By using this site, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.
Accept
The Curvy FashionistaThe Curvy Fashionista
Notification Show More
Latest News
The Plus Bus partners for TCFStyle Brunch
Join US! Our TCFStyle Brunch Series is BACK… in LA!
Fashion and Industry Fashion Events
Free Label Spring Collection
You Oughta Know: Free Label! Luxe Loungewear Up Through a 5X
Plus Size Designers
The Marina Rinaldi Spring Collection
The Marina Rinaldi Spring Collection is Exciting and Bold!
Plus Size Designers
GabiFresh Swim x Eloquii
Upgrade your Swim Life with the GabiFresh Swim x Eloquii Collection!
Fashion and Industry Plus Size Designers
Zelie for she spring collection-Lady Day Ivory
The Zelie for She Spring Collection is Romantic and Playful
Plus Size Designers
Aa
  • News
    News
    Looking the the latest plus size fashion and industry news around designers, influencers, and community happenings? We’ve got you covered with the latest happenings in…
    Show More
    Top News
    Celebrating 200k FB Fans- It is a Spring #TCFStyle Giveaway with Simply Be!
    Celebrating 200k FB Fans- It is a Spring #TCFStyle Giveaway with Simply Be!
    9 years ago
    Spring #TCFStyle Giveaway with Hips and Curves
    Celebrating 200k FB Fans- It is a Spring #TCFStyle Giveaway with Hips and Curves!
    9 years ago
    nordstrom size inclusive
    What’s Missing as Nordstrom (and others) Takes Note of Us, the Plus Size Consumer
    5 years ago
    Latest News
    Join US! Our TCFStyle Brunch Series is BACK… in LA!
    6 hours ago
    You Oughta Know: Free Label! Luxe Loungewear Up Through a 5X
    2 days ago
    The Marina Rinaldi Spring Collection is Exciting and Bold!
    1 week ago
    Upgrade your Swim Life with the GabiFresh Swim x Eloquii Collection!
    6 days ago
  • Style
    Style
    Yes, plus size style options exist and we are here to share the latest style finds, news, updates, and plus size style tips & tricks…
    Show More
    Top News
    Plus size woman Walking
    LETS TALK: Design Elements in Plus Size Clothes that KILL ME.
    10 years ago
    Duo Boots Giveaway on The Curvy Fashionista
    #TCFTurns5 Giveaway: Step into Style With the Duo Boots Giveaway!
    9 years ago
    Celebrating 200k FB Fans- It is a Spring #TCFStyle Giveaway with Simply Be!
    Celebrating 200k FB Fans- It is a Spring #TCFStyle Giveaway with Simply Be!
    9 years ago
    Latest News
    Diamonds Are Forever But Are They For Everyone? 5 Size-Inclusive Jewelry Brands
    2 weeks ago
    The Rebdolls Spring Collection Will Make You Swoon and We’ve Found 10 Faves!
    2 weeks ago
    You Oughta Know: What Lo Wants, A Sustainable LA-Based Plus Size Brand
    3 weeks ago
    Need to Update Your Lingerie Collection? Crush by Cacique is bringing the Bold and Bright Newness!
    3 weeks ago
  • Beauty
    Beauty
    Looking for the latest beauty trends, products, and makeup tips and beauty advice for plus size people?! Check out the latest beauty articles on The…
    Show More
    Top News
    Wearing Make-Up To Work, A Bad Thing?
    10 years ago
    10 Products to Fight Chub Rub
    It’s Chub Rub Season—10 Products To Battle It
    6 years ago
    PrescriptivesCustom Blend Foundation
    Celebrating 200k FB Fans- It is a Spring #TCFStyle Giveaway with Prescriptives!
    9 years ago
    Latest News
    The Best 2023 Planners to Keep You Organized and Help You Reach Your Goals!
    3 months ago
    13 Last Minute Beauty Gifts Everyone is Sure to Love
    3 months ago
    TCF Gift Guide: 15 Beauty Stocking Stuffers to Wow and Amaze Your Loved Ones!
    4 months ago
    20 of the Best Beauty Advent Calendars That Will Help You Countdown to the Holidays In Style
    5 months ago
  • Wellness
    Wellness
    Let’s talk about self-care, self-love, body image, and related topics to wellness and life as a plus size person!
    Show More
    Top News
    Torrid's Feature of Tiffany from On The Fatwalk
    The Enabling of Self Loathers and Shame – A Facebook Observation of Torrid
    11 years ago
    Rescue Stress relief
    Finding My Own Rescue Remedy & Taking Better Care of Myself…
    6 years ago
    Plus Size Lingerie: Hips and Curves
    Confidence, Sex, and the Plus Size Woman pt.1
    11 years ago
    Latest News
    Don’t Put Us In A Corner: Why In-Store Access To Plus Size Clothing Matters
    2 weeks ago
    The Dividing Truth Behind B Bellies
    3 weeks ago
    REI Sets a New Standard for Inclusive Fashion for the Outdoors
    1 month ago
    Save the Date for The BodCon Virtual Conference!
    4 weeks ago
  • Lifestyle
    Lifestyle
    There is so much more to a plus size fashion lover and we are highlighting the various topics from home, to dating and beyond in…
    Show More
    Top News
    Open Letter Tim Gunn
    An Open Letter: Dear Tim Gunn, Let’s Make It Work
    10 years ago
    2017 MTV Move & TV Awards, chrissy metz, plus size celebrity
    ‘I Wear What I Want, When I Want’: Chrissy Metz Slays In Red at the 2017 MTV Movie & TV Awards
    6 years ago
    Metallic Curves by Photographer Silvana Denker
    Plus Size Art: Metallic Curves by Photographer Silvana Denker
    6 years ago
    Latest News
    The Dividing Truth Behind B Bellies
    3 weeks ago
    Beyond Plus Size Activewear: The Plus Size Outdoor Clothing & 5 Communities To Know!
    3 months ago
    Save these 5 Plus Size Halloween Costume Tips from a Few Plus Size Cosplayers!
    5 months ago
    12 Places to Shop for Plus Size Halloween Costumes & Our Faves!
    6 months ago
  • Culture
    Culture
    Yes there is a plus size culture and we are here to share and celebrate it from entertainment to movies, we are talking about it!…
    Show More
    Top News
    25 women of color e1615188552216
    25 Women Of Color Who Paved The Way for Body Positivity & Plus Size Fashion
    2 years ago
    Dear Terri, Ven Budhu, and Project Runway….
    11 years ago
    Plus+ Coffee table book
    Because We Love a Great Book, Here are 30+ Plus Size Centered Must-Reads! 
    5 years ago
    Latest News
    Get To Know The Big Grrrls Cast! The Plus Size Dancers Competing For A Spot On Stage.
    1 year ago
    6 Easy Date Ideas For Every Budget
    1 year ago
    The Unfiltered Brilliance of Ryan Ken Acts
    1 year ago
    Unlike Hollywood’s Latest Portrayal of Her, Stagecoach Mary was Not Skinny, And She Wasn’t Light-skinned
    1 year ago
  • Shop TCF
  • Events
    • TCFStyle Brunch Series
Search TCF
More
  • Events
    • TCFStyle Brunch Series
  • Curvy & Plus Size Fashion Resources
  • About The Curvy Fashionista
  • Advertising
  • Contact
© 2008- 2023 · by TCFStyle Media · All Rights Reserved ·
Reading: From the Designer: Why Plus Size Body Chains Matter to Me
Aa
The Curvy FashionistaThe Curvy Fashionista
  • News
  • Style
  • Beauty
  • Wellness
  • Lifestyle
  • Culture
  • Shop TCF
  • Events
Search TCF
  • About
  • News
  • Style
  • Shopping
  • Wellness
  • Beauty
  • Lifestyle
  • Write for TCF
  • Contact
Sign In Sign In
Follow US
  • Login
  • Community Guidelines
  • Style Star Ambassadors
  • TCFStyle Influencer Network
  • Advertise With Us
  • Contact
© 2008- 2021 · by TCFStyle Media · All Rights Reserved ·
Accessories

