I am not sure if Monif C was the first to come out with the convertible dress for plus sizes but the “Marilyn convertible dress” has for sure been a hot seller.  I guess that is the reason Ashley Stewart has come out with their version called the 10-in-1 convertible dress.

My only problem is it being available as a web exclusive only.  I understand from a business stand point carrying it only online save warehouse space, but from a practical sense and knowing the plus size consumer or assuming they know the plus size consumer carrying a new concept dress online only does not make much sense to me.  But this is about the clothes right?

Anyway here are the details about the Ashley Stewart 10-in-1 convertible dress:

A single dress that can be turned into 10 different styles and is sold exclusively online! Our updated convertible dress is a sexy bandeau dress with a full skirt that has 2 long strips of fabric that extend from a pleated waist to create a variety of dress styles for only $59.50. Styling options include a halter, one shoulder, strapless, wrapped tank, short sleeve dress and more! Easy knit dress has wide elastic band at bust for comfort and support and a full sweep skirt. Measures 44 inches from bust.

• Machine wash
• Made in the U.S.A.
• 95% polyester, 5% spandex
• Web Exclusive items must be returned to our online store

The 10-in-1 convertible dress is available in four styles and six colors so you are sure to be able to find something to fit your unique style and curves.

About Ashley Stewart

Since the early 1990′s, Ashley Stewart has been styling customers and setting fashion trends for the plus-size fashion industry.

The Ashley Stewart brand is truly an eclectic mix. It is fashion forward, sexy and inspirational. It provides the customer with head-to-toe outfits from trendy sportswear to lingerie to outerwear. Ashley Stewart dresses the women from the bedroom to the boardroom. Fashion conscious plus-size urban women shop at Ashley Stewart to find the latest fashions that reflects their inner-confidence.

With 100 plus stores located in urban areas from New York to Los Angeles, Ashley Stewart is looking to expand the number of stores within the United States. The company’s flagship store is located on 125th Street in Harlem, NYC, where our customer service team has been satisfying the fashion savvy consumer since 1999.

The Ashley Stewart experience continues on-line at ashleystewart.com. Designed as a consumer marketing communication vehicle, the Ashley Stewart website provides the latest information on fashion selections and company news.

As the Ashley Stewart brand expands, the company will vigorously open more storefronts, remodel existing stores and continue to enhance its distinctive merchandising and marketing strategies.

Full Figure Plus - Plus Size Fashion For Today's Active Women

The Plus-Size Women’s Clothing Stores industry is forecast to perform more strongly over the five years to 2017, as factors like per capita disposable income continue to grow. Moreover, with a rising focus on plus-size fashion, product choices are likely to expand and benefit specialty retailers. Despite continuing competition from alternative retailers like Walmart and Target, the industry is forecast to grow at an average annual rate of 5.2% to reach $9.7 billion in revenue by 2017. Also, more high-end designer labels will begin to offer plus-size styles, enabling growth.

The above information is from a report which stats simply that plus size clothing is selling strong and will continue growing despite economic struggles in other areas.  Charming Shoppes which was recently aquired by Ascena, and the parent company of Lane Bryant was the big gainer with its many locations as well as one hundred years of business makes the plus size fashion niche successful despite the critics.

Additionally, readers like you guys makes plus size designers successful by supporting them.  Without the support of loyal customers there would be no Lane Bryant, JMS, Kiyonna, IGIGI, Hips and Curves, Monif C, Evans, Simply Be, Dorthty Perkins, Anna Sholz, and many more.  Full Figure Plus would not exist without supporters and in turn these merchants who are reaching out to you the plus size consumer.

More reasons why plus size fashion continues to grow:

• More designers are coming out daily
• The current crop of designers keep pushing the limits of their designs
• Social media gives plus size a voice and media attention
• Plus size consumers are no longer willing to be abused
• Reality is more compelling to plus consumers than the illusion of the fashion world

Guys without you there would be no me and for certain there would be none of the companies mentioned above.  Mainstream fashion should be thanking you but I know they will never do that so I will thank you again for your support and look forward to reporting the good stuff in the future.

