Continual Vigilance

I am often surprised by people’s reaction when I tell them that
I bought my latest dress off the Internet. They cannot
understand how I could take the ‘risk’ of buying something so
personal online, without even touching or trying it on first.
This is the most common feedback I get from many friends and
relatives when they compliment me on my new outfit, ask me where
I got it from and I tell them… online!

The thing is, most of this feedback comes from people who are
size 10 or less and who do not understand how much of a
distressing experience clothes shopping can be for a lady who is
size 20.

I remember when I was younger hating going shopping with cousins
or friends. Most of the time I used to end up being their
shopping assistant instead of their fellow shopper; not finding
anything that I liked which was in my size, would usually leave
me no other option. I could not understand why most stores could
not open their eyes real wide and realise that most women are
curvy! It felt (and still does feel) so unfair to me that most
of the fashionable styles of clothing are not available for plus
sized women.

My shopping experience changed from night to day when I
discovered plus size clothing stores online. I could not believe
the amount of stores available online for plus size women.
Stores exclusively carrying plus size fashion; apparel and
accessories that looked good and that was in my size. I was
ecstatic at my discovery, this eased so many of my shopping
problems.

I can now say that over the years the amount of plus size stores
available online has grown tremendously, and the quality of
fashion available has definitely improved. Plus size store
online are now able to satisfy all tastes, occasions and sizes.

I have decided to share these thoughts with you to encourage
fellow plus size women who may be looking for that special
outfit, or who simply want to shop for more clothes, to consider
the option of shopping online because, believe me, it will open
many stylish doors for you!

Here follow my seven essentials reasons why I personally shop
online for most of my clothes and why I am recommending online
shopping to all plus size women.

1. Size availability

Finally you no longer have to worry about whether stores carry
the item you like in your size, because plus size stores online
cater exclusively to plus size women’s needs. That is, they
usually carry items from size 12 or 14 to size 48 and above!
Most stores have their own size ranges, as some may stop at size
34 for instance while others may carry items up to size 50. This
usually varies on a store by store basis.

2. Endless choice of styles

When you are out and about shopping in the usual stores, you are
rather limited to the styles of clothing available at one store.
Some stores may focus on formal wear rather than casual, and
some may not carry swimwear or lingerie for instance. This
inconvenience does not exist online. Why? Most plus size
clothing stores online carry a wide variety of styles. Plus, it
is easy for you whilst you are shopping around online, to switch
from one store to the other if you are looking for a different
style.

3. Ease of shopping

I don’t know about you but shopping is one tiring chore; walking
around big stores, out of this one and into the other. By the
end of the day your feet will be aching; makes you wonder why
you go into all their trouble in the first place! Shopping
around on the Internet just to see what’s in stock, what’s in
fashion and what the price ranges are, can be done at just the
click of a mouse. You can tirelessly click your way from store
to store.

4. Greater selection

When shopping online for clothes I usually find that I am open
to a more vast selection of items than when I’m otherwise
shopping in usual stores. A store’s web-site usually lists all
the items available within that particular store, so you can
view everything online. The fashion available to plus size women
online from the various stores available is simply endless; you
will find stores to suit every taste, age and size. You will
find the right store for you!

5. Save those pennies
Looking for the best priced
item is much easier online. Imagine you have found an item that
you would like to buy; you could easily make a note of it by
book-marking the page, and before actually buying that item you
can browse around the other plus size clothing stores to check
whether they carry the same or similar items at a cheaper price.
There are also a lot of promotions and sales going on at online
plus size stores. Some stores may choose to keep you updated to
their promotions by emailing you monthly newsletters, which will
keep you up to date with money saving deals, coupons available
and discounts.

6. Friendlier shopping experience

I don’t know about you but one thing I really hate is the nasty
attitude and looks I get sometimes from shopping assistants when
they tell you, “Sorry we do not carry that in your size!” Seems
to me like they need some chocolate in their system! You will
definitely not get any of that from most plus size stores
online, as they understand the needs of big beautiful women and
the friendly customer service reps are usually plus size ladies
themselves.