From the Designer: Why Plus Size Body Chains Matter to Me

Alysse Dalessandro Santiago
Last updated: 05/25/2015
By Alysse Dalessandro Santiago 8 Min Read
Share
Lookbook5

Marie’s Note: I have always wondered why designers choose to make a collection, always wondering their process, the decisions they make, and how. SO I invited our new contributor, Alysse from Ready to Stare to share why she made plus size body chains and why it means sooo much to her. Please read on for more and let us know if you want to read more about fashion from a plus size designer’s perspective!

I starting making jewelry because no one else made what I dreamed up in my mind. I would plan these elaborate outfits around pieces I could never find in stores especially not in my size. The first piece I ever made for my line, Ready to Stare was actually a pair of oversized wire-wrapped hoop earrings that I made for myself in 2011.

- Advertisement -

It wasn’t until I bumped into a friend of mine who happened to own a boutique that I even realized other people would wear what I made. If she loved the earrings, I thought just maybe other people would too.

And they did.

Ready to Stare Watch the Queen Collection- Plus Size Body Chains

- Advertisement -

I’ve gone onto to create everything from screen printed crop tops to faux fur fanny packs for women who are still often overlooked by mainstream fashion retailers. As much as I love designing clothing what remains closest to my heart as an indie plus size designer, is body chains.

Why Plus Size Body Chains Matter to Me

I made my first body chain when I was invited to do my first fashion show. As an accessories designer, I knew that earring studs were not gonna cut it on a runway following clothing designers showing ball gowns. So I went into my metalsmithing studio and I thought about what I could make that would mimic the idea of armor and I came up with my first body chain.

I hand-sawed, filed, stamped and drilled a piece of brass sheet metal into a long rectangular plate for the middle of the chain and then attached chains of varying lengths to create a ribcage-looking structure. The piece took me hours to make. When my model put it on, her confidence radiated.

Ready to Stare Watch the Queen Collection- Plus Size Body Chains

- Advertisement -

I fell in love with body chains at that moment. I wanted everyone who wore Ready to Stare to feel that confidence and blatant disregard for so-called “fashion rules” that I saw on my model during that first fashion show in 2012. She was owning the look and to this day, she owns more Ready to Stare body chains than anyone else.

