Plus Size Clothing in Hollywood

Press Release

Background

Peggy Lutz is a fashion designer specializing in glamorous clothing for plus- and super-size women. A former theatre actress and costume designer, Lutz founded Peggy Lutz Plus, Inc. one of the nations only couture lines for large women in 1985 in response to repeated requests from plus-size performers, artists and colleagues for garments in their sizes befitting their glamorous lifestyles and important work.

The PLP studio and store (located in Santa Rosa, California approximately an hour and a half north of the Golden Gate Bridge) have evolved into a international fashion resource for women of size and taste with the addition of her ever-expanding CyberStore, servicing clients on all continents for all occasions.

Peggy, who believes that fashion has no size, delights in transforming the lives of women who previously have been overlooked by the clothing industry, as documented in the continually growing archive of client Raves she receives daily. "My clients, when skillfully dressed, have dizzying cleavage and dangerous curves," she says with a smile. That confidence Lutz exudes in the long-neglected women she dresses is contagious her clients catch it from the moment they first try on their PLP designs.

High-profile PLP designs have included a touring wardrobe for Jazz chanteuse, Patti Andress (of Tuck & Patti), a dream outfit for Aretha Franklin, screen ensembles for Academy Award winning actress Kathy Bates, a wedding gown for a feature episode of The Roseanne Show and stage ensembles for stars of The Vagina Monologues.

The Peggy Lutz Plus collection of extraordinary designs including bridal fashions, resort wear, hot red-carpet looks and wearable art, can be viewed and ordered online.

Peggy's goal:

To change the way everyday women of size feel about themselves by changing the way they are portrayed in advertising, television, stage and film.

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Women's Expo

What's better than Coffee Talk with Linda Richman? How about a Plus-Size Couture Show moderated by the original Linda Richman at the Women's Expo? Peggy Lutz Plus will be burning up the runway for 10,000+ women with her hot new designs!

At the behest of best-selling author, columnist, lecturer and popular radio talk-show host, Linda Richman, couturier to the stars of stage and screen, Peggy Lutz will be debuting originals from her collection of high fashion for sizes 12+ in the style to which all women deserve to become accustomed a glamorous runway show specifically for plus- and super-size women.

The Peggy Lutz Plus fashion show (moderated and co-produced by Linda Richman a happy PLP client so enthused by Peggy's unique designs that she pitched the showing to the Expo organizers), will be a feature highlight of the Women's Expo. Sponsored by Anew Magazine and held at Madison, Wisconsin's Alliant Energy Center Expo Hall, this year's 2-day event is expected to see 10,000+ women in attendance who will be treated to a sampling of of the dizzying array of fine clothing for beautiful larger women available at the extensive Peggy Lutz Plus online cyberstore.

Peggy's latest designs (which will be modeled by real women from the Madison area) reflect her ongoing efforts to offer discerning women from around the world choices in fashion that match the dignity, confidence, grace and playfulness they exhibit in their everyday lives.

"Large women deserve to look fabulous, too to wear clothes that are sexy and romantic, or professional and assertive, as the situation demands. They want clothes made from vibrant silks, creamy linen and high-quality blends, not dowdy, dreary fabrics," Lutz explains. "And my designs are especially created to flatter their voluptuous curves, unlike other designers, who simply size their smaller garments up to create their plus-size lines."

The Peggy Lutz Plus runway show is the perfect place to experience the exciting transformation beautifully-designed, upscale fashion can inspire in the women who wear it. Ms. Lutz will be on hand to give interviews, consult and take orders.

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Hollywood and Peggy Lutz's Designs

California designer says her stylish clothes were hijacked in "About Schmidt" by Hollywood movie makers who just won't let large women be portrayed as beautiful, sexy or sophisticated.

When Academy Award winner Kathy Bates sweeps onto the screen in About Schmidt, she's wearing PLP, not DKNY.

PLP stands for "Peggy Lutz Plus" an upscale clothing line for women size 12 and over headquartered in Santa Rosa, California, USA.

Dressed in a colorful batik jacket layered over sinuous "slither" separates, Bates breathes life into the character of Roberta Hertzel, an iconoclastic, free spirit who makes a bold play for Schmidt, played by Jack Nicholson. Only an actress of Bates' stature could have kept the character from becoming a caricature.

As Roberta, Bates begins the film as a confident woman who dresses well although her hair is pulled into a frumpy bun, she's not wearing makeup, and her feet are bare. By a wedding scene near the films end, Roberta is wearing an unflattering red dress, topped by a ludicrous red hat. Apparently, part of her characters "arc" included a fashion hijacking.

That last outfit supports the movies underlying message: even a heavily wrinkled, bald, emotionally repressed senior (Schmidt) can do better than romancing the fat girl.

"I felt slapped in the face when I saw the film," says PLP designer Peggy Lutz. "An About Schmidt costume designer contacted me a year earlier, to consult about clothing for this zaftig, sexy character an aging hippie of sorts, an interesting, somewhat offbeat woman."

"But as Roberta, Bates played a woman who chews with her mouth open and wears an unattractive, out-of-character dress to her daughters wedding. Had I known that this was to be yet another fat-women-are-ugly-and-unappealing portrayal, I would have declined to participate in dressing the character," Lutz adds.

