Curvy Girl Wardrobe Essentials - Hot trends in our store now!!

Essentials for the Curvy Girl wardrobe - Fall/Winter 2007

I have decided to take a few minutes to list my personal favorite Curvy Girl items and why I feel they are essential to every plus size woman's wardrobe. Because I own a clothing company, I see lots and lots of merchandise, but only a few make me stop in my tracks and really want to carry the items. I am also a plus size woman. A plus size consumer. Curvy Girl Clothing was started because we (my sisters and I) were sick of stores not carrying the types of styles and essentials that we were seeking. If a store did carry the item, it was typically at a price I was unwilling to pay for it. We carry items because we would wear them ourselves and we absolutely love them!

If there are essentials or items you are always struggling to find, speak up! Let us know what you want us to carry! We will have shoes and accessories in our retail store (Portland, OR) in January 2008. It is unlikely we will carry those items at this time online due to many reasons but mostly because women prefer to buy their accessories and shoes in person where they can see them or try them on. :)


Seamless Stretch Leggings

One size fits most (this item can fit from a size 14-26)

Cost: $27.99

Find this item here.

Colors available: We carry the basics: Black, White and Brown. The manufacturer makes this item in pretty much any color you can imagine. Please let us know what colors you'd like to see leggings in - if we get enough requests, it is possible we will carry more colors. (i.e. orange, yellow, green, red)

Why is this a Curvy Girl essential?

I push seamless items a lot. We consider these an alternative to Spanx or other similar garments. I can honestly say seamless items have changed my life. :)

Nearly every woman who tries these on in our retail store buys a pair in every color. Need more convincing? :) Wear these under your favorite long tops, tunics or dresses. If you don't like thigh rub, wear them under skirts or even pants. They hold everything in very nicely. You feel pounds thinner when wearing these. They are soooo stylish. They are very hot right now. Women are wearing them under pretty much everything or even on their own.

Seamless Stretch Tube Bra

One size fits most (this item can fit from a size 14-26)

Cost: $11.50

Find this item here.

Colors available: Depending on the season, we carry this in a variety of colors including the basics: Black, White and Khaki/Sand. The manufacturer makes this item in pretty much any color you can imagine. Please let us know what colors you'd like to see these in - if we get enough requests, it is possible we will carry more colors. (i.e. brown, pink, blue, orange, yellow, green, red)

Why is this a Curvy Girl essential?

You are always looking for the perfect tube top to put under your tops and dresses. Sometimes you want more coverage (for modesty). Perhaps you are not very busty and you want a bra alternative. There are a million reasons to wear this item! This is another item where women buy one, and they come back for more and more colors.

This has been very popular for women who have had breast reconstructive surgery and no longer wear conventional bras. Our model was 16 years old when she took these photos. She is a full D cup, but gravity had not set in yet. :) We recommend this over your bra for additional coverage if you are over a C cup. If you are an A or B cup, this would be great as a bra alternative.

Seamless Stretch Camisole

One size fits most (this item can fit from a size 14-26)

Cost: $14.75

Find this item here.

Colors available: Depending on the season, we carry this in a variety of colors including the basics: Black, White and Khaki/Sand. The manufacturer makes this item in pretty much any color you can imagine. Please let us know what colors you'd like to see these in - if we get enough requests, it is possible we will carry more colors. (i.e. brown, pink, blue, orange, yellow, green, red)

Why is this a Curvy Girl essential?

You are always looking for the perfect camisole to put under your tops and dresses. Sometimes you want more coverage (for modesty). Sometimes you want more warmth. Other times you want to smooth out lines underneath a tighter top. Perhaps you are not very busty and you want a bra alternative. There are a million reasons to wear this item! I have no less than 5 of each color and I wear them with everything - including as pajamas. I can estimate that I wear a seamless item at least 4 days per week. Sometimes 7. I love that I feel 5 pounds thinner just by wearing this item. I love that it holds my breasts up firmer (I wear it over my bra). My husband loves that I wear them under low cut tops so that I'm not sharing my cleavage with the world anymore! :) The best part of this item is that the bigger size you are, the better the fit (as it is tighter and serves its purpose better to larger women). This is another item where women buy one, and they come back for more and more colors.

This has been very popular for women who have had breast reconstructive surgery and no longer wear conventional bras. Our model was 16 years old when she took these photos. She is a full D cup, but gravity had not set in yet. :) We recommend this over your bra for additional coverage if you are over a C cup. If you are an A or B cup, this would be great as a bra alternative.

Stretch Crop 3/4 Sleeve Shrug

Sizes from Jr Plus 1x-5x (fits from 14/16 to 28/30)

Cost: $24

Find this item here.

Colors available: Depending on the season, we carry this in a variety of colors. If we only receive a small quantity of a color, they will go in our retail store or our eBay store as those are the 2 places where items move the fastest.

Why is this a Curvy Girl essential?

This is an item that you may very well use more than any other item in your closet. It is perfect for women (such as myself) who refuses to wear short sleeve or sleeveless items. I now buy sexy sleeveless tops and camis because I know I have something to wear over it. I no longer pass over that perfect cocktail dress because it is sleeveless. By adding this layer and texture, it is very slenderizing, particularly in the black. This item is incredibly soft and very stretchy. This shrug can be pinned over the breasts, but it is truly meant to cover that annoying fatty part between the arm and the bust (the part many women hate). It is covering your arms without covering up the adorable item you have on beneath it. While many women do not refer to this item as a shrug, when we show them how versatile the item is, they typically walk out of the store with several colors.