Ready to Stare Watch the Queen Collection- Plus Size Body Chains

When I began designing my newest summer line, called Watch The Queen Conquer which I most recently released, I knew I wanted to embody that same strength and attitude. So even though I have focused on clothing, t-shirts and traditional jewelry in my most recent collections alongside a few body chains, I decided I wanted to do a collection of only body chains, belts, and other body jewelry — no earrings, no bracelets, and no necklaces.

Ready to Stare Watch the Queen Collection- Plus Size Body Chains

I knew this was a risk because there’s nothing safe about a garter made entirely from chain. But doing a collection like this challenged me to think about different ways to celebrate the body. From the back body chain silhouette and the spiked anklets to the fringe chain head piece and caged gold shoulder body chain, there are pieces for every part of the body.

 

Ready to Stare Watch the Queen Collection- Plus Size Body Chains I chose to shoot this collection across two days because I wanted to show how these pieces could be worn with swimwear of varying styles and also how they could worn in your everyday life. At the end of the day, I want to create pieces that you can wear everyday and not just for a special occasion. If a piece makes you feel like a million bucks, why would you only wear it when you’re at the beach?

Why not wear it to dinner or even in the bedroom? The possibilities are endless when you eliminate this idea that plus size fashion needs to look a certain way.

Ready to Stare Watch the Queen Collection- Plus Size Body Chains

I think as plus size women, we are tired of being told what to wear for our bodies. And we want a voice in fashion that feels authentic to our individual styles. We are tired of being told to take the safe and acceptable route. I wanted to create a collection that celebrated bodies of all sizes not by hiding them but by showing them as they are.

Confidence can be very threatening to people who need you to feel small, so that they can feel big.

I remember one of the first mean comments I received on Instagram when I started wearing my body chains was “everything ain’t for everybody” and basically someone of my size should be more covered up. That comment stuck with me not because I agreed but because I knew that her comment went against everything that I believe as a designer: if you like it, wear it.

Ready to Stare Watch the Queen Collection- Plus Size Body Chains So when it came to picking models to show this new collection, I picked nine different women of various sizes between a size 2 to a size 26. Some of these women have stretch marks or visible cellulite, some don’t. Some of them have hourglass shapes. Some of them don’t.  I believe firmly that representation matters and I want these women to be as reflective as possible of my full customer range, rather than be the mainstream acceptable idea of a plus size woman.

If you like what you see, you can shop my new collection, Watch the Queen Conquer here!

As an indie brand, I have the power to make that decision and it’s one that’s important to me. I think often times there’s this voice in our heads that tries to keep us in our comfort zone and tells us that we can only wear certain things. But an image can be a powerful thing and I hope these images can silence that voice for some people. If these women can wear body chains, you can too.

And I hope you do!

TAGGED: ready to stare
Share this Article
Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Email Copy Link Print
1 Comment 1 Comment
  • Tina says:
    December 6, 2016 at 7:51 pm

    I love this article! I bought a body chain that I loved and hoped it would fit…just over my shoulders and loops down the back…sadly no. It was gorgeous. Why didn’t they make them for us too? I struggle with my body image…but I know deep down in there I am beautiful and I along with every other curvy woman need to keep reminding ourselves that we count – just like everyone else. And if we feel good in it, we can wear it.

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Latest News

The Plus Bus partners for TCFStyle Brunch
Fashion and Industry

Join US! Our TCFStyle Brunch Series is BACK… in LA!

- Advertisement -

You May Also Enjoy

Free Label Spring Collection
Plus Size Designers

You Oughta Know: Free Label! Luxe Loungewear Up Through a 5X

Marie Denee By Marie Denee
The Marina Rinaldi Spring Collection
Plus Size Designers

The Marina Rinaldi Spring Collection is Exciting and Bold!

Marie Denee By Marie Denee
GabiFresh Swim x Eloquii
Fashion and Industry

Upgrade your Swim Life with the GabiFresh Swim x Eloquii Collection!

Marie Denee By Marie Denee
Zelie for she spring collection-Lady Day Ivory
Plus Size Designers

The Zelie for She Spring Collection is Romantic and Playful

Marie Denee By Marie Denee
Loud Bodies Bridal up through a size 10X
Plus Size Designers

Loud Bodies Drops an Inclusive Bridal Collection up through a size 10X!

Team TCF By Team TCF
Forever 21 x Juicy Couture
Plus Size Designers

Channel Your Y2K Nostalgia with the Forever 21 x Juicy Couture Collection (Yes, in Plus Sizes!)

Team TCF By Team TCF
  • About
  • Advertise
  • Contribute
  • Subscribe
  • Contact
  • Privacy
  • Affiliate Disclosure
Reading: From the Designer: Why Plus Size Body Chains Matter to Me
The Curvy FashionistaThe Curvy Fashionista
Follow US

© 2008- 2023 · by TCFStyle Media · All Rights Reserved ·

Removed from reading list

Undo
The Curvy Fashionista Logo
Welcome Back!

Please Sign in to Your Account

Lost your password?