Plus Size | Miranda

Luxury Nightgowns and Robes – Why Fabric is Key
There’s something about silk which makes it a luxury fabric, and of course it feels fabulous close to the skin. Sadly a lot of people steer clear of silk in the belief that it is difficult to care for, which these days is not always the case. Many modern silks, including those we use, are [...]
Nightgowns and Why The Right Fabric is the Secret.
The best way to choose a see-through nightgown online is to pay little attention to the picture. The name of the textile used is generally more useful. Chiffon is one of the most commonly used sheer fabrics, as are georgette, tulle, double georgette and organza. Lace can be quite revealing depending on the pattern, and [...]
Nightgowns – Can They Improve Your Sex Life?
In a word, yes. A nightgown can be anything, from a simple cotton shift to a few patches of lace, a wisp of lace and a ribbon. It can be modest or revealing, sophisticated or sluttish, silk or cotton, long or short. The word nightgown covers a huge spectrum of very different garments, but there’s [...]
When Is A Peignoir Set Like A Pizza?
until around hundred years ago, if you bought new clothes, they were always custom made. Custom made was normal. Most women not only had a dressmaker they were capable of making their own clothes. If you were rich then it was always the dressmaker, and the result was two fold.

1. Clothes used to fit.

2. There were no standard sizes.
What? No Nightgown?
Those of us who have passed the first flush of youth, and I must include myself here, may find ourselves occasionally frustrated by the cult of the young. Fashion seems to be designed with the young in mind, both in terms of design and in terms of size. Style, however is something we ladies of [...]
Buy Lingerie For Your Wife Without the Embarrassment! Tips For Buying Lingerie Online
It’s much easier for men to buy lingerie for the women in their lives if they buy online, especially if you buy from us but there are some simple things to look for when choosing an online store which will make your task easier.Before you go online shopping try to find out what size you [...]
The Importance of Nightgowns
It’s no coincidence that when a woman dumps a man or becomes a dumpee, she often heads straight for the hairdresser. A new look is in order. Self esteem is at stake and confidence is the key to recovery. But there are times in life when confidence slips, just a little, and you’re not aware [...]
You Asked For It – Our New Bridal Nightgown
Today we’ve just finished adding our new ‘sunshine’ collection to the website, and part of that is a our new bridal nightgown set, Barefoot Bride. Consisting of a chiffon nightgown with tiny lace underlay, the chiffon is layered but still very revealing, fluttering, feminine but very sexy and designed for the bride who knows what she wants, and how to get it.
Getting a Little Lost
The Finale of LOST was so disappointing that it seems wrong to write about it. But here goes.
How to Choose Lingerie – Cotton or Silk?
It’s an easy choice, or so most people think. Cotton is cheap, practical and every day. Silk is for special occasions, it’s delicate, sensuous and definitely dangerous. Almost opposites. So you’d probably be surprised if I told you that cotton is often the more expensive of the two, and when it comes to strength, silk usually wins hands down.

95% of people Who Die are Not Overweight

Feb 272010

Here’s a snippet from the news.

IS IT OKAY TO BE FAT?
Huffington Post (blog)
Says one plus size casket store owner, “After 380 pounds you have to go to an oversize.” And one out of every 20 caskets she sells is a plus size. …

Morbid question, but ask yourself this. If only one in 20 caskets is a plus size, doesn’t that mean that it’s more 19 out of every 20 people who die (that’s 95%) are thin? Maybe being plus size, isn’t as bad as you think

Yes, I know this is simplisitic, and no I don’t think that being very over weight is good for you, but I get SO fed up of hearing the statistics and the stupid way they are used, I just had to point this out.

Go to Source

Fast but not Fit (to wear) (luxury-nightwear.com)
Plus size news roundup (fatchic.net)

Fast but not Fit (to wear)

Plus Size No Responses »

Feb 222010

Picture from the Huffinton Post

Yet again there is fuss about the existence of plus size models. women who walk along a runway (that’s catwalk to us British) turn and walk back. Apparently it’s great that some of these come close to the size of the average woman. This whole thing is completely ridiculous. Is it good that larger women are being used as models? Yes, of course it is, but the sizes involved (US size 10, UK size 12) are not exactly large, are they. They’re not exactly average either. What amazes me is that there is, or ever has been an audience for stick thin models. Why?
But that’s an old point. ‘Designer’ (and it’s in quotes for a reason) Mark Fast is in the headlines for using ‘curvy models’. He is described, in the Huffington Post, as ‘brave’. Well yes. It is brave, because NONE OF THE CLOTHES FIT PROPERLY.

