On the cover were three curvy women in garter belts, garter boyshorts and thigh high stockings.

Delve further into the issue and you will find gorgeous plus size model Tara Lynn adorned in Hips & Curves lingerie. Tara wears our new White Satin and Lace Bustier on one page, and our Basic White Satin Corset on another. We think she looks absolutely ravishing!

Singers, models and actresses such as Lady GaGa, Nicki-Minaj and Amanda Seyfried have been spotted in bodystockings.

There’s something to be said for soft, feminine lace &/or fishnet caressing soft, feminine curves. We think think they are beautiful and super seductive.

Tell us what you think!



I’m so excited about Love Your Body Day!   I get to judge a modeling contest with Plus Model Magazine and Brand Model and Talent Agency.  The model wins a contract with Brand, a cover and editorial in Plus Model Magazine and a chance to join the ranks of the famous Hips & Curves faces and to have her curves seen by millions of people around the world!

I can’t wait to meet all of the contests and find out who we’ll do our shoot with.   I love working with sensual, vulnerable, curvy women.  I love how our lingerie looks on soft, feminine bodies.   I love the strength and vulnerability our models show when they get under the lights and stand (or sit or lie down) in the middle of our studio in lingerie, and bare their souls to me, the camera and the world.

What I look for in a model is someone who is totally comfortable in her body.  When she puts on a piece of lingerie she commits to the look and makes it happen.   When she’s wearing our products she can’t be timid or afraid or concerned about how her stomach, hips, arms – whatever – look.  She has to love and accept all of herself – even what she might perceive as her flaws.  She doesn’t just put on a piece of lingerie and pose – she lets who she is come through her eyes, her face, her body and the way she moves.   She gives 100% of herself and doesn’t withhold anything from the photographer or the camera.   She embodies strength and vulnerability.  During a shoot, we give everything we have – and the model has to give everything she has to make it a success.

Being a Hips & Curves model is not for the faint of heart. But it’s a wonderful experience for the brave, daring, sensual – or even the timid, who want to break out of their comfort zone and do something truly incredible.    Our models inspire people to be proud of their curves and their sensuality.  They are role models and powerful examples of embracing their feminine power   I’ve read the emails from customers and seen the faces of the crew during the shoots.  I’ve seen perspectives shift and eyes being opened for the first time. What could be more inspiring than seeing soft curvy figures, moving to the music and being free, confident and amazing?

If you’re curious, excited, confident (or want to be more confident) send us your pics!   Sign up for the contest here.

]]> http://www.curvyconfidential.com/2009/10/have-you-always-wanted-to-be-a-model/feed/ 2 http://www.curvyconfidential.com/2009/06/ideas-come-to-life/ http://www.curvyconfidential.com/2009/06/ideas-come-to-life/#comments Mon, 01 Jun 2009 17:45:47 +0000 Christine http://www.curvyconfidential.com/?p=946 Time flies at Hips and Curves, but this week seems to have gone by even faster.  On Monday, the stylists were busy coordinating looks for a big photo shoot.   Tuesday, meetings, meetings and more meetings.  I was excited to report that tons of orders were being placed for the Essential Everyday T-shirt Bra in our featured summer colors, lime and turquoise.   I personally love the lime and need to get my order in   Wednesday the office was electric again.  Last minute samples were arriving for the shoot, stylists were coordinating looks – corsets, thigh highs, shoes, bras and panties.

Thursday was a group effort getting everything ready for the shoot.   The crew built a beautiful set using one of our new harem canopies and spent a large part of the day setting up lighting and scenes.  The stylists were busy putting together the final pieces for each look, steaming lingerie, pulling shoes and hosiery from the wardrobe closet and staging and labeling each look on clothing racks.

When Friday arrived there was a buzz in the air. The model arrived and took her seat in hair and make-up. The make up artist, hair stylist, photographer and wardrobe assistants discussed the looks and shots for the day.   Then, with lights on, fans blowing and music blaring, the model arrived on set in a red jacquard corset and a stunning long black slinky ruched skirt.  It was then that the magic began.  Everyone’s hard work and long hours paid off. Ideas, meetings and samples came to life for the first time.  The shoot was a success.

PS – Make sure you check out the “behind the scenes” email newsletter for more!  If you’re not already signed up, you can sign up here.

