All Eyez On...:Tru Diva Designs to Host Trunk Show & Launches Search for New Face for Brand

Veronica Lipscomb, the design mind behind plus fashion brand, Tru Diva, announced via press release that she is hosting a trunk show later this month to celebrate the relaunch of her brand. Taking place on Saturday, October 27th at Basha Studios 34, Tru Diva will also host a search for new faces of the full figured fashion brand.


Launched in 2006, Tru Diva has quickly made a name in the plus size fashion market by setting itself apart. Known for its innovative and unique use of colors and styles, Tru Diva and Veronica have earned tremendous praise from women worldwide in the size 10 to 26 demographic.

Recently Ms. Lipscomb decided to take the design aesthetic Tru Diva became known for up another level with the expansion of more customizable fits for her curvaceous customer. Veronica understands that not all plus size bodies are build alike. To better serve her clientele, the designer now offers four fits (straight, pear, hourglass and oval) to better flatter their diverse shapes. The trunk show will give attendees a sneak peak at her new offerings for Holiday 2012—which will include coats.

“Knowing your body type is half the battle,” said Lipscomb. “But getting the right fit is winning the war,”
The announcement of the new fits is in tandem with the relaunch of the Tru Diva website which will now be a full service e-commerce site.

The Tru Diva trunk show will begin at Noon. To learn more about Veronica Lipscomb and Tru Diva, visit www.trudiva.com and facebook.com/TruDivaDesignsbyVL.

All Eyez On...: IGIGI by Yuliya Raquel’s Voyage Exotique

IGIGI by Yuliya Raquel’s Voyage Exotique takes Full-figured Fashionistas on a Magical Journey around the World Rich in Colors and Enchanted Luxury


Adeola Maxi Dress - $175

 San Francisco, California—June, 11, 2012— IGIGI by Yuliya Raquel’s latest collection Voyage Exotique is a delightful summer escape inspired by some of the world’s most captivating and exciting regions including Japan, Africa, The Tropics, and the Mediterranean jewel, Ibiza. Raquel’s muse, plus model Grisel Paula, begins her journey dressed in ethereally beautiful Japonesque prints and continues onto an adventurous and sandy safari where she becomes a powerful and mesmerizing African queen. Next, she is in colorful and rich patterns inspired by the lush greenery of a tropical paradise. The journey ends in Ibiza where a glamorous Grisel is the life of the party dancing the night away before a dive into the warm waters at sunrise. Voyage Exotique is now available at http://www.igigi.com/ and select specialty stores worldwide. The link to the video can be viewed here, http://www.igigi.com/inmotion?linkid=topmenu.



Eva Maxi Dress - $175



“Summer is the most exciting time of the year to escape to exotic, fun, and historical places for vacation, and I wanted to have our fashionista channel a world traveler going across the globe visiting different popular destinations perfectly dressed for each climate and occasion. I concentrated on pieces which are both bold and beautiful as well as easy to pack and wear for an effortless and chic style.” said Yuliya Raquel, IGIGI Founder, Head Designer, and Creative Director.

Voyage Exotique includes dresses and separates ruched and draped in signature Yuliya Raquel style that carry the season’s most sought after trends. Maxis and cocktail dresses in daring and vivacious floral, animal, and color-blocked prints, and lace; and business and casual separates in breathable, soft linen are just some of the highlights of the collection.




Diana Infinity Dress - $165

 Headquartered in San Francisco, Ca, IGIGI by Yuliya Raquel was founded in 2000 with a mission to transform the world’s view of beauty by providing full-figured women with fashion-forward, quality, and well-fitting clothes that would help express their beauty. Collections are designed in-house and produced locally through independent San Francisco Bay Area contractors. IGIGI by Yuliya Raquel has been featured in major fashion and life style magazines likeMarie Claire, The Oprah Magazine, People StyleWatch, Ladies Home Journal, Glamour, and Essence, and it has been a favorite among celebrities such as Nikki Blonsky, Kim Coles, KayCee Stroh, Jill Scott, Kelly Price, Ashley Fink, Martha Wash, and Gabourey Sidibe. IGIGI by Yuliya Raquel collections are available online atwww.igigi.com and select boutiques worldwide. IGIGI by Yuliya Raquel was honored with the Best Plus Fashion Retailer of the Year award (Full Figured Fashion Week, June, 2010), and made Internet Retailer's Top Hot 100 list (December, 2010), and received About.com Critics’ Choice Best Plus Designer Award (March, 2011).

