The phrase “Don’t you just love a bargain?” may have been made popular by Christmas Tree Shops in the early 2000s but its power is undiminished, especially in the fashion industry. This event is something that every owner of a Plus Size Wardrobe should know about. No one knows better how much plus size women love a bargain than Becky Jarvis, the brainchild of Curvy Chic Closet, the largest plus size consignment event in North America, which took place from April 28th through May 1st of this year at Suntech Corporate Park in Hillsboro, Oregon.
Becky states, “I started Curvy Chic Closet after realizing that there were no plus size consignment events to help women buy beautiful, gently used plus size clothing. 65% of American women wear a size 14 and above, yet we are left behind in the fashion industry at traditional brick and mortar stores. I can offer amazing shopping under one roof with over 20,000 consigned items (clothing, shoes, jewelry, purses, and accessories) for the plus size consumer. Each year, our fashion show continues to grow. We are proud of the women that were casted for the Spring 2022 event and they’re empowering beautiful curvy women to be role models!”
Founded in 2011, the twice-yearly event for curvy women sizes 14-34 welcomes over 200 consigners with more than 20,000 items, and this year I was lucky enough to be one of the thousands of shoppers that crash eagerly through its doors. Keep in mind, I’ve been to many, many consignment events so I walked in expecting a few racks of clothes, some shoes, and a handful of purses. But Becky and her tireless team absolutely blew me away; the venue consisted of a dozen rooms absolutely filled to the brim with dresses and skirts, tops, pants, sleepwear, lingerie, and even maternity wear, all hung up and neatly arranged by category and size. There were also entire rooms dedicated to shoes, purses, and accessories!
Shoppers had their choice of several dressing rooms in which to try on their treasures in private and I’m fairly certain they’ll name room #3 after me because I tried on no less than 100 items over 3 days in this curvy candy shop!
When shoppers needed a break from the marathon of fitting, they perused the multiple and varied vendors on offer; Ella Rose Jewelry, The Hummingbird Confectionery , Origami Owl, Lime Life by Alcone, and Scentsy were just a few of the more than 25 participating vendors I gave my rent money to…no…but really.
And on Saturday night came the pièce de ré·sis·tance; the largest plus size fashion show on the west coast, hosted by Kimberly Walker of Curves Beautifully Empowered and featuring designers and retailers such as Chocolate Diamond, Scarlett Annie’s Boutique, Phoenix on Fire Sewing, Columbia Sportswear, Heavenly Bridal Boutique, E’mit Couture, Stylephora, and Charity Rosalind, paraded with perfection by 32 models from ages 13 to 69 of all sizes, races, genders, and abilities, one of which was Terrell, Becky’s husband and right hand, AKA “Mr Curvy Chic Closet”.
Curvy Chic Closet is beyond grateful to its many sponsors that helped make this spring’s event possible. Electronics Unlimited, Event Documentation Systems, Mundo Catering, Society Pie, Fashionable and Thick, and Amber Torres Photography, just to name a few.
And Curvy Chic Closet was not just about fashion. They joined forces with Free Food Project, a nonprofit organization that sources 9,000 pounds of food and dry good per week to anyone in need and without any of the income or residency restrictions, and Gung Ho Ministries, a women’s resale shop that generates income to help serve homeless veterans, the needy, and the underprivileged. In the past ten years, Curvy Chic Closet’s consigners have donated approximately 40,000 pounds of goods to Gung Ho Ministries, helping countless women to dress for success and improve their lives and circumstances.
Missed this Spring’s event? Follow Curvy Chic Closet to find out the moment the dates and location for this Fall’s event are announced. Oh, and make sure to bring some extra suitcases with you. You’ll need them!
Hashtags: #WeAreCurvyChic #IAmEnough #RecycledClothing #bodypositivity #plussizeclothes #plussize
