Navy, new in at Simply Be!
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You know we love our labels here at Simply Be, so it’s time to introduce the newest name we’ve welcomed to the Simply Be fold – Navy.
Navy London was created by stylist Greg Lang after constant requests from models, celebrities and fashion insiders for clothing like the styles he sourced for his shoots. The first high street Navy collection launched at Top Shop’s flagship store in London, and now he has created a range for us! Immaculately on-trend, fashionable yet understated; looks like Navy’s hot for spring!
Introducing… And Abigail!
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If you’re a fan of Simply Be you’ll no doubt be familiar with our Jeffrey & Paula collection, created by fashion designer Jeffrey Rogers and his wife Paula. Fashion obviously runs in the blood as now their daughter Abigail has created her first ever range for Simply Be and, well, it’s gorgeous!
Elegant and feminine with interesting details, the ‘And Abigail’ collection sits in that ever-so-versatile domain of clothing you can wear almost anywhere because it looks great dressed up or down.
Take this stud shoulder cardigan:
Team it with jeggings, tunic and flats for an ever so comfy yet chic daytime look. Or ramp up the glamour with a camisole, black leggings and skyscraper heels for something really wow! Stud accessories will really accentuate the fierce shoulder embellishment.
If you’re in need of the perfect plus size little black dress then your search may be about to come to an end!
The fabric has a hint of stretch for a flawless fit that will hold its shape all day and it comes with a detachable brooch. Wear with boots and tights for the office, or heels and sparkling jewellery for a first date! Smarten it up with a blazer, or dress it down with a cardi. It’s the kind of fallback dress every woman should own, as when you’re in a flap and stuck for something to wear you know you can rely on it to always look great!
For services to women’s wardrobes everywhere, Abigail Rogers, we salute you!
Shop the complete And Abigail range>
View our Brand Directory for lots more great ranges>
Remember this dress?
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It seems like just yesterday we were filling you in on the new AW10 trends straight from London Fashion Week. Yet here we are, 6 months on, wearing the new trends and looking forward to SS11!
And that dress, seen on the gorgeous singing sensation Marina and the Diamonds, was one of the new-fashion pieces featured in our AW10 London Fashion Week series! It’s a real stunner and she’s dressed it up to perfection, don’t you think?
So what should we expect next season? Well, London Fashion Week SS11 has just been and gone, with all its usual gossip and gorgeousness! So over the coming weeks, we’re going to give you sneak peak into the New Year’s fashion, along with some celebrity sightings and a behind the scenes preview!
Watch this space ladies, it’s going to get very exciting on the Simply Be Blog!
Another Plus Size Fashion Award?
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Oh my, it’s turning out to be a very exciting year! Gosh, we’ve not been back from the Prima High Street Fashion Awards for more than two weeks – but already we’ve got another award nomination!
Yes ladies, we’ve been nominated for a Fabulous High Street Fashion Awards 2010! You’ll find us under Fabulous For Curves, so for the third time this year we’re asking you to show your support and vote for Simply Be! You’ve already been great this year and we’ve got a Highly Commended award to prove it – but it would be oh-so nice to get another, especially as it’s our lovely customers who’ll be voting for the winners.
You could be there!
The lovely folks over at the Fabulous High Street Fashion Awards are offering voters the chance to win tickets to the event. So not only could you help us to get that most-coveted award, but you could also bag yourself a pair of tickets to the award ceremony – where we’ll be happy to thank you personally if we win!
Just click here to start voting!
Plus size style advice from the experts…
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You’ve probably heard about Natalie Jackson. She’s one of our lovely fashion buyers and she’s going to be judging the Simply Be Plus Size Model Competition. But that’s not all she’s been up to lately, as it happens she gone viral on YouTube with her plus size style advice videos!
Made for Simply Be with the help of her gorgeous model, Victoria Fox, they cover a range of topics from dressing for that all important interview to accessorising your look! And to help you get your style-on, we’ve posted the videos below for you – and you can find our bloopers real on YouTube!
Now, if you’re planning to enter our model competition, why not take a couple of tips from Natalie before you send your shots in? You never know, that little of extra effort secure your place in the final!
If you’re reading this blog post on Facebook, just head over to our YouTube Channel to watch Natalie’s style advice videos and of course, the bloopers!
Plus Size Model Focus: Laura Catteral
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As you’ve probably already heard, we launched our plus size model competition last week. And everyone’s been so enthusiastic! Thanks for all your blogs, tweets and Facebook messages – we’re really glad you’re all so up for it!
Anywho, since we’re looking for our own Face of Plus Size Fashion, we thought it might be nice to look over all the lovely examples that are already out there. So this is the first of a series of blogs that will focus on the plus size fashion models we all love to see!
And to kick it all off – Laura Catteral!
Laura is undoubtedly one of the big names of the plus size modelling world. She shot to fame in 2009 after strutting down the London Fashion Week catwalks in Mark Fast’s legendary show. It was reported that Fast’s stylist quit after he chose to use plus size models on the catwalk and soon Laura’s picture was plastered over newspapers, magazines and blogs the world over!
