The Plus Size Alternative Fashion

I'd like first to thank you all for the amazing 2017, you really helped me to understand a lot more about plus size fashion and the actual struggle for this type of body. I also undertand that there's not that much shops for these girls and it really concerns me. I've seen some plus size garments at malls and, well, not my style nor I like them. At the same time, I've been thinking about the (maybe) controversy plus size fashion can bring me.

A lot of people may see plus size fashion as something unnecessary since it is wrong being fat (like you choose being like that). But let me tell you, yes, I do care about health issues but it's not my bussiness to be asking every plus size people why they're fat or that they shouldn't. What I do care is why they don't deserve cute clothing, like it was a sect being part of the smaller sizes side.

As a designer, I need to take care of my customers and listen to their needs; and that's exactly what I did with this survey. 

I asked a bunch of questions about their personal preferences and some measurement's information. And let me tell you, even if I only had 56 answers (which is a small amount), it really helps me.

Would you like to see the stats? 

The 53.6% of the people who answered said they are 20 - 25 years old, the 32.1% are 150 - 160 cm and 160 - 170 cm tall (something like 4'11" - 5'3" and 5'3" - 5'7"). 

The 67.9% doesn't have any brand (which I'd like to call the mainstream brand). The girls who have are between Angelic Pretty and Metamorphose (61.1%), BTSSB stays in second (55.6%) and Bodyline third (50%). Some brands they've mention are Lief, Innocent Wold (whoops, forgot to add it myself), Infanta, Strawberry Witch (charming name!), Lady Sloth and "many brands from China/TaoBao", being the main reason "they manage my desired size" (44.4%).

For the girls who doesn't have any brand, 78.9% said it it very expensive, followed by my breast, waist and hips won't fit, "emphasizing that I don't fit into most brands"  and one I found very impressive "I'm a guy."

There were also some interesting answers after I asked "what fashion are you into?" where, most of answers said they were into Lolita (94.6%), and other mentioned this alt. fashion I didn't know  (menhera). But mainly, pastel colors and vintage-classic are the top for these people. At the same time, 67.9% said pastel colors are the ones they prefer.

This is where the things came up interesting: 50% of these people prefer dresses over skirts, blouses and pants or shorts, and like this, when they're shopping, what they see first are the sizes (48.2%), where the main theme of these garments is food and desserts (30.4%), followed by kawaii drawings (21.4%) and animals and nature (17.9%).

Being this the last question of the survey, I asked something they wanted to say to me and I got some cute encouraging messages, but there was one I thought needed to be mentioned:

There's never cute clothing aimed for boys.

I feel you, my darling, and I'm thinking about boys too, because I know you're not the only one out there seeing the cute girl's clothing and wishing there was a boy version of it. 

I'll do it, so don't worry!

Finally, since this is not a very professional post, what I can say about these answers is that a lot of you are struggling with sizes and finding something cute and affordable may be impossible to find. But let me tell you, I'll try my best to give you that item you always looked for.

With all this information I can assure I'll keep this year a lot more busy than I've ever did. So don't miss a thing and keep following me for more news! Sure you'll find new posts more often.

Just like I said at the beginning of the post, thank you so much for making the 2017 a new experience! I'll do my best to keep working for you.

Happy New Year 2018, my best wishes for you all!

Where is Chocolate Bunny Store going?

This December 24th Chocolate Bunny Store is turning four years! And in these (almost) four years I haven't been more serious about this: a mexican small business.

I used to be very shy to show my nationality, I don't want to say I was ashamed but yes, I was--just to be clear, I am not anymore, I love my country with its problems, but I love more the roots of it, the culture and the amazing diversity.

This year I started to study fashion design and I saw myself in the need to be on a runway, which theme was to make a garment about Mexico (to celebrate the independence and revolution). It was a bit hard to find something unique, and let me say, I am not proud of my design, I think I still had at the time some influences. Even, I believe the theme I selected was a nice one, one of the main problems in this country: the identity crisis.

