Oh My - Sydney's Closet Starry Nights Ball Gown in O, The Oprah Magazine!

Oh! What a huge fashion scoop.  Sydney’s Closet “Starry Nights” ball gown,  Style SC3018,  seen on page 142 of the February 2012 issue of O, The Oprah Magazine!

A team of dream experts from the esteemed mag gave Samantha, a highway construction worker from New York, a chance to gaze into the mirror and have her true fashion-and-beauty soul gaze back.  Her reflection showed Samantha’s inner Princess staring back wearing Starry Nights in a jewel-toned violet with black.

“In 12 hours I’ll be back in a hard hat and boots tearing up concrete.  Right now, though, I feel like royalty,”she told the magazine’s dream team when photographed after the dramatic hair, beauty and fashion makeover.

Now it’s your turn to be a Princess!  Click out Starry Nights at Sydney's Closet to see more pictures of this bestselling evening gown available in three glamorous colors sure to win over any Prince:  Black Cherry, Black Sapphire and Black Violet.

A Fresh Perspective on Plus Size Dresses by Fashion Students

 When Beth Glascock of the Fairy Godmother Project (helping needy High School teens get dresses for Prom) needed plus size prom gowns,  she asked the students at the O'Moore College of Design in Nashville, TN for help.  They quickly took on the project to create new dresses using material from old ones.

The Fashion Team at Sydney's Closet thinks it is such a great idea to have design students make plus size Prom dresses that we just had to share it in hopes other communities could do the same to help curvy teens in their local high school get a Prom dress of their dreams.

Sydneys Closet Fashion Team Home From Designing Trip to China

Sydney’s Closet Fashion Team back on the ground in the USA after a super successful two weeks in China designing the Fall 2012 and Prom 2013 Collections.  Jet lag keeps us feeling foggy and on the brink of coming down with the flu.  Nothing unusual after two-days traveling 8,500 miles from Guangdong Province to our world headquarters in St. Louis.  We hope by the end of the week we can begin to feel normal again! Meanwhile, we’re organizing notebooks bulging with fabric swatches from Asia’s giant textile markets. 

We’ll match up the silky satins, smooth chiffons and crisp taffetas with sketches of dramatic new party dresses for Homecoming 2012, cocktail dresses for Holiday 2012 (we haven’t even celebrated Holiday 2011) and Prom 2013 dresses to suit every personality.  Now we can’t wait to see the first samples when they start arriving in January.   We haven’t finished unpacking, and we’re already planning our next trip to China. We’ll go in the Spring to finalize the samples for our photo shoot. 

China Trip Fall 2011 - Fashion, Seafood and Budweiser

A  highlight of the Fashion Team’s visits to China is always feasting on authentic Cantonese cuisine.  Chaozhou, the city in Guangdong Province where we spend most of our time, is known worldwide for seafood caught fresh from the nearby China Sea and vegetables just hours from the garden.  

Entrance Chaozhou Restaurant

No need for a menu at a seafood restaurant in Chaozhou where customers select from the day's fresh catch.

 

At the hotel breakfast, we pass on the cauldron bubbling with “porridge with 1,000-year-old eggs”. We join the locals as they peel a whole baked sweet potato, wrap it in their hands and bite into it like a candy bar.    

After a morning and afternoon designing in the factory showroom, it is customary for the owners to invite us to a local restaurant.  Many American customers ask to eat more familiar fast food like KFC and McDonald’s now available in Chaozhou - although very expensive.  But the Fashion Team bites (bad pun!) at culinary adventures that give us the chance to sample dishes  foreign to menus back home:  

-          Blood red clams steamed in fish stock

-          Oysters fried with eggs and bamboo

-          Papaya baked with honey

-          Lotus root stuffed with rice

-          Egg yolks baked into sliced pork

-      Rice rolled into a log with peanuts and vegetables then sliced

-          Whole fried fish in the original sweet and sour sauce

We order ice cold Tsing Tao beer to wash down the spicy foods and have to laugh when it is always served in small juice-size glasses with the “Budweiser” logo in red.

China Trip Fall 2011 - Jet Lag, Sequins, Fabric, and Tea

Fashion Team in China inspects SC8062, our sexy one-shoulder metallic ribbon dress arriving for Holiday 2011.

 

 

 

 

After several frantic days on the ground in China,  Sydney’s Closet Fashion Team is still reeling from jet lag! But every day is better.  

