Vogue may be all about aspirational high fashion, but they know a hot topic when they see one. Hot on the heels of the so-called ‘rise of the size 16 supermodel’, Vogue Italia has dedicated a whole section of their website to women like us: Vogue Curvy.

So far it seems to be relying on two tried and tested topics – models and celebs. There’s a gallery dedicated to Crystal Renn, complete with behind-the-scenes pics you might not have seen before, and one for America Ferrera. Model Sindy Gourland gives fashion advice, and the ‘curvy blog’ covers the recent Mark Fast show.

But to be honest, it seems to be playing it incredibly safe so far. A selection of items inspired by Christina Hendricks has such great potential, but seems to consist entirely of boring black sacks. Where are the cleavage-enhancing red carpet gowns or Joan-esque wiggle dresses? Just because we’re curvy doesn’t mean we’re boring, and we all know Vogue has access to the most exquisite clothes. The style advice section is a bit more inventive, but there are no links to buy, just lots of photos.

The site shows definite potential, but I’d love to see them taking bigger risks and using a bit more imagination. Vogue is leader, not a follower, and right now I feel there are other sites and blogs out there delivering the same content in a much better way.

They get an A for effort though. It’s very early days, and this is such a departure for a magazine that’s usually devoted to tiny models. I’d love to see Vogue UK and US following Italia’s lead in the future. I bet I know plenty of willing contributers…

The majority of ladies on the Golden Globes red carpet may have fit into tiny designer sample sizes, but that didn’t stop the more voluptuous women stealing the show. From plus-size divas Gabourey Sidibe and Supporting Actress (Drama) winner Mo’nique (both stars of hotly-tipped flick Precious) to Big Girls Browse’s favourite modern-day bombshell Christina Hendricks with her waspish waist and impossible bosom, I loved the looks the more curvaceous women went for, and picked out a few others that would look just as good on fuller figures as they do on Hollywood stars…

Mo’nique shows just what a good dress can do in her burnished gold Reem Acra frock. On paper, you wouldn’t think a strapless, draped and folded dress in a shiny fabric would work on a plus sized woman. But the draped cut of the skirt, the super-supportive style of the ruched, crossover bodice and the quality fabric mean this drapes beautifully. If you want to try this at home, remember the key is a good strapless bra, smooth skin (exfoliate and moisturise like hell!) and loads of confidence!

Mo’nique’s young co-star went for a tried-and-tested plus size shape from glam designer Kevan Hall. Sheer sleeves cover flabby arms*,a jewelled band around the bust creates shape and adds impact, and the soft folds of sheer fabric are pleated towards the band to pull everything in. The green colour is perfect too – kudos to these women for avoiding boring black just because they’re bigger!

*I’ve been chastised for mentioning ‘flabby arms’ here – I was referring more to what the dress shape can do, rather than attacking Gaby herself. Many women identify their upper arms as their least favourite body part, and this dress shape is flattering if that’s an areas of your body that you’re self-conscious about.

On the slimmer side, our curvy girl goddess Christina Hendricks was dressed by Project Runway alumni Christian Siriano. And boy, what a dress! Ruffles on the hip and a sweetheart strapless neckline just served to draw even more attention to that amazingly tiny waist, turning Christina into a real life Jessica Rabbit. If you’ve got wider hips and bust and think you can’t wear fussy shapes, let Christina show you that you can – if you’ve got the guts! I absolutely adore this look…now to work on that waistline!

Christina’s co-star, Elisabeth Moss, wasn’t quite so successful. She’s tiny, but the dress makes her look like she’s hiding away. While I love her choppy little haircut and the baby blue colour of her dress, I just don’t feel like the cut does anything for her. In Mad Men we’ve seen that Peggy has a gorgeous hourglass figure, but petite, curvy Elisabeth is drowned in this heavy bedsheet! Like the Fug Girls, my first thought was “is she pregnant?” as this dress is so maternity-like. Ladies, let this be a lesson to you. Just because you’re not a size zero, it doesn’t mean you should hide yourself away under big pouffy dresses – they just make you look bigger!

One curvy girl who’s not afraid of flaunting what God gave her is Mariah Carey! And while I applaud her for showing that Herve Leger bandage dresses aren’t just for size zero women (it’s fab from the waist down, These really do suck you in!) all that boobage is just a bit too overtly sexy for me. I wonder if Nick Cannon had the job of applying all that bronzer to her cleavage?

Sigourney Weaver, meanwhile, showed how to dress with class if you’re larger up top. Her body’s actually more sporty than curvy, and she’s definitely far from plus size, but her broad shoulders give the impression of her having a bigger chest than she probably has. Her super-slimming dress by Herve L. Leroux (the man who created the Herve Leger brand) is the perfect frock for making the most of your body which is why I had to feature it here. I wish Mariah had worn this instead as it’d be amazing on a fuller figured woman.

Top photos via HPFA.

Mad Men’s Christina Hendricks may not be plus size, but with that gravity-defying bosom and handspan waist, she definitely embodies the kind of curvy girl many of us would love to be. A dress worn by the star to the SAG awards was recently auctioned off. Back then, her measurements were 40-28-40. Those are some curves! With her Marilyn-esque proportions, she’s a poster girl for the curvaceous woman. Let’s face it, nobody pulls off a wiggle dress like Joan Holloway!

To channel Joan’s look in real life, your best bet is obviously vintage. Pieces were cut much smaller in the waist back then – perfect for hourglass women like Ms Hendricks. The US is the best place to go if you have a Big Girl waist. There’s much more floating around in larger sizes than you’ll find in Europe. Try eBay, of course (don’t underestimate those ‘bulk’ vintage lots, loads crop up on Australian eBay for some reason) and make sure you know your bust, waist and hip measurements. There’s nothing worse than buying something you love only to find it doesn’t fit (you can take stuff in, but you can’t let it out).

If you’d rather not hunt down second hand pieces, there are some great brands making modern reproduction pieces too. Try Bettie Page clothing, a Vegas-based boutique and online store full of wiggle dresses and retro pieces. They go up to a sze 3X, which has a waist somewhere between 34 and 38 inches.

Stop Staring is also a popular brand, worn by Paris Hilton, on Gossip Girl and modelled by Ashley Greene from Twilight. The figure-hugging Mae dress is very Joan, and again sizes go up to a 3X.

Don’t underestimate the power of decent underwear, too. In the 50s and 60s women sculpted and shaped their silhouettes with girdles, we can do the same with a a lot less pain with modern shapewear (though most of it is nowhere near as pretty as the stuff the cast of Mad Men get to wear). See the Big Girls Browse lingerie section for some ideas on what’s out there.

For more tips on buying retro reproduction, check out the huge shopping list I compiled for Catwalk Queen. As this look is so flattering on the fuller figure, a lot of the brands featured make their dresses in larger sizes.

[images courtesy of AMC]