You know why I think Stephen Jackson will succeed?

Because he has a product that touches on our #1 inner desire, what truly makes us human…

(more…)

I’m an American citizen. So when I write for Deluxegrrl, that’s the perspective that you’re getting. I’ve lived all over the States, and spent a few years in Europe as well. However, my experiences are strongly American — when I was staying in Germany, I wasn’t worried about plus size fashion — my mother made my clothes.

Swing forward to 2006 — I’m in southwest Missouri, where I have a few boutiques, the Charming Shoppes trifecta, and that’s about it. Is it peachy? No, it’s not. However, after reading some responses from those of you outside the US (and probably Canada as well), I guess I have a lot to be thankful for.

I owe my international readers a big apology — the grass always looks greener on the other side, but for all of you living outside of the States, our grass has got to be a mighty bright green.

I’m a picky shopper, and this blog doesn’t hide that — my darling fiancee-cum-accountant sees all of my receipts. I have to truly like not just the clothes, but the experience. That’s what I focus on — the experience of the purchase, not just the purchase itself.

If Igigi treated its customer base the way, say, Walmart, Target, Kohls & Co. do, would you honestly fanworship them? Would you buzz your designer on your blog, wear their clothing? When it comes to an exclusive shop like Igigi, it’s harder to play the income / circumstance card than it is for the other stores mentioned. In a nutshell, Igigi is more of a luxury, whilst if you’re clipping coupons, you might buy one or two pieces from Igigi, but they’re going to be few and far between.

However, all that aside — I’m blessed to be able to complain about experience. That doesn’t mean I’ll stop pointing out glaring customer service errors, nor will I stop discussing the dearth of other components of the shopping experience (more promotional pieces that make us center-stage, not just a leftover — see ‘The Five Finer Points of Plus Size Magazines’)

It simply means that I hear what you’re saying, international readers. Your problem is lack of product, period. My problem is decent product, substandard service.

I’m not going to drop $500+ for a new wardrobe, only to find the store ringing up my things (remember that employees are still agents of the company, and therefore contribute to the image of the store) doesn’t really give a flying notebook about my needs.

So I’m American-centric. My apologies. But I don’t know how bad the problem is unless you international folks give me a shout.

This started bubbling in my brain thanks to Tanis, one of our commentors without a webpage. Thank you, Tanis, for giving me food for thought.

I’ve been hunting for a sewing machine for a while now — hand sewing during my childhood scared me from sewing, but after countless hours on my feet, I think I’m going to look at alternatives.

I went and bought a Singer 8280, which my sewing friend (thank you, Kristel!) said should do the job for now. Of course, she owns one of those fancy, top-of-the-line varieties, but I’m definitely not there yet.

Quite frankly, I like the ownership of my stuff — which is why I’m taking this on. It doesn’t hurt that I’ve been strongly advised to find a hobby that doesn’t require electricity or monitors. My eyes will thank me in a few years.

I plan on sewing:

- several long dresses
- a few blouses (including one of those cute wrap-styles)
- some flat-front pants
- curtains!

I figure that will keep me busy for a while.
Over the next few days I will devote some time to gushing about my fabric. I’m really excited about the options I have sewing my own clothing. Of course, this means that my focus will shift more to accessories when I talk about clothes, but in a way, that’s for the best. Being able to have more money free for dazzling accessories is always a plus.

P.S - My fiancee’s grandmother is very sick (i.e, dying) — posting will be rather sporadic until things settle. Bear with us.

I wish I was as cool as Marianne Kirby. If I were that cool, I’d be getting naked for cancer. Except I’d totally use apples, because apples are the new limes, the way pink is the new black.

Marianne is part of a really cool calendar whose proceeds go to helping a sweet, really interesting woman not only fight her cancer, but the mounting debt that seems to come as part of the “hey! hospital!” package. Deluxemom was blessed with insurance, but it’s no secret that “insurance” and “coverage” can often be gray and vague.

Unfortunately, I’m cool like Marianne. I did however, follow my secondary-wannabe-primary passion, marketing by just writing a blog on that: Talk On Corners.

I wanted a place to tell stories without going completely marketing-suit on everyone. This is my passion — letting the world know the way things are. I had a lady ask me the other day why I decided to be a marketer when “they’re all scammers anyway.”

Hey! Some of us think long and hard before doing anything. In the case of yours truly, well, my boss is a Jewish carpenter that doesn’t take kindly to me scamming anyone. Heck, I still feel a twinge of guilt when I divebomb those pennies on the sidewalk.

Anyway, check out Marianne and her mission. Which isn’t quite getting naked. But cool. Too cool for Isamarketingnerdbella. You know how it is.

Sidenote: I really want a Super Nintendo so I can play Mario. Oh, sweet Ebay, why are you so tempting?

Sidenote #2: Marianne’s gorgeous, pass it on

Tags: body image, limeproject, cancer, donation,

It’s been rather quiet here, because everytime I begin to write something, it’s mean-spirited, and I think all our mothers are in agreement about what to do about that.

I’m not a new blogger, nor am I new to web content, but this is the first time where my audience has been deathly quiet. Is my writing so terrible that every blue moon crossed with a non-sale at Lane Bryant (rare, I know) that I /might/ get a comment thrown my way, like a scrap?

Mr. Deluxe constantly tells me that people he knows read my blog and absolutely love it — great, but it would be nice to hear from them directly.

If you send me an email, it would also be helpful for you to reference my name — my name is Isabella Murphy.

This rattles me because the point of a blog is to have a conversation. I would like to have a conversation with you.

That’s why I don’t post too many sales — there’s other people doing that. I’m also non-political about plus size fashion — the entire issue is as much an economic one as anything else. I’m to the point where I’d rather pick up a sewing machine than buy another plain-old, tired looking top that’s been overplayed for the last couple of seasons, and you know what I’m talking about.

I’m a busy, busy, girl these days — I’ve got three campaigns going right now, and I try not to mix business with pleasure around here — I’d rather relax and chat with you about things that truly matter.

And in my tiny, overinflated opinion, sharing the latest sale from Plus Size Co. is only part of the conversation — please tell me you want more than this, yes? If you find in your heart of hearts that plus size fashion is more than a quick jaunt to the store to get material things, then I would hope that my topics would be of interest. Are they, or are they not?

I have much to give to you, but I’m unsure of where to go from here. My contest winner can’t deign to give me a response, and that gets me wondering what the end result of everything /should/ be. Is content king online, except for in this niche? Let me know.

Write to me. Comment. Say something. After so much stillness, I’m wondering the viability of continuing to speak to an audience that is unsure whether it wishes to speak to me.

It’s time to announce the winner of the Makeup Madness Contest. We only had seven people enter the contest — which was rather unimpressive to me. Surely the plus size fashionistas of the world care about good, natural skincare products, right?

Anyway, that’s neither here or there. If you missed out on the contest, you might still want to keep your eyes and ears peeled for upcoming contests.

The winner of the $100 gift certificate from ObeyYourBody.com is: Nicole! Nicole entered the contest and is now the owner of a gift certificate that should come in handy for this gift-giving season!

That’s all folks. I’ll be getting in touch with Nicole shortly.