Those Television Shopping Networks - Part I, HSN

You know those moments when you’re channel surfing aimlessly and you get caught for a few minutes watching a TV host chatting with callers about the last purchase they made from the designer currently being shown and how much they just love it. You’ve found a television shopping network. Those channels beaming directly into your living room encouraging you to buy, buy, buy while acting like your best friend sitting down for a cozy chat over a coffee. They are amazingly mesmerizing, and stories you hear about little old ladies - your grandmother perhaps - addicted and spending their life savings …… I think that they might be true.

But, if you’re a busy working woman or mother, you probably don’t get caught up in the television shopping channels often. So you might not know one of the best kept secrets out there. Stylish plus size clothing can be found by the truckloads through some of these shopping channels. You heard me…. STYLISH plus size clothing. Not just something Granny would wear….at reasonable prices too…..sometimes with extended payment plans for more expensive items like formal dresses or outerwear. Tempted?

Here’s another little secret: you don’t have to watch some of these shopping channels to get this fabulous fashion. They have websites. They work a little differently than regular retailers because if something you like goes on air on the television it can be sold out in ten minutes flat. One minute it’s there in your size, the next, poof it’s gone. But you can page through and sort fashion, jewelry, shoes, cosmetics, and accessories that is appealing to you without listening to endless chatter about what a wonderful buy this is or waiting for your favorite designer’s show to come on the air. If you’re busy (or impatient), this is a much more appealing way to shop.

HSN

Hands down, my favorite in this category is HSN . Their selection is fantastic. Their website is easy to navigate and use. They have handy shopping tools like My Virtual Model that you can design to match your body shape, then try on clothing. They list the measurements of individual garments in the size charts, not generalized charts. In other words they do it just about 100% right.

The only small criticism I have is that there is almost no way to easily find petite and tall styles. They do have a few here and there - even in plus sizes, but they are almost impossible to find unless you are a savvy searcher and think to use the search box provided. I typed in “2X Tall” as a test and came up with 6 pages of pants and pant suits and “24 Petite” and discovered 3 pages of skirts, jackets and pants.

Styles range from modern, chic fashion from designers like Randolph Duke, Donna Ricco and Silk Assets by Diane von Furstenburg to trend-setting looks from celebrity designers like Suzanne Sommers, Susan Lucci and Patti LaBelle. Plus specialist designers like Carolyn Strauss and Perfect Style have the widest range of sizes for the stylish full figured woman with offerings often in the plus petite, plus tall and extended size ranges. One of the things I like best is the availability of stylish clothing in natural fibers like silk, cotton and linen in larger sizes. Most trendy to stylish plus apparel on the market today is done in synthetic fabrics which no matter how beautiful they are simply do not hold a candle to the sophistication and comfort of finer fabrics.

Less trendy, but fun are the novelty Storybook Knit sweaters. Their “stories” can range from vintage embellishments to animals to reproduction of fine art such as Botticelli’s Venus knit right into the sweater. They like to use lots of beading and embellishments too. Conversation pieces, they’re all sure to get you noticed.

If you find yourself on the go a lot and in need easy packing knits, there are lots to choose from here from names like Travel Smith and Slinky Brands.

Another tip:  jewelry here is not just gorgeous, it also comes in plus-friendly sizing. Many shorter necklaces have extenders available. Rings be they emeralds, rubies or semi-precious are available up to a size 10. And while you’re here be sure to check out a fabulous shoe and accessory collection.

There are literally hundreds of hard to find fashions in up to the minute style just begging to be shipped straight to your door in your size at HSN. I’d say the selection here is more current and more extensive than any departments store, let alone the usual limited local plus shop. And, even better, is the extended payment plans often available for pricier items like leather jackets.

Stay tuned….. next stop QVC ……

Popularity: 4% [?]