Zandra Rhodes for Simply Be launch – the inside scoop!
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Last Thursday at the exclusive Paramount event space in central London, we held our launch event for our forthcoming Zandra Rhodes collection!
In attendance were the Simply Be team (your blog correspondent included!), a host of press journalists, some of our favourite bloggers, nine lucky winners from the Simply Be Facebook page and last but by no means least, Zandra Rhodes herself!
Whilst enjoying a fab breakfast and incredible views across London, press were treated to a sneak peek at the clothing collection and the chance to interview the iconic fashion designer.
It’s fair to say that when we first saw Zandra we were all a bit starstruck but once she started talking to everyone we soon realised just how friendly and down to earth she was. It was wonderful to hear her talking about her collection – it’s clear that she has designed this range with passion and consideration for curves in equal measure.
We were all in awe of Zandra’s outfit; she teamed her pink frill hem tunic for Simply Be with some fabulous sparkly flares, huge red wedges and a much-admired oversized brooch, which she had made into a necklace. And it all worked – it’s all about attitude and how you wear it!
The Zandra Rhodes collection went down a storm and the bloggers and Facebook winners to keen to try it on.
From left to right modelling the Zandra Rhodes collection is:
Louise, Bobby, Zandra, Jo, Kate and Janie. Don’t they look fabulous?
Here’s Lauren from Pocket Rocket blog, looking adorable in our Retro Starlet ditsy print dress:
And the fabulous LaCara from Oh La La Curves blog wearing an abstract print Anna Scholz dress
Here’s Naomi who writes at Diamonds ‘n’ Pearls. She looked so good in her Simply Be pineapple print dress that she got complimented on it on the train!
This is Kat from Plus Size Beauty Blog - I love this picture so much, it’s an infectious smile! She’s rocking one of our Frock and Frill dresses.
And here are the other Facebook winners that attended – it really was so wonderful to meet everybody!
Here’s the gorgeous Lisa,
the lovely Toria,
and the fabulous Emma in her Changes Boutique lace dress.
Thanks again to everybody who came along and made it such a successful event!
Get Festival Fabulous!
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Festival season is upon us once more – and whether you’re off to Glasto or just taking it all in from your armchair it’s definitely the time of year for boho chic!
We’ve got two new collections at Simply Be that embody the free-spirited nature of the festival.
Festival Style does what it says on the tin! We love the paisley print maxi dress and the fabulous tassel shoulder tunic. Dangly earrings and a headband complete the look perfectly.
Then we’ve got Seventies Boho. This collection still has that seventies feel but with more of a sophisticated twist. Definitely more for fans of ‘glamping’ than those ready to rough it in the mud! These ladylike dresses are sure to make you feel fabulous.
So that’s your outfit sorted but what about your feet? As any experienced festival-goer knows, it’s a grave mistake to bank on the weather going one way or the other. So be ready for rain or shine by packing both sandals and wellies.
Gladiators or toeposts are the natural choice:
And wellies needn’t be drab and dreary. These fun styles will make sure you stand out from the crowd. You’ll love wearing them so much that you’ll even wish for rain! Ok, maybe not, but if it does rain you can at least feel smug that your wellies are better than everyone else’s!
Wedding looks that wow!
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We all love a good wedding don’t we? But what nobody loves is that dreaded ‘what on earth am I going to wear?’ feeling! The best approach is to start thinking about it early – then you won’t end up doing a panic buy a few days before and settling for something that’s not quite right. Everybody always checks out what the other guests are wearing, so make sure your outfit makes everyone green with envy!
It’s worth bearing in mind the style of the wedding and choosing your outfit to suit.
Country House
For a traditional wedding go for something soft and feminine; flowing shapes, floral prints and ruffle trims are all perfect.
City Chic
If your friends have opted for a modern wedding then try a simpler shape but make a statement with a bold colour or print – or both!
Beach Beautiful
If you’re lucky enough to have a beach wedding in your diary then you can keep it more relaxed. Cool and comfy is the order of the day.
New SS11 Simply Be collection now live!
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It’s the moment we’ve all been waiting for – the release of the new Spring/Summer 2011 Simply Be collection! Time to start getting your wardrobe in order, a quick clear out, get rid of all the things you don’t wear anymore and make space for all those gorgeous new things.
We couldn’t possibly cover everything in the new collection in this one post (but you can bet, we’ve got loads more coming, about the new-season trends, the hottest Summer looks and all those must-try celebrity style steals) but we’re going to try to give you a quick round-up of what’s new and not-to-be-missed this season!