Denim Mermaid Skirt

Sizes from Jr Plus 1x-3x (fits from 16/18 to 24/26)

Cost: $38.99

Find this item here.

Colors available: Denim Blue

Why is this a Curvy Girl essential?

This is a timeless piece that works well for most Curvy bodies. You can wear this anywhere, including the office, making it a versatile piece. We recommend it with a simple sweater and a pair of sexy black boots.

Skinny Pants/Jeans

Sizes from Jr Plus 1x-3x (fits from 14/16 to 22/24) - coming soon up to size 5x!

Cost: $32.99

Find this item here.

Colors available: Denim Blue, Black Twill and Brown Twill

Why is this a Curvy Girl essential?

Ok. I will admit it took a while for me to buy into the whole skinny pants craze. It was not until we opened our retail store and I watched different body type after different body type walk out of the dressing room in these pants (loving them) when I realized, these look so good on so many curvy women that it's impossible to continue my loathing of the skinny pant. I was wrong! I tried on a pair myself and fell in love with them. I have long legs, but they made my legs appear even longer and leaner than they are. I loved the stretch and comfort level of these pants. It doesn't hurt that they are stylish and when I am out on the town, I feel like I am wearing the same styles as my thinner counterparts. I personally feel Curvy bodies look better in these pants than thinner women, especially ones with a full backside.

High Waist Button Jeans

Sizes from Jr Plus 1x-5x (fits from 16 to 24)

Cost: $44.99

Find this item here.

Colors available: Denim Blue

Why is this a Curvy Girl essential?

Is this an essential? I'm not sold on the idea, but this style is showing up in so many magazines and on tv (especially music videos) that it is a trend that is hard to ignore. After walking into about 30 denim manufacturers in Los Angeles, only 2 of them indicated they would carry this size in plus. The ones that did carry it have it up to 3x (which was about an 18). I was highly disappointed. Curvy Women are fashionistas too! We did have our manufacturer make a special cut of these up to Jr plus 5x (appx a 22/24) for us exclusively and they are selling like hotcakes. This tells us that these pants are in high demand and while you may hope they go away soon, there is no sign of a slow down. We will tell you, however, that we recommend this size for women with longer torsos or those who are taller (5'7"+). Dare we say that this is also a fantastic item for the curvy crossdresser. :)

Sexy Black Dress (Sleeveless)

Sizes from Plus 1x-4x (fits from 16 to 30)

Cost: $23.99

Find this item here. (on sale!!!)

Colors available: Black and white polka dot (look for other prints)

Why is this a Curvy Girl essential?

Little black dress. Need I say more? :) You may see this and say you hate polka dots. You may see this and say it is too rockabilly or punk for your taste. This is the absolute girlie girlie of girlie dresses. This tie back halter has been one of our best sellers since the day we have been in business. I wear mine under a red shrug with lots of chunky jewelry and I have to admit, I get so many compliments when I'm out in it! It's appropriate for almost every event. Even if this is not your style, we recommend always having a little black dress in your closet just in case!!! Curvy Girl Clothing specializes in dresses, so it is likely we will always have a black dress to suit your needs!

Sexy Black Dress (With Sleeves)

Sizes from Plus 1x-3x (fits from 14/16 to 22/24)

Cost: $39.99

Find this item here.

Colors available: Black (sometimes we carry this in other colors, depending on the season)

Why is this a Curvy Girl essential?

This style was so popular in the short sleeve, that we made it with 3/4 sleeves. This fabric is amazing. Stretches where you need it! The ruching along the sides is so slenderizing. The best part about this dress is that you can jack it up real short to wear as a scandalous mini dress or wear it long at the knee. This was designed as a dress, but most women, believe it or not, buy it as a top to wear over jeans and it looks super cute. That makes this one versatile item, and a must have for your closet! It is also made from a fabric that is virtually wrinkle free (like many of our stretch dresses). We choose this fabric because it is low maintenance. Throw this dress in a ball in your suitcase, arrive at your destination and put it on! No ironing, no hassles! Curvy Girls have better things to do with their time than fuss with wrinkles!

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What are your essentials? We'd love to hear from you! Help us spot the latest trends - you never know, we may take it to our designers and have them make it in plus sizes!!!! :)

About the author

Lisa Toton is co-founder of Curvy Girl Clothing. She lives in Los Angeles, CA with her husband. When she is not obsessing over plus size fashion, she is writing sketches (some for Curvy Girl Clothing) or you can see her on stage at many of the top comedy clubs in the Los Angeles area where she has been performing as a stand up comedian for a better part of the last decade.

You can contact Lisa at lisa@curvygirlclothing.com.

About Curvy Girl LLC

Incorporated in 2005, Curvy Girl LLC is a lifestyle company catering to plus size women. Curvy Girl’s first venture was http://www.curvygirlclothing.com/, an online boutique taking the plus size fashion industry by storm. We offer fashion forward trendy styles, in plus sizes (14+). Our flagship retail store opened in Portland, OR in November 2007!

NOTE: Curvy Girl LLC and Curvy Girl Clothing is not associated with curvygirl.com.

Plus Size High Waisted Skinny Jeans Denim - Your thoughts?

Plus size high waisted denim jeans for curvy girls....ladies (or gentlemen), what are your thoughts on these????

We are selling out of these like crazy in sizes 16, 18 and 20 but we're not sure if we want to make them in larger sizes.

