From Our Closet To Yours

Ever been bursting at the seams to say something to a friend, a relative, perhaps the mother-in-law and never have?

I’m feeling that way tonight, bursting with ferver in my passion for fashion equality and in my convictions and this is me standing on my cyber rooftop to share these thoughts with my fellow curvy fashionistas and anyone else who may be reading this…

Over the course of having this business, I have been doing a lot networking and mingling with other online entrepreneurs, bloggers and people in the  plus size community and fashion industry.

It has been a very eye-opening experience as observations were made.

I’ve been anxiously reading, studying and taking in as much as I can.   Sadly, I’ve stumbled across ‘advice’, thoughts and mentionings from people that are respected in the industry that read similarly to those below.  Again, these are not my thoughts and are paraphrased.

“Don’t try and be someone that you aren’t; be you. Just be a leaner version of you.”

“You are beautiful but you aren’t what women are used to seeing in plus size fashion and we have to provide the expected standard in our publication.”

“I’m all about plus size style but I will be sharing openly of my journey to get down to a healthy 100 pounds…”

“I enjoyed that lucious dessert while out tonight with my girls, but no worries, I’ll be doing extra time at the gym tomorrow to burn those nasty calories and more!”

~

I know that having read those sentiments and views, right here, within the industry that I’m so passionate about, made me sad. These are the last types of things I thought I’d be stumbling upon.

Being the Founder of a plus size clothing shop near London, Ontario in Canada,  I hope to make a difference in voicing to the fashion industry the point that full figured women DO care about style, do love to shop and do have a flair for fashion. Not all of us interested in hiding under over sized tops and things that make us look ‘thinner’. There are many of us that love our hips and curves and that don’t run full force toward the ‘hip slimming’ jeans. Some of us are not too timid to bare our ample upper arms in that sexy sequinned tank top. Some of us consider the descriptives, ‘big’, ‘ample’, ‘bbw’, ‘curvaceous’, ‘full figured’, as a compliment as we are comfortable in our skin and know that life is too short to be obsessing.

We are women. We are diverse. We are unique and no size on the scale is going to change those facts.

This year, I gained 10 lbs. It was just one of those things that happened when life got busy and I was spending extra time at the computer working on the business. The number on the scale is a number and has no bearing on who you and I are.   I am pleased to say that I didn’t get upset when I saw the number higher than I’m used to. I simply thought, ‘Hmmm…. Ok, this means I have more curves, more of me to love and more of me to rock my own personal style!’ I went to my closet and started experimenting with some of my tank tops, shrugs and a cute black belt with silver grommets, rocking the new curves I had.

That is a mindset that I’m hoping the plus size fashion industry catches onto so that the snippets I shared above that I had stumbled across don’t continue to be found. Sentences like that do not belong anywhere in the fashion world.

Fashion should be about personal expression and should never make any woman feel less than beautiful.

This mind set is what I’m hoping the editors, bloggers, business owners and all connected to and involved with the plus size fashion industry will agree with when selecting their models, writing articles and giving advice to those trying to get their foot in the industry in one capacity or another. Perhaps giving a size 3x or 4x woman a chance to rock the pages of the magazine instead of the standard size 1x that we see most plus size clothing designers using would be a great gesture of the society that we live in. A curvy one, with the average american woman weighing 162 lbs.  Feel free to check out our customer showcase, featuring women of many sizes donning their designer style from Satin Woods Boutique.

Let’s speak out in our words, actions and fabulous style choices and tell those that make statements as paraphrased above how we feel so that those statements have NO room on the pages of the blogs, magazines and social networking sites anywhere.

As the Founder of Satin Woods Boutique, I want to share that I do NOT believe you will be more beautiful if you are larger or leaner, taller or any other variant that differs from that which you currently are.  Whether you are 130 lbs or 430 lbs, we advocate size acceptance for ALL!

Tonight, when I was shopping at Jysk in the West end of London, Ontario, I saw a woman wearing a super cute top with green and blue swirls and sparkles.  I told her that I loved her top and her and her girlfriend stopped and chatted with me for a moment.  The store she bought it in doesn’t cater to my size (I’m a 3x) but my goal was simply to pass on a smile and a compliment. I didn’t mention the name of my store in an attempt at a self-plug but just wanted to pass along some cheer as fashion should be celebrated in all shapes and sizes. That is the point in this blog entry and that is why I complimented the woman tonight.  I put my thoughts into actions and it felt great!

Here is to hoping that with an openness in the way we treat others and look at ourselves, that we will find equality in the fashion industry. A big goal, yes. But, to stop striving is to stop living.

Standing true to our company motto – ‘Beauty has no limits…’

Enter Satin Woods Boutique for the plus size woman worldwide. I follow my instincts when it comes to purchasing our plus size collections and accessories. The majority of items lining the racks here at the shop are items that I would wear. Not all suit my particular body shape but they are all unique and versatile and a lot of them are transitional pieces that can be dressed up or down. 

Some of our most daring pieces which have been vintage inspired have done the best. They offered a touch of renaissance style for the plus size woman while still being sexy. 

Those vintage pieces, our brightest prints and funkiest cuts always fly off the shelves first when we get them in. 

That just blows the stereotype of plus size style equalling that of paint drying on a wall right out of the water. 

With the cold months in South Western Ontario having arrived and a smattering of snow on the ground in my backyard, I know that the colours of spring traditionally die out in the retail shops. On Facebook, we have promised our patrons to keep the beloved colourful tunics, tops and dresses coming. 

Here is one of our favourite items for fall.  More from this designer is on the way in December. 

Like us on facebook to be a part of the conversation on style, receive promo codes and be the first to know about new arrivals. 

  

 

 

 

In my blog entitled, ‘Versatile Holiday Wear’, I shared of the frustrations of the lack of selection in women’s plus size clothing stores in Ontario, Canada and the dreaded fears of seeing the same dress or top on another woman as a result of this.

Tonight, that frustration looked me right in the eye while shopping in London, Ontario.

*Horror-movie themed music plays in background*

As I was out tonight enroute to help my best friend pick out some new jeans at a men’s clothier, a woman was entering the store I was leaving.  As we passed through the doors simultaneously,  I observed that her coat was the exact same as mine. I  commented that she had marvellous taste in coats while gesturing toward our black winter coats.  We shared a chuckle and continued on our way.

When I arrived at the men’s clothier, I shared of the encounter with my friend and of how pleased I am of the collection that we carry here at Satin Woods Plus Size Boutique.  It got me excited to know what we have to offer our amazing clients who want stylish and unique pieces in their wardrobes.  One of our key goals from day one has been to carry unique collections that are not found in the Canadian bigbox retailers or major plus size chain stores.  We do not order things in bulk and your special event will not be marred by the awkwardness of having a long lost wardrobe twin across the room.

My experience this weekend is something I have heard many women refer to over the years and now that I’ve experienced it first hand, I now share even more common ground with my fellow curvy shoppers as the Founder of Satin Woods.