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Because of what’s projected in popular culture today, there is often a misconception that women’s lingerie has to be tiny and almost always in lace. While there is nothing wrong with a little sexy trim here and there, the real importance of women’s intimates is the support it gives a woman’s body. (The steam it may generate is just a very nice bonus.)

Back then, the problem was that those who needed the most support when it came to intimates – the curvy, full figured women of the plus-size segment – were limited to options of industrial-looking harnesses that offered minimal support and form and was excruciatingly uncomfortable.

Fortunately, times have changed and the plus-sized woman can get the support she needs to look good and feel beautiful. Women can buy plus size intimates that really accentuates their curves. With more and more stores responding to the plus-size segment, there are now so many options, buying the right one can also be a challenge.

Worry not, ladies. Here are some fast tips to help you with your dilemmas. Whether you’re in the market for a steamy plus-size garter belt or a sexy plus size lingerie, these three tips will help you get the best without necessarily spending a lot.

Tip # 1: Take note of the material. These items will make direct contact with your skin and with your intimate parts, you have to make sure that the material won’t irritate and make you uncomfortable. Good choices for materials are blended fabrics (cotton and stretch material is best). They allow your skin to breathe and help keep form to your body.

Tip # 2: Be truthful with measurements. A woman forcing her body to fit into a teddy that’s two sizes smaller than what she should get is a sad sight indeed. Get the most accurate measurements as you can manage. Having a friend do the measurements is a lot better than doing it yourself. Then chose the right size for what your body is NOW.

Tip # 3: As much as possible, try it on. Buying online can make this somewhat tricky. One way to go about it is that to check out designs and brands that you like online. Then visit retail stores that carry full figured lingerie armed with a short list of about 10 items or so. Wear them and move around to see if it’s comfortable. For lesser known manufacturers, go to the manufacturer’s website to see which retailer is closest to you. And don’t forget to spice things up a little with a <a href=”http://www.plussizeintimates4less.com/costume-lingerie/plus-size-sexy-nurse-costume/”>plus size costume!

When you finally find the ones that you love, you can go back online and buy the exact same models. Remember that guesswork and speculation can only go so far. For something as important as lingerie, it’s better to invest the time and effort. Start now by visiting http://www.plussizeintimates4less.com. You’ll be happy you did.

Recently our team at SWAK Designs had an opportunity to take part in an amazing historical event. Our owner Brad Capo sent Rhasaan Perry (VP of Sales/Merchandising) and myself to New York City to participate in the first ever Full Figured Fashion Week produced by Gwen DeVoe CEO of DeVoe Signature Events (DSE) on Thursday June 25 until Saturday June 27, 2009. This event showcased the latest in plus size fashion as well as brought the plus size community together in hope to change the way retailers think of plus size consumers and plus size fashion in the industry today. For those of you who keep up with us and read our weekly articles and blog, you know that we had announced this exciting event and its schedule a few weeks ago urging anyone who is into plus size fashion and the latest trends to attend. So, hopefully you did not miss out on the festivities and were able to attend. If not, you are in luck because I have the details of how it all went down.

The FFFWeek events started on Thursday June 25th with an amazing shopping soiree at Re/Dress boutique in Brooklyn. This event was to welcome all of the out of town guests while they had the opportunity to enjoy premium shopping. Together with Pockets and Purses with a Purposes Tracey V. Bell (Chairman and President, PPWAP) and Kim Coles (Global Spokesperson, PPWAP) customers shopped vintage plus size clothing and were given the opportunity to donate their lightly used purses and wallets for the foundation which later will be bundled with personal care products and counseling services for women/children in Domestic Violence Shelters.

Later that evening they had a designers showcase and networking event with a plus size fashion show which took place at Club Blvd. The fashion show featured fabulous new designs by Ashley Stewart and en.v. New York by designer Just Raymona. Unfortunately, due to our work schedule here at SWAK Designs our team had to miss out on Thursday’s events but by all the pictures out there, the event looks to have been a success for all involved.