This style is great for taller (5'7"+ as the button part goes up pretty high) Curvy Girls who have a lot of junk in the trunk (and, oh, do we envy you so much) and a smaller waist....Small waist isn't necessarily required, and these actually hold it all in up there nicely, but after putting these on several women (including ourselves and some of our models), we have realized we love them so much more on women with a lot of a$$ inside those jeans.

We are seeing these show up all over the place (on thinner women as a lot of the big name designers are carrying them) so we wanted to know if it was going to take off for our curvy fashionistas. You will see tons of high waisted pants out there this season and we think the button pants are sooooo much more flattering than the ones with just a long rise/zipper which is just like taking a big red marker and circling it around your tummy area :)

So, speak up!!! Let us know what you think! :)

Would you wear them? Yes, no? Either way, what size are you (we want to see what sizes would or would not wear them)?
Would you wear them in twill (specifically, black)?

People have been asking where they can buy these hot jeans. They are not on our website yet as they are selling too fast (www.curvygirlclothing.com) but we have been listing them in our eBay store (http://stores.ebay.com/Curvy-Girl-Clothing) - be sure to sign up for our mailer on our website as we will send one out when we re-stock them on our website.

Why do we sell plus size clothing on eBay ????

We have heard it a million times. I REFUSE TO BUY ANYTHING ON EBAY - especially clothes. Why, oh why, Curvy Girl...why do you sell on eBay?

First of all - you are foolish if you are not shopping on eBay (and I say this respectfully). :) It's not just for used items or collectibles. I buy clothes on eBay. LOTS of them. From competitors too (gasp). Hey, sometimes they have what I'm looking for!!!

I also purchased a $3,500 (that's its wholesale value - retail is much more) diamond right hand ring for $197 (and I get no less than 2 compliments on its beauty each week). My lighting system would have cost me $1,000 in a store - easily. After losing out on 3 auctions, I finally won it for less than $200. My shipping supplies are bought on eBay, my printing labels, supplies for my store (including fixtures)....most of it comes from eBay. I've even bought Girl Scout cookies on eBay (what can I say, a girl needs her Tagalongs and now that I no longer have an office job, I don't have access to the mother of a girl scout who is selling her daughter's cookies).

There are some fantastic deals on eBay. My suggestion is to bid on holidays - there are always sellers who are new to eBay and don't realize it's a really really really bad idea to end an item on a holiday. My family is drinking egg nog and singing holiday carols or playing Scrabble while I'm winning stuff at ridiculously low prices. I also use esnipe. I can't stress enough how much I love esnipe. I basically set my bid, and a few seconds before the auction ends, esnipe makes my bid for me. I win most of the time, without having to get into a bidding war (where I'd probably over bid anyways).

You should be shopping on eBay too. There are SOOOO many great sellers - with NEW items! These sellers work hard and they earn every penny they make.

Is it safe? Yes. Simply follow the guidelines and use common sense. Keep your password safe. Log out when you step away from your computer. Only buy from sellers with feedback (and make sure it's not just feedback as a buyer - make sure they have feedback as a seller). Use Paypal. Your transactions are protected when you use Paypal (and a confirmed seller). Do your research. Know what items are worth or what you are willing to pay. Use the right keywords. Find sellers who operate stores and shop with them. A requirement of having a store is keeping feedback above a certain percentage (and also having at least 100 feedback ratings).

But you hate bidding. I know. So do I. Refer to my paragraph above about esnipe.

Why do we sell on eBay?

I made a few clothing purchases on eBay and I loved everything I bought. I told my sister about it. She made a few clothing purchases. She loved it.

We knew we wanted to start a company. We had very little capital. No loans. No trust fund. Just some sisters with a dream, a few thousand dollars and little else. We knew we wanted to sell plus size clothes as we had read an article in Entrepreneur Magazine (from Fall 2004) stating it was one of the hottest markets to get into. It didn't hurt that we were plus size ourselves. In 2005, Curvy Girl LLC was born.

Because our marketing budget was initially non-existent, we knew we needed to start off testing the waters. We wanted to know what types of styles would sell best and how much we should charge for items. We also wanted to reach as large of an audience as possible. It made sense to start on eBay. We listed a few products, and much to our surprise, items were starting to sell. We haven't looked back since.

Many people have suggested it was a bad idea to start on eBay. People have said it cheapens the brand and the image. We disagree. It's not a pretty format, we agree, but it serves its purpose, and there are millions of shoppers visiting the site per day. Because we have an eBay store, it doesn't mean we don't take fashion seriously. It doesn't mean we are only trying to attract the bottom of the barrel customer who is only shopping on price. It doesn't mean our products are used (they are all new). It doesn't mean our products are defective (they aren't).

We are highly offended when people don't take our eBay business seriously. We sell in the high 6 figures annually on the site. When other boutique owners hear how much we make on eBay, they are shocked as it is oftentimes more than double what their store generates in a year. Granted, after all of the fees are taken out, and we consider all of our operating expenses, our net profit is almost laughable, but we have a high volume eBay business. Just because it's eBay, doesn't mean it's any different than other online retailers you are used to shopping with.

Because of our eBay business, we have opened our online store (www.curvygirlclothing.com) and we now have a brick and mortar store in Portland OR (hopefully a few more in 2008!). eBay has allowed us to grow our brand and build a loyal customer base. It has allowed us to reach customers in parts of the globe that we will probably never see with our own eyes. Because of eBay, Curvy Girl Clothing is an internationally recognized brand.

