Plus-Size New Year Resolutions We Can All Enjoy!

So we’re two weeks into 2009 and already Christmas seems like a distant memory as do the ‘New Year’ promises and resolutions we no doubt made to ourselves in our merry festive mood. We all do it, promise to give up a bad habit or cut back on all the things we enjoy in order to gain confidence or feel proud of the way we look or act throughout the coming year. The problem I’ve always found with resolutions however is that they’re not enjoyable! Unless you really want to and feel ready to make that change then inevitably they fall by the wayside by about this time of year!

There are better ways to give yourself a lift or alter your demeanour and they all come from the attitude we take and the effort we make when we present ourselves to the world every day. Perhaps the best example is the way in which we dress. As plus-size women will know, clothing can become less of a delight and more of a challenge when womanly curves fail to inspire clothing companies to design exciting fashion for shapely ladies. However now there is an affordable way in which we can dress stylishly and keep that resolution to take more pride in the way we look no matter our size:

Yours Clothing has made their own resolution this year; to continue to cater for the Plus-Size clothing market with even more value, choice and cutting-edge fashion. Whether you feel that your work-wardrobe needs a lift to push you into going for that promotion or if you’re planning a big night out soon or if you simply wish to add a new twist to your day-to-day image, look no further! Over the next few weeks these blogs will keep you in the know when it comes to this season’s hot trends and the pick of the best plus-size fashion buys.

With these hints, new lines being added to www.yoursclothing.co.uk every week and the spring collection arriving at the beginning of February, there’s never been a better time to make a resolution to update your look great and feel great in 2009.

Plus Size Sale Shopping Made Easy!

As a girl in her twenties who works for a fashion company, it may not surprise you to learn that I take great pleasure in shopping for clothes, jewellery and accessories whenever I have the opportunity – and the money! Having spent several stressful Saturdays on the lead up to Christmas battling with swarms of shoppers frantically searching for perfect gifts for their loved ones however, the novelty has well and truly worn off by January.

Unfortunately, January is perhaps the best time in the whole year to bag yourself a bargain in the New Year sales. The non-too-distant memory of Christmas shopping however tends to haunt my mind preventing me from heading out to do battle with the hundreds of other brave shoppers. I do inevitably visit the shops at least once by the end of January but by that time the ‘New Year Sale’ is more like a ‘Jumble Sale’ and most purchases are made purely because of the saving I’m making not because I am really that keen on the particular garment!

In recent years, there has been an alternative... online shopping. Same great deal, same choice of clothing but no crowded shopping centre-induced headache! Although this cures many problems with sale shopping, it does cause a few more. For example, many stores start their January sale on Boxing Day morning meaning that the keenest of bargain hunters are at their computer, fingers poised to add as much reduced stock to their basket as possible before most of us have even finished sleeping off the Christmas Day over-indulgences!

Well, I am pleased to tell you that here at Yours Clothing not only have we decided to launch our sale this week, but we will continue to replenish our sale stock and have further reductions on our plus size clothing all the way into the new year and beyond! Furthermore, with our great ‘shop by size’ facility you can ensure that every item you fall in love with is definitely available in your size! What could be simpler? Gorgeous plus-size fashion at a reduced price, delivered to your door without even so much of a hint of stressful sale shopping. I know where I’ll be looking for my new year bargains!

Your Essential Guide to Christmas Style!

With only four weeks until Christmas we’re all beginning to make our festive celebratory plans and think about what we can revive from our tired wardrobe in order to ensure we look our best no matter where we may end up. If like me you haven’t updated your wardrobe since the mince pies first emerged last December then follow these simple tips to look at your best without blowing your present-buying budget.

Top Festive Style Tips:

1. Add some sparkle!

As we all know, Christmas is full of colour, light and shimmer. Why not embrace the occasion and mirror this season of glamour and fun in your outfit?! By no means am I suggesting that we all wrap tinsel around our necks or don some novelty jewellery, but by choosing styles which incorporate a hint of sparkle, spirits are automatically lifted and the party season suddenly becomes alive! For curvy ladies in particular, a little bit of glitter in the right places goes a long way to show off enviable curves and reflect a vivacious personality. If glitter just isn’t your thing, then try some foil detailing. Take a look at this gorgeous foil detail top for example. The tunic style is flattering and versatile. The wearer can choose to team it up with leggings, jeans or a skirt while the subtle sequins and foil swirls add just enough Christmas glamour.