The following day we spent the morning fitting some of our beautiful plus size models that were going to be wearing our fashions in the finale runway show. After that we made our debut at the FFFWeek Buyers Market. This sales event was put together to help connect the attending plus size fashion buyers and boutique owners with participating FFFWeek designers and suppliers. This was a great business networking opportunity for us as an on-line retailer and wholesaler. It helped open some new doors and create some great opportunities for us as well as meet some amazing buyers and boutique owners in the plus size industry.

During this time the “The State of the Curvy Community” panel discussion began at another location with moderator Sharon Quinn. This panel discussion addressed the current state of the plus size community and the significance of Full Figured Fashion Week, through the eyes of some of the industry’s leaders, bringing different perspectives from various experiences and points of views from all attendees. Since we were participating in the Buyers Market at that time we were unable to attend the panel discussion, but from what I heard it was an extremely powerful, positive, and uplifting discussion.

Later that night we attended the Media Reception/Press Party at the Taj Lounge which was a blast. It was great to meet and network with such a variety of professionals from media, designers, and models. The night went on at the Sage Theatre without us at the Full Figured Friday mini-concert hosted by Queen Aishah who is a comedian, actress, radio personality, and philanthropist. The venue had performances by Queen Aishah, Crystal P. (Detroit’s new Queen of Comedy) and The Glamazons, the fierce foursome plus size pop group whose mission is to show the world that talent comes in all sizes. After the Media Reception was the FFFWeek Friday Night Dance Party at the Stitch Lounge. This was an opportunity for all attendees to dance, mingle, eat, and celebrate FFFWeek and all of the events.

Saturday the final day was also filled with exciting events from morning to night. They began the day with a Small Business Workshop which taught attendees how to market their business or organization online using social networking. After that was the Curves in the City Shopping Soiree which was open to the public and had discount shopping with participating FFFWeek designers and vendors. Unfortunately, Rhasaan and I were unable to attend either event as we were doing final fittings with our models and preparing our collections for the finale runway show.

Then finally that evening was what we all had been anticipating…..the Finale Runway Showcase at The Prince George Ballroom. It was a semi-formal, finale designer showcase featuring the collections from Agape Goddess Wear, Ashley Stewart, Big Girls United (BGU), Candi Apple Couture, Jewel Shannon Designs, LaMaica Fashions, Monif C., Osun Design, Qristyl Frazier Designs, Robert E. Knight, and yours truly Sealed With a Kiss Designs. The show was incredible and the designs were amazing. It was really hard to choose but I would have to say that the designs by BGU and Qristyl Frazier were my absolute favorites in the show besides our collection of course. When it was time for our designs to hit the runway we were dressing and fixing our models as fast as we could to get them perfect before they stepped out on the runway. It was so interesting to be on the other side of a runway show this time around, not participating as a model but as a representative of a clothing line. I was feeling such a different type of nervousness that I’ve never felt before. Although Rhasaan and I were battling our nerves, all of our models were somewhat calm and really rocked it out for us. Our designs were a hit as well as our models who were looking beautiful and we received so many great compliments from people at the show. What a rush! After all of the designs were shown it was pictures and networking time and as a plus size model, this is my favorite thing to do. Later there was an after party where attendees were able to dance, mingle, and eat while celebrating such an amazing show. Needless-to-say it was a late night with an early flight the next morning, but so worth it.

FFFWeek was a complete success for us as a company and we hope that next year Gwen DeVoe with DeVoe Signature Events (DSE) will bring FFFWeek to us in Los Angeles. We feel so blessed to have been part of such an amazing, ground breaking event for the plus size fashion industry. We are so thankful to have had the opportunity to share our designs with such a welcoming, enthusiastic, supportive audience. For those of you that Rhasaan and I crossed paths with on this adventure it was such a pleasure to meet you all and hope you will stay in touch. If you have any comments or feedback please feel free to do so below. We would love to hear from you.

Danielle Line, Plus Size Model and Guest Writer for www.swakdesigns.com

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plus size summer trends

Welcome to Summer 2009 ladies! Finally my favorite season is here and in full effect. No more June Gloom! Soon it will be July and it’s all sunshine from there. I figured I would start out the season by going over some plus size fashion “must have” trends for your summer wardrobe by SWAKdesigns.com. These “must have” fashion trends are for every occasion, not just your summer vacation. They are for your everyday activities including work, rest, and play.

