Introducing Satin Woods Boutique – Canada’s New Plus Size Store

Recently I was introduced to Satin Woods Boutique, an store based in Canada, focused on providing stylish and sophisticated fashions to full figured women. I also had the opportunity to speak with Shannon, one of the founders, who gave me some more insight into Satin Woods Boutique. Here is the short interview I held with Shannon, to help you get to know more about Satin Woods…

When was Satin Woods founded, and what was the inspiration behind it?
Satin Woods was founded in 2010. Our Founder is a plus size woman who has experienced first-hand the serious lack in plus size clothing options available.  Additionally, she witnessed discrimination toward the curvy woman in stores, including plus size stores, which should have been a place of acceptance. These negative experiences led to the realization of the need for a boutique that caters exclusively to the plus size woman.  The average woman now weighs over 150 lbs and wears a size 14 and ‘plus sizes’ should no longer be a stingy section in the back of stores.

What type of clothing do you carry, and in what sizes?
We carry exclusively plus size clothing in sizes 14+ Our range is the broadest in a boutique-style shop in Canada, carrying up to a true size 40.  Our collection encompasses many style options including but not limited to: cocktail dresses, chic tops, sexy pencil skirts and funky jewellery including longer length sterling silver chains.  Our collection is entirely hand-selected by us and nothing is carried in bulk so that our patrons may take pride in knowing their garments are unique.

What makes Satin Woods stand out from other Canadian plus size clothing stores?
Our founder is a plus size woman who understands the experiences of shopping for a curvy physique.  You can read our blog where she touches on her own personal life experiences in a light-hearted manner.  Also, we offer extended customer service hours so our busy clients have time to shop with us and contact us with inquiries after traiditional store-hours. We don’t roll up the red carpet at 5p.m.  Additionally, we have an exclusively designed Loyalty Program that offers discounts on purchases and other perks.  Full details can be obtained on our website.

If you have to share one fashion top with your plus size customer, what would it be?
Only one? That’s difficult! I’m cheating and listing two First, I’d like to touch on our Abby Twist Top which encompasses funky knot detailing under the bust which has received rave reviews on it’s flattering cut. It has a lower cut bustline which can be sported for a sexier look or paired with a cami for a more demure look. The second item is the Anastasia Corset Top.  The flared skirt on it is also very flattering and the velvety details on the arm are unique and dramatic making a great top for a night out to the club or for dinner.

Pick one item you currently carry, that makes a perfect party dress – why so?
Parties should be a time to kick back, relax and let loose.  The Alexandra Gathered Dress offers gorgeous draping details as well as peek-a-boo shoulders that show just a hint of skin for that added touch of allure.  It is also fully lined, providing comfort without having to wear a slip underneath.

How can people order from Satin Woods?
Orders can be placed online through our secured website or via telephone.

What can we expect from Satin Woods in 2011 and beyond?
By demand, we have acquired a beautiful and cozy showroom so women can touch and try our amazing collection. As of February 2011, it will be open for winter hours in beautiful Port Stanley, Ontario which is located in South Western Ontario. Store hours and details can be obtained on our website. We can also be found on Twitter and Facebook.

Have You Bought Your Aviator Jacket Yet?

by Guest Writer

Some women take fashion more seriously than others. There are those who really do not care what they look like. Others will not leave the house unless they are positively sure that they look great and are wearing the latest trends. If fashion is important to you, then you may already be thinking about what you will wear during the winter of 2010/2011. So what fashions for women will be hot when the temperature cools down this year?  Suits, pencil skirts, pin stripes, oversized blazers, alluring black dresses, skinny pants, crewneck sweaters, faux fur, long skirts, knee-length socks and grungy layers featured in many of the popular designer collections winter of 2010/2011. There were also many military style coats for both men and women. Some of these military style coats have gorgeous buttons and are reminiscent of the Russian Tsar period of history. However if you want to be really hip when the weather starts to cool off, you should seriously consider investing in a padded aviator jacket.