2. Be comfortable

It’s all very well embracing Christmas glamour but if you’re rushing to and from parties and running last minute errands then it’s important to be comfortable! There are many ways to look chic while being relaxed. Dark boot-cut jeans are always a good option for plus-sized figures. They create a balanced silhouette and can be jazzed up with endless styles of Christmas tops. If you’re event calls for a smarter look however, there’s still no need to compromise on comfort. This black figure 8 dress for example has all the ingredients for flattering, eye-catching outfit while the stretchy jersey material offers flexibility and endless comfort.

3. Layer Up!

With the weather getting increasingly wintery but party venues and relatives’ homes feeling warm and festive, keeping a constant body temperature is always going to be a struggle. The answer? Layer up. This season, Christmas dresses and party tops are spoilt for choice with the amount of cute cardigans and shrugs that are hitting the high street. A perfect way to keep the chill off yet easy to shed when the disco starts! Besides shrugs and extra layers, scarves, hats and gloves are a must when enjoying the festive season.

So now all you have to do is take these hints and convert them into your very own style. Take a look at the ‘Yours’ website for great plus size party wear that will keep you festive and fabulous and all at incredible value!

Plus Size Sense for Present Buying!

How many times have you received a Christmas or birthday gift which was obviously bought for you with thought and care but just wasn’t your taste? How many times have you wandered the shopping centre on a cold winter’s day desperately trying to find the perfect gifts for your loved ones? I suspect that the answer to both these questions is ‘more than once!’ It’s becoming increasingly difficult as the choice of gifts becomes greater and people’s tastes change from season to season. Forgive me for speculating but I am speaking from experience! As a girl, I love to receive a piece of fashionable clothing or accessory from my friends but more often than not, the item isn’t something I would have chosen. Not wanting to cause offence, we are all likely to accept the gift graciously and wear the item once or twice then condemn it to a lifetime of gathering dust at the back of a wardrobe.

In the present climate of watching our finances and trying to buy sensibly, would it not be wiser to purchase our friends and family gift vouchers for their favourite stores for them to choose the perfect item themselves? Well now you can! If your friends love Yours or if you think they might like an introduction to our latest plus size clothing and accessory collection, then why not spend your money wisely, save your legs and head aching during tedious shopping trips and buy your loved ones gift vouchers. For the first time ever, you can now purchase both in-store and on-line vouchers from www.yoursclothing.co.uk so however you and your friends like to shop, there’s an option for you!

Luscious Lingerie for Plus-Size Lovelies

From a young age I have always been taught the importance of taking pride in wearing pretty underwear and how it makes you feel instantly brighter and more confident. As an awkward fourteen year old, it seemed a little far-fetched, one of many charming myths passed down from mother to daughter, but in time I began to realise that such a mantra is, in fact, absolute truth. Contrary to popular belief, wearing sensual lingerie should not necessarily be for the purpose of seducing loved ones. To feel that you have made the effort to embrace your femininity with the first and most intimate layer you adorn is a satisfying feeling. Furthermore, knowing that you look great underneath the outfit you have chosen to face the world with is a lovely secret to enjoy all day long!

While this theory of wearing matching underwear, indulging in lace and satin and gazing into your lingerie draw with girly delight daily is a nice thought, in theory is it really achievable? With frivolous underwear ranges, we are often faced with excessive prices and as all plus-sized women will no doubt agree that finding feminine yet comfortable styles in larger sizes is often a challenging task. Well ladies, this season, we at YOURS are proud and excited to offer you the most beautiful range of specialist plus-sized lingerie and all at unbeatable value. In sizes from 38D to 46G and 14 to 32, there’s sure to be a style to set your pulse rating and re-ignite that feminine thrill that comes with treating yourself to such gorgeous garments. So now there’s no excuse not to embrace your curves and feel sexy and confident all day long. Who knows, maybe you’ll enjoy making the effort to such an extent that you’ll pass it down to the young women in your family too?!

Clothing Created to Celebrate Curves!

