Full Body Photo Project

I met a very smart young woman in cyberspace, Jessica Kane. She reminded me how important it is for a woman to appreciate her whole body. After all, it is your whole body that makes your life happen, not just your head. The Full Body Photo Project is a celebration of all of YOU! The Project invites women who wear plus size to share a full body photo of themselves on a collective site. Several plus size specialty retailers are sponsoring the Project and offering prizes, of course Ulla Popken is a co-sponsor as well.


I remember back to the days when I was ashamed of my body because I was fat and the world of plus size fashion was lean. A lot has changed since then on many levels:

* Beautiful plus size clothing is plentiful- my favorite, of course being Ulla!
* The definition of beauty is expanding
* The paradigm has been changed forever - from the pity party to the pretty party!

Whew! What a relief!

A lot has changed for me too. I'm proud to work with Ulla Popken, where personal best is a combination of how you present yourself and how you live. "Dress U.P.," where our customers share pictures of themselves wearing Ulla clothing is actually a forerunner of the Project. Moreover, the very existence of Babe's Picks is evidence of a vision where all women belong and all women can be beautiful.

I hope you'll participate and put your personal best out there. Pictures that exude joy, comfort and pride may be rewarded with a gift card from one of the Project's sponsors. The Project, collectively, however, does something much more important, it unabashedly expands and redefines beauty and beckons all of us to be included.

Babe
Ulla Popken Blogger & Stylist
Be your personal best.

Jeans Give-away!

Diane*, you're a jean-ius! We will GIVE-AWAY a pair of jeans to the first 10 women to comment on my blog, Talking It U.P. AND send the comment to BabeHope@UllaPopken.com. All we ask is for a review of the jeans within 30 days.

The launching of our new jeans is something we are very excited about and proud of at Ulla Popken. They are a representation of why we claim to be the 'better choice' in plus size fashion. Our jeans, Stretch Denim Button Zip Bootleg Pant, #14823, Stretch Denim Slim Jeans, #14824, and Stretch Denim Jeggings, #14822, have been completely rebuilt from the bottom - U.P., no pun intended - okay, maybe a little pun :)

* The fabrication is 99% cotton and 1% spandex, allowing the jeans to stay soft and well-fitted throughout the day while still giving a bit of stretch for comfort.

* The cut has been worked and reworked to embrace the curves of all of our customers. The doubled waistband sits at the navel, creating the sleekest silhouette possible.

* We sent the whistles and bells back to our daughters, where they belong, allowing our jeans to fit smoothly, agelessly, and serve as a back-drop for great tops and accessories, both casual and dressy.

* The pockets are positioned to 'lift' and smooth the appearance of the tush in a flattering way.

* The washes, Dark Denim and Denim have depth and a ruddy richness that is quintessentially American and usually only captured by designer jeans costing 2-3 times more than ours.

Did we get it right? You be the judge. Check out our VIDEO where we asked four Ulla associates, sizes 12-20, to take them for a test drive.

Yes, great jeans are an important foundation of a well-dressed woman's closet. They're versatile and therefore a no-brainer investment in a modern woman's wardrobe who wants to present herself as sharp and tuned in.

We want your opinion! If you have already tried the new jeans, we'd love to hear what you think.

Babe


Ulla Popken Stylist & Blogger


Be Your Personal Best!


*Diane Cantor is the VP for Merchandising at Ulla Popken.

When A Bargain is a Bargain

Every woman I know loves a bargain. I'm no exception and neither are my girlfriends. So when is a bargain just that?

Look for bargains that freshen, replenish and expand your wardrobe. When shopping sales it is best to choose apparel you have some familiarity with.

Recently, a friend of mine, who shops Ulla, asked me to help her spend up to $100 to freshen her Fall wardrobe. Separately, in the comfort of home, we simultaneously went online to the Sale page of the Ulla site.


Here's what we chose:

• 1 Surplice Tee, #92545, hibiscus
• 1 Long Vented Knit Tunic, #02566, cherry
• 1 Layered Sweater #95529, raspberry
• 1 Beaded Cardigan, #05512, black
• 1 Ponte Knit Pant, #11635, black

We kept her selections in a similar color scheme which she already wears well, to maximize using an existing set of coordinated of accessories. We chose items which she already knows well and counts on, Ulla tees, tunics and cardis. The only unknown was the pant, but another pair of good black pants - well worth the "risk."

