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Look Who Will Be at Fashion Week: The Snuggie!

TresSugar — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 12:00:00 -0700

Dolce & Gabbana, Chanel, and Rodarte are going to have to save some space on the runway during New York Fashion Week, because the folks who brought you the Snuggie - you know, the blanket with sleeves! - are going to stage a runway show of their own “to showcase the latest colors, fabrics, and patterns” and “to dish about the sexiest looks in blanket-wear.”

That’s right - blanket-wear. Not only are the Snuggie peeps considering comfort when designing for women, they’re thumbing their noses at the size barrier that keeps some models off the runway. Their models aren’t all statuesque and size zero; in fact, they’re not necessarily even human! In addition to male and female adult models, the Snuggie fashion show will feature children and even dogs on the runway.

I wonder if Anna Wintour is going to get a front-row seat at this show!

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Retailers Offering More Options For the "Woman of Size"

TresSugar — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 10:00:00 -0700

"When you’re fat you stand out anyway. It’s really important to go all the way and do something fun or even outrageous with your clothes."

- Annie Maribona, founder and part owner of Fat Fancy, a boutique in Portland, OR, that sells modern and vintage clothes up to size 24. (Pictured is Emme, one of the most famous plus-size models.)

Retailers are increasingly providing plus-size fashions to teens and women who wear sizes 14-24. Singer Beth Ditto, complaining to trendy London-based Topshop that they had nothing for women her size, is now designing a line for the Arcadia Group, Topshop's parent company. Forever 21, Kmart, and Lord & Taylor also provide their fashions in plus sizes. Some stores, like Old Navy and Ann Taylor, no longer carry plus-size clothes in their stores, but still have them available online.

One interesting thing I noticed in this news story was the variety of words used to name women who are not thin. Some, like boutique owner Annie Maribona, have reclaimed the word "fat," as have women who advocate what they call fat acceptance. Then there's plus size, "woman of size," big girl and curvy. The only person in the article who didn't use these euphemisms was Andrea Marks, a specialist in adolescent medicine in Manhattan. She simply calls women who aren't thin "overweight."

What do you think about the idea of "fat acceptance," and what is the best term for a woman who isn't a size 12 or under?

Casa Quickie: Steamer-Free and Wrinkle-Free

CasaSugar — Tue, 10 Feb 2009 15:00:00 -0800

I'd love to own a garment steamer, but I really don't need another space-hogging appliance lying around the house. While I do actually enjoy ironing, I tend to leave it to the last minute, so it's impractical for my morning routine. Wrinkles aren't practical either, though.
Instead, I hang my clothes from the rod at the end of my shower (far from the faucet), close the bathroom door, and then take my morning shower, letting the steam do all the work. By the time I'm finished, my clothes are wrinkle and odor free! If you don't have a shower rod in your bathroom, you can really hang your duds anywhere in the bathroom. Just make sure you close the door so the steam is contained, and don't allow your clothes to get wet.
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Danskin Yoga Gear Goes Organic

FitSugar — Tue, 03 Feb 2009 13:00:00 -0800

You try to eat organic, but do you dress organic? Organic cotton is becoming increasingly popular among eco-minded types, since it's grown without the
large amounts of pesticides that bathe conventional cotton - about 1/3 of a pound of chemicals per one cotton t-shirt! Organic cotton is better for the environment and our health.

So since I've been happy with the Danskin clothes I've been testing out lately, I was delighted to see that the gear brand is getting into organic cotton. Perfect for yoga and Pilates, all of the Danskin Prima Organics are constructed from organic cotton with nontoxic dyes. For details on the line, read more.

The cotton-jersey fabric on these pieces looks like that of a high-quality t-shirt, so at first I was afraid it might ride up or chafe. But it actually feels much lighter on the skin; it breathes well and wears nicely. The only complaint I have is that it feels like it might lose its shape over time, but it's tough to tell after just one wear and one washing. Here's a look at the line.

Double V-Neck Jersey Tank Top ($52) This casual tank provides plenty of coverage and has a built-in bra that stays put perfectly.
Y-Back Jersey Tank Top ($48) Soft and stretchy, this basic form-fitting top is nice and long for ample coverage.
Long-Sleeve Hooded Top ($52) Like the tank top, this hoodie has a nice long silhouette, and it's cozy without being bulky.
Interlock Bootleg Pant ($56) These stretchy slim pants are great for stretching and even cold-weather jogs.
Interlock Crop Pant ($50) The cropped, wide-band pants were incredibly flattering and fell nicely on my legs.

Dear Poll: Do You Dress Sexy For Work?

DearSugar — Fri, 19 Dec 2008 09:00:00 -0800

I like to think I look cute when I come to work, but my dress is pretty modest and laid-back. Some women, on the other hand, use coming to the office as an excuse to look their best. I love seeing style around the office, but knowing your audience is incredibly important - seeing your co-worker's provocative side could be slightly uncomfortable! Since we're all different, tell me, do you dress sexy for work?

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Review: Danskin X-Training Jacket

FitSugar — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 12:45:13 -0700

The weather is starting cool, considerably in some parts, and that means wearing more layers - sometimes even indoors. I don't like feeling cold, but so many sweaters, jackets, and hoodies are just too bulky, so I have been looking for something form-fitting, cozy, and thin. I put on my new Danskin X-Training Jacket ($76) a couple of days ago and have yet to take it off.

