered: I’d ask, but you would just slap me. =)

Oh really now? Well, I guess I am glad you didn’t ask then Mr. Murphy.lol

notso-darling answered: haha, I like Nickea’s question. But also, what are you up to in Ireland? Why Ireland, specifically?

Ah Ireland. To tell you the truth this is what happened. My friend who decided to come with me abroad wanted to study in Scotland. I was happy to go anywhere in Europe so we could travel, Ireland was cheaper than Scotland. SO, there you have it lol. But Ireland is really an amazing little Island. But all I am doing now is studying and wasting time, three finals in the next 2 1/2 weeks then I am home!! I am ready to come home I think. I miss my house around Christmas time. :} Thank you for asking.

tracing answered: If you could be guaranteed of one thing for the rest of your life, what would you want it to be?

^this is my boyfriend fyi to anyone who likes web design or programming, he’s a good guy follow him (the best tumblarity he has had is 16) lol!

The answer to that baby, would be happiness. :)

dariuswhiteplume answered: What does it say about ANTM that they had a plus-sized winner, but a special show for short girls? And was Whitney really that plus-sized?

I am not exactly sure what you are asking. But I do believe that ANTM had a shorter girl season. I do not usually keep up with the show, however I did watch when Whitney won, and I cried when she did. She is not really plus sized at all. She ranges from a 10-12, and that is not a plus sized woman. It is a plus sized model. I know a model who is a size 8 and she does plus size stuff. Unfortunately that is the fashion world these days. :) Thanks for asking.

thedivineash answered: I’m really into self-care (working in DV/SA work) so what do you do to take care of you emotionally in the hectic life you live? :)

Oh, wow. Good question. Uh I can’t say I take good care of myself at all actually. My mom is always yelling at me to take “me” time, I mean since I preach it to you ladies you might think I do it. lol But the truth is I don’t do much for me. But I do like to wake up in the morning and make myself some coffee and just relax for a little. I would like to hear what you have to say to this, Ash. Suggestions? E-mail me if you want at mandy<at>thecurvymodel<dot>com  Thanks girl!

chrisnwords answered: Where would you say is the BEST place to buy decently price, STYLISH Puls Size Clothing???

As I did say it before, I am not “plus sized”. BUT I do have some good recommendations! Torrid.com, Target.com (they have more on their website than in the stores), Forever 21 has a decent line called Faith 21, uhhh that is all I can think of at the moment. But that should be a good start! :D

megzxo answered: how and when did you decide modeling was your passion? and what ethnicity are you? (: you’re beautiful!

How I started modeling was: I was shopping and a photo student working at swarovski’s commented on my outfit and we just got to talking about fashion, photography, vintage, etc. She asked if I wanted to model for her and I said yes. We didn’t actually end up shooting until about a year and a half later, but she turned me onto it. My best friend and boyfriend are the ones who encouraged me, I never would have had the balls without them. This was about 2 years ago. Now modeling is what makes me tick, its the language I speak. I really think it is the only thing that I never get sick of. And I am the person who does one thing then gets turned on to something else. I think that is how modeling became my passion, because it kind of stuck. I am not what you might think ethnicity wise. I wish I could say I am greek, or hispanic. I am neither, I am Irish, French, German, Belgian, and a bunch of other little things lol. I am a huge mutt. :) Thanks for asking. Oh and from looking at your GPOYW, your beautiful too! :D

1313 answered: Do you think celebrating curves implies celebrating obesity or to think it is okay to be overweight? where does curvy start or ends?

I think you asked this question twice, but I chose this one because I understand the wording better. ;) I think celebrating curves is a celebration of who you are if you are not a little size 4. I have no limit on celebration. I feel like if you are happy the way you are then stay that way, if you are not happy the way you are then live a healthier life style. Curvy starts wherever people want it to start. My wish is that every woman would love herself, you can love yourself and want to loose weight, or you can love yourself at a size 34 and stay that way forever. It is your body, you only get one, so LOVE it. I hope that answers your question. :)

monicafemme answered: Where do you shop at for the latest trends for our sizes? cause lawd its so limited.

I keep my eye on magazines, figure out what I want, then look for it. For example, lets say I want a large shoulder padded blazer, for that I would go to Goodwill and look for a blazer that fits, and add some extra pads to the shoulder to make it more fashion-y. Maybe even update the buttons, take it in or whatever. It is the cheap way. But while being in Europe, I have fallen in love with Evans. I do have some other good stores a few questions back, I haven’t given Faith 21 a try yet, I will when I get back into the states. I hope that helps Monica!! :D

Well lovely people, now that it is almost 2AM here, I am going to call it a night. Thank you for the awesome questions, you are all fabulous people. :) Email me if you have any more questions (or just to say hi), I will definitely get back to you. :}

mandy<at>thecurvymodel<dot>com