Kate Winslet shows off a figure-flattering dress by Stella McCartney, styled with platforms and minimal jewelry for Carnage’s Paris premiere. We new immediately that this amazing Monif C dress would be the perfect showstopper to recreate this look for your curves!

Shop Kate Winslet’s Look:

Monif C – ‘Emme’ Plus Size Knit Arrow Ponte Dress
Shopbop – Marc by Marc Jacobs Turnlock Katie Bracelet
Saks Fifth Avenue – Prada Suede Peep Toe Slingback pump
Lane Bryant – Silver Tassel Earrings

More at People.com.

Monif C – “Carrie” Gold Metallic Ruffle Dress

Monif C Samantha Sequin Party Dress 

Help us celebrate and Save 10% off  when you make a purchase with the featured brands above by using promo code “InStyle10″ from October 18th to November 30th!! Start shopping some of our favorite brands!

The Monif C Capri bikini is answering a huge gap in the swimsuit market- the lack of plus size bikini’s which flatter our curvier bodies. Gabi Gregg recently posted about how the bikini worked for her and it will work for you too. The reason why it works is because of the higher waistline, the cut smooths out the area of your tummy that normally causes one to think that its not meant for you. I recently started wearing a bikini myself and this  was the main detail I shopped for when I ended up getting an adorable one from ModCloth.

Now that Kiyonna is developing their own swim, too, it just shows that there is a market for good-fitting, stylish plus size swim. I am looking forward to seeing who is next to develop a swim line, who do you want to see do one? My vote is for Anna Scholz.

Kiyonna – Catalina Wrap Plus Size Cover-up

Kiyonna – Farrah Plus Size Swimsuit

Kiyonna – Ava Convertible Plus Size Swimsuit

Monif C – “Monaco” Ruched Plus Size Swimsuit

Monif C – Capri Two Piece High Waisted Plus Size Bikini

Monif C – Espana One Shoulder Ruffle Plus Size Swimsuit

Which swimsuits do you love? Are you more of a Kiyonna or Monif C lady?

Plus designer Monif C celebrated 5 years of “Style, Curves & Sex Appeal” on Monday at Bo Concepts on Madison Ave.

Monif C is responsible for designing the most versatile dress that works for all plus bodies, the Marilyn convertible dress!

Guests included Lisa Price (Founder of Carols Daughter), MTV TJ Gabi Gregg, plus model Mia Amber.

Guests enjoyed a preview of Monif C’s upcoming holiday line, demonstrations at the Carols Daughter beauty bar, and cupcakes by Get Em Girl.

Congratulations Monif C!

Photo Credit: Wireimage/Jerritt Clark

Last Friday we celebrated the ending of a busy week by enjoying a night out in Brooklyn attending the opening night of Pop-Up Plus. Pop-up plus is a traveling pop-up shop featuring some fabulous indie designers like Jibri and some of our favorite overseas brands like Evans, and Asos.

We were just so excited to meet Camille, who is the main lady responsible for creating  Pop-Up Plus. We found the merchandising spot on, plenty of trendy items to shop, and the atmosphere was just rocking! The store is open until 9/26 so be sure to stop by to get your shopping fix.

I just loved this dress from Asos!

Aimee and Designer Monif C

Alicia showing off her new purchase.

Kurvayshus B looking amazing in a plum mini skirt!

Nanthanle Collins of NEC Fashion Consulting.

We so enjoyed our visit to Pop-Up Plus NYC, and encourage everyone in the area to stop by and shop!

Pop-Up Plus will be announcing new locations and we will be sure to share with you once we know where they are opening up next.

Gabi Gregg worked the red carpet at the VMA’s this past Sunday wearing a hot Monif C dress. You too can wear this dress on your own red carpet!

Shop Gabi’s Look:

Monif C – “Naomi” High Shoulder Dress

Shopbop – E-More Suede Booties

Shopbop – Snowman Large Sterling Silver Earrings

Amazon – Opi Hong Kong Collection Hot and Spicy

Torrid – Silver Hammered Stretch Rings

Last night MTV had their 2010 Music Video Awards where the stars stepped out in bold fashions! White and black combos, short hems, sequins and leather dresses were huge trends on the red carpet! Lady Gaga stole the show with the ombre hair trend and an Alexander McQueen dress. Selena Gomez also sparkled in a silver gown with embellishments. Rihanna showed off her new longer red hair.

Also showing off some longer locks was MTV TJ Gabi Gregg (above) who wore a cute Monif C. dress!

Who is your best dressed?

Ready more about the MTV VMA’s 2010 on PopSugar.com!

