My dreams and my journeys: Part 2 the born of by Curvilínea by Pia Haryono

Hello beautiful curvaceous girls!


It is a long time that I have been away from my blog. I am taking seriously to built my own fashion label and company from scratch. I have been very busy preparing everything for starting my business. I started with developing the business plan, creating the brand, designing the logo, conducting survey for target market and price and selecting promotional tools. After long discussion with my family and friends, I have designed and created my fashion brand. With some assistance from my best friend, Gladdys Maharani, who is working at an advertising agency, finally my fashion brand is completely created!!

Yes!! It is called by Curvilínea by Pia Haryono. Thist is my future and my dream! I can't believe it that I have my own fashion brand. I am so delightful, excited, and over the moon. I must take it very seriously! No more doubt, keep going, and be brave!!!

In November 2014, I started to design ready to wear outfits and formal dresses and then make them into sample products. I explore my imagination to make plus size women especially Indonesian full figure women more fashionable with my elegant, sexy and feminine designs. In January 2015, all sample products were done. I thought that I should take a photo session with a professional fashion photographer so I can get feedback from at least my Facebook's friends.I met Haddy El-Nath from El-Nath Photography to arrange two photo sessions with him.

I was completely worried with the photo session because I had no idea who would be the plus size fashion model. Haddy suggested  me that I, my self, have to the model!!! I was shock and surprise because I never be a model before and never think to be a model either. But he convinced me that I can do it under his guidance. So finally here are some photo taken by him at the first photo session.

All dresses that I wore were made from knit jersey fabric. I think knit jersey fabric is great fabric for plus size body as it follow the curve of plus size body and it is very comfortable to wear in tropical country like Indonesia. I love bright colors on my design and I like floral, geometric, and paisley pattern on my dresses. Wrap dresses were dominated because they are so sexy and beautiful to be wore by plus size women and I think wrap dress style is the best style and everlasting design for plus size fashion.

I am very happy with the photo taken by Haddy. It fulfilled my expectation. I developed  Curvilínea-by-Pia-Haryono facebook fanspage and then I posted all those photos. I hope you can visit it and click LIKE the fanspage. At the first day I got more than 100 likes unexpectedly when the photos were published. I also got nice word and comments from the "likers". Of course it's a good things for me as a designer. 

In May 2015, Haddy and I took second photo session in his studio. In this session, I wore formal dress and "kebaya" the traditional Indonesian women's costume. I want to show my exclusive fashion line where I create and design evening dress for special occasion and wedding kebaya for plus size Indonesian bride. Again, I was the model at the photo session. Furthermore, I did  makeup and hairstyle by my self during all photo sessions

For the exclusive line, my brand have been affiliated with Bridestory.com. They asked me to join as their wedding vendor. I have been successfully selected because my designs and products are met their standard of criterion. You can visit my profile in http://m.bridestory.com/curvilinea-by-pia-haryono 
Please don't forget to give a love sign on the photo. Also, you can find my brand in Instagram too. 

Currently, we are in the production process. It is a good progress so far. Hopefully it would be done at the end of July 2015 and then it can be launched in the middle of August 2015. I don't want to rush it because I really pay attention on the quality of my product. So... please stay tune!

Cheers, xoxo

My dreams and my journey: Part 1 the background story

Hello beautiful curvaceous girls!

Everybody has their big dreams in their life so do I. Being a professor in Public Relations and a fashion designer for full-figure women are two of my big dreams. Working as a university lecturer is great but creating plus size outfits is AMAZING! I have been waiting to work as a fashion designer and to have my own plus size fashion label since my young age.

I started to design my own cloths when I was 15 years old. I love fashion very much. My mama and papa supported me by letting me design my own party dress and giving me money to buy expensive fabrics and to pay the dress making fee. She thought me how to choose the types of high quality fabrics, the colors,  the patterns of textile, the designs that suitable for my body type. When I was studying in senior high school, I had an opportunity to have my own fashion show and to present my fashion designs. It was a beautiful moment in which I got great response from the spectators. However, I must put a side the dream to be a fashion designer. I was accepted in a prestigious university in Indonesia to get my bachelor degree in Communication Science.