PSS – The stylists used my suggestion for one of the outfits – the underbust corsest with the ruffle trim demi bra!

There once was a time any man would hurry to open a door or pull out a chair. You would pass by and hats would tip to you left and right. In the society we live in now, that has become a rarity. These days it’s more common than not, to have an elevator door close on you as you rush to make it in, and hats are left on as if stuck with superglue.

Don’t get me wrong, I am not saying all men behave like this. It’s just the number of those who have lost their manners has increased dramatically over the last few generations. There are still some men (and if you find one, keep him!) that will open the door for you, and not only you. To be a true gentleman they will hold it for you and the group walking in behind you. They will hurry to open your car door, and let you pass ahead of them as you walk through a tight squeeze on the sidewalk.

Some would argue that this decline in society contributes to the lack of self esteem and self respect that we see in the women of today. I even heard a close friend of mine say “Men make me feel the worst about myself. Sometimes I feel as if I don’t even deserve to have a door held open for me anymore.” We know it isn’t anything personal men, but women are complicated and observant beings and the little things mean a lot. I’m sure it also stems from the difference in how boys and girls are raised. Girls are brought up awaiting their fairytale prince and being told to stay clear of the wrong kind of guy. However boys these days are being taught less and less about manners and chivalry, replacing Cotillion with PS3′s and YouTube.

And of course, media does not help the cause much. Media portrays women as size 0-5, with skin and bones as the “accepted norm” and the attitude that anyone above that must be unhealthy or have an eating disorder.

In reality, the average size of the American woman is a size 14. That’s right, a size 14. So why should the media’s view of beauty not reflect the true beauty of the average woman? A woman’s curves help to define the difference between the sexes, they are the embodiment of femininity and should be praised, not scorned or hidden if they’re not the “accepted norm”. We need to realize our individual beauty, in and out, no matter if we are a size 2 or 20, or if a door is held for us or not.

It is up to us as women to find our self-respect within, and not to let our image of ourselves be defined by media’s skewed perspectives or by the actions or lack thereof of others. Women are strong creatures, full of love and life, wisdom and perseverance. Embrace your femininity, embrace your individuality, and love your curves just as they are!

From Manuel – a civil engineer and one of my dear friends from Italy:

Ciao Misty! Here are some thoughts to your question… thanks for asking.

I think what I like most and I would extend many men like about bigger women is the absolute appearance of the female form.  Many women, while trying to stay thin or exercise too much are coming to a point where they look more like men dressed up like women.

When you combine the softer appearance of a real woman with a proportioned body, the image conveys the idea of a woman who fully appreciates all that life has to offer, who seeks every joy in life and that shows to the world her appreciation of Joy.  Furthermore, it enhances and boosts all the sexual symbols that are embedded in our brains, and the desire of experiencing all that fulfillment is pervading!

hmmm… I can’t wait for my Italian vacation later this year to get some of that appreciation in person!

From Adam – an extremely fun and dynamic CEO from Los Angeles:

Okay, let me start off by saying that I love women. I love their femininity, their sweetness and their softness.  This goes hand-in-glove with what you’re asking.  Crudely, I’m drawn to hips and butts and boobs.  More subtlety, however, I love women’s curves.  It’s the curves in a woman’s silhouette that melt me every time.   I like feeling wrapped in love, enveloped, if you will, and a “skinny” girl just can’t hold me the way a woman of substance can.

As for the “look” of a curvy girl, there’s just something about natural cleavage and the soft yielding flesh of a healthy figure that makes me swoon every time.

Ah yes, there is nothing I love more than making a man swoon!

And finally my favorite sentiment 

From Matt – a blue collar guy from the Midwest with a heart of gold:

You know, there is a place between the shoulder and hip that is meant for an arm.   I mean… have you ever driven through Nebraska?   It’s flat and boring and I think that is why not too many people live there.   I like scenery and points of reference, terrain that lets you know where your at. 

Well said, darlin’… I’m happy to be your road map anytime!

We want to hear from other men – what makes you attracted to curvy women?

It’s Barbie’s 50th anniversary and everyone is celebrating. I just came across an article about a life size Barbie car with a tall, lanky Heidi Klum standing next to it. I guess Heidi does represent the perfect life size Barbie. After seeing her photo I wondered what it would have been like if we had a more realistic doll to play with growing up. There have been reports which claim that Barbie and her skinny doll friends may promote young girls’ insecurity about their image which, in turn, may contribute to body insecurity. And we all know that in some cases, body insecurity in children can lead to eating disorders later in life.

