[The following post comes straight from our BFFs at CollegeFashion. If it weren't for them, we'd still be wearing platform sneakers.]

It’s no secret that the fashion industry favors ultra-thin models – the dialogue surrounding fashion’s narrow portrayal of beauty seems as old as the industry itself.

Amidst all the endless discussions, one thing is clear: People want to see models they can relate to, that show them a realistic and more inclusive ideal of what beauty looks like. While super-skinny models are easy for super-skinny women to relate to, models representing other body types are few and far between, leaving women who don’t fit the super-skinny mold feeling frustrated and excluded.

Fortunately, the girls featured above, which the industry labels as “plus size,” are getting more jobs and more exposure with each passing day, giving us hope that the standards of beauty are beginning to shift and widen. However, much of their work is still in catalogs or other less-publicized mediums, or if featured somewhere in the high-fashion world, the spreads lean towards sensationalism. We certainly still have a long way to go. Read More »

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If you love fashion, you know what it’s like to count down to Fashion Week, excited to watch the trends for next year come parading down the runway and trying to envision how you’re going to interpret the style and make it your own. And then you look forward to said new trends hitting the shelves, combing through the racks and trying them on.

Until they don’t fit.

Because, let’s face it, most of this country cannot fit into the small sizes designers produce. Even more, it seems that sizes are getting smaller and smaller and what once fit you as a size ten, you can no longer even pull up over your legs!

But that may not be the case much longer. Much like fashion magazines, it looks like designers are starting to get the hint. (Let me take a moment to say MAZEL TOV! What took you so long?!) Starting this fall, Saks is going to start carrying extended sizes from designer faves like Chanel, YSL, Dolce & Gabanna, Fendi, Roberto Cavalli and Alexander McQueen. (Sizes will range from a 14 up to a size 20 depending on the line). OK, so most of us can’t afford those pricey labels, but we all know trickle down theory: what top designers do, the rest of the fashion industry does soon after. That means more fierce fashion in a range of sizes that will fit every woman, not just the size zero celebrities walking the red carpet.

And what’s more, it looks like Marc Jacobs may be joining the plus-size party in about a year! Marc’s business partner Robert Duffy Tweeted over the weekend saying:

“Your right. We gotta do larger sizes. I’m with you. As soon as I get back to NY. I’m on it! It will take me about a year. But stay with us”

Despite the fact that Robert’s grammar is a bit off (you’d think a businessman would know the difference between ‘your’ and ‘you’re’), this is most definitely something worth knowing about. And celebrating! FINALLY designers are getting the memo that the majority of us who pour over their designs season after season can’t even wear them without looking like a sausage casing. But not for long, ladies! Pretty soon girls of all sizes can rock a Chanel frock or a Marc Jacobs trench!

It’s about damn time.

Lane Bryant has turned away from the days when they “called all chubbies” into the store.  While they still make fashionable clothes for full-figured women, they are also introducing a hip new line for plus-size teens.  Err…did I just say hip?  I meant hideous! Way to miss the mark, LB.

On the bright side, at least buxom babes of all ages can find fabulously frills bras and panties from some sexy, curve-loving labels.  Va-va-voom!

Here at College Candy, we too love some curvy ladies…but do you guys?  Seems like the room is divided when it comes to understanding the negative backlash.

[It's pretty obvious that the average CollegeCandy reader has some very strong opinions. Opinions that she likes to share with everyone on the site. We love a strong woman (unless she happens to be charging at us with her fists raised), so we thought we'd give her a real forum to discuss her thoughts, feelings, and perspectives. Every Friday I'll be featuring a hot topic (like the three date rule! ) and leaving it up to you, the readers, to duke it out. So, read it and get your debate on in the comments section below!]

In the last year or so there’s been a big upswing in “awareness” about plus-size models. They’ve always been around, but they suddenly started getting a lot more attention for being their bold, beautiful selves. Of course, there’s always a backlash, like a study that showed that ads featuring plus size women actually make women feel worse about themselves – so much so that some networks have declined to air commercials by Lane Bryant featuring a plus size model in the company’s lingerie. So here it is ladies, are we really pro plus size or not?

On the one hand, pretty much everything in my brain screams “all shapes and sizes are beautiful, embrace who you are!” Even the idea of saying that we could be against having gorgeous full-figured gals in our media seems ludicrous (damn you, Ludacris, for ruining my ability to spell) especially when you consider that the average size for women in America is plus size. Having larger ladies on TV and in fashion magazines can only be a good thing, right? I mean, ultimately won’t it just encourage us as a society to accept different kinds of beauty and stop making such a big deal out of it? Read More »

So, Corey Monteith is pretty much taken.

A guide to Ke$ha.

Don’t eff with Britney Spears.

Well that’s one way to show that guy who’s boss.

10 fabulous plus size fashion blogs.

The Chris Brown “Save my Career” tour continues.

I’ll be honest: I always thought Alloy was for the 12-17 age group, but then I started flipping through their merchandise and realized that they have a ton of cute stuff for us more sophisticated ladies. I mean, how could you not love this dress!?

Their regularly priced stuff is already reasonably priced, but they have a huge sale/clearance section that is even better. Another bonus: they have a wide range of sizes from petites up to plus-size so it’s a great option for you skinny minnies and us curvier gals.  Here are a few of my favorite things (besides raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens, of course)… Read More »

Those Twilight people are really selling out.

The worst celebrity plastic surgery.

The 80s are back in a major way.

Lady Gaga “tones it down” in Israel.

Heidi Klum is done having kids.

Australia does plus-size fashion. Well.

“Prince Charming” continues to say stupid sh*t

Plus size summer fashion, baby!

Um, don’t eat the tomatoes

Wicked famous sports stars going broke? They’re not stupid, they’re just too trusting

Jessica Simpson gets inpsired by her own boobs

Is your summer fling already dead in the water?

I’ve figured it out. Puff Daddy wants to be Sybile. You know, the woman who had 13 personalities?

Know your in season fruit, mamas!

You might be dating a criminal if: you’re Anne Hathaway

[photo of R. Everett from abc.net]