The Maxi: Plus size Maxi Dresses are everywhere this season and are a huge fashion trend for summer 2009. If you still think are thinking that you cannot wear a Maxi Dress, think again. With all of the different styles and pattern variations you are sure to find a Plus Size Maxi Dress that is right for your figure. Maxi Dresses are the perfect dress for any plus size woman and help to conceal any minor figure flaws one may have. Flirty, romantic, and stylish, these dresses can be worn for every occasion this summer, from shopping with the girls to a romantic summer night out on the town. Check out the Melody Maxi Dress available in black, purple, coral, and electric blue.

Ruffles: Feminine and flirty ruffles are a definite “must have” fashion trend this season. Look for soft, romantic style blouses and dresses with accents of single to layered ruffles. If not worn right, ruffles can be bad for a plus size person because they tend to emphasize parts of our body that we do not want to call attention to. Stick to ruffles that are small and follow the trim of the garment and they will actually work to elongate your body and give you a slimmer silhouette. Ruffle trim wrap dresses are gorgeous and a perfect “must have” this season. For the perfect ruffled top option check out the Nikki Checkered Plus Size Top available in white/black check or pink/black check.

Work Wear: As divas, we must always dress to impress and dress for success. To stay trendy and cool at work on these hot summer days, opt out on the typical 3-piece suit and go for something with a little less fabric. Vests are a “must have” this season and can coordinate with virtually anything. For work pair a vest with a classic white button up shirt and pencil skirt. If you must wear a blazer to work, look for styles with one-button waist closures and narrow lapels made of all-season fabrics like rayon tweeds and light blends. Stay away from basic black and try a new shade, perhaps khaki or a choclate brown. Why not be daring and go for white? In the work wear department SWAKdesigns.com has got you covered. Check out the Alicia Plus Size Shirt Dress available in a variety of classic colors or their Classic Fit Trousers in black or tan/brown.

Trendy Active Wear: Anyone who thinks plus-sized women are inactive and do nothing but sit around on their butts all day is dead wrong and should join me and my plus-sized pals for a taste of BOOTCAMP. Working out is an everyday activity for plus-sized women in an effort to maintain a healthy, active lifestyle. Wearing comfy, yet attractive active wear helps boost your confidence and makes you feel good while exercising. Looking good, is feeling good. Be sure to choose your active wear wisely. Pick items that are made of breathable fabrics like cotton blends and are not too tight or bulky. Stylish tees, tanks, leggings or bike shorts are good combination’s for day to day workouts, but for pure comfort look into loosely cut plus size yoga wear in bright summer colors. For some super cute, trendy active wear styles check out the new Zen Yoga Wear Collection and the Aimee Plus Size Sweat Pants.

There you have it! Some of the “must have” plus size fashion trends for summer 2009. Visit our new arrivals often as we are adding new items to our summer collection daily. If there is a plus size fashion trend that you feel we are missing out on in our collection, please feel free to leave us a comment below. Happy Summer!

Danielle Line, Guest Writer, Plus Size Model for www.swakdesigns.com

summer fashions

Welcome to Summer 2009 ladies! Finally my favorite season is here and in full effect. No more June Gloom! Soon it will be July and it’s all sunshine from there. I figured I would start out the season by going over some plus size fashion “must have” trends for your summer wardrobe by SWAKdesigns.com. These “must have” fashion trends are for every occasion, not just your summer vacation. They are for your everyday activities including work, rest, and play.

The Maxi: Plus size Maxi Dresses are everywhere this season and are a huge fashion trend for summer 2009. If you still think are thinking that you cannot wear a Maxi Dress, think again. With all of the different styles and pattern variations you are sure to find a Plus Size Maxi Dress that is right for your figure. Maxi dresses are the plus size woman’s best friend and work to perfectly conceal some our minor figure flaws in the most figure-flattering way. Flirty, romantic, and stylish, these dresses can be worn for every occasion this summer, from shopping with the girls to a romantic summer night out on the town. Check out the Melody Maxi Dress available in black, purple, coral, and electric blue.