The About Schmidt writers, producers, casting directors, directors, costume professionals, makeup artists and hair stylists aren't the only ones guilty of perpetuating this behind-the-times attitude. It pervades Hollywood and Madison Avenue; decision-makers in advertising, publishing and television are equally culpable. To them, Lutz says: quit insulting the 50% of consumers, readers, television watchers and movie audiences who are size 12 and above.

"Look around you the next time you're actually at the movies," Lutz suggests. "Or a restaurant, or a business meeting, or a park. There are women of all sizes who feel confident, sexy and attractive. The About Schmidt film makers and their ilk are saying, oh, no you're not."

Lutz looks forward to the day that women of all sizes, including plus-size, are allowed to reveal their inner and outer beauty on screen, without being hijacked by fashion.

At her northern California studio, Lutz, a former theatre costume designer, also founded one of the nations first plus-size couture lines. Couture clients include well-known performers.

In her first two scenes of the film, Bates wears PLP outfits. The second outfit is a mandala paisley jacket topping slither separates. All the PLP pieces Bates wears in the film can be ordered from the PLP website and Cyberstore located at http://www.shop.plus-size.com/.

Bates was nominated for "Best Supporting Actress" for her performance in "About Schmidt". Starring Jack Nicholson, the New Line Cinema film also features Dermot Mulroney.

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Fashion Emergency!

Where do big women go for everything from power suits to red-carpet glamour? To Peggy Lutz Plus, Inc., of course.

Julie is heading for Chicago to be interviewed on the Oprah Winfrey Show. Alice is booked for a cruise through the Mediterranean with her boyfriend. Susan is the main speaker at a national business conference in New York.

Different situations, but all three face the same dilemma: where to buy sophisticated, elegant clothing to fit and flatter their plus-size shapes. Their upscale lives require plenty of well-designed pieces for work and play. But department stores, boutiques and catalogs cater to their smaller sisters. They're not alone, either: according to government statistics, more than half of American women are overweight or obese.

For women like Julie, Alice and Susan, dressing inappropriately is not an option. These women share a true fashion emergency. Enter Peggy Lutz Plus, Inc. (PLP), the northern California design house founded by former theatre costume designer Peggy Lutz. She began designing sophisticated clothing in larger sizes after realizing the dearth of quality merchandise available to plus- (over size 12) and super-size women (over size 26-28).

"Large women deserve to look fabulous, too to wear clothes that are sexy and romantic, or professional and assertive, as the situation demands. They want clothes made from vibrant silks, creamy linen and high-quality blends, not dowdy, dreary fabrics," Lutz explains. "And my designs are especially created to flatter their voluptuous curves, unlike other designers, who simply cut large sizes bigger than their smaller clients."

Going to a black-tie party? Why not slip into a fire-engine red dress made of lycra-based "sparkle slither," with a sweetheart neck, fitted bodice and graceful skirt? Top it with a matching faux fur stole! For a more casual but still dressy night, try Peggy's deep blue velvet pant suit, topped with a tinsel mesh-encrusted kimono jacket. Of course, you can never go wrong with that little black dress, and Peggy makes several versions.

PLP also has an extensive line of exciting cruise wear, a huge selection of elegant day-to-night fashions and the nations most extensive line of large-size bridal gowns. Clients include celebrities such as Academy Award winning actress Kathy Bates, who wore PLP outfits in the opening scenes of her latest movie, About Schmidt. For a first-hand look at the PLP collections, check out the online shop.

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Where do extra-large brides go for romantic, sexy wedding dresses? To Peggy Lutz Plus, Inc., of course.

Shortly before her August wedding, Vail realtor Yvonne Dodds had a nightmare: the ceremony was the next day, and she still hadn't found a bridal gown that fit or flattered her size-20 body.

The nightmare almost came true. For months, Yvonne haunted bridal shops, department stores and catalogs. The dresses she tried on were ill-fitting and dowdy. The nicest gowns were simply not available in her size. And the wedding was less than two months away.

Just in time, Yvonne went online and found Peggy Lutz, a designer of plus-size clothing with the freshest selection of beautiful bridal gowns nationwide. Her company, PLP Inc., sells sophisticated clothing specially designed for women size 12 and over, a group largely ignored by most upscale designers. And PLP is the only designer to offer the same lovely gowns for super-size brides over size 26-28.

For Yvonne, she made an embroidered slip dress in candlelight linen, topped with a matching bolero jacket for the reception. After receiving the gown via priority mail, Yvonne took it to a local tailor for custom fitting, just like smaller-size brides. The result: a perfect fit for the most important day of her life.

"I felt absolutely fabulous and can't count the compliments from wedding guests about my gorgeous dress," she recalls. "One of my thin friends who is getting married later this year said she wants a linen dress and jacket just like mine."

For a peek at voluptuous bride Yvonne wearing PLP designs, check out the company website, client raves.

At her northern California studio, Lutz, a former theatre costume designer and actress, has also founded one of the nations first plus-size couture lines. Clients include celebrities such as Academy Award winning actress Kathy Bates, who wore two PLP outfits in the opening scenes of About Schmidt.

Peggy Lutz in the newspaper The Press Democrat - Read the article -

Peggy Lutz in the newspaper The Denver Post - Read the article -

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