The proprietary research conducted by Charming Shoppes for its family of plus size retail brands during the Fashion Genius research and development phase reveals that there is a strong correlation between the way plus size women describe their shape, their weight distribution and what areas they look to conceal:
The Fit & Style Factor - When it comes to finding pieces that fit and flatter, 93 percent of plus size women say they want to conceal their tummy, while 63 percent say they want to conceal their arms; when buying jeans and pants, 65 percent report problems with gaping at their waist. Only 1 in 8 are happy with the fit of their bras, with cup shape, shoulder strap and band lines cited as major issues. Plus size women also cited avoiding certain silhouettes and patterns, with stripes and narrow legged pants at the top of the list. Fashion Genius' individualized approach invites the plus size woman to share details that are completely unique to her, and shows her, in 3 minutes or less, a selection of clothes that will fit her body shape and complement her style.
Fashion Genius comes on the heels of the Charming Shoppes' recent shopping upgrades, including the universal shopping cart - which connects the brands Lane Bryant, Catherines, Fashion Bug, Cacique, Loop 18 and Sonsi's assortment of over 300+ brands. In a move designed to offer even more convenience to its customers, women now have the option to have any order, with any combination of brands, shipped for to any of the Lane Bryant, Fashion Bug or Catherines nearly 2,000 nationwide store locations for pickup. Women save time shopping a vast selection of merchandise with a single checkout and save money: the ship-to-store option is free.
Charming Shoppes, Inc. operates 1,953 retail stores in 48 states under the names LANE BRYANT, CACIQUE, LANE BRYANT OUTLET, FASHION BUG, FASHION BUG PLUS and CATHERINES PLUS SIZES.
Zafu is the leading online provider of personalized recommendations for women's clothes that fit her style and shape. Zafu's proprietary technology and easy user experience resulted in Time Magazine naming Zafu as one of their top ten sites and 7.7 million women using the service.