For Immediate Release

Dress my Shape, not my Size While haute couture works on feeding their image, Babs focuses on the perfect fit.

Vancouver, February 9, 2007 – Local fashion designer Babs Lucas is paving the way for a new approach to fit. Babs Studio Boutique produces a line of mod-Asian styles in sizes 2 to 26, and beginning this season, will move toward a shape philosophy for their spring line. Focusing on fitting for shape as much as size is a rather unique approach to women’s clothing design.

Books like Bradley Bayou's "The Science of Sexy", which characterizes main shape categories and further identifies shape variations, are beginning to draw attention to this design philosophy. The most important aspect of the system is that regardless of weight loss or gain, basic body shape does not change. With some simple guidance and knowledge, you can dress to flatter your shape, no matter what shape you're in; a much more holistic and realistic approach to every day style.

"As a clothing designer, I believe the most important thing is to understand your body and know how to dress it,” Lucas says “Learning to love your body and work with what you’ve got results in confidence, which ultimately translates as sexy." She’s intent on conceptualizing designs that celebrate all shapes and sizes, and the commitment to this ideal doesn't end there. "We're hosting a series of workshops for our customers that will give them skills to determine what shape they are, how to accentuate the positives, and therefore radiate confidence. Voluptuous model and mannequin competitions are in the forecast.”

This season, haute couture is hearing a demand to eliminate the size zero model from the runway. Consciousness and action on this long discussed issue are most certainly on the rise, with media attention focused on Spain's initiative to standardize sizing and increase the minimum size for window mannequins. Jean Paul Gauthier’s new size 20 runway model, Tyra Bank's plus-size model reality show, Ugly Betty's success, and countless other notices of the importance of representing a more realistic body image are popping up all over. The time is right for a shift in focus that will impact the fashion lives of real women. The message from the consumer to the designer needs to be “dress my shape, not my size!”

About Babs

Babs Lucas, a founding member of Sweet Soul Burlesque and former manager of Babalong Studios, has for the past four years concentrated on producing a line of Mod-Asian inspired silk garments in an extensive size range. Her line is currently produced on the site of her newest venture, Babs Studio Boutique on South Granville St.

Contact Information

Babs Lucas Owner/Designer

Babs Studio Boutique 2410 S. Granville St. Vancouver

ph. (604)408.4881 fax (604)708.1121 babs@babs.ca shop@babs.ca

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