What did she get for $100?

Five pieces that...

• will freshen her wardrobe.
• allow for varied Fall weather.
• will lessen the wear and tear on her existing favorites.
• will work with go-to items and accessories already in her wardrobe.

That's when a bargain is a bargain!

Please share how you shop bargains.

Babe

Ulla Popken Stylist & Blogger

Be your personal best!

2 Items that Cover 4 Sizes

Reluctant to buy clothing when your weight is in flux? That's understandable, clothing is an investment. Still, it's important to look good, feel good and be your personal best all the times.


Two Ulla items strike me as good examples of investment pieces when you don't want to commit to one size:

the Stretch Knit Wedge Dress, #15230 and the Animal Print Boyfriend Sweater Cardigan, #15550. Why?

They...

* have a well-defined, shapely silhouette
* start out fitted in the shoulder and begin to widen at the tummy and hips
* give extra room where it's traditionally needed
* narrow just below the hip

In fact, the wedge dress, well-edited at the knee, is very flattering because it has more length with which to extend the narrowing effect. Look for a cocoon or wedge shape. This will allow you room while you are larger and still look shapely when you are smaller.

Buy the smaller size and add a 1/4 inch Dolman shoulder pad - it will sharpen the shoulder line creating a prettier drape. Ulla's sizing is 12/14, 16/18 and 20/22... While I usually wear the 20/22, for these two items, I would go down a size. The cut already gives me extra room where I need it. I don't need more fabric or bulk, where I don't.

I'd love to hear tips for shopping when you are between two sizes.


Babe


Ulla Popken Stylist & Blogger


Be your personal best.

Richness, Depth and You

The wine, aubergine, and berry palettes that are flattering on so many women are abundant in our Fall and Winter collections - and for good reason: they work well for many complexions and especially well for women who are over forty. What is even more interesting in the Ulla collections is the way the prints, patterns and details have been combined, they yield richness and depth.

How do you put an outfit together that boasts richness and depth? Look for a dominant color, hold the item (or picture in the catalog) close to your face. Does it make your eyes pop? If it does, it's the right color for you. Next, look for a secondary color within the same item, this may be the color you choose to coordinate your jewelry and accessories. For the look to come together, the colors need to be clear and obvious that they work well together.

Here are some "look-fors":

• Abstract florals with impressive size and depth
• Bold geometric prints
• Prints and solids of glorious jewel tones
• Embroidery and embellishments that are thick and substantial

Outfits that are rich and have depth reflect well on the woman who wears them. The message is one of "presence and self-esteem." How do you achieve that quality in what you wear?

Babe

Ulla Popken Stylist & Blogger

Be your personal best.

When Black is Not Enough

I wear a lot of black and have no plans to change that in the near future. The color black absorbs light so it disguises lumps and bumps; and therefore trumps all other colors for looking sleek. End of post? Not so fast!

There are other colors, fabrics and surface textures that do a great job of concealing puffy areas; when used together, they should not be overlooked.

• Choose rich soft neutrals and jewel tones
• Avoid weaves and textures that create bulk
• Choose a fabric with a matte surface quality for areas you want to "fade" (down-play)
• Choose a fabric with a shiny surface quality for areas you want to "focus" (draw attention to)

There are several Ulla fabrics, essentially in the matte jersey family, that bid a broader selection of color, and you can still be confident you'll look sleek: viscose rayon spandex, viscose rayon, modal rayon and polyester blends (especially with spandex.)

What's your favorite color and fabric "when black is not enough?"

Babe
Ulla Popken Stylist & Blogger
Be your personal best.

The Silver Lining

Okay, so I'm in love with Ulla's Silver Jewel Jacket (#15321.) It's dramatic, contemporary and ageless. But it's more than that for me as a woman who wears plus size, this jacket is a microcosm of my own fashion evolution imperatives.