Aviator jackets are usually made of leather or suede. The aviator jacket is an enjoyable item to wear because the texture of the material is yielding yet rough. Aviator jackets have a faux fur lining and a striking, oversized collar. Popular colors for the coming fall and winter season are nudes, warm browns and beiges. Alternatively you may wish to purchase a black or dark blue aviator jacket. The best aviator jackets for the winter of 2010/2011 are from the Burberry Prorsum collection. However a Burberry Prorsum aviator jacket will set you back several hundred dollars. If you cannot afford to pay for Burberry Prorsum, there are some attractive but less expensive alternatives available in bricks and mortar stores and online.

The aviator jacket is quite a masculine garment, so for women it should ideally be worn with something feminine. It is a good idea to wear your aviator jacket with a womanly dress (as in the picture above), a sexy skirt, long boots or a pair of leggings. Whatever you decide to wear with your aviator jacket, you will feel warm and look stylish. The aviator jacket is definitely the must-have item of clothing for winter of 2010/2011. If you like to look chic and cutting-edge, be sure to purchase yours in time for the cool weather months this year.

The Winter Wardrobe: Dressing for the Outdoors

by Kathy Penney

Fashions come and go over the years. During the teenage years, the speed at which styles change simply adds to the ‘buzz’ of trend-setting but, in later years, it makes sense to opt for classic clothes that are a little more expensive but will not date, and, with the right maintenance, will last and last.

The chic French do not spend a fortune on clothes, and they do not slavishly follow every new trend that the fashion houses throw up. Instead, they purchase a few key items throughout the year, and ring the changes with their use of accessories. They keep their clothing in good repair so the items they buy last a long time.

It’s not long after the designers have finished their fashion week catwalk shows before the cheaper copies of the clothes that have been showcased find their way into the high street. While the designer versions of dresses are extremely expensive,  the copies are quite often vastly inferior – fine it you want a dress to last just one season, not so good if you want value for money.  It is better to spend more on fewer items, making sure you buy with quality in mind, than to buy lots of cheap versions that will fall apart at the first laundering.

A winter wardrobe needs a lot of thought because it needs to take account of  very cold weather as well as the more balmy days that autumn can sometimes bring.

A key item in a winter wardrobe, and one that will not date, is a full-length wool coat.  In a neutral colour such as oatmeal, chocolate brown, or pewter grey, it can be dressed up with the addition of a few simple accessories, such as a scarf, a brooch, or a handbag. These needn’t match; some great looks are put together using clashing colours.  The accessories can be changed each year for very little cost which means that you can change your look without having to go to the expense of purchasing a brand new coat every winter.

If the budget permits, a knee-length coat is very useful, too. This could be a raincoat in the classic beige, which always looks fashionable and, as with the full-length coat, can be enhanced with good accessories.

Footwear is important, too.  A good pair of winter boots is essential. Buy a pair that will work equally well with the full-length coat as the knee-length, and this will double their usefulness.  A pair of court shoes will be a good investment because they look good with any length of dress or coat.

Once the key items have been purchased, accessories come next and are the ideal way of ringing the changes.

The fashions in hats changes almost with every season but, as they are not as expensive as a new coat, buying – or, indeed, making, if you are handy with the sewing machine, knitting needles, or a crochet hook – one each winter will not break the bank.  The same goes for scarves, gloves, brooches, and handbags.  All can be purchased cheaply or made at home, and mean that you can vary the changes as often as you choose.  A bright hat and scarf will give a neutral-coloured coat a completely different look to that achieved if using pastel colours, and will make it feel like a new outfit.

Buy the best coat, boots, and shoes, that  you can afford at the time, and buy them with a view to making them last for many years. Once you have purchased the big-ticket items, the only money you will need to spend to keep yourself ‘on trend’ will be spent on inexpensive accessories. You will get through the colder winter months looking fashionable but knowing that you have a look that will last.

Introducing Cassaundra’s Clothing Boutique

Today I’d like to introduce you to a new plus size designer I stumbled upon on Etsy.com: meet Cassaundra Bourne, owner and designer of Cassaundra’s Clothing Boutique. Cassaundra took some time out of her busy schedule to answer a few questions for Pasazz.net, read below to find out more about CC Boutique and how Cassaundra customizes her styles to suit every client’s individual needs:

Pasazz.net: Could you tell us a bit more about your collection, the CCB Collection?
Cassaundra: CCB Collection features dresses that have classic lines: sheath, A-line and wrap style made from matte jersey. I chose matte jersey for this collection because it’s gorgeous fabric and has a comfortable stretch; it wears beautifully without clinging. What makes my collection unique is that each style has customizable variations (hem and sleeve length and neckline shape). The dresses are made to order and allow each woman to choose details that meet her own personal style. My complete collection is available at http://www.etsy.com/shop/cassaundrasboutique

Pasazz.net: Can you tell us a bit more about yourself?
Cassaundra: I started sewing when I was about 9 years old. Stitch by stitch, I sewed my first shirt by hand and learned how to use a sewing machine a few years later. In my teens I started making clothes for my friends and at age 21, on a dare from a friend, I went on an interview with a top fashion designer in Boston. Much to my surprise, I was hired as his apprentice. The opportunity to hone my craft under the tutelage of such an accomplished designer was both a blessing and an advantage. 5 years later I branched out on my own and opened an Haute Couture Boutique, designing for many of Boston’s “Who’s Who”. In 2006 I closed my business and moved to the south with my husband and two children. After an almost five year leave from the fashion business, I discovered that nothing (work related) was as satisfying as what I now understand is my true passion.

I was ready to design a line of clothing that represented where I was in my life. Celebrating my 40th birthday and memorializing the one year anniversary of losing my father gave me a new perspective on life. I spent my entire career in fashion designing for other people. This collection represents the woman that I am and what I like to wear. I am a plus size woman with a bend towards classic lines; this collection is a peak into my closet. I developed my line and began selling it on ebay. The overwhelming response to my collection has inspired me to develop a CCB store which I have hopes to launch fall of 2011.

Pasazz.net: When did you start designing fashions, and what was your inspiration?
Cassaundra: I started designing for other people as early as my teens. The majority of my career in fashion was spent designing for my clients; my inspiration came from their needs. As I listened to my clients describe what they wanted, design idea’s would begin to form. I would have to find the just right fabric first before I could complete the design. My inspiration almost entirely starts with fabric and the design ultimately comes from that point.

Pasazz.net: What was the main inspiration behind the CCB Collection?
Cassaundra: The main inspiration behind my CCB Collection is my love of simple clean lines and great fabric. Beautiful fabric is my muse and that is always where my process starts. This collection is based on the use of matte jersey; I sing its praises because it’s so forgiving. One of my biggest (fashion) pet peeves is seeing plus size women wearing clothes that are too big. I think that the most important thing a plus size woman can do (fashion related) is wear clothes that are the correct size. A plus size woman does not need to hide her curves under layers of fabric but present herself with style.

Pasazz.net: Why did you feel you have to expand your collection to include plus sizes?
Cassaundra: I didn’t give a second thought to expanding my line to include plus sizes. Most of my line was designed with plus sizes in mind.

Pasazz.net: Do you ship only to the US?
Cassaundra: I offer free shipping to USA & Canada and I ship worldwide for a minimal additional charge.

Pasazz.net: What can we expect in the future from Cassaundra’s Clothing Boutique?
Cassaundra: My vision for Cassaundra’s Clothing Boutique is to open my own internet store in the fall of 2011. My hope is to expand the customization options to allow woman more control in the design process so they can wear clothes that represent their own style.

Thank you so much Cassaundra for taking the time to answer these questions for us! We wish you all the very best for the future and we cannot wait to see more of your designs and collections in 2011 and beyond.