(Fashion to Figure via Time Out New York)

(Courtney Washington boutique via Time Out New York)

With the Fall season just around the corner, Time Out Magazine recently released a great article catering to the curvy girls and big & tall men of NYC; The Plus Size Guide to NYC Shopping. The guide includes everything from plus size taylored business wear, evening wear, lingerie, vintage, and the best fitting denim. Madison Plus wants to give a huge congrats to Michael Kaplan of Fashion to Figure, Deb Malkin of Re/Dress NYC, and Monif C. of Monif C. for their awards.  The Madison Plus team has greatly enjoyed working with you and are thrilled to see your hardwork rewarded! 

Here is the full list of winners:

Best for Weekend Gear: Courtney Washington

Best Chain: Fashion to Figure ***15% Off All Fashion To Figure Orders with Code: FTFMADPLUS15

Best Tailor: Imparali Custom Tailors

Best for Work Wear: Marina Rinaldi

Best for Denim: HotSexyFit

Best for Accessories: Lee Lee’s Valise

Best for Evening: Monif C.

Best for Vintage: Re/Dress NYC

Best for Men: Rochester Big & Tall

Best one-stop shopping: Avenue

Best for lingerie: Orchard Corset

Best for Halloween costumes: Frank Bee Costume

(Lee Lee’s Valise via Time Out New York)

Check out the Plus-Size Shopping guide to NYC.

Is your favorite boutique/store included?

You’ll find her newest collection is full of curve hugging dresses, strong shoulders, amazing prints and of course her famous convertible dress.

Here are my favs, what are yours??

“Naomi” High Shoulder Dress

“Marilyn” Ruched Convertible Dress

Pre-Order your picks today!

Erica and I paid a visit this past Friday to the YFF Bloggers Conference meet and greet at Re/Dress NYC in Brooklyn. It was great to meet in person all the fabulous bloggers that we have been working with over the months. We got to meet all the fabulous ladies who put this weekend together Gabi, Sakina, Melinda, J, Hayley, Christina, Mimmi & Peppi, and Nicolette. We are such huge supporter of them and their fabulous style.

They spent there first two days meeting with Torrid,  Evans and Monif C. They got to preview Torrid’s new denim line and spent the morning with Evans previewing there Fall line, plus a sneak peak at Beth Ditto’s new line. If that was not enough they then paid a visit to Monif Cat her store in midtown got to have some lunch and shop. Saturday they spent the day with Maddy at Plus Model Mag working on their August issue, we are super excited to see how the photo shoot turns out.

Catherine Schuller looking fabulous.

Wilbur the designer for SKE, with a model in one of his looks.

Erica and I with the gorgie Sakina.

Two models wearing SKE Designs.

Model’s Lauren and Mandy.

Nicolette Mason rocking one of my favorite outfits of the night.

Amelia Pontes and me.

Re/Dress shopper and fashionista Michelle.

The furthest traveler for the YFF event Hayley from Australia.

The fabulous host of the evening Deb, from Re/Dress.

We just love Christina’s avant-guard style.

Alissa from Stylish Curves and me.

Mandy is looking lovely look for the evening, Grecian from head to toe.

Visit Young Fat and Fabulous & YFF Blogger Conference for more behind the scene action.

I was anti-jumpsuit until I found this jumpsuit. I remember being asked to do one by my old bosses when I was in plus size product development and I told her she was nuts and that it would be a fit nightmare, needless to say I was very wrong. Thats when I started to realize most fashions that are traditionally thought to be taboo for plus ladies, can be done for plus, it just takes a little more work from both ends of the retail world. We’ve got to buy them when retailers make one that works. Though I should take what I learned from my search for my knit jumpsuit that am wearing here and put together my picks for your hourglass, pear, or apple shape all based off of my look.

Shop “apple shape”:

Shopbop – Temperly London Illusion Pouch

Shopbop – Jenny Bird Shoulder Sweeping Earrings

Torrid – Gold Rhinestone Bracelet

Monif C – “Eva” Plus Size Jumpsuit

Torrid – Wide Width Red Suede System Heel

Shop “hourglass shape”:

Simply Be – Plus Size Jersey Catsuit

Evans – Wide Width T-Bar Diamante Sandals

Shopbop – Rebecca Minkoff Eyelet Clutch

Shopbop – Lee Angel Chain Earrings

Shop “pear shape”:

Piperlime – Cry Bow Earrings

Lane Bryant – Tux Detailed Jumpsuit

Piperlime – Randee Sandal

Zappos – Soiree Sparkly Cross Body Bag

How do you like these outfits? Would

I had the pleasure of viewing the plus size collection of aspiring designer and Parsons School of Design fashion major, Alyssa Roberti on Friday, May 14, 2010. The fashion show event was held at Re/Dress, an amazing plus size vintage and resale store in the Cobble Hill section of Brooklyn. The turnout was a nice small group of 20 or so people, which included Gwen DeVoe, creator of Full Figured Fashion Week.

