Age Positive Size Positive: What Does This Mean?

The evolution of Smooth has been guided by our customers.  In many ways you have created Smooth.  We find endless inspiration from the heartfelt stories of customers who have dealt with grace and elegance in the face of what life has thrown at them. And this is the true centre of our delight in this business. 

Long-termers, who have watched us grow, will know that we began life as a kind of 'plus size range’ But Really???!!! Plus size means so many things to different people, and despite anything one says, it has a negativity attached to it.  A sense of giving up. 

This is what we began railing against. Body shape, like every aspect of us as humans, is always changing, and we decided it was time to take a different position; to embrace our changing selves and to enjoy the growth; physically, mentally and spiritually ( in whatever form you like).

Hence AGE POSITIVE, SIZE POSITIVE. Age is a badge of honour, so wear it with pride. 

Our Changing Bodies: Our Changing Perspectives

What does plus size mean? What is appropriate clothing for women over 40 and women over 50?  In fact, what is seen as beauty?  In fact all these things are ever shifting.  Statistics show that women's figures have changed over the last 100 years.  We seem to have larger waists and narrower hips. Fashionable figures have moved through periods of gamine, voluptuous, athletic and now, sadly, a computer generated, artificially enhanced porn star look seems to dominate. 

As women who are aging, as we all do, the question of how to manage this in today's youth market is increasingly complex. Cosmetic interventions are now almost mandatory.  This is not to say we disapprove, in fact, it is a wonderful thing when done wisely.  But the use of Botox as a preventative on girls aged 20?  I wonder if we will have a generation who doesn't register facial expressions properly.  

My take on this, is that we should aim to look youthful rather than young.  And that means avoiding 'mutton dressed as lamb clothing' and having cosmetic enhancements which are subtle. We want people to see our faces not our treatments. 

Plus size clothing can be anything from a size 16- size 36.  This is far too broad.  If the average woman is an 18, why is the average considered to be plus size?