Mademoiselle Chanel's stunning comeback in the '50s reminds us of the powerful quality of fabric with buckled surface for flattering a woman's shape. The fabric of this jacket, humbly 100% polyester, is pure genius, because it:

* is soft to the touch but firm enough to define the shoulders
* shapes the torso
* smooths over anything that's not smooth
* provides complete ease of movement
* is richly textured and embellished, and
* is bulk free

The huge, faceted stones provide great juxtaposition to the smart simplicity of the cut of the jacket. This jacket is a plus size celebration of what is timeless and chic. It reminds us that if Chanel isn't thinking of us; Ulla is.

I'd love to hear your favorite Ulla picks for what is timeless and chic.

Babe

Ulla Popken Stylist & Blogger

Be your personal best.

Tone-On-Tone Dressing

"The best color in the world is the one that's right on you." So said Coco Channel.

A tone-on-tone outfit will always looked pulled-together, expensive and have depth. Tonal dressing is different from monochromatic dressing in that it is not necessarily one color from head to toe. Yet it is easy and fail-proof.

Here are two takes on the look:

1. Layering items of a wonderful flattering color near the face and enriching it with similarly colored accessories (slacks can still be black and jeans work too.) For example, this season Ulla is using raspberry and aubergine colors that have coordinating accessories like tonal impact necklaces, scarves, handbags and footwear. Necklaces and scarves are always a stylish way to bring colors together and draw the eye upward.

2. Working with a similar palette (not the exact same color or tone) head-to-toe. Select one of your most skin-flattering colors to create combinations that have the lightest tone at the top, a midtone meeting point and the darkest at the bottom. This could be a.) a light camisole, a midtone jacket and darker slacks, or b.) a tunic that gets deeper as the eye moves downward over dark slacks.

Darker at the bottom will ground your look and create a sleek pathway to your footwear. In fact, you can elongate your silhouette by choosing a shoe that matches your hem. Wear a black shoe or strong color when wearing dark slacks or jeans, the eye is drawn straight to the feet, inferring extra height.

How do you use tonal or monochromatic combinations?

Babe

Ulla Popken Stylist & Blogger

Be your personal best.

Jeggings and Leggings

I often recommend "build from the bottom...up." If you look in your closet, I think you'll find at least four tops for every bottom you own. Nothing wrong with that, but here's some new inspiration to try.

Two new Ulla products have inspired me to wear a look, a youthful, playful look, that I thought I couldn't wear previously, our Stretch Denim Jeggings, #14822 and our Stretch Ponte Knit Boot-Cut Leggings, #14621, or Stretch Ponte Knit Slim Cut Leggings, #14622.

• Leggings inspire a current vibe, well-interpreted for the woman who wears plus size using a mix of feminine shapes.
• When the bottom is fitted (and it is a slim fit, you may want to order a size up) it begs for a full, relaxed top. (AHHHHH!)
• For an ageless, pulled-together look, pair leggings with matching accessories, especially great ballet flats.
• Use matching accessories, such as jewelry to rev up the sophistication-quotient even further.

Leggings are the backbone of a look that is relevant and tuned in to the contemporary fashion landscape in a way that flatters the plus size woman. This is precisely our goal at Ulla, to be the better choice by providing contemporary styling, accurate fit and better fabrication.

If you've worn Ulla's jeggings or leggings, please share your thoughts with us.

Babe

Ulla Popken Stylist & Blogger

Be your personal best.

Only Good Shoes Worn Here

There is no way to appear assured, pretty and sexy when your feet hurt. It changes everything – from an aching body, feet, legs and back to an aching disillusioned spirit.

Uncomfortable shoes change the way we walk, how much we walk, and how much we complain about walking.

The corollary is bad too. Many women have opted out of wearing good-looking shoes and instead wear shoes that should be restricted to gardening or work as a correctional officer in a maximum security prison. It doesn’t have to be that way!

At Ulla, we all know “Joe knows shoes!” (Joe is the shoe buyer at Ulla.) While a majority of our customers choose good-looking flats, Joe has given us other beautiful options too. I wear a size nine, double wide and thankfully, there is as much for me to choose from, in Ulla’s collection, as anyone else. Yesss!