During the past decade or so, while us women have been keen to assert ourselves as independent and strong, fashion has predictably followed suit. Sharp tailoring and power dressing has dominated much of our work wear while casual outfits have been largely based on slouchy trousers and motif T-shirts. Though these styles continue to be popular, I’m pleased to say that this season they are joined by trends which shun masculine influences in favour of all things feminine. At last us curvy girls can embrace our womanly shape with pride and style and help lead this revolution of femininity. Shape, colour and detail are all experiencing somewhat of a womanly comeback for autumn/winter and into spring.

Low cut, ‘skinny’ jeans are less prominent in today’s fashion climate. High waisted, boot-cut trousers which comfortably hug the hips and create an hourglass silhouette are the trousers of choice. The same with skirts; the black skirt pictured left for example offers comfort and style rather than the recent trend of wearing skirts low on the hips, emphasising our widest part! Tops too are beginning to make a return to their feminine roots. Blouses in soft sheer fabrics are everywhere this season while ‘batwing’ sleeves and halter-necks add extra softness and a flattering shape.

Besides shape, colour has also fallen under this feminine spell. Purple is the big colour story this season. From lilacs to violets to mauves to lavenders, these pretty shades automatically offer a way to embrace our womanly shape and enhance any skin tone. Teamed with black or grey, purple is a must for every wardrobe and it looks as if it’s around to stay into next season too! If you’re not a fan of purple, try a splash of red or pink. Again, these tones compliment most skin tones and brighten up any look.

For even more ways to make the most of your womanly curves, look out for some gorgeous detailing this season including lace panels, bead and sequin embellishments and the ultimate feminine feature; frills! The texture and detail of our outfits is what will really make the difference leading up to Christmas. Check out all the products shown here and hundreds of more at http://www.yoursclothing.co.uk . I don’t know about you, but with so many wonderful ways to enjoy our femininity through fashion in the coming months, I’m feeling eternally grateful to be a woman!

Making the Look Yours…On Location!

A few weeks ago I offered readers a chance to learn a little more about the internet operation at Yours Clothing HQ. This week, I thought it would give you all another sneaky peek at what goes on behind the scenes. This time, not in the offices of Yours, but on location!

Every now and then we take our two fantastic models Michelle and Amy out and about to capture some shots of our hot new plus size fashion being worn in the ‘real world’. While these shoots are crucial in our marketing process to offer our customers some outfit inspiration and a sense of how the clothes will look in a natural setting, we also have tremendous fun and a few escapades along the way. Here are a few examples from this week’s shoot.

As some of you may have seen, the new photograph on our homepage shows the two girls on railway platform, just one of the settings we chose to promote this season’s plus size clothing collections. What you do not see through this great shot however, is the way in which we managed to capture it. We couldn’t seem to find the correct way into the station so the four of us (Michelle, Amy, our photographer Marzena and I) rather inelegantly clambered over a four foot metal fence in order to pose in the perfect spot. Having managed to reach the platform, we then rather frustratingly saw that the actual entrance to the station was a mere fifty yards further along the fence! Nevertheless, the pictures were well worth our acrobatics and show off our gorgeous purple check ladies shirts which will be hitting the internet soon!

One major uncontrollable issue which we often face on these shoots is the weather. On this occasion, it was the old British classic, a rather hasty bout of heavy rain. While this isn’t so much of a problem when you have nearby cover or are on an indoor shoot, when you’re in the middle of a park with valuable camera equipment and perfectly quaffed models who understandably fear the dreaded frizzy hair syndrome, its far from ideal. As this picture shows, the only option was to cover up as much as possible and make a frantic dash to the car!

Having dried off and freshened up, it was back to work with the next set of photos being taken in front of the beautiful lake in our local park. Luckily the rain had subsided but the wind had picked up and not only did we have climate issues to face, but it seemed that we had caused quite a stir amongst the feathered creatures of the lake! Geese, ducks, swans and Canadian geese became increasingly interested in what we were up to and decided to come and investigate. While Amy and I were less than welcoming and took the decision to flee at top speed, Michelle and Marzena held their nerve and successfully scared the fowl off. Crisis averted, we successfully captured some more great shots of our favourite plus size clothing from the Yours Autumn/Winter collection.

So, next time you see some promotional shots on our website or in-store, bare in mind that at times the picture may not paint a thousand words but believe me, the stories are plentiful!