Tuesday, June 30, 2009

Fat-shionistas

Renata Espinosa recently posted a fantastic article in The Daily Beast which included a fantastic slide show of plus size models (click on this picture to see).



Excerpt from Espinosa's Article:

"One of the things that makes me insane is that somehow the fashion industry decided there can only be one fat chick receiving favorable media attention. We're fat, we're not the Highlander. There can be more than one,” says Rhiannon Gammill, an Austin, Texas-based writer who now blogs for Manolo for the Big Girl. “I want the woman who can say ‘This is who I am, you don't have to like me and you don't have approve of me, but I've been to this pony show before and this time I'm getting what I want. I've got one voice, two chins, and more style than should be allowed by law and I'm not apologizing for any of it’ and then, I don't know, puts her cigarette out on her arm.”

CLICK HERE for full article.

Sue Rice has a fantastic collection of flattering Plus Size Swimsuits (including Abigail see below).

The Cancer Blog

I just stumbled across this excellent blog http://www.thecancerblog.com/

Turn it Inside Out

What exactly is going on with a swimsuit that looks amazing, one that seems to transform your figure?

Just like your body, a book, a car, anything really - it's what's happening on the inside that really counts.

This swimsuit is called "Abigail" - and it is probably the best option we have for flattening the tummy and minimising the bust. As you can see from this inside out picture, Abigail is fully lined. This extra layer of fabric really helps to hold everything in place.

Then there is underwire in the bra - in either a DD or E cup option. Underwire is seriously hard to beat in terms of providing support for a large bust. The armholes are high and the shoulder straps are thick. This ensures maximum bust support and minimisation - you won't get any spillage near the armpits or the top of the chest.
Now observe the tummy. A taut netting called "powernet" stretches across the tummy. This is the same kind of technology we often use for bust support. The effect is positively flattening. the net holds your tummy in nicely (without feeling like a corset).

All in all a fantastic swimsuit for minimising and support.

Price: AUD$199 (see our currency converter for other countries)
Sizes: 10-22 (in sizes 20 & 22 it is called Andrea)
Busts: D,DD,E

Sunday, June 28, 2009

Last Day of Competition

Ladies, tomorrow is the last day of our June Competition. If you want to win your very own Sue Rice Swimsuit, see this post for more information.

Tuesday, June 23, 2009

Mastectomy and Other Specialised Swimwear

Many women have difficulty purchasing swimwear. The whole experience can be totally demoralising. However, the challenges of finding the best fit, or the most flattering garment pale in comparison to the difficulty of purchasing a mastectomy swimsuit for example. Many women come to us for assistance in this matter. The problem with mastectomy swimsuits is that it is impossible to just mass-produce them - they need to be modified for each woman (left, right, B, C, D - there is so much variation). We have made the mistake of attempting to do this without the woman's body present - it didn't work.

Our solution was to design some swimsuits which can accommodate a pocket. If a woman has her own prosthesis, she can come in, be measured, choose a swimsuit and we stitch in a made to measure pocket for the prosthesis to slip into.

In our experience doing this we have found that one of the biggest issues is making sure that the swimsuit is high enough in the bust to avoid the visibility of scarring and high enough under the armpits to ensure maximum support. Usually swimsuits with a slightly thicker strap work best.

However every one's body is different and so is every one's taste - we have also occasionally put pockets in skimpier bikinis when that has been the preference and has provided enough support. Some women who don't have a special prosthesis (these can be quite expensive) have also opted for a swimsuit with cups included in it or one with lining or bust detailing - which can be a great option as well.

We really want to continue to help women with special swimming needs. I was recently contacted by a woman with lymphoedema who required a specialised pressure swimsuit. We're racking our brains right now to see if we can come up with something or modify something we already have. If you want to know more about this problem check out the Lymphoedema Association of Australia website.

I want to know of any other major issues people are having buying swimwear. We might not have the solution here at Sue Rice, but if we open up a general discussion we might be able to point you in the right direction.

Please leave comments on this post about swimwear challenges you're aware of. Lets see if we can all rack our brains and come up with some solutions.

Monday, June 22, 2009

COMPETITION - Win a Free Swimsuit!

As you've obviously noticed we've just started a blog. A blog with a mission. We want to connect with you, and we want you to connect with each other. Women everywhere have difficulty buying swimwear and we want you to know you're not alone! This blog is an ideal place for you to provide us with feedback and share your stories.

To kick things off we're having a competition.
We want you to share with us your experiences with your Sue Rice Swimsuit. It can be as funny, tragic, silly or serious as you like.

We've had a lot of comments from people lately about the fact that there are no pictures of REAL women in our swimsuits. We hear you, and in our recent photo shoot we used size 14 model. But let's face it. She's still a model, right? If you have a great picture of yourself donning your Sue Rice Swimsuit, we'd love you to include it in your entry (of course this isn't compulsory!)

To the right is a picture of a real customers sporting our featured swimsuit Marilyn+Superpants in Mocha which has just become available again. Doesn't she look fantastic?