Have I convinced you to check out eBay? I hope so. :)

Just take a look. It won't hurt. You don't have to tell people you buy your clothes on eBay (or whatever else you buy). But, you should definitely check it out because there are tons of great bargains there and you are really missing out.

For those who are ready to go check out eBay...

To have a successful shopping experience, start by taking your measurements. This applies to buying on eBay or any other online company. Every single manufacturer in the world has a different idea of what sizes are, but measurements don't lie. If you don't want to measure yourself, measure your favorite items from your closet and then compare those measurements to the item you are looking at online. Curvy Girl Clothing hand measures every single item and then makes recommendations for size based on measurements and intended fit. Don't be suprised if you are a 1x in some items and a 4x in others. If you follow the measurement guidelines, you are more likely to have a good fit. If the seller doesn't list measurements, ask for them. If they won't provide them, don't buy the item.

Once you know your measurements, start searching for items. There are THOUSANDS of plus size clothing listings on any given day. You can also find shoes and accessories to match that new outfit you are going to buy!

Look at the photos and read the description carefully.

If you find a seller with a great selection, be sure to check out all of their listings. Power sellers with stores often have items that are listed in their store inventory that don't come up in a standard search. Usually, you will find a link to their other items in their auction details.

I will probably take some time in 2008 to write a blog on our experiences selling on eBay. We have had many fantastic customers, but there have definitely been some crazy moments and times when we wonder why we do this to ourselves every day. We simply remember all of the great customers and their encouraging letters (some with photos) who remind us of how blessed we are to be doing what we love most: selling sexy clothing for some sexy a$$ curvy fashionistas!!!!! FLAUNT IT LADIES.

In case you were wondering, here is the link to our eBay store. :)
http://stores.ebay.com/Curvy-Girl-Clothing

Curvy Girl Fall 2007 Plus Size Runway Show

Many people have been asking for the link to our fall 2007 runway show. While many of the styles in the video are sold out, it gives you a good idea of the types of styles we carry on a regular basis. It also gives you a good look into the types of models we use at Curvy Girl Clothing. And yes, they are ALL gorgeous! :)

http://www.bigriggs.com/website/fashionvideo-small.wmv

If you want to see our current styles, please visit us at www.curvygirlclothing.com or http://stores.ebay.com/Curvy-Girl-Clothing


Enjoy! :)

Curvy Girl Clothing announces opening of its first retail store in Portland OR

For all those interested, we have opened our first retail location in Portland, Oregon. Hours are limited through the end of 2007, but we will be open 6 days a week (starting in January 2008).

At our store, you will find all kinds of styles we don't have online (as we buy small quantities, just enough for the store, so it doesn't make sense to list them online).

Everything you see in our online store as well as eBay (well, almost everything) is also at the store for you to look at and try on.

If you live in Portland, OR or are traveling to Portland, OR, please come visit us! We have gift cards available which is the perfect gift for the curvy women in your life!

5240 NE 42nd Ave - Portland, OR
503.889.8800

We appreciate everyone's support. This has been 2.5 years in the making and our goal is to open several more retail locations in the next few years. :)

Plus Size Modeling - From The Client's Point of View

As the owner of a plus size clothing company, Curvy Girl Clothing, I receive no less than 10 requests per week from women who are seeking modeling opportunities. While I am excited at the prospect of such a large talent pool of beautiful plus size women, I have noticed an alarming number of unprofessional and dare I say, embarrassing submissions.

When I ask candidates why they chose the photos they did for their “portfolio” many admit they could not afford a high end photographer. You don’t need one. I promise. I can appreciate a good photographer as much as the next person, but you don’t need a fancy portfolio of photos taken at an expensive shoot to get started. Your mother, sister, boyfriend, husband, daughter can take a great photo of you. Remember, we are talking about initial submissions here. At some point, if you are considering modeling as a serious vocation, you will need to invest in a good portfolio. Let’s focus on what you need right now, to be considered for jobs early in your career. If you’re lucky, and you work hard enough, you will end up with a portfolio of great shots without ever having had to pay for a new wardrobe, makeup artist, studio time or an expensive photographer.

I will start by saying I am not a plus size model, nor have I ever been one. I have competed in a plus pageant, once, but that’s another blog altogether.

There are many websites out there dedicated to plus size modeling and I would highly recommend visiting some of the more credible ones to hear advice from other models in the “industry”. I am offering you my perspective, as a clothing company owner, on what we personally look for when selecting models for our shoots. Prospective Curvy Girl Clothing models should read this, of course, as I will detail exactly what we look for. For everyone else, I hope I have left you somewhat informed.

Earlier, I mentioned the word vocation. Yes, as in “job”. Modeling is a job. If you don’t believe me, ask a model how her back and feet feel after standing in awkward positions for 12 straight hours. In heels. Five inch heels. You know her feet hurt and her back is sore, but in the photos, you couldn’t tell. Why? That’s part of the job.

As in any job, you need to take it seriously. Show up on time. Be professional. Put your phone on vibrate and make (limited) calls or send text messages during breaks. Pay attention to the photographer. S/he will give you direction on what to do. As you become more experienced, you will learn the “standard” looks and poses. Yes, there are standard looks and poses. Ask questions if you are not sure, although, it is likely both the photographer and company representative on site for the shoot will be giving you constant direction and/or feedback and constructive criticism. Most important of all, “sell” the clothes you are wearing. You may put something on and hate it. It’s not your job to like the clothes you are wearing. It’s your job to look like you do.