My love of fashion is never stop that can be seen on how I dress up everyday. After a long time, my fashion style have been constructed. I tend to choose classic, simple, elegant, sexy, and feminine fashion style for my outfits. I am a big fans of Marks and Spencer and NEXT for daily outfits as well as Chanel, Ettiene Aigner, and DVF for special occasions. I love clothing from some Indonesian designers too such as BIYAN, Cossy Latu, Ghea Panggabean, and Kisson Harto for party and formal occasions.

In 2008 I moved to Australia to do PhD program in University of Newcastle. I really love to stay in Australia as it has fashionable plus size labels and designer. I am crazy to buy outfits from City Chic, Autographs, Diana Ferrari, Leona Edmiston, Dream Diva, Flirt and plus size labels from MYER such as Basque women, Estelle, and Eve Hunter. In my opinion, Australia is a heaven for plus size fashion! The price is still affordable, the price is good, and the quality is very good. Unfortunately my enjoyment has to be stopped!! I have to come back to Indonesia to "serve" my country as a university lecturer in an Indonesian university.

After coming back from Australia in 2014 I have been struggling to find great outfits that suitable with my "western" style. I can't buy beautiful and fashionable outfits that I want. One thing that I can do is I must make them by my self because it is difficult and very expensive to buy cloths from US or Australia via online shopping. The import tax is unbelievably HIGH!!! So in short word, I started to design and create my own outfits for daily need and special occasion. Here some pictures of my early designs.

I created and designed the party outfits for my family

It's just a simple dress using knit jersey fabric

I wore the dress when I met my best friend Mr. Agoeng Sudir Putra who is a famous fashion show choreographer and owner of Color Model Inc. I got a nice comment from him that he liked my dress. Then he suggested me to make my own fashion label seriously. He said that I got the talent and the style so I have to confident with my own design which reflect on my own characteristic and personality. I took very seriously everything he said.

In middle of 2014, I designed and created two formal dresses requested by my best friend, Mrs Sri Hastuti, for herself and her daughter. Unfortunately, I only got one photo of the two dresses that I made for her and her daughter.

Pink Lace and Batik Silk Dress for Seyla Bulo

My friend and her daughter were very happy and satisfied with the dresses. That moment was an important time for me to convince my self that i can be a fashion designer. I can't hold back anymore......

to be continue...............

Discrimation and Bullying against Full Figure Women in Indonesia

Hello curvaceous girls!

Today I want to share and discuss about a "hard" and "not sexy" topic, which is discrimination and bullying against Indonesian curvy women. I know that this topic is quite boring and not interesting at all but I can't stop to voice my thoughts about it especially after living in Australia for almost seven year doing my PhD and post doc research in University of Newcastle - Australia where I never been discriminated and bullied by Australian people and institutions. But since I have been coming back to Indonesia, I am really concern about this topic because I can see everyday full-figure women are very easy to be discriminated and bullied by Indonesian people, institutions, and media.

Courtesy of The Militant Baker

Being a woman who has body size beyond average is an issue for most women around the world. Each country and its society has its own viewpoint on full figure women. In last two decade, some countries such as USA, UK, Australia, and most of European countries have been giving positive attentions to this group by preventing discrimination and bullying against large women. At the last ten years in those countries, large women are more acceptable and welcome in society. Although acts of discrimination and bullying against large women are still happening, nowadays many large women has gotten better opportunities and conditions as same as  normal size women in getting job, finding their size in fashion, and obtaining promotion in workplace.

What about in Indonesia? Like in many countries, living as a full-figure woman in Indonesia is very hard. Most of Indonesian people regard full-figure women negatively. In Indonesian society full-figure women are often equated as a big and fat animal such as elephant, rhino, hippopotamus, whale, and pig, as well as a huge heavy vehicle, big truck's tire, and event worst as a BOMB!. They are often becoming an object of mockery and humiliation. Also, they are often called in Bahasa Indonesia "Ndut", "Gendut", or "Gembrot", which means FAT! in very bad expression, by their family, friends, and strangers. Unfortunately, this unpleasant situation has been justified by Indonesian social culture and media in which full-figure women as well as not-good looking guys and girls men, transgenders, and big size men are deserved to be insulted!

The most worrying thing is the number of public figures such as the comedian, actors, and singers in the entertainment industry in Indonesia are willing to or forced become an object of ridicule and bullying in running his/her profession. Just mention it those curvy female entertainers who have often bullied on Indonesian TV programs and white screen such as Nunung Srimulat, Pretty Asmara, Tika Panggabean, Okky Lukman, Tike Priatnakusumah, and Atik D'Academy Indosiar. Some of them argued that they are fine to be insulted and bullied because it's just an action not the real one. And some of them contended that if they refuse to be bullied or insulted or teased in scene because they are afraid of losing their job contract and future offers in the entertainment industry. They stated that  it's only a mere scene! 