Full Figure Plus - Plus Size Fashion For Today's Active Women

My thoughts on the ASOS curve line have not been the best over the last year.  In fact I think I am one of the few bloggers who do not talk that much about the brand.  When I read the post on Plus Model Magazine entitled SHE’S NOT PLUS SIZE! ASOS CURVE RESPONDS TO MODEL CONTROVERSY I was not surprised they used the young lady in the photo below in their advertising.

In talking with my good friend Vanessa Reece over a year ago, I love you and miss you V, she was very critical of the UK brand that she modeled for at one time and I must say that I share the same point of view which I wrote about in my post Has the ASOS Curve Bubble Finally Burst?

The plus size model category has been under attack for years with modeling agencies pushing the taller larger models off as plus size instead of using a more realistic looking model for their ad campaigns.  Though brands like ASOS Curve are doing a good job of introducing plus size fashion to the UK if they can’t get something as basic as  the size of the model right what hope is their for the rest of the system.

Going to the ASOS website I see the issue.  If you look at the UK version of the website all the stick figures like in the photo above are featured.  It seems on the US version of the site they use a different set of models.

The size chart goes up to a UK 26 which is roughly a size 24 in the US but the models are below a size 10 on the UK site.  When you have ‘curve’ in the name of your brand it is just Marketing 101 to actually have women who have curves in your advertising if you want to attract customers to your product.

The photo above is one of the only pictures I found on either the US or UK sites that featured a model with some hips and butt. I shiver at saying the use of a real woman but when it comes to ladies I have met in the plus community over they years none look like the illusion the modeling industry has created. It would be nice if companies like ASOS would get it right, but I will not hold my breath.

Considering the ASOS Curve collection is still buried deep in the main website not only does that tell me what they still think a year later about their plus size consumers but there will be no major changes anytime soon.  I am sure the note left on their FB page was well intended but we will see whether or not it makes a difference long term.

Full Figure Plus - Plus Size Fashion For Today's Active Women

One of my followers on Twitter posed this question to me “@FullFigurePlus need help finding a plus sized business sheath dress. Any ideas where to find one?” After looking up a few links online from different stores off the top of my head and passing them on to her I decided to look more into the sheath dress for plus sizes and share those findings with you guys.

I watch my wife get dressed daily to go to her job and the one area she complains the most is about career wear.  Upon looking closer at the sheath dress I see this is a dress every woman should have a closet full of in different colors and styles to ensure always having something to wear to work or anywhere else even on a short notice.

DKNYC Plus Size – Plus Size Sheath Dress w/ Exposed Side Zip

Lafayette 148 New York Plus Size Crepe Wool Sheath Dress

Tahari Woman Plus Size Dress, Anika Sleeveless Ruched Sheath

What is a sheath dress?  By definition a sheath dress is a type of dress designed to fit close to the body, relatively unadorned. Unlike the shorter cocktail dress and the longer ballroom dress, a sheath dress typically falls around the knees or lower thighs. The first lady Michelle Obama has done a lot to popularize this style of dress.

In the world of plus size fashion it can literally be found everywhere.  Not to be confused with the popular maxidress the sheath dress is designed to hug your body and show of your curves, doing so in a classy manner.

Some of the examples in this post may not be suitable for the traditional office setting.  Being in fashion makes no sense if you are not in compliance with your companies dress code.

Now to think about it in terms of career wear.  In neutral colors the sheath dress can literally be worn daily.  If combined with different jackets, accessories, and shoes you can quickly give the appearance you have a closet full of clothes when in fact you only have a few pieces.

Calvin Klein Plus Size Dress, Sleeveless Pleated Scoop Neck Sheath

Kasper Plus Size Dress, Sleeveless Scoop Neck Sheath

AGB Plus Size Dress, Sleeveless Banded Waist Sheath

Kasper Plus Size Suit, Elbow Sleeve Cropped Jacquard Jacket & Sheath Dress

One word of caution when it comes to wearing this style of dress.  If you have an apple or pear silhouette this may not be the style for you because it may make you appear bigger. For hourglass and heart silhouettes it will depend on the designer.  The simple style of the sheath dress can either make you look fabulous or give the appearance of wearing a tent dress. Knowing your bodytype going it will make your choice of style and designer much easier.