How we select our models

I am going to dedicate an entire paragraph to the submission of photos. First impressions are paramount. It is a great idea to post your photos on MySpace or FaceBook. If you do so, however, please keep the following in mind:

- If your main profile picture is a photo of you giving the double middle finger to the camera, it may amuse you and your friends, it does not, however, amuse us.
- We do not want to search through pages of photos of your family and friends and your various life experiences. You should have the ability to create a subfolder. All modeling photos should be stored in a separate folder.
- You should be the ONLY PERSON in the photo. We do not want to know that you are the 3rd from the left. As cute as your husband or baby is, we are not considering them for modeling, but you. We want to know if you and you alone can hold our attention.
- You should have at least one current face shot and one current body shot.
- When I say headshot, I mean a full headshot. Don’t crop out most of your face. We want to see the top of the hair to the bottom of the neck.
- When I say body shot, it should be of you, clothed, in a form fitting outfit. We do not want to see you in a big hoodie sweatshirt. We don’t want to see you in your wedding gown. PLEASE, no wedding photos!!! Yes, it was the day you felt most beautiful. I was a bride, I know. We want to see how proportionate your body is and it is very hard to do it when you are wearing 20 pounds of bustled taffeta. Do not crop out your arms. If I had a dollar for every photo I have received with cropped arms, I’d be rich! You might have big arms. It’s ok, so do I! This is plus size modeling after all.
- Look at the type of items we sell. If you own something we sell, you earn brownie points for submitting a photo of you in it. If you don’t own something we sell, wear something similar to our styles. It is easier for us to envision you in our clothes that way.
- The photos should be in color. We want to see your skin tone, hair color and eyes.

On dating sites, many people’s biggest complaint is that the person they met was NOT the same person as in their ad photo. We feel the same way when a model shows up for work looking nothing like the photos she submitted. If you have changed your hair significantly, gained/lost weight, gotten a tattoo or piercing, aged (more than 5 years) or experienced any other drastic appearance changes, you need to update your pictures/portfolio accordingly. Your client needs to know if your hair is now a bright blue or that you now have a neck tattoo.

In plus modeling, we find the biggest discrepancy to be related to weight. If you tell us you are a size 18, it is imperative you be a size 18. Not a 14. Not a 22. Prior to a shoot, we pull clothes and shoes for the shoot. If our shoot is at a studio, we cannot go into the warehouse and simply grab another size. If you are smaller, that is usually easier because we can use rubber bands and clips to bring outfits in. In the case when you are bigger, this causes a lot of trouble as we will not photograph a model in an item that is too tight on her. Plain and simple, clothes don’t sell when it looks like they were painted on the model. The customer will think, “If that’s how it looks like on a model, how is it going to look on me?” It is likely we would have to cancel a shoot, costing us time and money. At Curvy Girl Clothing, we insist on our models providing current measurements prior to showing up for a shoot. This is because women view their size differently and we want to make sure we have clothes that will fit.

Other important considerations:

Get a MySpace or FaceBook account dedicated to your modeling pursuits.

NETWORKING IS KEY. Oftentimes, you are selected because another model or someone in the industry referred you. Go to plus size fashion events in your area (including: store events, fashion shows/trunk shows, model hunts, magazine/calendar parties). When you attend the event, bring your headshot (yes, this means to take your larger tote bag to store it in and have available at a moments notice). If you don’t have a headshot, no worries. Bring some recent photos of yourself. Same rules apply here as listed above. Make sure you are the only one in the photo and one shot should be of your entire body. Get business cards and hand them out. Have your headshot on your business card. Contribute articles and blogs to plus size publications.

Our samples are made in size 18 (2x). We give preference to women who are a size 16/18.

NOTE: We have noticed a disappointing trend in that when we use models larger than a size 18, the clothes tend to sit on the shelves a lot longer than when we use smaller size models. When they sit long enough, we will re-photograph the item on a smaller model, and based on our experience, the items sell at a much faster rate. As plus women, we want to show women of all shapes and sizes, but as businesswomen, we need to use what sells. So, if someone wonders, why doesn’t Curvy Girl Clothing use a size 24+ model, it isn’t because we don’t want to. As consumers, please take note of this and make it a point to buy items not because they look fantastic on the model, but because you feel it will look fantastic on you. Larger plus models will thank you for this as in doing so, you are helping them get more work.

We are looking for women who are very photogenic. This is modeling, after all. Unfortunately, being plus size is not the only requirement for plus size modeling.

You should have a proportionate body. We don’t mind if you are slightly top heavy or bottom heavy, but if you are more than 1 size difference between the top and bottom half (i.e. 16 top and 20 bottom), it is unlikely we would select you for our principal and stock shots. We may be able to use you for editorial work.

You should have healthy skin, hair and teeth. Your complexion should be free of scars and relatively, if not completely free, of blemishes and acne.

Most of our models wear a size 8.5 or 9 shoe, therefore, about 90% of our shoe collection is either of these sizes. Models with these shoe sizes will be given preferential treatment.

Location. Location. Location. If you live in Portland, OR or Los Angeles, CA you are given preferential treatment as we do not provide any travel expenses for any of our modeling shoots.

The average woman is 5’4”. Despite this well known statistic, clothes are designed for a 5’8” woman. We prefer our models to be between 5’4” and 5’9”. We know this is much shorter than modeling industry standards, but as tall women ourselves, we know that clothes are not designed with the tall women in mind. Most companies use taller models as they look leggier and thinner. So what! Not all of us are leggy and thin. We know that clothes fall differently on tall women versus average height women. Many times, on a tall model, dresses will appear to be above the knee or sleeves will look ¾ length, when they are, in fact, full length sleeves. To an average height woman who wants to cover her knees or have arms that go to the wrists, she will not consider this dress for purchase. As such, we have elected to show our clothes on models who are closer to the height/size of the average woman.