All Eyez On...:Igigi Spring 2012 Look Book

If you have been reading the Belle-Noir Mag blog for while now, you already know that I have a love affair with Igigi. Team Belle-Noir has heard me say repeatedly that if I ever win Lotto, I would probably purchase just about every dress Igigi comes out with every season. It is not only the fact that their clothing is feminine, flirty, and just gorgeous, but in having purchased several of their dresses (both semi-formal and formal) as well as a few of their tops, I know first hand that their clothing is made with quality and from materials that just hug every curve I have (while often hiding the ones I don't really want to make stand out).

Our friends at Igigi were kind enough to send over their new Look Book for Spring 2012 entitled "A Breath of Fresh Air". And true to its name, the dresses featured make you just want to run outside on a warm spring day, breathe in deeply, exhale and say "ahhhhhhhh!"

From Igigi abut the new Breath of Fresh Air collection:

"My design sensibility has always had a vintage vibe to it, so this season I decided to go all the way and just have a blast with stylistics. I took the old covers of Vogue magazines from early 20’s all the way trough 50’s and created homage to the history of style.” Said Yuliya Raquel, Founder, Creative Director and Lead Designer in a press release.

Here are a few of my favorites from the collection that are available now (all in sizes up to 32):

Daffodil Love Dress
$122

Vintage Floral Dress

Lempika Dress $128.00

Vintage Polka Dot Dress

What do you think about these selections from the Igigi Spring 2012 Look Book? You can check out the full Look Book here and visit Igigi at www.igigi.com.  

All Eyez On...:Chenese Lewis

The month of October is a great month that talks to not just Halloween but breast cancer awareness and self-love/body acceptance. In honor of that, we end the month with our feature interview with Chenese Lewis. Her career resume spans from plus size pageantry and modeling to public speaking and acting. However, most importantly, she is a advocate for body acceptance and an icon in the plus size community. She continues to inspire, not just plus size women, but women everywhere. I had the pleasure of talking to her about some important events she had during October and more...

Hi Chenese! “Love Your Body Day” happened on October 22, for which you are the creator and producer for your local chapter in Los Angeles, CA (in the Hollywood area). Please tell us more about this wonderful event.
Love Your Body Day was launched by the National Organization for Women (NOW) in 1998. I joined Hollywood NOW and created an event for my local chapter. This year marks my 6^th year producing Hollywood NOW’s Love Your Body Day, which over the years has gotten bigger and bigger from a one day event to a whole weekend of events.

Are there any other chapters/cities that hold their own “Love Your Body Day”?
Yes, there are Love Your Body Day events across the country that are organized by other NOW chapters or on college campuses; they just aren’t as big and highly publicized as mine, so some might not be aware of something already going on in their town.

You are also the spokesperson for BEDA, which stands for: Binge Eating Disorder Association. How did that come about and what does that mean to you?
I am really excited to be the spokesperson for such a wonderful organization! Before getting involved with this organization, it had never crossed my mind that a plus size woman could have an eating disorder, and there wasn’t any awareness in the plus size community about it. Every time I got invited to an eating disorder event, it was always focused on Anorexia and Bulimia and I always associated eating disorders with very thin women. Binge eating disorder is the most common eating disorder and there are a lot of plus size women that have it. As the BEDA Spokesperson, I will help increase awareness around unrealistic “body-perfect” ideals, binge eating disorder and several associated conditions, including compulsive and emotional eating, and food addiction.

Chenese, you were the first crowned Miss Plus America in 2003 without any prior pageant experience or formal training. To me, that just really shows that anything is possible if you want it bad enough and are willing to pursue those dreams. So what inspired you to enter that pageant?
I was searching online for opportunities in plus size modeling, at the time I was still living in Louisiana and I was looking for exposure. I stumbled upon the Miss Plus America pageant on-line and was excited to find there was something going on that wasn’t too far from my hometown. I was inspired reading about the women who had already entered the pageant and just inspired about having a platform that celebrated plus size women.