Ruffles: Feminine and flirty ruffles are a definite “must have” fashion trend this season. Look for soft, romantic style blouses and dresses with accents of single to layered ruffles. If not worn right, ruffles can be bad for a plus size person because they tend to emphasize parts of our body that we do not want to call attention to. Stick to ruffles that are small and follow the trim of the garment and they will actually work to elongate your body and give you a slimmer silhouette. Ruffle trim wrap dresses are gorgeous and a perfect “must have” this season. For the perfect ruffled top option check out the Nikki Checkered Plus Size Top available in white/black check or pink/black check.

Work Wear: As divas, we must always dress to impress and dress for success. To stay trendy and cool at work on these hot summer days, opt out on the typical 3-piece suit and go for something with a little less fabric. Vests are a “must have” this season and can coordinate with virtually anything. For work pair a vest with a classic white button up shirt and pencil skirt. If you must wear a blazer to work, look for styles with one-button waist closures and narrow lapels made of all-season fabrics like rayon tweeds and light blends. Stay away from the typical black this season and go for perhaps chocolate or khaki this season. Why not be daring and go for white? In the work wear department SWAKdesigns.com has got you covered. Check out the Alicia Plus Size Shirt Dress available in a variety of classic colors or their Classic Fit Trousers in black or tan/brown.

Trendy Active Wear: Anyone who thinks plus-sized women are inactive and do nothing but sit around on their butts all day is dead wrong and should join me and my plus-sized pals for a taste of BOOTCAMP. For plus size women, working out is an everyday activity in order to stay healthy and fit. Wearing comfy, yet attractive active wear helps boost your confidence and makes you feel good while exercising. Looking good, is feeling good. Be sure to choose your active wear wisely. Pick items that are made of breathable fabrics like cotton blends and are not too tight or bulky. Stylish tees, tanks, leggings or bike shorts are good combination’s for day to day workouts, but for pure comfort look into loosely cut plus size yoga wear in bright summer colors. For some super cute, trendy active wear styles check out the new Zen Yoga Wear Collection and the Aimee Plus Size Sweat Pants.

There you have it! Some of the “must have” plus size fashion trends for summer 2009. Please be sure to check our website often as we are adding new items to our summer collection daily. If there is a plus size fashion trend that you feel we are missing out on in our collection, please feel free to leave us a comment below. Happy Summer!

Danielle Line, Guest Writer, Plus Size Model for www.swakdesigns.com

With the weather warming up and summer vacation quickly approaching, I decided to go on a quest for the best fitting plus size swimsuit. We all know that swimsuits can be pretty pricey, but I personally am willing to pay the price for something that is not only durable, but figure flattering and stylish. The last thing you want to have on your vacation is an ill-fitting swimsuit since you will basically live in it for however long you are away at your tropical paradise.

Fit is very important to me when shopping for a plus size swimsuit. As a Mother, Wife, and Plus Size Model it is important to me to NOT have all of my “business” showing to the entire world. I look for a swimsuit that I can not only wear from patio to poolside, but one that I can wear to the water slide park or for a day at the beach with the family. Having a couple of different options for different occasions is great, but for those of us who are on a budget we will make 1 suit work for all of the above.

On my quest I visited many different stores in the mall that I know carry plus size clothing such as Torrid, Macys, and JC Penny to check out their swimsuit collections. At each store I tried on a variety of swimsuits and had no luck at all. I just could not find a suit that fit me right and was stylish at the same time. I came home feeling frustrated and exhausted, so I decided to sit down and browse the web for other options. While searching online I found some amazing plus size swimsuit styles that were nowhere to be found at the mall on sites that I knew focused on plus size fashion and sizing.

The first site I sought out was LaneBryant.com and I found the Miraclesuit “Oceanus” one-piece swimsuit for $134.00 available in Black and Ocean Blue. This suit is a classic style and body for any occasion. It features special stretch fabric that gives you extra support and a noticeably slimmer silhouette. You cannot go wrong with this swimsuit!

