Full-Figured Women Crave Fashion and Sonsi Responds

BENSALEM, Pa., Nov. 3, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- With full-figured models on runways and appearing on the covers of chic fashion magazines, retailers are beginning to hear -- both in dollars and in words -- that full-figured women crave more options.  Sonsi™, a new shopping and social destination for women wearing plus sizes, responded with the addition of 300 brands, including some of the biggest names in the apparel and accessories industry, such as eBags, BUYSEASONS™, Sydney's Closet®, IGIGI by Yuliya Raquel, Spiegel® and ShapeFx®.  Launched in June, Sonsi caters to the nearly 60 percent of women in America who wear size 12 or above.  

These new and coming soon arrivals represent nearly every apparel category of product that a woman needs, from everyday casual and career wear to occasion dressing such as prom dresses, wedding attire, and even theme party and plus size Halloween costumes, to holiday gifts, bags, jewelry, shoes and more. Major participating names in the retail industry include:

• eBags – An extensive collection of trend forward handbags, clutches and totes, including the season's "must have" designer bags. Popular brands include: The Sak, Tignanello, Kathy Van Zeeland, Guess, Big Buddha and much more.  
• BUYSEASONS – The premier costume retailer offers best-selling Halloween costumes from the classics – Cleopatra, Raggedy Ann, Madam Can-Can, and Cinderella – to some of the season's most trend-right looks.
• Sydney's Closet – "Sizes Up Glamour" by offering curvy teens and women a vast selection of sophisticated, beautiful and elegant dresses perfect for any special occasion. The Signature Collection, in sizes 14 to 40, features chic cocktail dresses, romantic wedding dresses, red-carpet formal gowns and trendy prom dresses.
• IGIGI by Yuliya Raquel – Transforms the world's view of beauty with smart, stylish and sophisticated clothing for the full-figured fashionista.  Designed and made in San Francisco, CA, IGIGI by Yuliya Raquel's fashion-forward, chic, and form-fitting dresses, career wear, bridal gowns and separates in sizes 12–32 provide women with a premiere lifestyle brand of contemporary collections. 
• Spiegel and ShapeFx - Iconic American brands with loyal and dedicated customers.  The Spiegel brand inspires women to create their Signature Style through seasonal Luxury Fabric Collections. ShapeFx offers body enhancing shapewear, apparel and swimwear that "makes the body you have look like the body you want" ™.

Sonsi now features over 380 brands, across all price points, including such favorites as Kiyonna™, Lane Bryant®, alight, Loop 18, Fashion Bug®, Catherines®, and Cacique®.  

Sonsi is widely considered a social shopping leader.  SonsiLiving™ provides a variety of social networking experiences including online clubs, groups, live power chat sessions and expert blogs from notable industry insiders including Megan Garcia, a plus size model, yoga instructor and author of Megayoga, the first guide to yoga for plus size women; and Susan Moses, celebrity fashion stylist to such luminaries as Wynonna Judd, Jill Scott, Emme, Mo'Nique and Queen Latifah. 

"We're pleased to partner with leading brands that recognize social shopping as the next evolution in retail.  Not only can the Sonsi woman shop for apparel, shoes and holiday gifts, but Sonsi is also a place where she can make friends, share stories, review products and find advice on fashion, beauty, health, relationships, food, entertaining and more," said Jill Hutchison, Publisher of Sonsi.com.  "Since our launch this summer, we've quadrupled the number of brands we offer, bringing real women a variety of fashion choices in a fun, community-based environment that embraces beauty in all shapes and sizes."  

About Sonsi

Sonsi™ offers one of the largest online assortments of plus size women's apparel, accessories and products, specifically for women sizes 12 and up.  With over 380 brands in one convenient shopping destination, Sonsi™ features trendy tops and bottoms, classy cocktail, evening and casual dresses, career wear, active wear, outerwear, swimwear, intimates, accessories and more, in a variety of price points from great brands such as Kiyonna, Lane Bryant, alight, Catherines, Fashion Bug, Loop 18, Cacique and more.  SonsiLiving™, the social side of Sonsi™, is an inclusive online social community where real women can participate in social networking, groups and clubs, live power chat sessions, interactive quizzes and games, and stay informed with expert blogs, content and advice covering topics such as fashion, beauty, health, relationships and more.  Sonsi, Inc. is a wholly owned subsidiary of Charming Shoppes, Inc. (CHRS).

SOURCE Charming Shoppes, Inc.