All in all, the last year has been a good one for plus-size women, who had previously struggled to find fashionable clothes to fit.
With some designers creating pieces actually cut for larger women, plus-size models being used on runways, larger ladies featured in mainstream advertising campaigns and an increase in both high street and high-end retailers selling clothing for fuller-figured women, including the hallowed Saks Fifth Avenue, 2010 was a break-through year for plus-size women.
H&M Inclusive — Clothing for Plus-size Women
Now comes an additional bonus for larger women who buy high street fashion and want to be right on trend. Swedish retail giant H&M has announced that it will launch a fashionable one-off collection that includes plus sizes, only available for purchase online.
The new collection for spring summer 2011, called H&M Inclusive, will feature a total of 20 colorful pieces, and will go up to a UK size 24 (European size 54). However, it is not in itself a dedicated plus-size line as it also features standard sizes — which may relate to the concept behind the label's title "Inclusive." The collection has a 50s-theme and consists of lingerie, figure-flattering party dresses, trendy skirts, tops and cardigans.
The 50s-style dresses have a Mad Men flavor with pretty floral prints and polka dots and H&M Inclusive embraces key trends for spring 2011 in the guise of white broiderie Anglais, full skirts and asymmetric cuts. One stand out piece is a little blue dress in a single-color block that is embellished with flower petals, which would be the perfect outfit for a summer wedding.
H&M Inclusive is due to go on sale in early March on H&M Online.
H&M Designer Collaborations
H&M have managed to pull off a number of fashion coups on late. Not least their current designer collaboration with iconic Paris fashion house Lanvin, a high-end collection for fall winter 2010/2011, entitled Lanvin for H&M.
Other past designer collaborations have included, Jimmy Choo, Stella McCartney, Matthew Williamson, Stella McCartney, Karl Lagerfeld and Sonia Rykiel. Lanvin is the most successful one to date in terms of reeling in this iconic label, famous for its dramatic cuts, sharp tailoring, embellishments, puffed asymmetric sleeves, oversized ruffles and trademark tuxedos.
Success of H&M
H&M has a reputation for offering fashion and quality at an affordable price. H & M Hennes & Mauritz AB (H&M) was founded in Sweden 1947 and now the retail chain has over 1,600 stores in Europe, North America, the Middle East and Asia.
H&M Online
Currently only H&M customers living in Europe can order online. However, in January 2011, H&M released news, via its official Twitter account, that it is opening up its online store to the USA. H&M tweeted "H&M has decided to have online shopping in the US at the turn of the year 2011/2012! Stay tuned for more.” This is a savvy move, which will help H&M fend off online competition from other fashion retailers.
Unfortunately, however, this means that H&M Inclusive, featuring plus size pieces will only be available to buy via the internet in Northern Europe as H&M Online is currently only available in the United Kingdom, Sweden, Denmark, Finland, Austria, Germany, Holland and Norway. This means larger ladies living in the USA will have to wait a little longer.
Images courtesy of H&M Press Office.
Gill Hart - Gill Hart is a fashion and image professional who specializes in women's fashion over 50.
