At the Movies
Musings from the Editor’s Chair, ElegantPlus.com 

The holidays are a time when I typically work less and do things like over-indulge in movie watching. This past holiday was no different. So as I come out of the holiday haze here are some size related thoughts on things I’ve seen on both the small and big screen.

It all started when I finally watched The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants, which I’ve had out from Netflix since October. Delightful teen fare that follows four friends while they spend a summer apart - the bonds of friendship and plot held together by a pair of jeans that magically fits all four of their very different figures. They pass from girl to girl over the course of the summer and while each wears the jeans we see their story. America Ferrera of Real Women Have Curves fame plays the role of Carmen, the most curvaceously, full figured of the teens with great aplomb. I was expecting the usual teen froth, which might have accounted for it gathering dust on top of the DVD player for so long, but I was pleasantly surprised. Sisterhood is quite intelligent with well drawn characters and drama while sending the message of friendship, solidarity and acceptance of who we are. If you haven’t seen it yet, I do recommend renting it.

Another highly recommended, and less well known, holiday Netflix foray was the HBO mini-series Empire Falls. A rambling slice of Americana set in a decaying Maine mill town this star studded ensemble cast included Paul Newman, Helen Hunt, Ed Harris and a host of others. The issues that the characters stuggled with were small town and universal at the same time. Among the sub-plots was Helen Hunt’s character who was a diet and exercise obssessed, formerly “fat”, neurotic woman. She was positively unbearable and insecure until she finally was more at peace with herself, her body and had gained some of the weight back. Meanwhile, the object of several characters’ romantic affections was a voluptuous, self-confident waitress played with kindness and deft humor that poked fun at the other characters by Theresa Russell. While neither was the main story line this positive messaging regarding size was both real and welcome from the Hollywood set.

On the big screen I, along with hordes of others, simply had to see The Chronicles of Narnia. You may be wondering where size comes into this favorite childhood fable. Hilarious, plus size British comedienne Dawn French voices the character of Mrs. Beaver. The American audience may know her best for her role as the singing Fat Lady in the Painting in the Harry Potter movie The Prisoner of Azkeban. While it’s always preferable to see full figured actresses actually on screen, the delightfully chubby and kind Mrs. Beaver is definitely a positive and well loved character from the Narnia stories.

Finally, if you haven’t heard, the amazing, confident and voluptuous Queen Latifah was just given a star on the Hollywood walk of fame this week. I find her best role, to date, to be Mama in Chicago. But she has another movie coming out January 13 called Last Holiday in which she lives it up in high humorous style and from the looks of things gets to wear some GORGEOUS, figure flattering fashion. She’s scheduled for an hour long interview on Bravo’s Inside the Actor’s Studio this Sunday (January 8, 2006) at 8/7 pm. Should be great - I don’t intend to miss it!

What does all this have to do with plus size fashion? Nothing really, except Hollywood and fashion do seem to be inextricably linked in our attitudes about body and image. That and maybe the stylist for Queen Latifah has an un-erring eye for fabulous plus size designer fashion.

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