If you are a regular newsletter reader you will have seen our offer to  star in a fashion shoot for How to Look Good

Yes this season we will feature ordinary women on our site instead of relying on the glossy but unrealistic PR shots. Hence all our models being over 40!

I’m planning on a fun filled day on Friday and will be tweeting right the way through the day so follow me and I’ll flag up each of the four trends to give you a bit of a heads up!

So Crystal says she was photo shopped to look thinner. One of our most famous curvy beauties  had her body digitally redesigned to appeal to some one’s misguided fashion standard. I am not happy and neither is she…

“Well, I was shocked. When I saw the pictures, I think I was silent for a good five minutes, staring with my mouth open. I don’t know what was done to those photos or who did it, but they look retouched to me. And listen, everybody retouches, but don’t make me into something I’m not.

[Reached for comment, photographer Nicholas Routzen explained that Crystal looks the way she does because the photos were “…taken from a higher angle with a wider lens.” But he also added, “I shaped her…I did nothing that I wouldn’t do to anyone. I’m paid to make women look beautiful.”]

Yes Nick love but it’s your idea of beauty that we dispute!

And it doesn’t stop there, with Julien MacDonald thoughtlessly declaring plus size models a joke.

You can see some of us have our work cut out!

That’s why I’m contributing to the Lib Dem Body Confidence campaign and that’s also why All Walks the campaign I co-founded with Erin O’Connor and Debra Bourne is going from strength to strength. Let me know what you think as every body counts.

Read full article http://nymag.com/daily/fashion/2010/07/crystal_renn_says_she_was_phot.html

So Janet Street Porter having a bit of a not unreasonable rant online today. I’m in full agreement with her. The average British woman is a size 16 yet she is not catered for amongst the rails of designer offerings.

When I have spoken to designers about this very matter, they have talked about UK size 16 not being required by their customers. Even being left on the rails when they have made them. Women who enter the hallowed portals of these fashion luvies apparently only want 12s maybe a 14

Ah I say “but did you tell women you have larger sizes on the rails for them to buy?”

They looked bemused when I have suggested using a larger model amongst their stable of standard models in some of their  advertising campaigns to show that they welcome curvy women through the door!

How else can women get the nod from a designer that they will be properly catered for? As I say on a regular basis…middle aged women are fashion literate and we have the funds to back it up! The first one to do the basic maths on this one in recessionary Britain may just find sales increase. Can it really be that simple? Here’s a picture of Hayley Morley and Valerie Pain from our All Walks project, shot by Kayt Jones

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-1293863/Give-size-16-The-fashion-world-refuses-make-clothes-fit-real-woman–says-JANET-STREET-PORTER.html

It’s that time of year again where the search for special occasion clothes…Weddings, Anniversaries and Christenings, takes precedent.

From your letters and face to face questions at National Wedding Show I know that post surgery requirements or just having a curvier bust means you don’t feel comfy in low cut necklines.

Cami Confidential by Yvonne Gillon  can be worn alone or under clothing and will hug the chest without gaping when leaning forward and hey there are plenty of colours to choose from when you check out the website .

The long cami is priced at £40 and the short cami at £35 – with a donation from each sale going towards The Genesis Appeal – a charity dedicated to the prevention of breast cancer.

In the spirit of enjoying scarves in my hair again after all these years, I’ve decided they are a versatile classic that can’t be beaten.

I have loads but of course I tend to favour the same old ones…they go with everything. Yesterday I made myself buy two more just to ring the changes from Accessorise as I passed through Euston Station…a psychedelic silk version that will jazz up any black dress and a great blue stripey nautical jersey one that opens out so wide it could be a wrap too.

Mostly I like to throw them on to add a bit of femininity to an austere look… which if I’m honest I do tend to plump for.

I clip the bows in place to secure them and I promise they really do only take minutes to tie…I talk about the importance of accessories and show how they can work to flatter your shape in my body shape e-books

This is a picture I have just taken myself as there is no one in the office to assist! Ahhh the marvels of iphone.