Is this some important fashion statement about plus size women? Frankly I don’t care. Design should be all about the customer. How to make her look good, and feel even better. Design is not, and should not be about the designer. Here’s one designer who has proved to me that he can take a stunning woman and turn her into the plainest of the plain. Great job. If the idea was to stat a trend for clothes that are too small, sorry, but no, Ive seen the result. If the idea is to start a trend for clothes that actually fit, sorry but you missed the boat. No-one with any sense has ever worn anything else.

What is the purpose of a designer? Purely and simply to save you time. If you know that a particular style flatters you, go to the designer who makes it and buy their clothes. That’s it. You have a name, you save time because you don’t have to look around. It’s the whole purpose of branding, and the only reason it survives, the convenience of the customer. But for some reason designers seem to think they are important, and the sad things is that women only have themselves to blame for a thoroughly shameful state of affairs where people with silly ideas like this one get space on the air and in print. In fact I wish I wasn’t talking about this at all, in case that was the idea. So I’ll shut up.

Mark Fast Sends Curvy Models Down His Catwalk (PHOTOS, POLL) (huffingtonpost.com)
Designer keeps it curvy on the London catwalk (seattletimes.nwsource.com)
Designer Mark Fast Continues His Tradition Of Sending Plus-Size Models Down The Runway [Fashion Show] (jezebel.com)
Bigger Is Better At London Fashion Week (news.sky.com)
More Voices Join The Plus-Size Fashion Conversation [Style File] (jezebel.com)

Tomorrow is Another (Difficult) Day

Nightgown Things No Responses »

Jan 252010

: Image via Wikipedia

Tomorrow I’m going to do something I should really enjoy, and that’s give a talk. I like talking, primarily as a result of ebing overly fond, as my grandmother said, of the sound of my own voice. Fortunately most people seem to find me easy and informative to listen to, so usually it’s a win win situation. But not tomorrow.

Usually when I’m talking it’s an aspect of business, and particularly business on the internet that I’m discussing, but tomorrow I’m talking about fashion, and in particular about wardrobe building and fit. Why is this a problem I hear you ask? Well because somewhere in the audience, and I’ve done this several time so I must ask you to believe me, there will be a lovely lady wearing something that neither suits nor fits, and I will be spending the whole time trying hard NOT to look at her.

For some reason my audiences for these things seem to include a lot of plus size ladies. That could be because plus size is really stupidly defined, or it could be that some people think made to measure is something only plus size people need (really? Yes, some people are that daft) and as we know, there is nothing worse than plus size clothing when it comes to fit and design. Yes, there are some great designers, but the majority? Who on earth decided that horizontal patterns, like border prints, were good for plus size women? No, in case you’re wondering I’m not talking about the size 12′s which have been so recently ‘discovered’ by the media (oh my, they may be fat but some of them are almost human) I’m talking about real women with some meat on their bones.

So tomorrow, I apologise in advance to the poor lady who is going to feel victimized by what I’m saying. If only I could make the people who sold her those ill-fitting clothes, feel as bad as they should, the it would ‘all be worth while’.

Blazers, vests and sweaters (fatchic.net)
Fashion First, Whatever the Size (nytimes.com)
New biz markets fashionable clothes for fat girls (the-f-word.org)
Sidibe’s Designer States The Obvious: “It’s All About Picking The Right Silhouette For Her Shape.” [Dressing For Success] (jezebel.com)

Plus size mannequins - do they spoil the illusion?

Nightgown Things No Responses »

Nov 102009

Bonnie is a beautiful plus size model.

With all the recent talk about whether we want to see more realistic women in their fashion magazines, The Montreal Gazette recently published this article on mannequins.

Having spent ages simply trying to find mannequins we could use to display our clothing at shows or in occasional pictures I wasn’t surprised to hear that plus size mannequins aren’t common, but I was surprised to see the following quote from Leif Anderson, co-owner of Gender Mannequins, a Canadian company who sells mannequins throughout the world.

Asked

Magazines and fashion models are often blamed for creating unrealistic body standards for women. Surely mannequins contribute to that as well?

He replied

I don’t think so. They’re just coat hangers. I’m not trying to say that people should be one way or another. The fact is, clothes look the best on this type of shape. I’m not judging anybody for being one way or another. The fact is that if you put a pair of high boots on her (gestures toward a skinny mannequin) and a little mini-dress, it looks good. I’m selling clothes here. I’m selling a dream, not reality.