Just so you know, modeling agencies can be cut-throat. Generally speaking, they require all plus size candidates to be between 5’8” and 6’, 16-26 years old, and a size 10/12. Do we agree with this? Absolutely not. We realize they are simply signing what sells. Until clothing companies start using true/average size women (both height and size) for their major campaigns, the modeling agencies will continue to look for a specific type of candidate and not take a risk in signing someone that does not meet their strict requirements. As a consumer, you can help change this. Buy from clothing designers who use models that don’t look like they came off an assembly line. Write to the designers who don’t use a variety of models in different colors, shapes and sizes. Money speaks louder than words. Spend your money on companies who aren’t afraid to use shorter or bigger models. Don’t spend your money at places that don’t. Trust me, the message will be heard loud and clear.

Please let us know if you are signed with a talent agency of any sort and who your rep is (including contact information). It is not a requirement to be signed with an agency. In fact, we prefer unsigned/undiscovered models. If you are signed with an agency, you need to coordinate all bookings through them. They will go over this with you in detail. If you are signed, please submit your information as we have many projects going on, and some will require agency models.

You will need to sign a talent release prior to arriving for your photo shoot. This grants us full ownership to all photos. If you are under 18, your parent or legal guardian will need to sign this.

You need to let us know if you have taken racy photos (or videos). We will not use models who have been featured in any fetish or nudity websites/calendars/videos.

Inform us of any competitive products you have modeled for. Don’t worry, it’s ok to have modeled for a competitor. This is a small industry and we understand that many models appear on competitive sites.

We prefer our website models to be free of tattoos and body piercings. For editorial work, we may have a particular “look” in mind when these would be acceptable (i.e. rockabilly), so please submit your portfolios to us and note your tattoo and piercing locations.

Submit your age, height, weight, size, measurements (bust, waist, hips), and shoe size. Submit your current contact information (city/state, phone number and email). If you are hired for work, you will need to provide detailed address information as well as tax related info (such as social security number) and proof of ID as we need to submit forms to the IRS.

You earn huge brownie points by submitting your photos wearing something from our store in at least one of the photos. We would like to think that if you were not a model, that you would be wearing our clothes anyway.

If you commit to a shoot, show up (and on time). DO NOT CANCEL. If you cancel once, it is unlikely you will ever be asked to come back, no matter what the reason for cancellation. If you are a “regular” model, an occasional cancellation would likely be overlooked. If it is your first time working with a client, it is an absolute no-no to cancel.

Handling Rejection

There is no other way to say it. Sometimes, you are going to feel rejected. You are going to hear the word no in this industry. A lot. Get used to it. Whatever you do, DON’T GIVE UP. NEVER GIVE UP. While it may have been a no today, you may have been looking at a yes tomorrow. There could be many reasons for the rejection. It does not mean you are ugly or unattractive. We may be looking for a particular size, age or ethnicity for a specific campaign. You may resemble one of our existing models too much. Perhaps you need a better portfolio or photos that stick out.

As much as we’d like to, we are unable to respond to all modeling requests. If you did not take your submission seriously, it is unlikely we will take the time to provide you serious feedback. If we have interest in you, we will notify you, typically with an email to start. We may ask you to submit additional photos or email us again in a few months. Most times, we reject serious model submissions simply because they are not convenient (they are outside of the L.A. or Portland area). We receive new merchandise every day, so we are shooting on a very regular basis. As such, we need local talent to fill our immediate needs.

Prospective models have suggested we just mail our clothes to them and they will “handle the photo session”. A Curvy Girl Clothing representative is present at all photo and video shoots, for various reasons. Our photo shoots reflect our company brand, image and message. We cannot afford to risk “the farm” on an amateur shoot with someone we have never worked with. After we have worked with you several times, it is very possible this type of arrangement may work (we would have to approve all photographers used). That being said, if you have a great photo of you wearing something we currently sell, please send it our way. It is still possible we may end up using your photo (by submitting, you are giving us full rights to use the photo) on our website. In fact, we encourage this behavior and offer store credit vouchers (varies based on the item and quality of the photo) when we receive a useable photo submission.

Be a “Goodwill Ambassador” for the Clothing Line and Your Peers

I cannot tell you how many times I have spoken with models about competitive products and heard the model say, “The money was good and/or I liked working with them (or the photographer) but I would never (wear that *expletive*), (pay that much for their clothes), (recommend their clothes to my friends). Wow. Let me say it again. Wow. If you are bashing my competitors clothing, what are you saying about my clothing line? You’d be surprised how many of us (clothing companies) are friendly with each other and how often we talk about our models (including referring the good ones). Never bite the hand that feeds you. This holds true in discussions about other key people in the industry as well. Do not bad mouth other models, photographers or stylists (including hair and makeup). It’s like a really bad game of “telephone/operator” where your original message will be twisted and turned into something very different, and probably much more offensive than your original comments. You never know who people are friends with or who they will work with next. You don’t want to be known as the gossip or trash talker. It’s career suicide.

Opportunities for Modeling

There are many opportunities for plus models, if you are signed with an agency or not. It all depends on your location, availability and how well your market yourself. If you are considering modeling as a true vocation, you should do whatever you can to build up your portfolio and get signed with a reputable agency. You should also move to a city where there is a lot of work for models. (i.e. Los Angeles or New York City).