Do you feel that pageant was the springboard for your successful career in modeling, public speaking, hosting and acting? You are such a wonderful advocate and icon for positive body image. What advice would you give curvy girls who are trying to break into the plus model business and/or plus pageantry world?
The pageant title was not necessarily a springboard for my career, since I was the first to hold the title, no one knew much about it beforehand. So in addition to promoting myself, I had to create awareness about the pageant. However it definitely gave me something different and unique to use to market myself to get attention, and I worked it to my advantage. The plus model business and plus pageantry are two different worlds, in my opinion. A pageant title won’t help you book modeling jobs if you don’t have what it takes. I think the pageant title is good for those looking to be advocates about their platforms.

Plus Model Magazine coined you “A Leader in the Curvy Revolution” and Project Curve Appeal calls you the “Plus Size It Girl”. What do these titles mean to you?
I’m very honored to be thought of that highly by my peers, it really means a lot. So often we tear each other down instead of lifting each other up, like we should. It means a lot for someone to take the time to recognize you in a positive way, rather it’s an award or just a few kind words, I’m grateful for it all and don’t take it for granted. Sometimes even the motivator needs motivating!

What are your thoughts on the reality show “Big Sexy”? Did you feel it was an accurate portrayal of the life of a plus size woman trying to break into the fashion world? Do you think the show helps the mainstream public to see plus size women in a more positive light?
I loved the show! I don’t think every plus size woman’s story is the same, and I think they had a diverse set of women with different personalities and life experiences. I think the show helped show plus size women in a positive light, which is what we are all fighting for, and I think it was a win for not only the women on the show but the entire plus size community. I hope it helps to open doors for more diversity on television.

Who inspires you in the plus size/curvy community?
All of the women in the community inspire me that are confident and living their lives to the fullest! However my ultimate inspiration comes from women in mainstream media like Oprah and Queen Latifah.

You also launched Plus Model Radio in early 2008 and it is currently the #1 podcast for plus size women. What does Plus Model Radio cover?
PLUS Model Radio covers everything for curvy women, including up close and personal conversations with a wide range of industry experts. On the show I interview the who’s who of the plus size community, and give the audience an inside look into the industry. Guests include top plus size models, actresses, designers, reality stars, etc.
You were honored by Project Curve Appeal with a Curvy Icon award during the 2011 Pink City Sisterhood Conference, held in Atlanta, GA this year, Sept 30-Oct 2. Congratulations on that! Very well deserved. Please tell us more about the Curvy Icon award and what it means to you.
I was honored with the Curvy Icon Award for my dedication and work within the plus size community for over 10 years. I’m honored to be recognized in such a way, and like I said before I’m grateful for those in the community that support my work in any way.

You also hosted this year’s Rock The Runway (an event for women of all sizes) earlier this month and will host the Miss Plus Top Model Awards on October 30th. You’ve accomplished so much and continue to inspire and empower curvy women everywhere. What’s next for you?
I am blessed to have so many events on my schedule, but there is always room for more! I have hosting events already being scheduled for 2012 around the country, as well as acting and spokesperson projects in the works.

What advice and wisdom would you offer to plus size women everywhere who may need some words of encouragement or help with accepting and loving themselves at the size they currently are?
I would tell anyone who is feeling down about their size to quit critiquing your body, sometimes we can be our own worst critics, no one is perfect. They should start focusing on the things they like about their self instead and what other qualities and skills they have to offer the world besides their physical appearance. Work on being healthy rather than obsessing over being a certain size. At the end of the day, it’s the size of your heart that matters, not the size of your body.

(Photos courtesy of cheneselewis.com and missplusamerica.com)
Visit Chenese on-line at http://www.cheneselewis.com/ or tune into Plus Model Radio at http://www.blogtalkradio.com/plusmodelradio.
For more information on some of the events or organizations mentioned above, please check out:

Love Your Body Day: http://loveyourbodyday.com/
BEDA: http://www.bedaonline.com/
Miss Plus Top Models Awards: http://www.missplustopmodels.com/
Rock The Runway: http://werocktherunway.com/
Project Curve Appeal: http://www.projectcurveappeal.com/
Miss Plus America: http://www.missplusamerica.com/

Beautiful You Monday: All Eyez On...Domino Dollhouse

Greetings everyone & Happy Labor Day! So, with it being Labor Day, it means that Summer 2011 is unofficially over.While it makes me sad that Summer 2011 went by so fast, there is something very refreshing about Fall. The days are starting to get cooler, but it is still warm enough to dress in sexy layers-blouses, jackets, skirts, boots--oh my! Another great thing about Fall is Halloween, which while by calendar days is still a little less than 2 months away, it is never too early to get those costumes ready for all of the plus size Halloween parties coast to coast.

