One of the biggest misconceptions I run into when I try to explain what I'm doing with Hourglass Heaven is that people don't seem to understand what the word curvy means.

Curvy means having curves. Curvy is being curved. Synonyms for curvy are buxom, curvaceous and shapely.

I find many people I talk to assume when I say curvy, I mean plus-size. I try to explain, yes and no. Yes, we plan to fit larger sizes and we plan to fit smaller sizes. Women of ALL sizes can have curves, both big and small!

Shapely means having a well-proportioned and pleasing shape; "a slim waist and shapely legs".

Hourglass is a body-type. Some plus-size women have this shape and some much smaller women have this shape too! We are all sizes.

I also found many fashion agencies at the Metro Show this week seem to assume that curvy means "mature". I even had one young woman gleefully explain to me that women "get" an hourglass figure when they get older. She went one to explain that it's something that naturally happens when you're in your 30's or 40's. LOL

Really?!? You think women just magically become an hourglass when they get older? Uhm, ok, I think a lot of women would be quite happy if that was actually true.

So, no, women do not magically become an hourglass. Hourglass does not mean you've gained weight around the middle. Quite the opposite! Refer back to that shapely definition. We're talking about women with a SMALL waist and BIG bust and hips.

If you want to "get" an hourglass figure and you don't have one naturally, you're going to need a corset, some shape-wear or plastic surgery.

I started having difficulty fitting into most mainstream clothing and DD bras when I was in high school! I've had an hourglass figure pretty much since I hit puberty. Being an hourglass has nothing to do with age. We are all ages.

So are we clear now? Here is a curve:

Being curvy is having some of those.

I'm not using the words curvy, buxom, curvaceous, shapely and voluptuous as euphemisms. I mean what these words actually mean. I mean women with curves!

Vintage pic of Mme. Bianca Lyons, c1902 (in the public domain now, Library of Congress)

I just wrapped up attending the Metro Show.

What is the Metro Show?

This is the Metro Show.

Pictured is the guidebook, some look books, and the best snacks available in the retailer rest area.

The Metro Show is a big retailer and buyers market. It was Aug. 9-13; yes, Wednesday to Sunday.

It's held in 12 locations (according to the map) to visit over 5 days. Each location has many agencies who offer various goods to buy (apparel, accessories, etc.) to retailers.

What does it looks like? Kind of like a mall, only everything is half-price, because you mark it up to the MSRP (Manufacturer Suggested Retail Price).

Only you can't really buy things the way you normally do. Many of the stores are by appointment only. Most are taking orders for merchandise that will be delivered in Spring, around Feb. Oh, and the minimums, some as low as $300, some start around $7,000! Yes, that's right place an order for $7K of product...uhm...not there yet.

There is another type of store there too, the cash and carry. These seem to be mostly accessories stores. They carry a lot of very inexpensive merchandise, lots of hat, gloves, scarves, jewelry, etc. All very cheap and you can buy it right away in any quantity.

The other similarity to the mall, was the shopping experience for women's clothes. I decided to just see if there were any items that I might be able to offer, clothes that would fit an hourglass figure.

The results were sadly typical of any trip to the mall with an hourglass figure. Most items just didn't fit right, they didn't fit well. Many styles didn't look right either, the styling just didn't flatter the figure and/or showed bra straps or the bra itself.

The part that was completely unlike a mall, there were no changing rooms. Some agencies had a curtain or a back room that could be used. Others, well, let's move some racks of clothes and we'll close this glass door. There we go, almost no privacy, and mirrors everywhere. Hope you're not shy about changing clothes in front of people! LOL

Oh, what a learning experience. I'll post more about it this week and some more pics. This evening though I think is rest time. :)