It meets all my requirements and then some. It's perfect for typing in my shady house and walking the dog. The fabric is super soft: The jacket feels good on, and my husband loves hugging me when I am wearing it. Since I am wearing it all the time, that is a good thing.

For more details on the jacket, just read more.

The jacket is form-fitting without being tight, and it has a dual zipper so you can unzip at both ends. The side pockets are zippered, too, which makes this a great outer layer if you are on the go. I also love the back stash pocket, which fastens with Velcro, it's very helpful for carrying bags when hiking to clean up anything my dog Bonnie might leave on the trail. I also like the iPod port that goes from the front left pocket inside the jacket and out the collar - this feature would be handy for a run. Although there is a bit of reflective detailing on the jacket, it's not enough make you super visible if you are running at night. But I appreciate that the jacket is long and covers most of my bum. I am definitely wearing this under my ski jacket on cold mountain days once ski season starts.

Since I am trying not to buy black clothing - I have so much of it already - I got the jacket in purple, aka "prism." It also comes in pink (snapdragon), black, and pale green (arctic). You can order directly from Danskin.

If $75 seems like a lot for a jacket, I rationalized my purchase this way: Since I can wear it inside, I won't have to turn on the heat for a while, and when I do, I won't have to crank it because I will be so cozy in my Danskin jacket. Check out the other colors and the collar iPod port below.

View 3 Photos ›

Dear Poll: Do You Enjoy Shopping?

DearSugar — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 09:00:00 -0700

Sometime in the last couple decades shopping has become a tongue-in-cheek euphemism for therapy, at least as far as ladies are concerned. If you’re sad, it’s nothing a quick trip to the mall won’t fix, or so Cher from Clueless taught us. But even though I'm a fan, frankly, I think it’s just silly to assume that all women get a kick out of shopping. In fact, some women I know find themselves feeling more down than ever after a few minutes in a dressing room. So ladies, let me ask, do you enjoy shopping?

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Want Cheap Clothes? The Cotton Industry's Not 100% Fit

CitizenSugar — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 07:58:32 -0700

The global economy is about to hit your Saturday morning shopping spree. As we've seen food prices grow in response to higher crop prices, fashionistas should be ready to see their clothes prices follow suit, and it's a two-piece problem.

People watching their purse strings are causing garment makers to see a rapid decline in their own bottom line. Demand is down wildly. US cotton consumption alone is set to fall 6.5 percent from last year.

And you can partially blame the environment on the ever-spendier tee. More cotton farmers are swapping to more lucrative crops - soybeans, corn, and wheat - whose market prices are rising even faster. Why are these crops more enticing? The prices of these crops have been pushed higher by a mixture of subsidies and growing demand from biofuel producers.

It's not just shrinking cotton crops: energy, wages, the oil to transport goods, all make the shirt on your back cost more. Manufacturers, just like us, are hit by XXL oil prices, making their factories more expensive to operate which means pricier shipping to foreign markets. To see the human cost of the cotton trade, and how BBC sent six fashion-plates to work in an Indian garment factory, read more.

On Indian cotton farms, farmers facing strangling bills and held at the mercy of the global market and crop hardiness, has led the country to see more than 20,000 suicides by debt-ridden farmers in the last ten years. The numbers are rising. Currently about six farm suicides are reported daily.

BBC has made the garment trade in to reality (television) with a mini-series called Blood, Sweat, and T-shirts. Here's how they describe the show which sounds fascinating:

Six young fashion addicts experience life as factory workers in India, making clothes for the British high street. In this four-part series, the six work in the mills of India’s cotton belt and stitch clothes in cramped back rooms, sleeping next to their sewing machine. See how it changes their attitudes to cut-price clothing.

I might move abroad just to catch this show.

Have your shopping habits changed? Is it an issue of cash or global consciousness? Do you pay attention to what a garment is made of before you buy? Does it surprise you that the focus on biofuels has had such an impact on the clothing market?
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Turn Signal Bicycling Jacket: Cool or Not?

FitSugar — Fri, 21 Mar 2008 13:30:00 -0700

This Turn Signal Biking Jacket, designed by Leah Buechley, uses wrist-mounted switches to activate LED arrows on the back. It's easier than using old-fashioned hand-turn signals, and the lights provide an added element of safety.

Though it's not for sale - I think it's just a prototype - this could be a smart purchase for cyclists. What do you think?

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Get Your Butt in Gear: SpreadShirt

FitSugar — Mon, 17 Mar 2008 12:30:00 -0700

If you're training for a marathon for charity then you're probably looking to get more donations, so one way to be creative and up those charity dollars is with SpreadShirt.com - and design your own gear shop online. Not only can you give away personalized T-shirts to your donators (say you charge $25 for the shirt, which means $10 to create it and the remaining $15 can go to help support your charity), but you can also create your own shirt to make a statement on the race day, or whenever you wear it. I mean, how cool would it be to have your kids wearing a "Team [insert your name here]" shirt as you cross the finish line?

Let's be honest, I've been wearing my custom FitSugar shirt (pictured) all the time, because I think it's cute and it performs well on my runs - and no, I'm not training for a race. It's not very expensive, this design I created on the wicking performance tee was only $31.40, but there are a lot of shirts (and other accessories such as hoodies and bags) to chose from, so it's fun and easy to do. Get started here.

You saw mine, now tell me yours. What would your personalized fitness shirt say?