At one factory, we check production on our sexy sequin one-shoulder mini dress. We’re thrilled to find everything  perfect from the fit to the stitching.  The shipment is set to leave China right on time! That lands this hot silver and gold metallic ribbon dress in the USA just in time for you to celebrate the holidays in style!

At another factory we struggle with a tough decision.  Which color chiffon we found at the fabric market to use on the new Fall 2012 cocktail dress.

It’s not easy. But finally we settle on an emerald green for a body-hugging strapless sheath.  We save a rich taffeta in brilliant gold for a high-low hem design we created for Prom 2013.  Once we drape the fabric on a mannequin

we realize the proportions of the skirt are off.  So it’s back to the drawing board where we add another layer to the hem and move the zipper from the side to the back of the dress for an easier fit. 

During the long day designing, our Chinese friends keep us going with endless cups of hot tea freshly brewed in tiny cups!

Sonsi Launches Fashion Genius - Designing You From Head to Toe

 

Sonsi has launched an interactive design program ~ Fashion Genius.

Fashion Genius helps you put complete outfits together, not just tops and bottoms.  They go up to the earrings, down to the feet, in to the undergarments and out to the handbags.

  The easy to use tab system lets you start with outfit sets or you can pick a specific item from their site.  And no worries in trying to remember what items you've picked, or what outfits you like or have worked on...you have the option to save things.

The Fashion Team at Sydney's Closet thinks this is a fun way to mix and match, and group things together on one easy page.  And it's great to be able to save it and recall later, to either purchase or change it.

Miles of Fabric - Sydney's Closet in Chinese City of Shaoxing visiting Textile City.

The Fashion Team spends the day in the ancient Chinese City of Shaoxing, home to Asia’s legendary Textile City.  We’re on the hunt for new fabrics that will inspire the designs for our Fall 2012 Signature Cocktail Collection and our 2013 Signature Prom Collection.   But where to start?  Our senses are overwhelmed by the miles of open stalls, each about the size of a small bedroom, that sprawl over multi-story buildings on both sides of the river. We calculate that if we put the 15,000 fabric suppliers here under one roof it would be big enough to fill 15 Wal-Marts!

Our translator guides us through the maze to our first stop where we discover a new chiffon that is super soft and comes in yummy colors.  It’s perfect for draping a formal evening gown. We make a note to create a dramatic beading pattern for a one-shoulder strap. We climb an ancient stone stairway where shoe shine vendors cluster at the top next to the street vendors roasting chestnuts in a commercial size wok.

     There we take the foot bridge across the river where waves of lotus plants float past us. Over the next five hours we wander through the market stopping when an eye catches an interesting fabric.  We struggle to find a lace worthy of an informal wedding dress.  We carry a shopping bag that soon fills with fabric swatches:  

• tulle flocked with tiny dots sure to make a Cinderella-style ball gown for a Prom Princess 
• dramatic black and white floral prints in chiffon great for making a splash on a maxi dress
• sequins sewn in silver, black and blue chevron print ideal for a red-carpet formal

 All that shopping builds up a appetite.  We stop for a traditional Chinese meal of fried bean curd, cauliflower with cloves of garlic, strips of marinated beef stir fried with onions and a small white fish steamed with soy sauce and ginger. There is no translation available for the wild green vegetable that comes mixed with tiny pieces of tofu.  We decide it’s a mix between parsley and spinach and only wish we could eat it when we return home!

Pics credit to Bronson Pics via flickr...we forgot the cameras in our hotel rooms.  Too many things on our minds ;-)

Ladies of All Shapes & Sizes - Embrace Who You Are & Think Positive

"Your life is your garden, your thoughts are the seeds.  If your life isn't awesome, you've been watering the weeds."  ~Terry Prince

Today's post is a friendly reminder to all of our Sydney's Closet friends...remember all of your positive qualities, and embrace them :-) 

You are beautiful; you are talented; you are a thinker; you are a believer; you are smart; you are funny; you are loving; you are a diva; you are caring; you are a Mom, Wife, Sister, Friend; you are WOMAN!


What can you add to the list? ;-)

One Stop Plus Launches OSP Mag - a Publication Dedicated to Curvy Women

Hot off the presses is the new OSP Mag from our good friends at One Stop Plus!  The new publication will speak to curvy women about fashion and lifestyle.

