Full Figured Women's Clothing

Posted by Lori Henry Mar 12, 2007

Bradley Bayou was a designer for celebrities, working as the creative director at Halston. He dressed stars such as Drew Barrymore, Halle Berry and Oprah.

But after a bit of a crash that lead Halston’s to struggle with its business, they found themselves not attracting the name stars they once did.

Then came along Queen Latifah, who needed a dress for her 2003 Academy Award nomination for Chicago. Bayou created a Hollywood Golden Age-style gown that was an instant classic. Made of blue satin, it hugged Latifah’s curves in all the right ways.

Thus began Bayou’s surge of more full figured celebrities. Clients such as Barbara Streisand, Mariah Carey, Maggie Gyllenhaal and Salma Hayek began calling him up to get their dresses designed.

"I began to understand different-shaped women and what makes them look good," Bayou said. "There are major groups of women in this country . . . where do they shop? I want to help women. Style should be something that's affordable and offered to everyone no matter what their size is. I'm going to do more and more and more for everyone."

Well, full figured actresses are still a lot different from average women, but it’s a start. The realization that women of all sizes need fabulous clothing that they can wear might be news to the design industry, but women have been vying for this for years.

Bradley followed his instincts and wrote a book called The Science of Sexy Gotham Books, where he researched 10,000 women and men of all sizes to come up with 48 body types. The book includes tips for each one, as well as advice for which styles will work for each type.

He gets points for trying. "I am not trying to tell you what to wear," Bayou said. "I am trying to tell what will look good on practically any body type. It's a basic foundation to have."

Ironically, Bayou’s daughter struggled with bulimia in her late teen years, without him knowing it. Now, 27, she has gotten help and is proud that her father is making a difference.