I have to disagree. I can think of lots of clothes that do not look best on ‘this type of shape’. Some styles actually need curves in order to look good. Ask anyone who has ever tried to sell lingerie! This attitude is however pretty typical in the fashion industry as a whole. Think of the fuss they make on project runway if they’re asked to make something for a plus size client! There seems to be some belief that fashion can’t look good on the plus size figure; we can all think of plus size stores that prove the point, but plus size models can look good, even fabulous. We are all a little more cautious about spending money at the moment, so surely giving us something we can relate to is MORE likely to make the sale? When I can look at something on a women with a real shape, AND see that it looks great, then I KNOW I want one. Am I alone?

Plus size or petite, the important thing is fit.

Nightgown Things, Plus Size No Responses »

Nov 092009

“I’ll tell you what’s comfortable — clothes that fit are comfortable. I try to teach women the importance of fit. So many women have anger and resentment that things don’t fit them off the rack. If you don’t find pants that fit you perfectly, then you make them fit you perfectly with tailoring.”

There’s no need to take my word for it, The above quote comes from Clinton Kelly, co-host of ‘What Not to Wear’. Of course he could have added that if you can’t find things that fit you can have them custom made by Certain Style, but we can’t have everything! He’ll learn.

To read the whole article, go to

Plus Size Pajamas - Should Glamor or Comfort come first?

Nightgown Things, Plus Size No Responses »

Nov 082009

When you buy pajamas, how do you make your decision? Are you looking for something loose, something environmentally friendly, a fun design? Do you want something glamorous to sip your martini in, or something comfortable to watch your favorite film in? Is it possible to have both?
For me, comfort is all important, but you can have glamor AND comfort in one pajama set.
Take a look at the picture and you’ll see what I mean.
Our brand new pajama design (it doesn’t even have a name yet) is made from bamboo jersey. It’s incredibly soft and comfortable as well as being ‘green’. Wide legged pants and a simple ‘A’ line top aren’t too special by themselves, but add the sleeveless jacket with it’s beaded yoke and you have something that’s comfortable AND just a little glamorous. Plus size or petite, it’s available in your size!

Plus Size Sanity Strikes California

Nightgown Things, Plus Size No Responses »

Nov 072009

While California may have a reputation as something of a ‘woo-woo’ state, it seems they’re getting their heads around the whole size issue. In California at least, big is also beautiful. While the rest of the world wonders whether it really is OK to have women who look like real women on the covers of their magazines, California is staging competitions to find, not necessarily the biggest but the best in the plus size modeling field.

Tomorrow, in Hollywood, the Miss Plus Top Model Awards show celebrates it’s 5th anniversary as 18 lovely plus sized models compete for the title of ‘Miss Plus Top Model’. Is this a plus for plus sized women? That’s a difficult one. While it’s great to see our existence acknowledged it’s kind of sad that the question in ‘should we have plus sized models’ and not ‘should we have sick looking thin models’ as examples of beauty for our daughters. I know which side I’m on. How about you?

Note: The show will be held Sunday, November 8, 2009, at The Celebrity Centre International, 5930 Franklin Avenue in Hollywood, CA. Showtime is from 6:30 to 8:00pm with red carpet arrivals at 5:30pm.

The Latest in Bridal Nightgowns

Bridal Nightgowns No Responses »

Nov 032009

Hurray! Romance is not dead! It seems the trend to super translucent nightgowns has suffered a reverse and full length nightgowns are once again ‘in’. It’s an interesting observation. Many brides, unable to find the sort of romantic lingerie they were looking for for a honeymoon have in recent times resorted to vintage lingerie, reveling in the sort of nylon and lace which, while certainly feminine and romantic to look at is not very comfortable to wear.

Tina wearing our bloomer pajamas in pure white eyelet cotton. Can be trimmed with ribbons!

This is Tina, from our latest photo shoot, showing off our bloomer pajamas, in pure, bridal white.
What’s interesting is that we find that although all Certain Style nightwear is customizable, so you can trim your white bloomer pajamas with the colors of your wedding scheme, most brides opt for white. Looking at this dreamy picture, you can certainly see why!

Older Entries

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95% of people Who Die are Not Overweight

Fast but not Fit (to wear)

Tomorrow is Another (Difficult) Day

Plus size mannequins - do they spoil the illusion?

Plus size or petite, the important thing is fit.

Plus Size Pajamas - Should Glamor or Comfort come first?

Plus Size Sanity Strikes California

The Latest in Bridal Nightgowns

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