Your Guide to the A/W Collections

One of the greatest things about the cold weather is that it becomes acceptable to cover up, layer up and hide any insecurities that you may have, however this doesn’t mean that any old jumper will do. SportsDirect.com take a look at the upcoming trends for the new season, in styles that will flatter all shapes and sizes.
As the Autumn/Winter season sets in it’s time to start accumulating staple pieces for you’re A/W wardrobe. One of the main patterns this season is tartan which means the grunge/punk look is back. Although it is quite a busy print don’t be scared to wear it. If you aren’t so confident about your bottom half then don’t try to wear the trends with tartan trousers or skirt, opt for a loose tartan shirt teamed with black leggings, or jeggings and long boots to create a slim silhouette.
Oversized is also a key trend this season and not only is it practical for keeping you warm but it also means that you can say goodbye to the figure-hugging midi dresses that were all the rage during the Summer. Be careful though not to drown yourself in clothes though, it is best to choose either an oversized jacket, wide leg baggy trousers, an oversized knit or a flowing skirt. Combining two or more of the above will not accentuate any part of your figure and you risk making yourself look bigger than you are in reality.
As the Christmas season creeps ever closer so does the opulence trend. The main themes to keep in mind to rock this trend are heavy embellishment, embroidery and adding a bit of glitz to any outfit. Making an outfit look luxurious however does not mean that both your jewellery and outfit need to be as embellished as each other. Again, the most important thing here is decide where you want the trend to show, if you’re top heavy opt for wearing the trend on your bottom half or keep it to just your accessories.
Scarfs are always a hit in the Autumn/Winter so if you’re even in doubt invest in a couple of on-trend scarfs that will show of the styles without being too bold, they are also perfect for masking any lumps or bumps around your middle.
Check out our fashionable plus size range at www.sportsdirect.com/pages/plussize. Alternatively visit www.Facebook.com/SportsDirectUK or  www.twitter.com/SportsDirectUK for their latest collections and offers.

More people are keen to have ‘Real Models’

The Equality Minister, Jo Swinson, started the ‘Campaign for Body Confidence’ back in 2010 to raise awareness of body image issues, tackle the causes and encourage diversity. In recent weeks she has stepped up this campaign and has called for high street stores to have more plus size and petite mannequins. The average dress size in Britain is claimed to be size 16 and Debenhams were praised, by Swinson, for their willingness to create mannequins in this size and promote a more realistic size.
The high street wasn’t the only problem area for promoting negative body image and so SportsDirect.com take a look at how ‘real models’ are being encouraged.
In 2012, the size 0 debates took to the press and the outcome saw models condemned for being scarily thin. Yet today television and magazines praise women for being slim and draw media attention to any weight gain. With the average woman said to be size 16, this is unrealistic and it has been associated with creating low self esteem amongst their readers and viewers.
Celebrities like Gemma Collins and Coleen McLoughlin have backed the Swinson’s campaign to love your curves and are fighting back against this poor body image.
Coleen McLoughlin filmed a television show in which she found real women on the street and after some slight preening, she showcased them to different brands as plus size models. Campaigns like this have had an effect and in recent months, H&M used plus size models to showcase their swimwear collection. The majority of people responded positively to this effort and it goes to show more people are keen to have ‘real models’.
More plus size collections are being introduced on the high street, making it easier for people to accept their size and dress in fashion that shows off their body shape. SportsDirect.com have released their own plus size clothing range, using the same on-trend clothes from their existing fashion outlet but making them bigger to suit normal people. Love your body and embrace your curves by checking out http://www.sportsdirect.com/Pages/plusladies for great fashion in encouraging sizes.