by Madeline Jones

In a city like New York, it's not difficult to meet people, but meeting a kindred spirit, is an entire other story. I genuinely believe if you are meant to meet someone who will be relevant in your life, things just have a way of happening. I traveled all the way to Ohio for the Lane Bryant conference, earlier this summer, and met a fellow New Yorker and fashionista by the name of Alissa. She's a beautiful statuesque woman with a very classy sense of style.

P.S ...just as beautiful as she is on the outside, she is, on the inside.

It's my pleasure to introduce the woman behind the blog, www.stylishcurves.blogspot.com, my friend Alissa.

Maddy: With so many blogs out there, it can be very intimidating to get into the blogging "game". Tell me how you got started as a blogger?

Alissa:  I always knew I loved fashion and I knew that I wanted to become a fashion journalist. After a year of endless interviews and countless resumes being sent out, just trying to get my foot in the magazine industry, I was ready to give up and find another career to chase after. I came across a few fashion blogs. I researched blogging for a few months and saw there were tons of fashion blogs. I didn't want to be just any old fashion blogger, so I decided I would blog specifically for the plus size girls who love fashion.

Maddy: And we so love that you do. 

Alissa:  Smiling!

Maddy: You had mentioned to me once that you like to be able to feature clothing stores and designers to your readers that they would not otherwise think carried plus sizes, can you elaborate on this a bit?

Alissa: To be totally honest, I rarely shop in plus size stores. I've always shopped in straight sized stores. So many plus size girls don't realize that these straight size stores go past a size 14 and may offer up to a size 18. My family always taught me to never be intimidated by what's in the advertisement. I was taught to try on clothing to see what will actually fit my body. I think so many girls hear the words "plus size" and think, I can only shop at Lane Bryant or Ashley Stewart.  I want my readers to not be fooled into that kind of thinking. So, I try my best to showcase those stores that carry a size 14 and up.

Maddy: Going from a size 18 to 22 was a big jump from me and I felt, at first, like the choices in clothing was not exactly the same for me. Are there any clothing retailers or designers that you feel cater to the more voluptuous woman?

Alissa: I'm a size 18 right now and I feel like the best stores that cater to a voluptuous figure are stores like H&M, Loft, and of course Old Navy & The GAP. Along with DKNY and Michael Kors, I'm a fan of boutique shopping because a lot of their clothes are cute and fit a shapely body.