Bridesmaid Dresses - the Long and Short of it

Over the years we’ve seen the trend of Bridesmaid dresses go between long and short, with tea length in the middle.  There isn’t a right or wrong, it’s merely a preference of the Bride, and perhaps that of her bridesmaids. 

 

Remember the old rule of “pick out a bridesmaid dress they will be able to wear again.”  Be honest…how many of you were bridesmaids year ago?  Was there ever a bridesmaid dress you actually wore again, or wanted to wear again?

Thank goodness styles have progressed, both from an overall design, to also a variance in lengths.   The option to choose a shorter Bridesmaid dress for a hot season, or an outdoor wedding has never been easier.  And what if it’s a wedding earlier in the day, where a tea length dress is more fitting for a lunch reception.  At Sydney's Closet we offer you a large selection of beautiful Bridesmaids gowns to fit your every desire!

Maybe the new rule should be:  Be honest about what you want…it’s your day!  And if you want to get your Bridesmaids opinions, be open to listening to them ;-)

Adele Rocks the Music World and is Fashion Forward

There are plenty of female role models to choose from in today’s society. One that Sydney’s Closet likes to keep an eye on is Adele. Adele is a fashion forward woman who loves herself and all of her beautiful curves, and works hard for the things she is passionate about. 

Although only in her early twenties, Adele has released two successful albums already. Both albums contain songs which have won her numerous awards such as: Critic’s Choice in the BRIT awards, Best Album in the European Border Breakers Awards, UK Artist of the Year in the Glamour Women of the Year Awards, and many others. Through all of her accomplishments and adventures, Adele has made one thing clear: she loves her body! 

In an interview for Rolling Stone, Adele is quoted saying, “I don’t like going to the gym. I like eating fine foods and drinking nice wine…I don’t make music for eyes, I make music for ears.” Adele has stayed strong to her likes and has no problem showing it. Her attitude is the perfect example of how every woman of all shapes and sizes should feel about themselves. Here at Sydney’s Closet, we don’t just think you’re beautiful, we KNOW you are! 

Sydney's Closet honorable mention in St Louis Post Dispatch Buzz Around Full Figured Fashion Week

Recognition from the press is always appreciated, and when it's from your very own town, it's quite endearing.  A shout-out of huge thanks to Debra Bass for including Sydney's Closet in her latest article, Can plus-size and high-end designer fashion meet in the middle?  It has been great fun to hear many shoppers at the store talk about reading her article!

In the article Debra does a great job of summarizing the third annual Full Figured Fashion Week, which just wrapped up another successful weekend in New York. Increasingly designers and retail stores are realizing the need for bigger and better fashions for the plus size woman.  

Plus size model Fluvia Lacerda who modeled for Sydney's Closet Spring 2011 Collection, was honored as the Plus Size Commercial Model of the Year. 

Sydney's Closet was proud to be one of 15 designers from the U.S., Canada and Europe to be showcased.  Two of our lovely gowns were included, and were very well received by the FFF crowds!

 

 

Fluvia Lacerda - Sydney's Closet Model & now also Commercial Print Model of the Year!

The Fashion Team at Sydney's Closet is absolutely thrilled for Fluvia Lacerda for being honored as the Full Figure Fashion Week Award for Commercial Print Model of the Year! 

“The fact that I won this award is a major deal and I’m very passionate about my work, mostly because I feel that I represent the body image of many women,” says Lacerda.  “I'm not only a healthy woman, but one who wears a size 18 and am confident about it.”

 

Fluvia can be seen below as our beautiful cover bride of our Spring 2011 Bridal catalogue.  She also modeled numerous other bridal gowns and prom fashions.  She is a native of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, who now resides in New York.  Fluvia brings confidence and style to her profession as a size 18, as well as femininity.  And lets not forget an edge of "hot" from her native Brazil.

 

Featured on CNN & in the FFF Finale - Sydney's Closet is Dressed to the Nines!

Can someone please let us know when are feet hit the ground, because right now we are on Cloud 9!

Sydney's Closet Fashion Team was tickled to be a featured designer at the Full Figured Fashion Week 2011 in NYC, sponsored by our dear friends at Sonsi.  It was a fun filled event, with fashions ranging from casual to glitz and glamour.

Attendees from across the world got a first hand look at the wonderful plus size fashions available to them, and a look at fashions to come.  Designers and stores are realizing the need to be more real with their plus size fashion, and the options available to women of all sizes.  Every woman deserves the right to look and feel 

The finale show on Saturday was attended by 1,000 customers, and showcased more than 25 designers.  Sonsi set the mood with being first to the floor, with 12 fabulous looks.  Sydney's Closet is extremely proud to have been the final featured in the Sonsi collection with Dressed to the Nines (shown below)!

Even more recognition was given by CNN Living with their article Plus Sized Women: It's our turn for fine fashion.  CNN showcased the designs showed by Sonsi, including Sydney's Fashion, and did interviews with
Mara Urshel (Owner of Kleinfeld), and Gwen DeVoe, the executive producer of FFF. They agree the need is there, by the consumers, but now we need to get more designers to listen.

Our "Jersey Girl" mani's extended plus-size family is growing!

"Edinburgh College of Art has become the first fashion school in the UK to introduce size 18 mannequins to train the designers of the future."  In May, 2011 plus-size mannequins started appearing in Australia's Myer Department Store.

Along with the rise in need for plus-size clothing, the industry realizes the need to make sure the clothing is designed to fit properly.  As with many clothing when it's designed, a mannequin is very beneficial. However, most female mannequins are a made for a Size 6, with some going up to a size 10-12. 

At Sydney’s Closet we drape and design our plus size dresses on a fit mannequin that conforms perfectly to a Size 18 from on our size chart.  We call her “Jersey Girl” because we bought her from a company in New Jersey and shipped her to our headquarters in St. Louis.  She even has arms, so when we design dresses with sleeves or jackets we can be sure to get a great fit.

Not only is it important for the designing aspect, the true plus-size mannequins should also be used in shops that sell plus-size clothing, so the clothing is displayed properly, and not draped on then pinned back on a smaller mannequin.   

Rock-on Jersey Girl!

Full Figured Fashion Week is Rockin' New York City!

The 3rd annual Full Figured Fashion Week will be heating up the city of New York staring today, June 16th at the Affinia Hotel, and finishing on June 18th with a fashion show finale Saturday evening at The Marriott Marquis in New York City.

The FFF event is for the plus-size industry and its consumers, models, designers, retailers, bloggers and more!  Sydney's Closet is proud to be part of the Sonsi team, and will have gorgeous dresses from our Signature Collection shown!

Over 1000 attendees are expected this year, and at last report tickets were almost sold out.  If you are lucky enough to be attending the event in person, we would love to hear from you!  Tell us what fabulous fashions you are seeing, and remember...we always love pictures!