A few footwear faux pas to avoid:

• Don’t wear shoes with ankle straps; it chops up the lengthening effect we always seek.
• Don’t wear shoes that have high vamps; it thickens ankles and legs.
• Never wear light shoes with dark hosiery; it cuts your legs off and makes you look shorter and heavier than you are.
• Don’t wear shoes if your feet spill over or seem to bulge out.
• Don’t allow shoes to appear uncared for and worn.

Check out our many Ulla-styles – they are comfy, well-fitting, contemporary, and come in a variety of heel heights. Please share what you count on as “tried and true” in footwear.

Babe

Ulla Popken Stylist & Blogger

Be your personal best.

A New Generation of Shapewear

There’s no doubt that shapewear can be a friend with benefits. The object is to find intimates that shape, smooth, and firm. Look for items made of soft, substantial, stretchy materials to enjoy a sleek silhouette and still remain comfortable.

Choose wisely:

• Undergarments that hold you in too tightly in one area usually create an unattractive bulge in another area - “Being held in” is less beneficial than being “smoothed out.”

• Buy intimates that have no seams or lace that show through clothing -Smooth is always the goal.
  

• Do not buy an item that is too small for you thinking that it will make you look slimmer and better - It won’t.

• If an item shrinks or you get larger - Get rid of it.
  

• If shapewear loses its firmness or shape - Replace it.

This season I took my own advice, opened my mind, and revisited an item I had previously sworn off, and I’m glad I did. The Ulla Body Wrap Soft Cup Bodysuit is such an item. New generations of fabrication have simply improved the effectiveness and comfort of shapewear, immeasurably – and may, therefore, be an old friend worth getting to know again.

If you’ve tried some of our new intimates – I’d love to hear your opinions.

Babe

Ulla Popken Stylist & Blogger

Be your personal best.

What’s a Smart-Cut Camisole?

The latter half of summer can be tricky in terms of balancing the desire to keep cool and look great. I have a few favorite items that do a fantabulous job of both. While they’re from our Fall collection, they are nevertheless light weight and somewhat sheer. (Come on now, stay open-minded!)

Introducing a few great tunics in our recent video, Ulla VP for Merchandising, Diane Cantor reassured us that she was hearing our concern for fabrics that are too sheer versus fabrics that are opaque and often bulky.

Today I want to focus on a certain type of Ulla tunic that is so appropriate to be worn in late summer and well into the Fall. The two tunics pictured here are very light weight but they come with a “magic bullet.” Each of them comes with their own tonally matched slinky opaque camisole – brilliant!

So what’s so great about that? The barely-there camisole is smart-cut; it creates a flattering outline, hardly visible under the tunic but yet enough to provide excellent coverage and enough to manufacture a very flattering silhouette. I'd love to hear some reviews of our Embellished Animal Tunic Set, #14427 and our Dip Dye Embroidered Tunic Set, #14426.

Diane, I love you!

Babe Hope

Ulla Popken Stylist & Blogger

Be your personal best.

New Fabric Born at Ulla!

What if I told you there was a fabric that was so flattering and comfortable that it would make you look sleek in a snap? There is such a fabric! For the time being, we are calling it viscose spandex (because that’s what it is) but that name doesn’t begin to extol its virtues!

I’m talking about a fabric that is being launched in our Fall collection. I love it for several reasons:

• It skims over and conceals what’s puffy
• It has a flat, matte, elegant surface quality
• It has enough weight to support the line of the garment
• It’s soft, stretchy and not bulky

Some of the items in our catalog and web site may look like traditional styles, but when cut in this fantabulous fabric…beautiful things happen.

Personally, I’ve started my own viscose spandex collection. I’ve begun with three outfit-makers:

• Two-in-One Knit Dress, #14230 (Aubergine)
• Surplice Viscose Spandex Knit Dress, #14229 (Teal)
• Open Front Viscose Spandex Pintuck Jacket, #14545 and Matching Viscose Spandex Knit Tank, #14571 (Raspberry)

The reviews are coming in and they're wonderful! We'd love to hear your opinion of this magic fabric!