Today's All Eyez On... featured designer has you covered for both great Fall Fashion and some great dresses perfect for you to play with for your Halloween Costume. Meet Domino Dollhouse!

I received a press release in my inbox from a lovely woman named Tracy Broxterman with photos attached of the cutest dresses! Although you may not know it, I am a dress girl, so it immediately made me want to check out the website and find out more about this new plus size brand.

From the website:
"Plagued her entire life by drab clothing choices, owner Tracy Broxterman has always worked towards adding style and glamour in the plus size fashion world. She started in 2009 with her own personal style blog, Chubble Bubble, and continuing now with this unique online plus size shop, Domino Dollhouse! While the choices for sizes 14 and up are expanding, Domino Dollhouse strives to bring exciting, charming, and fun clothing and accessories to a market thirsty for more. While others give you water, we  give you fruit punch!"



Fruit punch indeed! Domino Dollhouse's most recent collection is the "Delectable Dresses Collection":

 

Wow-termelon Dress

 

Cupcake Cutie Dress

 

Berry Beautiful Dress



 

About the Delectable Dresses Collection:

"This mini collection was designed and produced by Domino Dollhouse. It is available exclusively through our web boutique. Using yummy treats as our muse, each dress evokes the playful spirit of food, something plus size women are often told not to do. Embracing the adorable, these dresses are not only perfect for everyday wear, but would make FABULOUS Halloween Costumes. The pieces are available in sizes 1X-4X and the retail prices range from $69.99-$79.99."

I can completely see using the Berry Beautiful Dress to be a sexy plus size Strawberry Shortcake (note: while this dress is currently sold out on the website, Ms. Broxterman expects a new shipment of them within the next 2-4 weeks, so stay tuned to their website for when it is back in stock!) And what lady who loves sweet treats couldn't picture themselves as a Cupcake Cutie?Add this adorable necklace from the Domino Dollhouse website, some tasty homemade cupcakes (or a dozen from your favorite bakery if you aren't the best baker) and voila! Someone could find herself into a pretty sweet situation!

Besides loving the entire Delectable Dresses collection, I also happened across this dress from a previous line that made me swoon. I'm always on the look out for a great LBD (Little Black Dress) and this one is quite sassy!



Tail Feather dress from the Make Out Circus Collection



Do you see the cute "tail feather" ruffle? Love it! And at $39.99, definitely a "buy now/ wear later" type of dress. Be sure to check out Domino Dollhouse online and on their Facebook page. Tell them Belle-Noir Mag sent you if you do!

What do you think of Domino Dollhouse? Do you see yourself wearing one of their dresses--for Halloween or otherwise?

All Eyez On...: LeMystere Lingerie

Hi Friends! Welcome back to Beautiful You Mondays here on the Belle-Noir Mag blog! We are so glad to be back and cannot wait to bring you the best in everything beauty & fashion every Monday this summer! It excites us to begin with an announcement that came to us right before the holiday weekend about lingerie company LeMystere.

While most lingerie companies that sell items for full figures are not showing them on full figured frames, LeMystere Lingerie has broken the mold by featuring Plus Model Asia Mone't as the face of their Full Fit Collection.

Debuting with the spring campaign, Asia Mone’t will showcase the brand’s philosophy of being “all about the fit” by becoming the first full- figured model (and first model with a G-cup) used in Le Mystere’s advertising history.

“I am honored to be appearing in a brand that not only produces quality products for fuller figures, but is actually catering to the curvy woman in their marketing,” Asia Mone’t said in a press release. “I hope my appearance in this campaign will inspire women of all shapes and sizes to be proud and confident in their own beauty.”

Ladies, we always stress the importance of supporting the brands that will feature plus size women when selling plus size clothing. Check out the LeMystere website and the Full Fit Collection today. For more information on Asia Mone't, visit her website at http://www.asiamonet.com/. Congratulations, Asia Mone't, and thank you for being such a positive role model for plus size women and women of Color!