2 new plus size brands!
This season, we’ve got a treat for you, in the form of two, brand-new plus size brands! The first is And Abigail, a quirky, boho-inspired collection that’s just perfect for Summer. Key trends include, floral prints, embroidery, lace and embellishments – it’s a must for your hols and sure to work with everything in your wardrobe! Plus, we’ve already had a raving review from plus size blogger, Naomi Griffiths over at Diamonds ‘n’ Pearls! Here’s what she had to say…
‘I really like all of the pieces but if I had to choose 1 it would definitely be the embellished waterfall cardigan! I love the studded detail on the shoulders and the length, perfect for the coming 70′s boho chic, relaxed and versatile but also very eyecatching!’
Our second, new plus size brand is Angel Ribbons! This collection is right on-trend, with loads of bold, bright pieces and high-fashion ideas. Look out for cropped leggings and the new, safari-inspired, ribbon-tie shorts… don’t miss the fresh floral prints and that lace waistcoat… plus, tap into the latest shoe trend with the new Angel Ribbons clogs. This gorgeous new collection was reviewed by Gemma Cartwright (one of our Simply Be Model Competition judges) over at Big Girls Browse. This is what she said…
‘I saw some of the samples a month or so ago at the launch, and this was definitely one of the ranges that really stood out for me. I do love a bit of girly glam!’
More from the names you know!
Anna Scholz has a brand new collection, which as usual, is simply divine. You just have to see her mix of ruffles and florals – gorgeous! And the safari-cargos, a new take on trousers that we absolutely adore, plus, a must-wear jumpsuit! Em X at Oh The Places You’ll Go has reviewed this one for us, she says…
‘I find Anna’s clothes extremely accessible… you see – if the White and Black labels are a little above your price bracket – Simply Be offers Anna Scholz and even though there is a lower price point – there is literally NO compromise on cut, style or quality. Clothes made for curves, and indeed – clothes made with OUR bodies in mind.’
Our Frock and Frill collection was a big hit last season and it’s back and better than ever for SS11. The lovely LaCara of Oh La La Curves! was given a sneak peek – here’s what she had to say:
‘I really like what I see so far, I’m particularly fond of the ‘Garden Blouse’, it’ll be perfect for spring! So, I’m really excited to see the rest of the line, from what I’ve heard, it’s going to be amazing!’
Lauren of Pocket Rocket took an exclusive look at our gorgeous new Grazia collection ‘a very grown up and feminine range’. Take alook at her blog post about it here.
And finally, Mister Gok Wan is back with a new collection, exclusively for Simply Yours. It’s even more gorgeous than usual, bringing the latest plus size trends to your lingerie drawer with print, lace and a new pale-pink palette! Trust us when we say, when you see it – you’ll love it!
Our style crush… Christina Hendricks!
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Have you ever seen Madmen? It’s an acquired taste, a bit like marmite, but the more we watch, the more we love it. And yes, we’ll confess, for us, the clothes are the best bit… especially when they’re worn by the gorgeous and oh-so-curvy Christina Hendricks!
In character…
She plays Joan Holloway, a sassy, fashion-savvy woman who always gets what she wants. Her character oozes confidence, charm and sophistication – she loves her curves and she knows how to work them – just like the actress who plays her! She’s our latest style crush and after her latest outing on the red-carpet, we won’t be getting over it any time soon!
On the red carpet…
At this weeks Golden Globe awards, we caught sight of her in the most stunning dress of the evening. Bright red, with right-now flower detailing, it skimmed over her curves in the most beautiful way – proving once and for all, that nothing is more gorgeous than a curvy woman!
And all this despite that fact that she almost lost a ‘borrowed’ bracelet worth a awe-inspiring €850,000 – yes, the lead lady had to hot-foot it back to the red-carpet while everyone else took their seats, to see if she could find the expensive accessory, which had fallen off her wrist as she passed the paparazzi. Luckily, an event co-ordinator found it and have it back before the panic took a toll on her picture-perfect appearance!
At home…
If you want to wow the crowds in a curve-skimming, red dress, just like Christina – try our brand new Simply Voluptuous Dress! It’s been specially designed with different cup size options, so you can get the perfect fit for your curves!
Happy New Year!