Alyssa, who is just finishing up her junior year as an Integrated Design Curriculum (IDC) major, is pushing the envelope at Parsons. She started out as a BFA (Fashion Design) major. However, she noticed that her professors were always pushing students to design clothing for a smaller size. Alyssa questioned this by designing a plus size piece, which she showed her professor. The professor’s response was that it was a waste of time. However, Alyssa was determined to continue with plus size design. She realized that a change was needed and that was her “epiphany” moment. So she changed her major to IDC, which still enables her to focus on fashion while having the freedom to create her own curriculum. She has been dedicated to plus size design ever since.

During the Q& A session after the fashion show, Alyssa told the group of an experience she had in pattern making class in the beginning of her studies at Parsons.  She noticed that there were size 12 patterns available so she asked her professor if she could use them for class. Her professor tried to dissuade her but Alyssa stood her ground. In the end, Alyssa proved her wrong.  She has gotten a great response from her peers at Parsons and she hopes to open the door for others who would like to focus on plus size design.

Alyssa is inspired by the art of Cecily Brown, who combines figuration & abstraction with themes of sexuality and attraction.  Cecily’s work contains lots of colors which she shows with a brush stroke technique. Alyssa tried to infuse that in her plus size design aesthetic by painting on clothing with the same type of brush stroke technique and use of many colors. She likes the idea of creating wearable art. She initially did the painting by hand with brushes until a professor suggested she use silk art, which is easier to use.

Marcy and Alyssa Roberti

Deb Malkin and Gwen DeVoe

Marcy with Leslie Medik (Re/Dress employee)

In terms of what Alyssa favors in design, she prefers a refined creative element.  She loves fashion from the 1920’s era. Her favorite plus designers are Monif C and Ashley Stewart. Alyssa loves the convertibleness of Monif C.’s clothing, especially the Marilyn dress. She stated that she loves how Monif C.’s clothing is classic and sophisticated. With Ashley Stewart, Alyssa feels that she has great up and coming designs. Her constant two favorite designers outside of the plus size design world are Anna Sui and Betsey Johnson because of their styles and colors.

Alyssa’s fashion showing at the event consisted of 4 pieces, one of which she wore herself. Her color scheme was a mixture of plum, cream, gold and silver metallic, and blues. The first piece was a long length cream colored dress with a plum velvet neckline, which to me, was a homage to the 20’s era that she loves so much. The dress had a detachable necklace that really went well against the plum velvet neckline. The back of the dress had a “surprise” element. It was that same plum velvet fabric and was draped so that part of the model’s back was exposed.

Alyssa with models in her designs

The second piece was a 2-piece top and pant outfit. The top was beautifully hand painted in a brush stroke fashion by Alyssa in purple, teal, and lilac. The pants were silver metallic stretch “liquid” leggings. The third piece was a knee length dress with the top part of it hand painted as well. Alyssa also knit a type of sash in a plum color that was attached to the dress and layered over part of the top hand painted area. The skirt part was the same cream color as the floor length dress.

The final piece, worn by Alyssa, was a beautiful gold top with velvet sides and a red velvet skirt that had a faux wrap style to it. The draping of the skirt was very beautiful. Out of all the pieces, this one is my favorite because of the colors and the fabric. It looked very flattering and classic. It is an outfit that can be the perfect day to evening piece.

I was very impressed with the pieces shown and am very excited to see what Alyssa will design next. Her plans, as she enters her senior year at Parsons, are to continue plus size design from a sportswear aspect and in the future, she would like to expand to runway plus size couture fashion.

Overall, Alyssa received a very positive response to her pieces and have left us wanting to see more. She was extremely inspiring and great to talk to.  She really encompasses everything a successful fashion designer should be: staying true to herself and what she believes in despite the pushback she experienced. Her determined attitude and great talent will definitely take the plus size fashion world by storm. – Marcy

Jessica Simpson was out and about in two great acidic dresses! The orange dress is perfect for an hourglass shape as it accentuates the waist. The citrus yellow dress will look great on a pear shape as the focus comes up to the face and chest due to the flattering asymmetrical neckline and chest details. Nude heels are great for all shapes as they create a fluid look between the color of the leg to the shoe which elongates the leg.

Shop the Look!

Look 01 – Orange Dress

IGIGI – Fortuna Dress
Shopbop – Lauren Merkin Handbags Diana Studded Cross Body Clutch
Piperlime – Steve Madden Trinitie Pumps
Shopbop – MELINDA MARIA Pyramid Earrings

Look 02 – Yellow Dress

Monif C – “Ivana” Ruffle Dress
Shopbop – WGACA Vintage Vintage Chanel Gold Bar Clutch
Shopbop – Lee Angel Jewelry Fatima Earrings
Piperlime – Steve Madden Trinitie Pumps
Shopbop – Jules Smith Art Deco Bangle Set

What do you think of these looks for your shape?