7. Convenient!

This is definitely my favourite perk of shopping online. It is
simply convenient! You can shop whenever you what, at what time
you want and you can even shop in your pyjamas! You have ample
of time to think about your purchase, look over the items you
want to buy over and over until you make you final decision. It
is just all about you and your time.

Overall shopping online is much more of a pleasant experience.
Personally I shop online for a wide range of stuff, due to time
constraints and everyday life; however even if I had all the
time in the world I would still opt for shopping online when
looking for new clothes and accessories as it is much more of a
satisfying experience. I recommend online shopping at plus size
fashion stores to all the big beautiful women who have trouble
finding outfits they really like and which fit them well. The
Internet will make you love shopping and your figure!

We usually have a choice: we can accept what’s happening to us
or we can empower ourselves and try to modify the situation.
Genetics, past and current behaviors, gravity and time are tough
adversaries but there are actions you can take to lessen their
influence. Here’s what you can control to resist those pesky
fine lines and wrinkles.

Basically your skin reflects external factors and the care
you’re taking of yourself. If you’re sick or stressed or
stretched or tired, these conditions show. Your skin, especially
on your face, may appear dull or drawn and show blemishes and
signs of aging.

Personal care- Try to squeeze in a few minutes, twice a
day, to do the four or five simple steps for healthy skin:
cleanse, exfoliate (lightly), freshen or tone, moisturize and,
in the morning, protect. Many brands, like Mary Kay Inc., are
combining the cleanse-exfoliate-freshen steps into one with a
comprehensive facial product. You’ll start to see the results of
increased personal care in clearer, smoother skin within two to
three weeks. That’s a great return on investment for a small
amount of time spent.

Diet - We all know the benefits of a good diet.
Generally, when you’re healthy so is your skin*. You can follow
a special diet for a desired result or just get your daily quota
of vegetables, fruits, bran and water to improve your skin.

Hydrating the skin from inside, by drinking sufficient water,
and from outside, by using moisturizers, helps plump up the
skin. (Facial moisturizers may contain humectants which draw
moisture. When used around the eye area, humectants can cause
puffiness. For the eye area, choose specially-formulated creams
to moisturize.)

Exercise - Diet and exercise; we’ve heard it before. For
the skin, exercise results in increased circulation (oxygenation
and cell turnover), sweating (removal of toxins) and improved
skin tone, among others. Exercise reduces stress which helps
with outlook, attitude and even facial expressions (good ones).

Sleep, rest, relaxation - Being well-rested enhances our
bodies and looks. If a good night’s sleep is a luxury, fit in a
short break during the day to recharge. Do something that suits
your lifestyle and personality with the goal of temporarily
relaxing your body and quieting your mind.

Sun exposure and the environment - External factors
affecting your skin include direct sun, poor quality air, heat,
cold, humidity, dryness.

To prevent bad effects from exposure to the sun, wear a
sunscreen or sun block on unprotected skin year around. Select
one that’s been approved by the Skin Care Foundation with an SPF
of 15 and over. Ingredients that are considered particularly
effective include Parsol 1789 a.k.a. avobenzene (a sunscreen)
and titanium oxide & zinc oxide (sun blocks).

To reverse damage from past sun exposure, consider products that
exfoliate the skin and stimulate collagen production. These
include mechanical exfoliants such as microdermabrasion (Mary
Kay Inc.), retinoids or Vitamin A derivatives (Renova and
Retinol) and antioxidants.

Other behaviors - In addition to poor diet, lack of
exercise, insufficient sleep, unprotected exposure to the sun
and environment, cigarette smoke and excessive alcohol
consumption wreak havoc on skin, especially the delicate skin of
the face and neck.

That’s a quick introduction to the factors that affect the
health and aging of our skin and the conditions we can control.
Stay tuned for more details!

*For specific skin conditions, please consult a board-certified
dermatologist.

© Copyright 2006. Charlotte Maddox. All rights reserved.