In the first issue topics range from denim fashion, to shoes, health issues facing plus size women, makeup and men. In her first editor's letter, Nancy LeWinter explains that OSP Mag is "for fascinating and fashionable plus-size women, not just the one page dress-your-size articles in other magazines."

Nancy LeWinter who has been a leader at other top magazines, including Glamour, Vogue and Marie Claire, Esquire, and Mode, is the current Editorial Director of OneStopPlus.com®

The Fashion Team at Sydney's Closet send congratulations to One Stop Plus on the release of OSP Mag!  We are sure it's going to be a hit, and highly recommend you check it out.

'A Star is Born' Little Black Dress Now Available - with *FREE Shipping

Sydney's Closet is thrilled to announce that A Star is Born is now available!  This fun and flirty little black dress is absolutely stunning, and sure to be a hit for any occasion you wear it to.

Order by November 1, 2011 and get *FREE ground shipping! Use exclusive coupon code:  SC80566

Sparkle all night when you wear this fun strapless party dress in flattering Empire waist design. Shirred netting softly adorns the strapless sweetheart bodice. A satin band with beaded embellishment accentuates the waist. The A-line knee-length skirt sparkles with a silver glitter border at the hemline. Optional straps and matching shawl included. Perfect for holiday parties!

Bestseller Back in Stock: 'Not Forgotten' by Sydney's Closet

Great news for all our patient customers who reserved  “Not Forgotten”, our bestselling formal dress with jacket.

The chic style is back in stock in both solid black and black with slate!!!  Watch for an email or call from The Fashion Team if you reserved your size or color. No wonder the beaded lace is soooo popular.  The bra-friendly beaded bodice, hip-length lace jacket and flowing chiffon skirt make SC4001 the perfect polished look for any big night and a favorite choice of customers shopping for Mother of the Bride and Mother of the Groom dresses.

Details include:

• Lace fabric
• Polyester chiffon fabric
• Satin
• V-neck neckline
• Bra-friendly straps
• V-back
• A-line skirt
• Floor length
• Beaded bodice
• Jacket long sleeve
• Matching jacket included
• Fully lined

Lady in Red - Kate, Duchess of Cambridge, Vibrant in Red

Catherine, the Duchess of Cambridge, added another page to her beautiful style book when she wore this stunning Beulah London Sarai dress to a fund raising event recently in London. 

You too can have your Lady in Red moment!  Be proud, be loud, be bold!  Check out these gorgeous red gowns by Sydney's Closet in a variety of styles including jewel-neck, one shoulder, spaghetti strap & sleeves, and materials from chiffon to satin.

Phoebe

Ruffles and Flourishes

Drama Queen

Express Yourself

Shining Star

Sonsi Partners with Plus Size Supermodel Emme

Sydney's Closet Fashion Team is thrilled to share with you that plus size supermodel Emme has teamed up with Sonsi, the award-winning online shopping and social destination for women sizes 12 and above.

Direct from the newswire: "'From Emme's Closet to Yours', a four-week campaign designed to give women wearing plus sizes inspiration when it comes to achieving their full fashion potential, day or night. Using Fashion Genius™, Sonsi's revolutionary new online "style and fit" technology, Emme will create and share head-to-toe looks to take her through every occasion of her life, from business meetings and yoga workouts to family activities and evening events." 

Sydney's Closet began working with Sonsi in 2011, and we are delighted with this newest campaign! We are looking forward to it's launch tomorrow, Monday, October 17th!  Check it out and let us know what you love about it.

Plus Size Celebrities - Popularity or Acceptance?

If we sit back and think about it, Sydney's Closet has seen society coming around as a whole to accepting plus-size celebrities.  And now, more than ever, they are being looked at for their pure talent...on the inside, not just what shows on the outside.  Below is only a handful of the many talented and lovely celebrities that have grabbed our attention in the last year as being outstanding role models for the plus size community.  Do you have a favorite, or someone who has made a difference in your life?

Melissa McCarthy

Kathy Bates

Loretta Devine

Nikki Blonski

Mo’Nique

Gabourey "Gabby" Sidibe

 Gabby is wearing a Sydney's Closet Exclusive in the above photo.

