Take a look at this Playtex tampon ad. One of these women is not like the others.

This popped up on my Pandora page, and I couldn’t help but be distracted by it.  Playtex’s current ad campaign is based on the idea that “every woman’s body is different,” and at first glance it’s a pretty standard tampon ad. Lots of pink and girly girls – note the skirts and long hair. But if you look at this ad, you’ll see that two out of the three female figures depicted here are almost identical, just posed differently. The woman in the middle and the one on the right are both very slim. They are ideal according to the “thin is in” mentality glorified in the media, but in all likelihood quite a bit smaller than the average American woman. The woman on the left is the only who looks “different,” as her silhouette is significantly more curvy than the others featured in the ad. (I’ll be using “curvy” as a very relative term – obviously, the “curvy” woman here is really pretty average, but she’s rather curvy in comparison to the other women in the ad.)

This is a tampon ad, and obviously a woman’s physical appearance has nothing to do with what type of tampon is right for her. But because it presents a picture of female silhouettes, in which we can see only the superficial outlines of three bodies, the focus of this ad becomes female body size and shape. Read More »

While the fashion industry has come to accept and embrace the plus-size community, it can still be tough to find designer plus-size clothing offered at discount retail outlet, but thanks to the newest online fashion sales site, Clique To Know, women sizes 10 and up will be able to find beautiful clothes from designers such as Melissa Masse, Kevan Hall, Arnold Zimberg, Lafayette 148, Z from Zenobia, Earnest Sewn and more at 50-80% off the original retail price!

As a curvy girl, I cannot tell you how many times I’ve found a designer piece online that I wanted only to see my size is either sold out or completely unavailable. I was psyched to learn that site membership is 100% FREE and anyone who signs up early will receive a $10 giftcard and the chance to participate in the first ever Clique To Know sale!

Seriously, if you’re looking for clothes that fit your body AND your price range, Clique to know may be just what you need!

Dear Dude,

I just bought my first bikini ever about two days ago for this summer and I’m 20 years old but, the problem is that I’m a curvy girl. My friends say I shouldn’t care what people think and I should be comfortable in my own skin especially in clothes. I’ve let body images in society get the best of me to the point where I won’t even let myself have fun at the pool or beach because I’m too scared of what people think. I keep hearing two sides to the story that it’s fine if a curvy girl wears a bikini and then I’ve heard other wise. So what would you say to curvy girls in bikinis?

Sincerely,

Insecure Bikini
Read More »

Once upon a time full-figured women were forced to wear muumuus, oversized t-shirts and mom jeans. No one even considered the idea that plus-sized women wanted to be hip, fashionable, and trendy. But today, retailers are beginning to welcome bigger women with arms wide open.

There are stores in malls and online for women of all shapes and sizes. And because we know that not all CollegeCandy readers are squeezing into their size 0 jeans at night, we wanted to introduce you to some of our favorite plus-size stores. Read More »

This was a special week. Not because of the Super Bowl or Fashion Week or anything else that’s happened this week that I’ve already managed to forget about, but because after weeks and weeks without our favorite group of singers, we got two episodes of Glee. That’s right, not one but two.

And as I sat down to revel in their renditions of Michael Jackson and Katy Perry’s greatest hits, I was glad to see that the writers had kept Lauren Zizes around even after sectionals. And even more so, I was glad to see that she had a pretty large part in this past Tuesday’s episode.

Here at CollegeCandy we love Glee not just for its cute but oh so dumb boys and awesome musical numbers, but also for what’s at the heart of the show: being true to one’s self. Embracing who you are, strengths and weaknesses, the good and the bad, and taking pride in that. These characters are all underdogs in one way or another but being in Glee helps them to remember who they are, and to be okay with that.

But Lauren Zizes doesn’t need Glee club to help her break out of her shell. She’s a confident, independent, strong, badass woman, and she owns that. And that’s why Puck is crushing on her.

And it’s why we are too. Read More »

12 great plus size cocktail dresses

How not to use Facebook

An easy and yummy recipe for stir fry

Absolutely amazing nature shots

Must have nail color for this holiday season

See who was nominated for the most Grammys this year

Julia Roberts made 1.5 Million for THIS?!

The true story of a recovering serial monogamist

After years of slipping through the media cracks, Jessica Simpson is more famous now than ever. And why? The girl <gasp!> gained weight. I mean, think about it: what has J. Simps really been doing with herself, career-wise? Not a whole lot. Instead, the poor girl has been a victim of heartbreak, failed endeavors, and more media scrutiny than any person deserves.

It all started with paparazzi, a pair of high waisted jeans, and an unflattering camera angle. Suddenly Jessica Simpson went from mostly forgotten pop-turned reality star to tabloid cover material. Everyone was quick to criticize the star for “getting fat.” But what kind of society would condemn a size-six beauty, when the average size for an American woman is a fourteen?

We know. It’s a three-day weekend and you have yet to get out of your pajamas. Heck, you have yet to even get out of bed. That’s cool with us. That’s why sweats were invented. And actually, if we had our way, you wouldn’t get out of bed all day. Because it makes us feel better knowing we’re not the only sloths around we have an insanely awesome round-up of links from our very favorite people on the web.

Yeah that’s right. We’re giving you another excuse to stay in elastic-waistband pants all day. You’re welcome.

Was summer 2010 your worst summer ever (Lemondrop)

The worst dieting advice from movies (All Women Stalk)

Would you wear these? (College Fashion)

Can your shoes clean the floor? (Fashion Pulse Daily)

Fall’s hottest trends (Hot Beauty Health)

8 ways to transform his style (YourTango)

Fictionary: Nail Fail resulting from a cocktail (Beauty Blogging Junkie)

Jerry Lewis wants to smack WHO in the face? (The Frisky) Read More »

Can anyone believe we’re nearing the end of the second week of June? It seems like just yesterday we were packing up, hugging our BFFs goodbye and settling back into our childhood bedrooms. And now summer has come upon us so quickly I haven’t even had time to go swimsuit shopping! We’ve even already had the MTV Movie Awards, which means the 4th of July is just around the corner.

But before we start counting down the days until the end of the summer, let’s stop time and relish in the week that was:

* Behold: the 30 most overrated dudes in Hollywood.

* Stuck inside without a chance to see the sun? Have no fear, my friend; there is a better, more natural way to get your tan on this summer.

* And here is a tasty, refreshing and couldn’t-be-easier-to-make recipe that will get you through the humid, hot, and brutal summer ahead.

* We all know we get by with a little help from our friends, but do you know what type of friends will help you out the most? We do. And did you know just how good your friends can be for your future? Now you do.

* What is “healthy”? Is it skinny? Is it athletic? Is it one of these gorgeously curvy women? Read More »

Every day we’re bombarded with a million different messages about what we are supposed to look like. And tell you what, our not-so-scientific-yet-totally-accurate visual research proves that 99% of girls out there don’t fit the mold. So instead of telling you how to wear your hair, or how much weight to lose, or which one of Heidi Montag’s many surgeries to get (because, really, look where that got her), we’re going to celebrate these so-called beauty flaws with beautiful women every single week.

Last week we celebrated the natural nose. Today, let’s talk about curves.

It’s no secret that Hollywood likes their actresses to look anorexic-chic. But that doesn’t mean that all the women in Hollywood are conforming to that reasonable ridiculous standard. This week we’re putting on a spotlight on the curvy and voluptuous celebrities who haven’t let their bigger bodies stop them from having even bigger careers. Read More »