All Eyez On...The Fat Girl Flea Market

The Fat Girl Flea Market, a fun-filled rummage sale, is back for its 7th run raising money for Nolose and The Femme Conference.

Having attended this event in the past, it is the ultiamte place to find great bargins on plus size clothing in a fun and festive atmosphere!
This year, the organizer's will be accepting donations only on Friday, April 29 and Saturday, April 30. For information on making a donation, go to http://www.fatgirlfleamarket.com/ to find out when and how to donate.

Shop on Sat 4/30- All clothing at the flea market runs from size from xl to 5xl. All clothing is priced between $1.00 and $10.00 each! There is a 10.00 entry fee.

Support- We need volunteers to help sort clothing on the 29th. And also bloggers, media, and stylists needed to help get the word out.

Visit http://www.fatgirlfleamarket.com/ for more info! We will definitely be bringing you more updates as the date draws closer, so stay tuned!

All Eyez On: The Pretty Girl Project

Just around the corner in every woman's mind - is a lovely dress, a wonderful suit, or entire costume which will make an enchanting new creature of her.
~Wilhela Cushman

I remember Senior year of High School like it was yesterday. Well, maybe not all of it, but I do remember all of the fuss & muss leading up to Senior Prom. I was one of the blessed young ladies who had parents that could afford to send me to the Prom, but I did not want to go. "What's the big deal?" I remember asking my mom, my aunts, and other older adult females that I knew as the months ticked closer to the due date for the money to attend. None of the women who went could explain to me the importance of going. But all of the women who did not attend--be it because they could not afford it or had the same nonchalant attitude as me at the time--said the same exact thing:

"In retrospect, I wish I had gone to the prom. It is something I will regret forever."

I did go to my Senior Prom. I had a gorgeous red dress, my first pair of "heels", my hair up in a beautiful french roll with a gorgeous bang, a red & white rose coursage, and a date whose name I don't remember because he was the grandson of one of my mother's friends. While he wasn't what it was all about, the night itself was. I have memories of that night that will last forever, and am so glad that I was convinced to go and had the means to do so.

When I received the initial Facebook message from both Stephanie Danforth, Editor of DailyVenusDiva.com and Cassy Jones-McBryd, CEO of The Fuller Woman Network, that they were preparing to create an initiative for young girls to assist those who wanted to go to prom, but might not have the means to, I knew it was an important cause to support whenever it launched. Together, this dynamic duo has created the Pretty Girl Project, an initiative whose mission is to encourage girls ages 12-17 to embrace their inner and outer beauty. Positive reinforcement in areas such as individual expression, maintaining positive relationships and celebrating their self worth is made possible through various programs and initiatives throughout the year.

The Pretty Girl Project is preparing for their Annual Prom Dress Drive event, where they hope to be able to provide 50 girls graduating from high school the tool necessary for any girl transitioning into adulthood. Unlike some prom dress drives, where girls merely come to pick out a dress, The Pretty Girl Project understands that prom night is for some young ladies, their first real "formal" outing. They are planning a day full of speakers, demonstrations & activities that will have the young ladies selected feeling empowered at the end of the day. And, of course, they will have the chance to pick out the dress of their dreams, as well as shoes and accessories if possible.
The Annual Prom Dress Drive Event will take place on April 24, 2010

Northwest Activity Center (Main Ballroom)

18100 Meyers Rd

Detroit, MI 48235-1493

12noon-6pm


There are multiple ways to assist them in assisting these deserving young women.

*You can donate gently used or new evening wear, prom dresses, or cocktail dresses. We are also accepting gently used or new shoes and/or accessories.

*You can recommend a high school senior that you feel could benefit from this event.

*You can spread the word to everyone that you know.

*You can volunteer the day of the event.

*A monetary donation will help send a high school senior to prom as well.


For more information, please contact Stephanie and Cassy at prettygirlproject@yahoo.com.