Some of the opportunities we offer at Curvy Girl Clothing for modeling are as follows:

Catalog/Website
This is for online website listings (all e-commerce sites including eBay). These shots are used to sell the merchandise in the item specifics pages.

Fit Model
This work can be relatively boring, but there is a lot of it if you are in Los Angeles or New York City. A fit model is used by designers to test the fit of their samples. Models used for fit purposes are generally perfectly proportioned as the clothes are graded/sized upon her body type.

Runway
Curvy Girl Clothing produces several runway shows per year. Sometimes, we are asked to show our line at a particular event that we are not producing (i.e. Fashion Week).

Editorial
These are the “fun” shoots. Many times, we can do high fashion type shots, similar to what you’d see in a fashion magazine. We use these for marketing and promotions, the front page of our website, banner ads and anything else that requires some really cool shots. When we do newspaper interviews, we will use these shots to go with the story. With these shoots, we are often looking for models with unique looks.

Television
Curvy Girl Clothing is featured regularly on shows like Better TV, AM Northwest, etc… Oftentimes, we have models as an integral part of the segment.

Acting/Sketch
Curvy Girl Clothing produces short comedic sketches that are posted in many online venues. This is perfect for the model who is also looking to do some acting and commercial work and needs a reel for her resume. There is a high value associated with the reel you receive from this work as all of our sketches are directed and edited by top professionals.

In Los Angeles and NYC, there are many wholesale manufacturers who put out catalogs on a very regular basis. There is a lot of work available in this area, it is just a matter of marketing yourself to the different companies.

What will you get paid? Good question. Not all modeling jobs are paying jobs. For our principal website models, our compensation includes a per hour rate and/or a clothing allowance. For tv, runway and acting/sketch our compensation is generally a clothing allowance, prints (or reel if it is acting) and meal(s), depending on the length of the shoot. You will become very familiar with the TFP (time for print) terminology in the modeling industry, and on occasion, Curvy Girl Clothing uses this method as well, generally for editorial shoots. Typically you will get a lot of exposure, and often times, Curvy Girl Clothing recommends you for other modeling work (to other people seeking models in our industry). We want you to have a successful modeling career and we do the best we can to help you meet those goals!

What to bring to a shoot

This depends on the client. For Curvy Girl Clothing, we will typically have all clothes, accessories and shoes for you. We will let you know if you need to do your own hair or makeup. For smaller shoots, our models generally do their own hair and makeup, but for full day shoots, we will typically have someone there for this purpose.

You will want to bring several bras and panties, as well as your body shapers, if you have them. It is unlikely the client will provide this for you.

Most importantly, bring a positive attitude and confidence. Have fun. If you’ve made it as far as a shoot, don’t obsess over your looks. Nothing upsets us more at a shoot when models complain about their looks or “flaws”. They are not flaws. They are not “problem spots”. Remember, you beat out a lot of other submissions and you are there for a reason. Bring it. Flaunt it. Own it. Most importantly, it’s your body. The only one you’re ever going to have. Love it.

After a shoot

Follow up with the client after the shoot. Make them remember you. Check in periodically, showing your interest for additional work in the future as well as your availability. We love it when you tell us how much you enjoyed your shoot and how you are telling all of your friends and family about our clothing. You may be lying, for all we know, but let us believe you live your life wearing nothing but our clothes. I’m just saying…it helps.

Before you start posting photos from your shoots, make sure you have permission from the photographer or company owner to do so. This is typically a no-no, especially when dealing with photographers. They will own the rights to the photos and need to give you express (and often, written) permission to use the photos in a public forum. Don’t think the photographer isn’t visiting your MySpace or FaceBook page either, they are. For Curvy Girl Clothing, we typically let models use their photos for whatever purpose they see fit, as long as they credit Curvy Girl Clothing somewhere on or near the photo (but they still need our express, written consent).

If you are featured on a website, in a newspaper or magazine, remember to pull out the photos of yourself for your portfolio. Scan the ones from print so that you can have a digital copy. These are your “tears” and they are an integral part of your portfolio.

What Next?

Take your photos! If your friend has a really great camera, ask if they can take some photos of you. I'd recommend going to the local salon and having your makeup done professionally and have your hair put in an "up do". We have sent some of our models to have this done prior to a shoot and the most we have spent is about $50 and we were always happy with the results.

Once your photos are taken, upload them to a public website (i.e. MySpace or FaceBook).

Research the various companies who use plus size models. Check their website for submission information and/or contact them to inquire about modeling opportunities. Be prepared for many of them to say they use agency models only.

Research articles on plus size modeling. Pay attention to how the women say they got started or what launched their careers.

Sign up with the online plus model websites and post your portfolio.

Research the various modeling agencies who sign plus models. While many do not require a professional portfolio to be be considered for signing, it helps to have some experience and professional photos prior to approaching them. Once you hear "No, thank you" from an agency, it is very hard to go in again for re-consideration. That being said, if an agency feels you have the right look for their clientele, they will sign you, whether it be based on a Polaroid or shots from a high end photographer. Once you are signed, however, you will have to invest in your portfolio (the agency needs photos to send to clients who are looking for models). This is generally an expense you pick up.

My advice is to try and freelance as you build your portfolio (at the clients expense). Once you have worked enough and built up a portfolio, bring it in to the various agencies. It will demonstrate that you have been working and that there is a demand for YOU and your look.