Babe

Ulla Popken Stylist & Blogger

Be your personal best!

Affirming Your Personal Best

Shoot for the moon! Even if you miss, you’ll land among the stars. Hold a good thought and become what you aspire to be.

Just for today,

I will expect the best of everything;

I will not revisit yesterday nor contemplate tomorrow;

I will celebrate this day and rejoice in all that is good in my life;

I will walk with my head up, calmly, confidently and soak up all that surrounds me;

I will acknowledge and be grateful for my importance in the world and be my personal best because it celebrates God’s love and plan for me.

I’ve adapted this affirmation from “Just for Today.” (Narcotics Anonymous Works Web site, NA World Services, Inc.)

Many people and organizations use affirmations to uplift and instill self-belief. I do too. I often copy inspirational messages on an index card, slip it into my handbag, and read from time to time through the day. Personally, I’ve found “talking the talk” has helped me “walk the walk.”

Please share affirmations and other microcosms of self-esteem. You might have the words that another reader needs.

Babe

Ulla Popken Stylist & Blogger

Be your personal best.

Wearing Fire Works

Independence Day, commonly known as the Fourth of July, is a federal holiday in the US commemorating the adoption of the Declaration of Independence in 1776. This special day is celebrated with fireworks, parades, barbecues, carnivals, fairs, picnics, concerts, baseball games, family reunions, political speeches and ceremonies. Hmmnn…What to wear, what to wear?!?

I love clothing that sets the mood and conveys a message. I love clothing and symbols that make me feel like an integral part of something important, something that came before me and will endure long after me. Often, when I meet folks for the first time, they are able to read my enthusiasm in a nano-second. Life is too short to choose basic black when there’s fire works in your heart.

If you feel so connected, open up your closet and reach for red, white and blue. Pair a great top with jeans, a skort, or white slacks and party on!

What will you wear to a great party?

Babe

Ulla Popken Stylist & Blogger

Be your personal best.

Our Personal Best

I became an author and stylist for women who wear plus size as an act of catharsis. Selfishly, I challenged clothing and style to facilitate the life I wanted to live but found that it connected me to my sistas in deeper ways I could never have imagined. Just when I thought it was about improving one’s appearance, I learned it was more about improving one’s life.

While a beautiful wardrobe is not the ultimate achievement in life, I’ve found, and many of my clients have found, it’s a great place to start, because it is a tangible act of self-love and self-respect.

In fact, it is the beginning of telegraphing your worth to the world. Personally, I find so many Ulla styles do just that because they’re stylish, flattering, and thankfully, comfortable. The jacket I’m wearing in our recent video is long and sleek and the camisole is rich with metallic embellishment, a pretty-combo, a power-combo. Often, the right outfit makes my confidence soar and subtly says to the world, “stand back – she’s going for it!”

This is, however, just the beginning for Ulla clothing. Some of the most beautiful items I’ve seen anywhere are about to be unveiled in our Fall and Winter collections. The hope is that our customers will love our clothing, see it as an opportunity to be their personal best and “go for it.”

So, girlfriends:

• Where does beautiful, flattering, comfortable clothing rank in your own spectrum of being your personal best? What’s more important to you? What’s less important?
• How can Ulla help you look and feel your personal best?

We want to help you invest in much more than clothing, we want to help you invest in being your personal best.

Babe

Ulla Popken Stylist & Blogger

Be your personal best!

My Personal Best

Our son’s high school graduation came and went. It was beautiful, truly a moment to savor. It was gratifying on more than one level.

I remember when our son entered the school, a prep school, how proud we were. A little daunted by the costs but overjoyed by the opportunity. Yet, I wondered, (as a family,) can we keep up? Self-interestedly, in the back of my mind, I actually thought, “How do I stack up against the other mothers? Ninety-nine percent of them are thin, exercised, well-coiffed and look, effortlessly, like they belong in a Ralph Lauren ad. Guess what? I don’t and never will, but much has happened for me in 12 years – I’ve embraced being my personal best.

The day was warm and the sun soaked through the mature trees. One thousand seats were set up outside Founders Hall. We arrived a half hour early but found that most of the seats were already filled or reserved. As we made our way to find 3 seats together I got an opportunity to check out the “landscape.”