All Eyez On...Tru Diva Designs

Plus size fashionistas looking for a fresh new look in fashion this fall can look no further than new designer Veronica Lipscomb and her fashion line, Tru Diva Designs. This self-taught fashion designer created her Tru Diva line after suggestions from friends and family and quickly gained a clientele of plus size women looking for unique clothing. Many women would approach her about where she brought her clothes. Once they found out she was the designer, they would request the same outfit for themselves. Through TRU DIVA, Veronica offers an alternative to a limited market of fashion conscious clothing for plus size women.

Ms. Lipscomb will be presenting a "Curvy Show & Cocktails" previewing her newest collection "Tru-ology" on September 21, 2009 at Pearl Studios in NYC. Belle-Noir will definitely be in the house, so be sure to check back for the latest scoop on this hot designer as she takes the plus fashion scene by storm.

For more information on the event, please visit http://www.trudiva.com/.

All Eyez On...Skorch Magazine

Greetings Ladies & Gents! Beautiful You Monday is back and we are so excited to be part of the growing buzz about the return of Skorch Magazine!

Created in 2007, Skorch Magazine quickly gained a large following for providing plus fashionistas with a magazine completely dedicated to fashion for women size 12+. With amazing magazine layouts that could be compared to that of any glossy print fashion mag, Skorch brought trendy plus size clothing to the masses.

Now, as original co-founder Jessica Kane takes the reigns as owner and publisher, the magazine is preparing to go where only few magazines have succeeded before: printed bi-monthly issues starting in December 2009.

Be sure to subscribe to the e-mail list to get your updates on what's happening at Skorch Magazine. Yearly subscriptions are available for $25.00 (7 issues).

Also, for all of the plus models out there, Skorch is currently conducting a nationwide model search. Click here for updates on upcoming cities & dates.

All Eyez On...GGX Jewels

Happy Monday folks! Are you on Twitter? If you are not, you are truly missing out! Not only have I met some wonderfully fabulous ladies through Twitter, but I have also come across some truly awesome finds as far as fashion and jewelry for plus size ladies.

Case in point: one day last week, a young lady by the name of Gina Brotherton, posted a link to her new jewelry venture, Glamma Girl Xpressions Jewelry. In checking out her website, I immediately fell in love with not only her jewelry, but the story behind how she came to create it.

"Initially, the endeavor was not meant to be a business venture by any stretch of the imagination. She just grew weary of spending ALOT of money for accessories that "everyone else" was wearing, or that didn't properly (or comfortably) fit her full-figured frame. It was at that time that she began making her own pieces! Much to her surprise, she started getting lots of compliments on her creations, and inquiries as to where they could be purchased. After some convincing from a few friends, she started crafting some goods for public consumption!"--from the GGX Jewelry website

After a direct message to Gina about wanting to feature her, she was most gracious to share some of her favorite pieces from her growing collection of jewelry:

The Juno Set
"Bright & Bold. Big hoop earrings with multi-colored beads and gold hoop detailing. Focal point is a glass foiled bead. The bracelet is chunky but funky! Large acrylic beads, also coupled with glass foiled beads and gold hoop detailing. $30 for this set that also comes with a beautiful matching wire-wrapped ring (not pictured)."

Glamma'Rous Curves +Size collection: Caged Beauty
"It's time for fuller-figured women to break-free of the chains and Think. BIG! We are beautiful!! This is a bigger version of the wire-wrapped cuff bracelet. Bronze wire, Tiger's Eye chips, Cracked glass accents, and acrylic faceted wire-wrapped focal beads."

One of my favorite sets on her site is The Jasper Set, which includes these gorgeous copper wire wrapped earrings with a matching ring:

The Jasper Set

Be sure to check her out at www.ggxjewels.com and follow her on Twitter @ggxjewels.

All Eyez On...: Jibri

All Eyez On...Jibri Couture
Original Post Date: July 2007

Belle-Noir (BN): Thank you taking the time to sit with Belle-Noir. Before we learn more about Jibri, tell us more about the woman behind Jibri. Who is Jasmine Elder?
Jasmin Elder (JE): Jasmine Elder is just a girl who loves all things beautiful and fun. I’m originally from Atlanta but I am truly a gypsy girl. I’ve lived all over the world. I get most of my inspiration from my journeys.

