Spring is here!

Spring is here the grass is 'ris
I wonders where the flowers is!
(a little rhyme that we used to sing when we were kids).

Today is the first day of our Spring (here in Australia). The gardens are a picture, with flaming blooms on camellias, magnolias, the Australian wattles (so many different ones). Cuddled into the soil and breaking forth are the hyacinths, the snowbells, the jonquils and daffodils and the absolutely lovely tulips of every colour. I see also where the clematis are trying valiantly to break their buds and burst forth (I don't know the colour of this creeper as yet as I only moved here earlier this year, entering into Winter) but it is enticing me. The prunus and early blossom trees are out and pronouncing that they are a force to contend with.

But Spring always and also reminds me that it's time for the plus-sizers or the curvaceous ones, to burst forth from their dreary and dull winter colours and to shout to the world, hey look at me, I'm beautiful too!

We claim the right to look as attractive as any other woman (of every other size), given that we can actually buy lovely coloured clothing, (or should I say that it is actually available). So come on suppliers of plus-size clothing, get with the colour palettes and give us some fantastic choices. Even if we wear them with basic black pants and jackets. Let the jewels shine!

Plus-size clothing for young-at-heart-women

Further to my most recent blog, I've discovered another Australian supplier of plus size clothing, and the clothing of this company WRAP goes up to 36!

This company is situated in Mentone, Victoria, and certainly seems to cover a wide variety of garments - just what we need!

Visit their site and see for yourselves. http://www.plussizedclothing.com.au/

Have you noticed?

What do you think about the design and variety of clothes for the plus size woman?

I'm particularly interested in the perspective from an Australian point of view. Each season my hopes build up that we're going to see some really good styles, good colours and good fabrics. And each year, I have to admit I experience disappointment. Not that everything on sale is bad, but the majority I have to say lacks imagination.

Even some of the better labels seem to be undergoing a shrinkage phase. By that I mean shirts and tops are no longer tunic length or knee length or even mid-thigh length. They're back up around the waist or four inches lower. Now these may look good in photos, especially when they're modelled by women who have a nice figure (and let's face it, many plus size women do have nice figures and even dare I say it, flat tummies). But for the rest of us, there comes a time when a "saddle" appears. It sits nicely between the waist and the thighs and it can range from being a "bit" to a darn LOT.

This means that the shirts and tops might sit nicely around the bustline and even the waist, but .............. The lower your eyes take in the reflection of the garment in a long mirror, it's obvious to all and sundry that this saddle is protruding under and beyond the shape of the top or shirt. How many plus size women look at the profile or side view in the dressing room mirrors at stores these days? How many plus size women look at the rear view reflection in the dressing room mirrors these days? Come on, be honest. A lot of women we know NEVER look at the side or rear view.

Not doing so has a couple of consequences. They don't see themselves as others see them. And they do a dis-service to themselves by not being aware of how the garment looks. Because I think it's about time we showed the courage of our convictions and made stores and retailers aware that we're NOT happy with garments that they sell, and which are NOT made according to most of our needs.

As a postscript to this post, I'd also like to add my comment relative to the fabric we see everywhere today. There's something called "mesh" which is being sold through the small discount outlets in shopping malls, and this fabric is seen in the much more expensive lines being sold through the major retailers. It's used as tops, and as a top layer in skirts and pants. It may well be a practical fabric, but it certainly is not an attractive fabric. It looks what it is - a second class stretchy fabric that pretends to be a good quality material. It really isn't. It stretches - sure. But it also goes out of shape. It also tears easily, and a number of women associated with our newsletters have complained that inadvertently they've managed to tear holes in this mesh fabric even by putting the garment on. I don't know where this fabric is "made" but it sure doesn't appear to be made locally. For a country known around the world as the grower and supplier of beautiful cottons, linens and fine wools, we're subjected to some mighty awful fabrics here.

I'd like to hear what ladies in other countries think.

© 2010 Autumn P of Victoria