The simple act of researching about the Spanish conquest and pre-hispanic culture, made me think of what we actually have. I don't want to enter into details of my research, because that's not the topic of today's post.

After I made my design, I realized I wanted to let this small business grow here and to be well known as (maybe) the first kawaii Mexican boutique. 

I want to add amazing designs, inspired in the beauty of the enviroment; just like Carla Fernández, to let artisans make a living of their work and to have factories all around Mexico, letting a lot of people to have jobs and to stop them to leave Mexico or to go to the city to find a job.

Yes, what I've just said sounds big, and I'll need to make a lot of things before I get to that.

But let me get into something smaller, by making this question: 

What's first?

Something CBS is well-known about--or at least that's what I want to think--is that it's more focused on personalized plus size garments. By saying this, let me tell you, my bunnies, that this shop will be dedicated to plus size only.

That's one of the first steps. I plan to make a whole size chart for these people.

For this year and the next to come, at least, I plan to go to festivals to introduce myself, my work and my shop. 

Next is to dedicate my time to make new collections, and in the meantime, I'll open a workshop and hire a team of seamstresses, pattern-makers and possibly designers that will dedicate their time to cut and sew, while I design and check. After this, I may contact the first factory.

Maybe you're wondering when's going to happen? My answer is that I have these two and a half years to work with this small plan. So, let's begin!

I am sincerely very glad you've bought something from this shop, and I thank you so much for supporting me.

Remember that anything you buy from here, is a ticket to go further.

Thank you for reading!

Some updates

I can't believe it is been a year since I made a post here! I know I told you I was going to make the bodice patterns and that stuff, but well, yes, I did it on my YouTube channel, you can check the playlist I made and try to make your own clothes!

Basically, this year is been kinda tough. Lots of stuff happening, personal choices to make, to decide what to do with my life, with my academic life, and so on. After a lot of time of thinking, I've finally decided to start what we call here a 'technical career' in fashion design. 

I'm so excited to tell you this, you guys, the ones that've been here for a long time now (since 2014!) and the ones that believed in me and bought lots of stuff and marshmallow skirts. I really want my shop to get more views, sales and be well-known over the 'kawaii fashion' community. 

I just wanted to let you know that, and well, to uptade some stuff. I think I'll be using this blog for the new adventures that are about to come. 

And even though I am very hopeless, I do have faith that the times that are coming will be better and gentle with me.

Thank you as always!

Making your own patterns (Part 1)

Guadalupe Arenas de Couto

In this tiny tutorial I'll show you how to take your own measurements so you can design your bodice patterns with so much details, that you'll be able to make lots of designs for your own clothes.

The system I currently use (and the one I learned in school) is the CyC (C and C System, or in spanish Sistema Corte y Confección), made in Mexico back in 1935 by Guadalupe Arenas de Couto and other four teachers who helped her creating this new system.

You don't need a lot of knowledge to create these patterns, but keep in mind that doing clothes (and this system in particular) requires the basic geometry knowledge.

The measurements you'll need are shown in the picture below:

1. Neck: Take the measuring tape all around the lowest part of your neck,
2. Bust: Take the measuring tape all around the highest part of the chest.
3. Waist: Take the measuring tape all around the waist.
4. Hips: Take the measuring tape all around the hips.
5. Hips Height: Take the tape from the waist to the hips.
6. Front Height & Front Height to Bust: 6.1 - Take the measuring tape to the highest part of the neck to the waist, going through the bust. 6.2 - Take again the measure from the neck to the highest part of the bust.
7. Back Height: Take the measuring tape to the highest part of the neck to the waist.
8. Highest Bust Point: Take the measuring tape going through the highest part of one bust to the other.
9. Shoulder Width: Take the measuring tape from one shoulder to the other.