The second site I visited was AlwaysForMe.com where I fell in love with the Twist Front Bandeau one-piece plus size swimsuit for $79.00 available in a variety of colors. This swimsuit has been featured in a variety of magazines such as O, The Oprah Magazine and is considered one of their top selling swimsuits. This suit has everything I am looking for in a plus size swimsuit. It has full tummy control, shirred sides that help create a curvy waistline, a super cute skirt that provides some coverage but doesn’t make you look like you are wearing a full swimdress, and the halter strap can be removed. AMAZING! This style is perfect to go from patio to poolside at the resort. I also love how easy it is to shop on their site and how much detail they give you on each and every item. You also can shop by your body type A+ to Alwaysforme.com.

Lastly I visited Swimsuitsforall.com I found the Delta Burke “Tigress” plus size halter tankini in brown for $98.00. This suit is super cute and has a high v-neck for good coverage and cinched sides with a drawstring tie detail. This is a great two-piece style and works perfect for an apple shaped girl. Love it!

These are just 3 plus size swimsuits that I found to be the best in durability, fit, and style. I feel that all women of every size and shape deserve to wear beautiful, stylish swimsuits and feel confident. I have to say that for 2009 the plus size swimwear collections are amazing with a variety of choices to fit every shape. So have fun this season, be adventurous, try something new, and always love the skin you are in.

Danielle Line, Guest Writer, Plus Size Model for www.swakdesigns.com

Several decades ago, it was hard to find clothes if you were above the small range of sizes offered by major manufacturers. Fortunately, these days the plus sized fashion market has grown by leaps and bounds. Not only are clothes available in larger sizes, but they are actually designed to enhance a plus size figure.

There are several current trends in fashion that work well for curvy, fuller women. The trends displayed on the runways for this fall as well as for next spring were very plus-friendly. Try to incorporate some of these design details into your clothes, and look for them in your favorite plus size stores.

For Fall/Winter
Bows and ultra feminine touches – Overstated bows, ruffles and other feminine details showed up on the runway on shirts, skirts and jackets. Look for bows that don’t overwhelm the piece of clothing. Ruffles and other flowy styles are perfect for a soft touch.

Pencil skirts – This popular style can work for most people, even though it’s fairly form fitting. Certain interpretations of this design aren’t appropriate for plus sized wear. Look past the skin-tight skirts in bright colors and look for solid-colored wool skirts.

Shift dresses – Shift dresses fit everyone, no matter what their size. They come in different variations, so look for an A-line dress to show off your legs, or a longer length with a belt to emphasize your waist.

For Spring/Summer
Ruffles – These soft details continue to be important in spring fashion. They suit plus sized body shapes perfectly since they conceal bulges and bumps.

Pink, white and grey – These colors showed up in a lot of different collections for spring. Gray looks great with most skin tones. Look for pieces that are shimmery and that have feminine details. Last spring’s fuchsia has softened this season to a muted, lipstick pink. You can incorporate this trend by adding a colored sweater or other accessory. White dresses were popular on the runway, but you can get the same impact from a fitted white top and a gray skirt.

Embellishments – Whether its beaded necklines, cross-stitched hemlines or sequined belts, embellishments are going to be a big trend in the spring of 2009. These are easy to incorporate into plus sized styles. Choose pieces that highlight your best features and you’ll be wearing plus size clothes that are trendy and figure-flattering.

Sheer fabrics – There was an abundance of sheer fabrics used on the runways this season. If the thought of transparent fabric scares you, you should know that sheer doesn’t always have to mean see-through. A lot of designers are using sheers layered over lined fabrics. You can use a lined sheer top underneath a short blazer or a shrug sweater.

Medium-sized floral prints – Last year, it was all about big and dramatic flower fabrics, which aren’t all that flattering to plus sized figures. This season, you’re in luck. The trendy florals this spring are from a muted palate and are proportioned just right for the curvy woman. Look for these prints in dresses, tops and skirts.