Blog Competition Instructions

1. Write a piece (500wds or less) about your real experiences in your Sue Rice Swimsuit. We would love you to include a picture of yourself in the swimsuit - but this is not essential. Please include a title, and the name you would like it to be posted under (this can be your real name, or a nickname). Entries will be judged on originality, creativity and being an all round interesting read.

2. Email your entry to enquiries@suerice.com.au

Blog Competition Conditions

1. Competition closes 30th June, so get in quick!

2. Any entry sent may be published on our blog. By sending us an entry you give us permission to publish it on our blog.

3. Our decision will be final and no correspondence regarding the winner will be entered into.



Wednesday, June 17, 2009

Which is Your Favourite?

It's time to vote ladies.....

Whether its on your wish list or in your wardrobe, we want to know which is your favourite Sue Rice Swimsuit?

Ok I'll break the ice. Mine is Felicity/Eros because it fits and supports my D cup boobs and has cute boy leg pants.

Bikini Stocktake Clearance

Ok team, for two weeks a mountain of bikinis are AUD$25. This is totally unprecedented. Check it out here (you'll need to sign up here or login here to view sale prices). Sale only on until June 30th. Want to know more about buying online worldwide? Click here. PS - this little sample is just a taste. The VIP Sale Shop is full of amazing bargains for $50 or less!

mmmmmm...... ashley.... yum yum yum



The Shoot


Lisa works at Sue Rice.

She organises the production & manufacturing, she plays with patterns and cuts the garments out. Cutting involves making marker by drawing the pattern pieces on to another piece of paper then layering the fabric and cutting it with a cutting machine. It is a field mostly dominated by men because you need to be quite strong to lift up the rolls of fabric (lycra is quite heavy about 20kg per roll).

So Lis, how was the shoot?

To begin with, the studio where we shot was very high tech. It was electronic and digital stuff I wasn't familiar with like a camera on a tripod that automatically slid up and down and the biggest lens I've ever seen.

When we first arrived, the photographer and his assistant were busy setting things up and checking the light levels on the computer while the make up artist was working on the first model. While she had her hair done, Sue and I arranged all the swimsuits on the rack in the order Sue wanted them shot.

I learned some interesting things, like the fact that models really do eat! And if you don't fit into your bikini - just stuff a toilet roll down the back. Well I guess that might not work so well for people who are swimming - but if you're having your photo taken in a bikini that is to big for you - then it's a great idea. Thanks for the tip Alana! Alana is our size 14-16 model.

What did you think about having a bigger model?

Well that was really Sue's decision & it was a great one because the average size of a Sue Rice customer is probably a 14 or 16 so it makes sense to shoot on a beautiful lady who is that size. Also Alana is just amazing and looks incredible in all the photos.

Models

I've gotten quite a few emails lately from women rather miffed that we don't use plus size models in our photographs.

By sheer coincidence (or something about where Aquarius was in Venus last week) Sue came to the same conclusion independently at the same time.

For the record, we never use skinny models - they just wouldn't fill out our stuff! Instead in the past we have usually opted for a toned but meaty size ten girl with boobs. For this shoot, we decided to get in both a size 10 and a bigger model to show off our new stuff in a way more women can relate to.

So chartering new ground, Sue & Lisa headed off do our first shoot with both a size 10 model & a size 14-16 model.

Stay tuned to see how they go!

Swimsuits Through Time


Why, oh why god of swimming did you make swimsuits skimpy figure strangling lycra sheaths? WHY?
A trip down swimsuit memory lane

Ok so not many people describe their swimsuit as the most flattering piece of clothing they own. In my time in the world of swimwear, I have frequently heard women mourn the fact that they have to wear swimwear at all.

Of course swimwear hasn't always comprised figure strangling lycra sheaths - it has evolved profoundly over the last several hundred years. I thought I'd take a look back at some of our earlier swimsuit sporting sisters to see who is really better off US or THEM?

Well if we're going to go right back, what better place to start that the Georgian Bathing Machines, invented by Benjamin Beale in the 1700s. If you have read Persuasion or seen Judy Dench play Queen Victoria in Mrs Brown you may have encountered one of these vehicles. A Georgian lady would climb aboard, change into a muslin bathing shift and then be pulled by horses into the sea. Once 75% submerged, the lady could climb down the stairs of the machine and have some sea exercise - and yes that's right not an ankle glimpsed. She remains perfectly modest.

Click here to connect to the full article.

Welcome to the Sue Rice Blog

You know, I know, we all know that swimwear is tricky. We hate shopping for swimwear more that we hate shopping for jeans - which must be the most damning sentiment. Our motto has always been to make flattering swimwear that people might (don't faint) actually LIKE and we think we're doing a pretty good job.

We decided to start this blog, to keep you up to date with the latest industry news, information about specialised swimwear including mastectomy and maternity as well as any other stuff we think you might want to know about.

We also thought you guys might benefit from a forum, where you can discuss your swimwear issues and talk to real women and experts about solutions.

Drop back again soon!

Sue Rice
Tankinis, One Pieces, Bikinis & More