Make sure you've done it right because while doing your patterns, there could be some mistakes you might notice. I recommend measuring at least three times just to make sure, and don't forget to ask for help for the steps 7 and 9, at least!

Now it's time to do some math first. For steps 1 - 4, divide by 4 and for step 8, divide by 2.

Front

Let's start! Go get your basic rulers (set square, L ruler. French ruler...) and draw two straight lines (one horizontal and one vertical) with a right angle. Have in hand measurements 1, 6 and 9, then 2, 3 and 8.

From the vertex (a), horizontal line, draw neck (b) and shoulder width (c).

From a, vertical line, draw b' (same measurement), front height to bust (d) and front height (e). 

Draw a square from b and b'.

From a, draw the bisector and b''.

From d to a, add 4 cm (1.5 In), calling this new point f.   

Draw a rectangle from points c and f, calling that new point g.

Extend the straight line from points f and g, drawing 1/4 bust + 2.5 cm (or 1 In), calling this new point h. 

Draw a rectangle from points h and e, calling this new point i.

Draw from d a straight line, d'.

From e to i, draw 1/4 waist (j). 

From j to i, add 3 cm (1.1 In) (k).

From d to d', draw 1/2 highest bust point (l).

From e to j, draw l'.

Draw a straight line from points d and d' adding 1.2 cm (0.4 In).

From l to l' and l to d', add 2.5 cm (1 In).

From d' to h and d' to i add 2 cm (0.7 In).

From c to g draw 3.5 cm (1.3 In) (m). 

Measure points m to g and divide by 2 (n) and add 1 cm (0.3). 

Find the bisector from point g and add 3 cm (1.1 In) (o).

Now it's time to connect points. Connect points b, b', b''; m, n, o and h using the French ruler. 

Continue adding the straight lines as shown in the pictures below.

Here I forgot to mention the 3 cm in point l' to make the pleat. Please divide by 2 and connect with a straight line. 

This is how it turns out at the end. To remove the pleat from the waist, use only point j while designing your clothes.

It may depend what kind of fabric you're using if you'd like to remove the bust pleat.

To create a pleat in the shoulders, divide points b to m by 2 (p).

Add from b to m 3 cm (1.1 In).

Connect p to l.

From p to l add 8 cm (3.1 In)

Use p as middle point of the 3 cm (1.1 In) you added.

Connect points

I do really hope this helps you a lot. I'll continue doing the back, skirt front and back and sleeve patterns in the next posts (maybe next sunday).

Thank you for reading and don't forget to ask, suggest or comment whatever you'd like! 

See you next time!

Simple speech to young girls and boys

Young girls and boys who are reading this tiny post, please pay attention to what I'm about to say.

Life is tough, hard and full of mistakes, but these things will be just a few if you're good with yourself.

Get up, eat breakfast, go to school and do your homework, but don't let the system consume you. Don't let the people make you think you're gonna be someone you're not. Don't let "adults" fool you with the "adulthood." Don't let anyone stop your dreams and stop dreaming. 

Go outside, live your life, dream whatever you want. But don't live dreaming. Make your dreams come true.

Don't wait for the adulthood to start doing what you like. If you have an idea, start today. If you have a proyect, investigate, analize and do it. It doesn't matter if you're 12, 15, 17... Your adult-self will thank you.

If you know what you want in life, stop wasting your time doing what school tells you. Go for it today.

Getting started once again

It looks like I had some problems with google and now with etsy. However, I'm here to expose you the new blog where I'll upload new arrivals and general updates. Maybe there's gonna be a giveaway soon, or even a lucky pack. Well, someday, someday...

Thanks for reading. See you next time.

Posible necesidad de una modelo Lolita

Con tal de mejorar el aspecto de la tienda en Etsy, parece ser que es necesario tener un set, la ropa de CB y, por supuesto, una modelo. Sin embargo soy una persona muy pobre que necesita de capital para poder pagarle a dicha modelo. 

Como sea, puede que en algún futuro lo logre.