Bottomline the sheath dress for plus sizes can be a great addition to you work wear because you can easily go from the office to a night out on the town by simply changing your accessories and shoes

Full Figure Plus - Plus Size Fashion For Today's Active Women

I have been following Curvissa along with several other plus size merchants from the UK who are not only growing in their own country but gaining the attention of US audiences.

The bright spot for plus models from the US is they seem to be able to get steady work from UK plus size merchants like Curvissa.  Ashley Graham is all over the site which does not surprise me but saddens me i do not see models of her caliber more in US advertising.

Leading plus size clothes retailer, Curvissa believes that fashion for the fuller figure should never be about compromise.

That’s why their range of stunning high quality fashion items and accessories in sizes 14-32 are each designed to flatter your figure whilst keeping you in the hottest trends. With summer just around the corner whether you’re looking for stunning summer dresses in the latest floral and bold print trends, fabulous footwear or stunning swimwear, Curvissa is the one stop shop for all your fuller figure fashion needs.

Be Inspired

Not only is it the perfect place for plus size fashion, heading over to the Inspire section of the Curvissa website you’ll find information on the latest trends for this season, celebrity style tips and their unique shape calculator for the best styles to suit your shape.

If you’ve got a wedding on the horizon or planning your perfect holiday keep on top of the latest trends and choose from the Curvissa range of plus size dresses, skirts, jeans, tops and swimwear to be sure to stay ahead in the styles stakes.

If you want to step out in pretty pastels or colour block to success, you’ll find the perfect inspiration with Curvissa.

Floral Floaty Tunic

From gorgeous evening wear to everyday casual, you’ll find all your plus size fashion at Curvissa, the home of fabulous women’s clothes and accessories in sizes 14-32.

Curvissa believes that plus size clothing shouldn’t come with a premium price tag, so each item across all size options is available at a single competitive price. Choose to shop by size, price, product type or occasion to find exactly what you’re looking for.

Full Figure Plus - Plus Size Fashion For Today's Active Women

When you think of Avon what comes to your mind?  If you are like me you think about the “avon lady” coming to the house once a month to collect on last months order and take this months order.  It was cosmetics, deodorants, colognes, and perfumes.  Yesterday I was introduced to something I never would have associated with the legendary brand and that is trendy clothing.

My wife came out of the room wearing the top you see in the photo. The Embellished Sequin Printed Tunic is a take off of the styles inspired by middle eastern cuts and prints.  At a cost of $19.99 not to bad for a nice summer top. I was surprised when she told me it was an Avon product.

Surfing through the site it was nice to see clothing accessories that did not look like they were stuck in time and that time had long since passed. Just like most ecommerce sites today when you make a selection there are suggestions to complete your look as well as items similiar to the selection that other customers have purchased.

Considering Avon is a makeup and accessories company do not get excited and think you will come across a vast selection because you won’t.  Some of the items do not appear to be the best looking but with price points mainly below $40 I did not go in expecting a lot.

I like clothes are offered that someone under the age of dead can wear but I do not like the navigation of the website.  No matter what you click on you will first go to the core products then you will be able to select from the navigation menu to the left.  Let me quit being picky and continue.

Other items you will have access to on the Avon website:

• handbags
• accessories
• footwear
• fashion specials
• Curves (yup that curves)

The blogger boutique takes you back to the core of Avon which is makeup.  Why not pick up some makeup while you are shopping for other things.

While shopping at Avon you are not going to load up on vast amount of fashions but considering the talk that plus size fashion is dying it is nice to see older companies paying attention and offering clothing and accessories that the average woman would not mind wearing to work or on the go.

What do you think about Avon and what do you think about accompany know for makeup offering clothing?

Full Figure Plus - Plus Size Fashion For Today's Active Women