To submit your portfolio to Curvy Girl Clothing, please visit our page on model submissions.
https://www.curvygirlclothing.com/index.asp?PageAction=Custom&ID=12

Good luck!!

About the author

Lisa Toton is co-founder of Curvy Girl Clothing. She lives in Los Angeles, CA with her husband. When she is not obsessing over plus size fashion, she is writing sketches (some for Curvy Girl Clothing) or you can see her on stage at many of the top comedy clubs in the Los Angeles area where she has been performing as a stand up comedian for a better part of the last decade. You can contact Lisa at lisa@curvygirlclothing.com.

About Curvy Girl LLC

Incorporated in 2005, Curvy Girl LLC is a lifestyle company catering to plus size women. Curvy Girl’s first venture was http://www.curvygirlclothing.com/, an online boutique taking the plus size fashion industry by storm. We offer fashion forward trendy styles, in plus sizes (14+). Our flagship store will be opening in Portland, OR early in the fall of 2007.

NOTE: Curvy Girl LLC and Curvy Girl Clothing is not associated with curvygirl.com.

Perspective

There comes a time in everyone's existence when the curtains of life are drawn open, far past our own peripheral view, and we catch a glimpse of the world that would otherwise go unnoticed... Perhaps we are too busy with what is in front of us to pay attention to what's left behind, or the shades of gray illuminating from the direction of things not-quite-within-our-reach are just not interesting enough for us to stop and dedicate a few moments to. As the years fly by and we continue to walk our own path in life, it is not uncommon for us to strengthen our identities, convictions, and values. What we don't seem to have a grasp on, however, is perspective.

Or maybe it's just me....

I can honestly say that, in my 33 years, yesterday would be the first time I was truly challenged to shift my perspective into high-gear, because clearly it has a lot of catching up to do.... I spent most of the day serving as a judge for the Miss Teen Portland pageant, something I would normally run the other way from (can you say LITTLE MISS SUNSHINE???). I agreed to participate, however, because the premise behind the pageant is that 'it is what is on the inside that counts'... The pageant organizers wanted their judging panel to reflect the belief that shape/size/color/aesthetics are secondary to confidence, poise and humility. Being an advocate of the plus-size community, and parent to a young girl who, like her Amazon mother, will fall outside the realm of 'normal sized', I felt my presence was needed. I was confident I would be able to look beyond the physical and focus on personality. Absolutely positive I would not let a pretty smile sway me into a padded score. I would make the perfect judge....

Until I started meeting and asking questions to the 13-15 year old contestants....

Paris Hilton? Role Model? You have GOT to be kidding me........ (how soon we forget our days of lace gloves and 50 bangles, grinding out a dance/playfully singing the words to "Like A Virgin" *when we were, in fact, still virgins*)...

Jet black hair with a lip/eyebrow piercing? At 14? Whereisyourmother!?! (she is probably in the room outside, supporting and loving you, in spite of your rebellious ways - the same way our own mothers bragged about us - showing off our school pictures, with electric blue eye shadow and our hair being supported by an entire bottle of Rave hairspray, pulled to one side)...

Your favorite singer is Hannah Montana? - hmmm, isn't she a little old to be listening to tween music??? (mind you, I still have my 7" Jordan Knight button from a New Kids on the Block concert I went to at age (yikes!) 15)...

~or~

Marilyn Manson? The self-proclaimed Anti-Christ. nice... (I've got 3 words for you: Nine Inch Nails)... Ok - 3 more. 80s Hair Bands...

Perhaps the highlight of my day's personal journey, however, is when I asked a contestant what her favorite type of music was, and she replied saying she likes the oldies... Her definition of the oldies? BON JOVI.

Wow.

WOW...

I entered the room on Day 1 with confidence, clarity, and the belief that I could help make a difference in the lives of these young women. I left feeling like my mother.... When did I get so old? (this is the first time I realized that I am at an age where I could have given birth to any of these young women)... Am I really that out-of-touch with this particular generation, where my perspective interferes with their own rites-of-passage? Have I forgotten what it was like to be a teenager wanting to "find myself"? Have I really taken the leap from a time and place where I valued and encouraged individual expression, to where I pass down judgement? Is Bon Jovi really considered to be "oldies"????

We are NOT CurvyGirl.com :)

One of the things I am most proud of, when it comes to personal accomplishments, is the starting of the company I co-founded, Curvy Girl LLC. Our first venture has been Curvy Girl Clothing (http://www.curvygirlclothing.com/). I have found that many people like to drop the word clothing from our name (for whatever reason) and many times people simply refer to us as the girls from Curvy Girl.

I meet many people and, of course, I tell them about what I do. I own Curvy Girl Clothing. Sure enough, they go to curvygirl.com where they are immediately informed that they must be over 18 to access this site. This is because Curvy Girl is a porn site. CurvyGirlCLOTHING is our site. Will we relinquish our great clothing name simply because of this porn site? No. We love our name and we will continue to use it.

So, if you have met us, and feel that we are porn peddlers, it's ok, many people think the same thing. Our site is full of sexy women, only they have their clothes on (very cute, stylish and affordable clothes I might add!). We have not and will never peddle porn.

I just wanted to make a clarification for the people who I have met, who have visited the porn site, and continue to secretly wonder how it's possible that someone as seemingly innocent as harmless as myself would own a porn company. I don't. Sorry to disappoint you. Now, please, go check out http://www.curvygirlclothing.com/ :)