Heavy on Fashion talks to FullFigurePlus.com



Hello Glen Thank you so much for agreeing to the interview. What made you get into the plus size fashion industry? What would you change about the fashion and beauty industry as a whole?

GLJ: My reasons are pretty boring to be honest.  I was out of work at the time and using my computer to help my wife look for lingerie and clothing. I decided after reading an article on blogging to start a blog specifically for plus sizes.  I started off writing about fashion and lingerie on two separate blogs then after 3 years I combined the two into one and pressed on.  Initially, I tried to incorporate big and tall men's fashion into what I do but I found men don't come online to shop, we just replace.

I would eliminate the size tags from clothes.  The numbers are meant for companies to catalog their clothes but the numbers inside clothes have become a crutch for millions of women around the world as well as ammunition for critics. The tags would be replaced with a system that relies on measurements to ensure a perfect fit every time.

Additionally, what I would change about the beauty and fashion industry as a whole is the false aspirational images and words of emaciated women which are the cause of the size discrimination issues in the plus community. By getting rid of that thick layer of discrimination there would be more reality in terms of sizes on the runway and magazines.

What are your top 5 store for plus size women today?


GLJ: IGIGI, Hips and Curves, Monif C, City Chic, Torrid

How did Full Figure Plus come to be? What makes Full Figure Plus different from all of the other plus size fashion websites/blogs online?

GLJ: As I stated before FFP came to life as a result of helping my wife to find affordable bras and clothes on the Internet.  It initially was only shopping links but with all of the changes in the industry it has evolved to include articles on size acceptance and discrimination, health and fitness, plus modeling, small business features, and a lot more. As a result of writing about so many different topics I have been able to build a business brand that is recognizable across the plus industry.

The first thing that sets FFP apart is the most obvious one.  I am a man writing mainly about women's fashion.  Because I am not a woman and have no desire to wear women's clothes I look at plus fashion from a different, or male, point of view.  I bring that to my writing which goes straight to what I think will look good on the plus size silhouette instead of what is the flavor of the moment in the fashion industry. Another aspect that sets me apart from others is the amount of time I have been online.  I started off in 2004 and have been blessed enough to work exclusively on FFP though I have other projects in the works.

Tell us about the plus size beauty hall of fame on fullfigureplus.com? How can any plus size diva be a member of the plus size beauty hall of fame?

GLJ: The "Plus Size Beauty of the Week" started off back in 2008 with a video tribute set to Mika's "Big girl You are beautiful".  The original video can be viewed on You Tube. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QUVEm-J9l-w.  The hall of fame came about from the literally hundreds of photos I have received over the years and how I wanted to continue celebrating plus size beauty from literally around the world. With the popularity of Pinterest it was the perfect way to showcase beautiful plus size women from all walks of life.

Any lady who has ever submitted a photo to become the PSBOTW is eligible.  The only photos I reject are blatantly graphic nudes, headshots, and grainy cell phone pictures.  To submit a photo all ladies have to do is submit their photos to beautyoftheweek@fullfigureplus.com.

Any upcoming events for FullFigureplus.com?

GLJ:   I just got back from the 2012 edition of Full Figured Fashion Week™ and plan to attend a few events before the end of the year.  One event that I would like to pull off for FFP is to partner with a brand or blogger to bring a different voice to the readers to be able to keep the
momentum in the future.



Finally, What type of impact are you hoping to make in the fashion industry? In the World?

GLJ: That’s a hard one but when I really give it thought I want plus size to get the same chance that straight sizes get in the industry.  I am thankful the voice of the plus size blog world has been a big part of pushing the agenda out to the world despite the critics but there is a lot more work to be done.  Additionally, I would like for all those who read FFP to see it as my way of serving the plus size community regardless as to the location.

Overall, I would like the fashion industry to view my work as a mission to help the plus size women not only feel better about herself but to look good every time she steps out of the house.
I had a lot of fun going down memory lane of my journey into the world of plus size fashion via FFP. Thank you for this opportunity to share my story with you and your readers.



I would like to thank Mr. Glen L Johnson for the Interview. 
Check out Full Figure Plus at:
FullFigurePlus Websitehttp://fullfigureplus.com 

Comments

  1. thanks for allowing me the chance to rant. I enjoyed it and hope it gives people a look into what makes me tick.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. No problem! I love exposing my readers to new and interesting people in fashion. I am happy you enjoyed the interview!

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