BN: What was the inspiration for starting Jibri?
JE: I’ve been creating my own garments since I was about 14 years old. I would stay up every night making something more shocking than the night before. I would glue and staple fabric together to make that “one day” look to have everyone in school talking all day—It totally worked. J Then I met Jibri Mann, my high school friend and fashion mentor. He taught me how to actually “sew” the fabric together and how to create a dream garment that I could wear forever. My company is named after him. As a plus size designer, people usually expect me to say, “I couldn’t find clothes I loved that fit properly”, but honestly—I never even looked. I had my own perspective—my own story and I wanted to tell it my way—through my clothes. When I looked around, I noticed that even if I had looked I would never find what I wanted. I knew I couldn’t possibly be the only fashion addicted wild child in a size 16 so I officially started designing a line of clothing.

BN: On your website you state that Jibri is "dedicated to creating street couture" Define "street couture".
JE: Well—the classic sense of the term Couture refers to the creation of exclusive custom fitted fashions. Throughout history, the designers deemed “Haute Couture” controlled fashion trends. Currently there are only 13 designers that have been approved as “Couturiers”, but today more than ever before it is clear that the inspiration for the highest form of fashion comes directly from the street. The real people—the real style makers. So Street Couture to me is just that— a combination of street style and Parisian Haute Couture.

Leopard High Waisted Skirt & Victorian Blouse

BN: Who are some designers that you admire and why?
JE: I love love love Giambattista Valli (High fashion costumes—who could ask for anything more), Patrick Kelly (truly and innovator), Heatherette (Party Monsters – I love it), John Galliano (His clothes are like fantasies come to life), Abaete (Beautiful Time Pieces), and Comme de Garcons (Futuristic Nostalgic combination). So many…..I love designers that have fun. I love designers that mix two extreme inspiration palettes.

BN: How can a woman looking to purchase Jibri do so?
JE: My garments are available at various trunk shows and sample sales monthly. I’ve also formed a relationship with a very knowledgeable sales representative who is pitching my line to several boutiques nationwide. Information on all upcoming trunk shows, samples sales and the showroom can be found on my website.

BN: Will you be participating in any upcoming events?
JE:Check out the Events section on my website for upcoming events nationwide. [Editor's Note: Jibri will be featured at the LA Holiday Beauty & Fashion Bazaar on November 8, 2008 in Los Angeles, CA, hosted by Stacey London from the TV show What Not To Wear.]

Wrap Dress on F.A.T. Chance Model Tanisha Malone

BN: What is the most challenging part of being the woman behind Jibri?
JE: Just balancing my creative side with the business side. Most of the time my creative side moves much faster than the business side. I’m learning to “save a little something for the next round” and give each line a chance to grow before I move on.

BN: Where would you like to see Jibri in 5 years? 10 years?
JE: I don’t really have a timeframe for Jibri, but my main goal in this industry is to successfully produce a brand of clothing for plus sized women that is just fun. A mish mash of edgy, eclectic, unique, timeless pieces that a woman just loves to wear. That may seem minor, but it’s actually huge. Unfortunately, shopping for a curvy fashionista is not as fun as one would think. J Plus sized women shop for “work clothes” or “special occasion clothes” or “accessories”, but a line that always has something that’s just fun—something that can be integrated into the wardrobe for no particular reason---I don’t think that really exists yet. I want to fill that spot.
___________________________________________________________________
For more information on Jibri Street Couture, including images updates on events and where to purchase clothing from their latest line, please visit their website at www.jibrionline.com/.

All Eyez On...Spa Week 2008

Spring is here, and with it, the opportunity to lose all things winter and get ready to sport those strappy sandals, cute peep-toe wedges and flirty skirts. If you are like me, the winter can really do a number on your skin.

Rest assured, ladies! Spa Week, taking place April 14-20, 2008 at spas across the US, is the perfect opportunity to get in some much deserved "me time" while restoring that sexy glow to your skin for Spring.

Founded by Cheryl Reed in 2004, Spa Week makes the often pricey treatments at spas affordable (full service treatments that are usually $100-$200 are only $50! Can't beat that!).

Check out the Spa Week website at http://www.spaweek.org/ and get yourself scheduled for some rest and relaxation now! With 500 spas spread out across 21 major cities in 17 states, there is certain to be a participating spa near you.

Also, be sure to let us know what your experiences are at your spa of choice, especially if you find a particularly plus-friendly spa!