Yes, I’m probably still the heaviest mother of the class, and (not but) I looked terrific! Frankly, I looked great 12 years ago too, but was looking in the wrong mirror. What’s different for me now, and the reason I connect with Ulla Popken, is that it’s all about looking and being your personal best, regardless of your weight or size. Trust me, there were countless women there, who weighed half of what I weigh, who were not at their personal best.

They call it commencement for a reason. Find a mirror that reflects a new standard - being your personal best. How do you distinguish “your personal best”?

Babe

Ulla Popken Stylist & Blogger

Be your personal best.

Amazing Grace Tops

Look in your closet, the tops have it four to one. For every bottom we own, we probably own four tops. Purchasing a new top is a quick way to create a new look, a fresh look, with minimal expense.

I’ve coined the phrase Amazing Grace Tops when a top boasts four features:

• It enhances YOU; your skin tone and coloring look amazing.

Look for tops that make your eyes pop and accent it with tonal jewelry.

• It falls in a graceful drape that flatters (doesn’t try to hide) your curves.

Avoid boxy shapes and stiff fabrics. If you’re constantly pulling at or fluffing the top to make it stand away from puffy areas, it’s the wrong top for you.

• It’s long enough to make you feel comfortable and pretty with your every move.

Try it on in the comfort of your home; sit, stand, walk and move around in ways that reflect your real-life activities.

• It has a contemporary vibe.

A smaller investment than other wardrobe pieces, choose tops that are a little flashy, even trendy and well-embellished. Be playful!

If, in terms of fashion, you should ever feel “out of touch” or you look in your closet and it seems “out of date,” a true Amazing Grace Top just might save the day! What do you look for in a top?

Babe

Ulla Popken Stylist & Blogger

Be your personal best!

Love your aura!

Improving your aura or charm doesn’t cost a dime and yet it’s worth a fortune, because it can enhance your people skills, attractiveness and general mood.

Think of a woman you consider sexy, assured and comfortable “in her own skin.” Pick a real woman, a colleague, relative or friend, not a celebrity whom you really don’t know. When you look at the outer package, the woman may or may not be beautiful. There is a very real chance that she wouldn’t make it to the cover of a fashion magazine, yet this is the person that comes to mind when you conjure up “sexy and assured.” Most women wouldn’t mind being thought of in this way.

Take this process a bit further and try to isolate the characteristics and qualities you admire and may possess. Some of the characteristics may be:

• SINCERE
• CONFIDENT
• INTELLIGENT
• ATTRACTIVE
• PHYSICALLY COMFORTABLE
• INTERESTING
• EMBRACABLE
• ENERGETIC
• ENTHUSIASTIC
• CALM
• GRACIOUS
• ASTUTE
• QUICK-WITTED

With body language that is conscious (“Fake it ‘til you make it.”) –

you can be this sexy and assured woman. What qualities are YOU drawn to?

Babe

Ulla Popken Stylist & Blogger

Be your personal best!

Elements of Good Design

“One should either be a work of art, or wear a work of art.” Oscar Wilde

You can count the elements of good design on one hand. Look for items that provide these five features and you’ll be a discerning shopper who has left the days of feeling like a desperate buyer in the dust!

1. Frame your face. Choose tops with beautiful, open necklines that frame your expressive face.

2. Shape your torso. Define your shoulders, select shaping cuts and sleek fabrics that enhance your curves.

3. Elongate your silhouette. Use details like a linear row of buttons, vertical seaming as well as color, monochromatic and tonal palettes, to draw your longest line, head to toe.

4. Fade, camouflage, areas you feel are less attractive. Use deep toned, matte fabrics and gently grazing cuts to fade.

5. Focus, bring attention to areas which you love! Select rich, wonderful embellishments that reflect what’s fun and exciting for the season.

More often than not, selecting well-designed, flattering outfits is really about recognizing and renewing our most flattering “uniforms” with contemporary trends, colors, fabrics and embellishments that resonate with our sensuous side.

Babe

Ulla Popken Stylist & Blogger

Feel good in what you wear.