What if we had a different doll to play with when we were growing up? She would still wear fashionable clothes, drive a convertible and have a hot boyfriend, but instead of the 39-19-33 measurements she’s famous for, she would have a real body with curves. I wonder if we would have a different view of our body while playing with her’s?

Well, I looked it up and apparently there does exist the Barbie doll of my dreams. The doll was released in 2002 and I found this blog post about it.

Emme, the plus-size model who made it more than OK for cover girls to be a size 12, is bringing an industry not known for positive body images up to size. Tonner Doll Co. last week introduced a toy created in the image of Emme.

The doll’s designer, Robert Tonner, would rather talk about the beauty of Emme (the person) than the messy issues surrounding feminism, Barbie and eating disorders. Tonner, a former Bill Blass designer and doll collector, said he created the Emme look-alike after being swept away by the model’s appearance on a talk show. If he’s out to make any statement, it’s more “Emme is beautiful” than “Big is beautiful.”

But, the Barbie versus Emme comparison is hard to ignore. For 50 years (WHOOPS!), an impossibly proportioned figure has reigned in the fashion-doll aisle. So when a size 12 joins her on the shelf, it’s got to make some waves. And, the life-sized Emme is anything but silent on the subject: “Barbie needs some new friend.”

Emme was the first model to speak to these issues before a congressional subcommittee and the chair ambassador of the National Eating Disorders Association.

“Yes, it is just a doll, but it’s a chance to open the doll industry to the idea of inclusiveness,” Emme says. “Don’t you think that girls who play with dolls would include all types if there were any available? They’re not the ones who think all dolls should be blond, blue-eyed and thin. That’s introduced to them.”

Perhaps times are changing. Maybe when I have daughters I’ll be able to buy them a Mia Tyler or Barbara Brickner doll?

What do you guys think? Do you let your daughters play with Barbie Dolls?

“O.K., I was really hoping that I was going to get that role in “The Real World,” but then I realized that, well, they don’t like plus-sized models.”

Although I’m not big on politics, the story caught my eye when I read Meghan’s response in the Daily Beast. I definitely thought it was worth sharing with you guys.

I have been teased about my weight and body figure since I was in middle school, and I decided a very long time ago to embrace what God gave me and live my life positively…. I am a size 8 and fluctuated up to a size 10 during the campaign. It’s ridiculous even to have this conversation because I am not overweight in the least and have a natural body weight.

But even if I were overweight, it would be ridiculous. I expected substantive criticism from conservative pundits for my views…. My intent was to generate discussion about the current problems facing the Republican Party. Unfortunately, even though Ingraham is more than 20 years older than I and has been a political pundit for longer, almost, than I have been alive, she responded in a form that was embarrassing to herself and to any woman listening to her radio program who was not a size 0.

In today’s society this is, unfortunately, predictable. Everyone from Jessica Simpson to Tyra Banks, Oprah and Hillary Clinton has fallen victim to this type of image-oriented bullying. Recent pictures of Pierce Brosnan’s wife, Keely Shaye Smith, on the beach in her bikini raised criticism about her weight and choice of bathing suit — as if the woman should be wearing a giant muumuu to swim in the ocean. After Kelly Clarkson’s recent appearance on “American Idol,” the first commentary I read on the Internet was about her weight gain instead of her singing.

My weight was consistently criticized throughout the campaign. Once someone even suggested I go to a plastic surgeon for liposuction. Afterward, I blogged about loving my body and suggested critics focus their insecurities about women’s bodies elsewhere. On the other side, my mother was constantly slammed for being too skinny, so the weight obsession of the media and our culture goes both ways. It also goes to both parties. Hillary Clinton has consistently received criticism for her pantsuits and figure. Whatever someone’s party, these criticisms are quite obviously both wrong and distracting from the larger issues at play.

The question remains: Why, after all this time and all the progress feminists have made, is weight still such an issue? And in Laura’s case, why in the world would a woman raise it? Today, taking shots at a woman’s weight has become one of the last frontiers in socially accepted prejudice.”

Kudos for Meghan for putting things in perspective! Read her entire response here and check out Meghan discussing the issue with the ladies on The View: