The covers of next month’s style magazines may not read “fat is the new black,” but more and more people are recognizing that full-figured women play a vital role in the fashion industry.
The plus size sector of the business is growing – and not just in inches.
One local clothing line is doing its best to prove that curvaceous is sexy.
Curvy Girl Clothing was started by sisters Laura Poorman, Lisa Toton and Mi’Lane Cremeans in the summer of 2005.
Since then, Curvy Girl has taken the Internet by storm with its trendy dresses, cruisewear, tops and accessories available in sizes 14 to 32.
Now the sisters are preparing to shake up the retail world with the grand opening of their Portland store.
Poorman said they are really excited with the store’s progress and potential.
“We wanted to offer plus size women a boutique feel at bargain prices,” she said. “The store has a bohemian look – it’s super cute.”
Poorman also said the sisters made a decision to have a limited warehouse opening in order to accommodate holiday shopping.
“There are little odds and ends that still need to be taken care of before the grand opening,” she said.
The founders of Curvy Girl Clothing believe one of the line’s biggest obstacles is size acceptance.

Toton said she has met a lot of women who deny the plus size label.
“Women need to come to Jesus and say ‘I am plus size,’” she said.
Poorman agreed. “So many plus size women are always on a perpetual diet, waiting to lose that extra 30 pounds,” she said.
“It’s hard to have sustainable revenue when women are buying clothes for the size they want to be and not the size they actually are.”
Poorman compared the shopping habits of plus size women with those of smaller women.
“Usually, plus size women buy clothes to look thinner,” she said. “Thin women buy clothes to look more fashionable.”
She thinks this needs to change.
“You have to take chances if you want to look trendy. Trendy and flattering don’t always go hand in hand,” she said.
Lara Frater, author of “Fat Chicks Rule!: How to Survive in a Thin-Centric World,” said that plus size women deserve the clothes they want now instead of when they theoretically might lose weight.
“I am extremely disappointed in the lack of styles, sizes and selections in department and plus size stores,” she said.
Frater believes that the location of plus size sections in department stores is an important indicator of how fat women are treated by the fashion industry.
“Plus sections are either on the top floor or in the basement, far away from other people,” she said. “We are essentially being told we should remain invisible.”
Poorman said that a lot of people who create plus size lines aren’t even plus size.
“We’ve always known how hard it is for plus size women,” she said. “My sister and I are both 6-1. I’m a 16/18 and she’s a 20/22.”
Frater advises that women should not give business to any store that does not carry their size.
“No accessories, no shoes – nothing. Make sure the store knows why you won’t shop there,” she said.
Frater believes the biggest obstacles to size acceptance lie in the images and stories that bombard us each day.
“All around us are images of super thin women and stories that proclaim there is nothing worse than being fat,” she said.
Curvy Girl Clothing wants plus size women to rebel against that notion.
“Some of the sexiest women I’ve ever seen are plus size,” Toton said.
“It’s not a dirty club for secret sex addicts or something. It’s one of those clubs where everyone knows you’re a member.”
[email protected]