Why this is happened? This happens because teasing and insulting full-figure person are something normal and acceptable in social culture of Indonesian community.  Teasing and insulting full-figure person are regarded by Indonesian community as one of forms of the joke that can make people laugh and happy or a sign of someone's annoyance toward the figure of large person. Furthermore, some group of Indonesian people regard that plus size person is a perfect target object of mockery. They think that full-figure women are FUNNY THINGS!

Left: Nunung Srimulat; Right: Pretty Asmara. Photo courtesy by Kapanlagi.com

Left: Tika Panggabean; Right: Okky Lukman. Photo courtesy by Kapanlagi.com

Left: Atik dangdut D'Academy Indosiar - Photo courtesy by Tabloid Bintang; Right: Tike Priatnakusumah - Photo courtesy by Kapanlagi.com

In term of discrimination, Indonesian full-figure women have been discriminated in many aspects of life. For example: the group of curvy women are discriminated by Indonesian fashion industry. It's very frustrating to find fashionable and comfortable plus size fashion in Indonesia. There are very small number of international fashion brands available in plus size such as Marks and Spencer, Next, Dorothy Perkins, Red Herring, Forever21, and at Debenhams but the price is very expensive and located only in Jakarta and some big capital cities in Indonesia. The size range is not good enough either. Most of them have size up to 20 (UK size) only few have size up to 24 (UK size but they are very RARE!). Indonesia has My Size , X to X, Ella Es Bonita, and Big Boutique by Dewi Hughes (if it is still available) for local fashion plus size brands. My size is very popular one among the others as they have some stores in many cities around Indonesia. The looks are not too bad, comfortable and they have good range of size from 14 (UK) to 30 (UK). The best thing is they are very-very affordable!

For full-figure women who have shoes size 10 (41 Europe), they will be in trouble! It is very-very difficult to find shoes in bigger size. Generally, the biggest shoes size in Indonesia is 9 (40 Europe). Again, women with longer and wider foot must look and buy at international brands in which you have to dig your pocket deeper. The trouble is not stop at this point, Indonesian full-figure women are very struggling to find fit, comfortable, and good quality under wear, lingerie, shape wear, hosiery, and swimsuit. The biggest size for bra is only on size 95 cup E (42 cup E UK) with no cup DD. I have no knowledge about the rest items.... 

If some international fashion designers in US, UK, Australia, Brazil, and Europe have been started to consider plus size in the fashion line, only very few Indonesian fashion designer include plus size clothing in their fashion line. They prefer do custom made exclusively rather than make plus size line. The classy reason is that slim is beautiful.

What can I do??? Yes, I admit that I ever faced the bad situations in my young age. But, it wasn't bother me! I am so lucky having mama and papa who really love me sincerely. They taught me about self-confident and not be afraid being a full-figure woman because everybody is created uniquely with good side and bad side. Nobody perfect! And that's made me strong. My mama said, "The world is full of haters but don't let them make you down. Only you who can stand for yourself. Love your body, respect your self, and open your mind. Don't get waste your time by hearing and paying attention to other people who are insulting you. Explore your talents, expand your knowledge, and find good friends. Life is too short to think that you are not beautiful."

So.... tell me and share about your thoughts and story about discrimination and bullying that you might face in your life as well as how you can handle them out. Remember....YOU ARE BEAUTIFUL no matter how big you are.

                               
  
  

Cheers, Xoxo

What body shape are you?

Hello beautiful curvy girls!

Do you know what shape your body is? Some full-figure women are confused with their body shape.Hence, some of curvy girls are incorrect in selecting perfect outfits for their body. Knowing your body shape is very crucial especially when you want to buy outfits and get the look that you want.  As a full-figure woman, finding perfect outfits for curvy women in Indonesia is very challenging. Most of the outfits are not available for all curvy body shape and makes you look bulky and rather focus on smoothing out your lumps and bumps. They can't make you want to look your best and make sure your proportions are balanced so that you've got the curves on all the right places.