 

Shades of a White Wedding Dress

White: a color without hue at one extreme end of the scale of grays, opposite to black. A white surface reflects light of all hues completely and diffusely. Most so-called whites are very light grays: fresh snow, for example, reflects about 80 percent of the incident light, but to be strictly white, snow would have to reflect 100 percent of the incident light. It is the ultimate limit of a series of shades of any color. (Dictionary.com)

Long gone are the days of only having "white" wedding gowns to choose from.  For example, the gown shown above - Sydney's Closet Eternal Grace - is actually Ivory.  Too many, at quick glance we would call it White.  But for many brides the shade can be very important.  It may be a factor in the wedding theme, bridesmaids dresses, or personal taste.

It is important to know the specific names of the shades of white, and what shades they each represent.  As you can see by the few examples we pictured here, the difference can be quite a bit.  

 

The Trend For Two, Even Three Wedding Dresses For The Big Day

The trend of having two wedding gowns for the big day is nothing new.  Quite often a Bride wants a more free-flowing gown for her reception...to dance the night away.  They second gown is sometimes also in a shorter style, and sometimes even a color other than white.

Most recently our Fashion Team saw Kim Kardashian's wedding nuptials, and the pictures that followed, which included 3 gowns from Vera Wang!  The gowns were defined as:  Nuptials / First Dance / Dance Reception.

Another celebrity will soon be following trend. It is rumored that Shannon Tweed has chosen three gowns for her long awaited wedding to KISS lead Gene Simmons.  Speculation is that all will be low cut, and contouring to the body. We will find out soon, as the wedding date is said to be Saturday, October 1st!

The Queen (Latifah) is in the House!

Queen Latifah is an inspiration to many, for many reasons.  She is a Grammy Award winning singer, a Golden Globe & SAG Award winning actress, and is sure to win it big with her new fashion collection 'Queen Collection' on HSN - Home Shopping Network.  At Sydney's Closet we applaud her for being a confident, sophisticated role model to young girls and plus size ladies...and for her great fashion sense.

Our Fashion Team had great fun browsing thru the collection, and noted that most of the everyday wear items were under $100.  The designs are practical, quite stylish, with a sense of sophistication as well.  





 

A Twist on Bridesmaids Gowns - Varying Styles & Colors

Not only have Bridal Gowns evolved over the years, so have Bridesmaids Gowns.  And with even more creative thinking, the Bridal party is getting even more makeovers in styles and colors.  We've pulled together a few of the ideas we found, including the collective Bridesmaids styles in the hit movie 'Bridesmaids'.

Varieties include:
*same color / different style, same length 
*same color / different style, different lengths
*2 colors / same style
*multiple colors / same style
*multiple colors / different styles


Which is your favorite?

 

 

Bravo to Melissa McCarthy - Emmy Winner & Dress Designer!

Melissa McCarthy was radiant and beautiful at the Emmy Awards last night!  And that was even before she won the Emmy for Best Actress in a Comedy Series! 

Her deep purple dress looked regal, and draped her body in just the right way, with a tasteful dip in the front for a V-neck opening.  In a phone call to The Ellen Show today she said she helped design her dress with designer Daniella Pearl.  In UsWeekly she is quoted as saying she didn't find anything out there she liked.  The Fashion Team at Sydney's Closet would have loved to outfit her with a gorgeous gown :-)

Sydney’s Closet is a Fashion Fairy Godmother

Special thanks to Carol from Georgia for sending us this thoughtful and sweet note after she bought “Meant to Be Noticed, our bestselling short sleeve formal dress in flowing chiffon. It’s great to know that Sydney’s Closet is a Fashion Fairy Godmother who makes dreams come true for Princesses! Now we can’t wait to see pictures of Carol looking glam on the high seas!  

Dear Sydney,

This is a BEAUTIFUL dress, and I was looking forward to wearing it on our cruise in October. How disappointed I was to find that while it zipped close, it was somewhat tight through the mid section. I kept looking at other web sites and at Sydney's Closet  for a larger size in black, but was so disappointed to not find anything.  

Then today, the sun shown!!! Just like magic the size appeared on the website and when I called and spoke to the representative, she assured me it was in stock and she would reserve it pending the return enclosed.

I cannot express to you how happy I am at this moment and how disappointed I was when I could not find a replacement size.  Your company and that dress have made me feel like a princess; although a large one, still very much a princess.

This will be a fantastic and once in a lifetime cruise and Sydney’s Closet has made it possible.

I will always be in your debt.

Thank you all,

Carol from Georgia