Even before that career changing moment, Laura was destined to be a plus size sensation. She’d already featured in The Sunday Times Style Supplement and taken on a runway assignment for Elena Miro’s AW09 collection in Milan. But afterwards, well it’s been a whirlwind for the curvy beauty…
Post Mark Fast…
Since finding tabloid fame in 2009, Laura’s modelled for Anna Scholz, Special K and I-D magazine. She’s also one of our very own lingerie models. Last year, she did her first ever Simply Yours TV commercial – and what a lovely job she did. We asked her back to do a second this year and she’s now one of our catalogue models too!
And then there’s the editorial stuff! Gosh, we’ve seen Laura everywhere this year! The curvy revolution is definitely here and she’s one plus size model who’s been in high demand.
First there was that Vogue Curvy Italy piece – if you haven’t already visited the Vogue Curvy Site it’s definitely worth a weekly stop. She was one of their ‘Daily Suggestions’ models and you can still find her on the site today.
And just lately, Vogue Curvy have done an interview with her detailing some of those sneaky little facts you just wouldn’t think of the plus size model. For example, she’s got a degree in Communications and Journalism – and when her modelling days are over, she’d like to switch to another fabulous fashion job by starting a career as a fashion journalist. So we look forward to even more fabulous fashion from her, even when her curves leave the catwalk.
But her high-flying editorial career doesn’t end with Vogue Curvy Italy. Just last week she was the talk of the plus size blogging world after a set of stunning images of her were printed in the French Marie Claire. In these scantly clad swimwear shots, she proves that curvy is absolutely beautiful.
Could you be the next Laura Catteral?
Remember, we’re looking for the new Face of Plus Size Fashion and it could be you! To find our more about our plus size model competition, visit the Simply Be website or browse through our plus size fashion blog!
Simply Be interviews Anna Scholz – the legendary plus size fashion designer!
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Oooh, we’ve got a treat for you today ladies! We just caught up with one of our favourite Simply Be designer – Anna Scholz! She kindly answered some of our burning questions, so we’ve put them all down on paper (and the blog) for you to see! Enjoy!
Where do you get your inspiration from when you begin to design a collection?
You can find inspiration in everything, a stamp, a cushion, a painting, on your travels… wherever. Last week flying back from Berlin I thought about doing a ‘cityscape by night’ print in my next collection…my mind is constantly busy and my eyes always open. My favourite place is Portobello market where I love hunting for vintage finds.
What is your main consideration when designing an item of clothing?
That it is going to be flattering for the woman who is going to wear it. I love accentuating curves.
What do you love most about fashion design?
Print and colour! I love experimenting with new colours and shapes, discovering new favourites in my wardrobe and making things clash… I love how you can reflect your mood with your outfit. I love making women feel better about themselves.
What is it about working with Simply Be that you enjoy the most?
That there are very few restrictions; my wholesale buyers are a lot more conservative than my Simply Be buyers. Our Simply Be customer is not afraid to show a bit of flesh and loves dressing up. We sell halternecks, strapless and low cut dresses and Simply Be can always offer the matching lingerie.
You’ve sold ranges both in the US and in Europe. Are attitudes towards fuller-figured women diffferent across the two continents?
I actually think that the Europeans are a lot more directional and fashion forward than the Americans. The US plus size market is dominated by large chains who are more afraid to take risks. There is however a huge responsive online plus community in the US who is pushing for change.
Do you think that attitudes are changing?
Yes I do! It is a slow proces, but there has been a shift in the media in the last year and curvy women have been included in many more high end publications. Vogue Italia has launched Vogue Curvy online and US Marie Claire have a curvy blogger. Models like Crystal Renn, Lizzie Miller and Ashley Graham are breaking down barriers of glossy publications. Just check out our http://blog.annascholz.com/ for constant updates.
Whilst you were studying fashion you also worked as a plus size model – how did you find this? Are there any experiences you would like to share?
It was a great way to get an insight into this part of the industry and also to be able to earn a living while studying in expensive London. I was extremely frustrated by the lack of stylish clothing I was made to model (I modelled from 1988-1995 and the collections available then were a far cry from what they are today) and kept constantly thinking that I could do this better… I made a few great contacts and the whole experience reinforced my decision to set up my own label.
There’s a wonderful ‘curvy community’ of bloggers and tweeters online – what are your favourite blogs and who do you follow on Twitter?
Social media is hugely important for our market and there are too many great ones to name. We blog, tweet and facebook daily! My favourites are our own blog of course, Madison Plus and Vogue Curvy Italia, and you can follow me on Twitter Anna_Scholz or join our Facebook Fan page Anna Scholz Fashion.
Are there any words of wisdom you’d like to share with aspiring plus size fashion designers or aspiring plus size models?
Believe in yourself and follow your dream. Bring it on, competition is healthy and we need more diversity