A lot of Indonesian women might think that curvy women have no body shape. They regarded curvy women as a walking body-pillow or a big ball! They are completely WRONG! Generally, there are seven shapes for full-figure body. Let's see the picture below courtesy by IGIGI.COM about the type of body shape and tips on what to wear!

Personally my body shape is hourglass. I prefer to wear boot-cut and wide leg jeans which seem to work best for me rather than a skinny or baggy jeans as they will cause my body to lose its shape. I like dresses that can show my curve with V line neck. Jersey, viscose, cotton, and stretch jeans are the most comfortable fabrics that I used on my outfits.

Courtesy of Roaman's

If you want to know exactly what your body shape is, you can go to Curvissa. They have a fantastic body shape calculator which is very easy to use. They also give you some suggestions which were very easy to understood and helpful,offering a lot of ideas of what to wear and what to avoid as well as advising some pieces that are recommended for your body shape.

OK now, it's time for you to find out your body shape! Be happy and confident with your body. No matter what your body shape is, you are still beautiful.

Cheers, xoxo

Don't be afraid to change your hair style!

Hi beautiful curvaceous girls!

You might think that a full-figure woman has only particular suitable hair styles. Well... I think it's completely wrong. A full-figure woman is able to have many styles as possible as long as it is suitable with the shape of their face. Some of you might think that you are not good in short hair or you are afraid to be in medium long hair because you will be look more bigger. When I was living in Australia, I let my hair long and straight since I thought that long hair was the only style that I could have. Sometimes I changed my hair style by curling it or did hair up do. 

Here some photos when my hair was very long,

However, since I have been moved to Indonesia in mid of June 2014, I decided to cut my hair. The reasons were that I felt stiflingly hot and I got a lot of hair falls. I asked my hair dresser to do bob style. After cutting my hair, I posted my picture in my Facebook... unexpectedly I got 65 likes and many compliments! My hubby, kids, and friends love with my new hair cut. They said that I look more fresh and younger with shorter hair.

Let's look my new hair style!

What do you think? is it good on me? Please write your comments.

So... I want to share to you on how to choose haircut style for you.

• Select haircut style that makes you feel good, confident, and beautiful! You must choose the haircut that makes you feel like yourself. How you feel about yourself is very important and it possibly affect  your attitude.

• It would be better if you choose the haircut that suitable with your face shape and you body size. Although there are many rules in selecting best haircut for your face and your body, you don't have to follow the rule if you think that it won't make you look good. The rule is only a guideline but the decision is on your hand. You are the one who knows the best for you.

• Yes you can wear current trend haircut! Bobs do. Shoulder-length cuts really do. Bangs do. Long hair does. Even the pixie works on most face shapes.

Are you still afraid to change your haircut? Don't ever be afraid to change it.  Be confident because you are beautiful no matter what your haircut is.

Cheers, Xoxo

Welcome to my blog

Hi beautiful curvaceous girls,

Welcome to my blog "Curvaceous and Beautiful".  I dedicate this blog to all full-figure women especially in Indonesia who want to gain some knowledge about fashion, beauty and life-style. My blog also want to encourage every curvaceous girl to becoming a confident, brave, fierce, smart, and fun girl instead of being a girl who always behind the dark shadow. 

My name is Pia, and I come from Indonesia. Being a full-figure woman in Indonesia is hard and difficult. In this country, being a plus size girl is a CURSE! Curvy girls are always being a mockery and a victim of bullying and discrimination. Most of Indonesian people like to use them as a laughing stock to tease, embarrass, and even to hurt them. The situation is further justified by the Indonesian media by showing scenes of abuse against a large woman so that bad situation is considered as normal and common situation among Indonesian people.

I am so lucky having a supportive family who always accept me just like the way I am. I am grown up in a loving family in which my parent always support and love me and give me a lot of opportunity to explore my talent and my personality so that I become a person who I am now. For me, being a curvaceous girl is not an obstacle. I am so grateful that my beloved mum have taught me to love my physical body, explore my talent,  and sharpen my personality. She has shared her knowledge about fashion to me so that I know how to select and wear clothing in accordance with the size of my body, the tone of my skin , and the occasion. 

It's me!

Me and my beloved hubby

Me and my beautiful family

OK, I think it's enough about me. Please enjoy my blog.... I hope my blog can give you some inspirations about how to make your self beautiful.

"Life is too short for thinking that you are not beautiful"

Cheers Xx