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It’s the first day of the New Year – what do you have planned for yours? We’re thinking even more gorgeous fashion ideas, even more trends, even more brands, even more competitions and even more blogs! Last year was so much fun and we’ve got loads more up our sleeves, so keep your eyes peeled for exciting things to come!
And of course, HAPPY NEW YEAR!
Meet Katie, Plus Size Model Competition Finailist!
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How would you describe yourself?
Bubbly, happy – only when I’ve had enough sleep though. Before 7 o’clock I can’t get up.
And what about your style?
Girly, but not too girly. I mean, I don’t do a lot of pink and stuff like that. But I do dress quite girly, adding accessories and make up and funky hair – I like it to be really sharp cut and all edgy.
Why did you enter Simply Be’s Plus Size Model Competition?
I had my photos done about a year back. It’s something I’ve always wanted to do, I love it. I really enjoyed the photo shoot that I had done for my portfolio. Then I was looking through a magazine and it was just there, so I thought ‘I’ve got to do it, I’ve got to do it’. I didn’t think I would get through but there was something just telling me I had to do it. And when I saw the email, I just started jumping round my living room.
So you’ve always wanted to be a model?
Yeah, it was something I’ve always wanted to do – and I love the clothes, everything about the fashion world. You see, when you’re a model, you’ve got to be tiny, but then when I saw your competition I thought – yeah, that’s something I really want to do. And I always look in the magazines, and catalogues and think ‘oh I could do that, I really want to do that’ but I never have.
What do you think of Simply Be’s plus size fashion collection?
I love it! All the dresses, I was looking at the catalogue earlier, they’re all just gorgeous. I was thinking – I want that and that and that. And it’s nice, because they have this lace one and it was black with long sleeves – I haven’t seen any long sleeved ones anywhere else, so I’m getting that! I love it! Yeah, I really like the fashion. The dresses are my favourite.
What’s your favourite plus size trend?
I like the sequinned stuff. I’ve got this sequinned jacket to wear over my dress and I just love it. It’s my favourite, so sparkly and it’s glam and really glitzy. And that teamed a pair of jeans and a top is just perfect if you’re going to a wine bar or out for a meal.
What do you think of the whole size zero debate?
There should definitely be more plus size bigger models, 100%. The thing is when you are that tiny, and you see so many stories in the papers about girls with eating disorders, it’s just not healthy. Everyone should be happy the way they are and it shouldn’t be a case of, you have to be a size zero to be a model. You are how you are. So yeah, I think it’s great, I think there should be more plus size models on the catwalks.
And finally, tell us a weird and wonderful fact about yourself.
I love to party. I am a bit of a party animal. Now that it’s getting colder though, and raining, I’m starting to think, well maybe I’ll stay in and watch TV this weekend.
Merry Christmas!
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From all the team at Simply Be, we’d like to wish you a very Merry Christmas! Have a fabulous day, we’re sure you’re all looking gorgeous – and if your Christmas money is burning a hole in your pocket, you know where we are!
The SALE is now on!
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Good news girls, the Simply Be End of Season Sale is now on. So you can save up to 50% on the season’s hottest looks! From knitted jumpers to lace detail dresses and every trend in-between, now you can get your fashion fix for a bargain price!
Shoes, accessories & lingerie!
Don’t forget to stock up on your favourite fashion accessories, while they’re cheap! You know we have all the latest shoe trends, plus lingerie, accessories and much, much more. So start shopping and start saving today!
Shop by size!
To help you make the most of the sale, we’ve made it easy to shop by size! Just click through to the sale page and choose the size you want – then shop, shop, shop, because everything you see is available to buy in your size!
Win our multiway dress!
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Versatility is the life-blood of fashion, so we’ve created a dress that you can wear 5 different ways! It’s a must-have for the party season – just add shoes and accessories and you’ve got every night out covered!
And to celebrate the launch of our new multiway dress, we’re giving one lucky customer the chance to win it in Amethyst! So follow the instructions below and we could make all your party wishes come true!
How to enter…
There are three easy ways to enter…
1. Post a comment on this blog post – remember to leave your name and email!
2. Like Simply Be Fashion on Facebook and comment on the Multiway Dress Video!
3. Follow @SimplyBeUK on Twitter and tweet this message – Win a multiway party dress from plus size fashion giants Simply Be! To enter, follow @SimplyBeUK & RT this msg! #SBMULTIWAY
All entries must be in by 5pm Friday 3rd December 2010! Good luck ladies, we’re looking forward to reading all your tweets and comments!