Madrid and Milan has already banned models that are sized zero. Unfortunately, the London Fashion week organizers said that they will simple ask for healthier looking models, because the designers persist on using them, and such will not ban size zero models.The average size for UK women is size 12, but more and more teen girls are walking on the runway which has a size zero figure (around a size 4 for American size). This may have a huge impact on our younger girls for they would no longer be happy and comfortable with the size they are in, seeing all those ultra thin models wearing the latest brands. Luisel Ramos was an 18 year old Uruguay model, who died during Uruguay’s Fashion week due to heart failure brought about by a starvation diet. This made the fashion capitals rethink what kind of image they are portraying to the people.Madrid was one of the pioneer fashion capitals to ban ultra thin models, followed by Milan, which promised to encourage a healthier and more beautiful image. Jean Paul Gaultier actually traded the size zero models to models who were size 20 during the Paris Fashion Week.The normal size 6 or 8 girls which are considered healthy may actually doubt themselves have a lower self esteem when they see the models who are size zero being regarded as models of beauty. What matters is that you love yourself not minding what kind of size you are. Make sure you are comfortable with your own skin, whether you are a size 6, 12 or 20. The media should not dictate what is healthy by saying that size zero models are healthy.

a) Cut price holiday. b) Plastic surgery. c) Both in a package along with other discount options.

Tick your choice. Is it (c)?

Do you really believe on the marketing gimmicks that plastic surgeries are as easy and acceptable as going to a holiday? Can you just have it done by any person and from anywhere? Sorry, a logical brain can not subscribe to this view.

However this is not the only marketing gimmick we have seen so far. Last year around 65000 operations had taken place in UK. And one can easily make out the reason why such advertisements are seen round the corner.

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Not only the film actors and actresses or pop stars, but general people, who can afford to have it, are also taking cosmetic surgery to boost up their confidence and self esteem. It is all about getting everything right and only a perfectionist knows, what it does mean. 

One may find a lot of such advertisements in the back covers of a number of Woman’s Magazines. People are advertising even for plastic or cosmetic surgeries for less in a lot of substandard hospitals away from United Kingdom. Some even do not care about GP’s reference.

One cannot help supporting the views of General Medical Council that all patients should be referred by his or her general physician or some other consultant before taking a plastic surgery for their own good.  

In many of such cases they hardly even think about the issue regarding ‘aftercare’. Whatever let the surgery be, tummy tuck or Breast enlargement, aftercare is as much important as the operation itself had been.

Many research studies have shown that where aftercare is poor, the rate and extent of complications increases. Having a weight loss surgery without an extended aftercare programme is never a safe option.

The operating surgeon ideally needs to keep in touch with the general physician of the patient for a long time after the surgery for safety reasons.

To add to this, one must remember that, any doctor may call himself or herself a plastic surgeon even without any specific surgical training. There are no official restrictions to it if the doctors do not feel any moral obligations to it.

This is reason enough for you to be careful enough while selecting a plastic or cosmetic surgeon. 

However, if financial assistance is needed, there are a lot of cosmetic surgery and treatment providers who may help you in getting it easily.

Never settle for gimmicks; it never pays in the long run.

Robert Peter “Robbie” Williams (born 13 February 1974) is a BRIT Award-winning English singer-songwriter, musician, record producer and multi-instrumentalist. His career started in 1990, at the age of 16, as a dancer and singer with the pop band Take That. He left the band in 1995 to launch his solo career. He has enjoyed a very successful solo career, and his latest studio album Reality Killed the Video Star was released on November 9 2009, including his single “Bodies”.Williams was born and raised in Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, with a sister, Sally, by his mother, Janet. His father, Peter “Parp” Conway, and mother separated when Williams was three-days-old. He attended Mill Hill Primary School and St Margaret Ward’s Roman Catholic School, he also attened dance school UKDDF in Tunstall as a child. Tunstall, Staffordshire.Williams has reportedly battled mental illness, obesity, self esteem issues, alcoholism, and substance abuse throughout his life. He once discussed how his friend Elton John booked him into a clinic to cope with his drug use that emerged from the depression he was experiencing while still in Take That. He entered a rehabilitation centre in Tucson for his addiction to the prescription pills Xanax, Seroxat and Vicodin, in February of 2007.Williams has a strong interest in UFOs and related paranormal phenomena, and has pursued this interest during his 2007–2008 sabbatical. His interest in the subject led to him taking part in a documentary for BBC Radio 4 with Jon Ronson. The documentary followed them to a UFO convention in Nevada. During an interview with Joss Stone on The Jeremy Kyle Show in 2008, Williams revealed that while out of his head on dispirin he has seen UFOs three times. Williams said his first UFO sighting was when he was a child in Britain while he spotted his second in Beverly Hills, and added that the third sighting was just after he had written a song about alien contact.Williams has had romantic relationships with several well-known female celebrities, including Rachel Hunter. Feel, written by Williams’ friend, writer Chris Heath, details Williams’ many sexual conquests during his European tour in 2003.

As a solo artist, he has sold more albums in the UK than any other British solo artist in history and has won more BRIT Awards than any other artist to date. His album sales stands at over 55 million worldwide. Williams was entered in The Guinness Book of World Records when, after he announced his World Tour for 2006, 1.6 million tickets were sold in one single day.

He has been presented many awards, including ten BRIT and six ECHO awards. In 2004, he was inducted into the UK Music Hall of Fame, after being voted as the Greatest artist of the 1990s. He appears in the list of the all-time Top 100 biggest selling albums in the United Kingdom six times. It is also estimated he is currently the highest selling non-Latin artist in Latin America, having sold over 3 million albums.On October 23, 2009 it was announced that he will receive the Outstanding Contribution To British Music award at the 2010 BRIT Awards.Robbie Williams is going to perform on Wed, Dec 16, 2009 at TBA London, London, United Kingdom. So be there and rock yourself.

Set to make incontinence a thing of the past, the Athena Pelvic Exerciser has stormed on to the UK market. This device is the most advanced of its kind, offering variable levels of toning for specific problems and is cordless and very discreet and portable.Somewhere between 3-6 million women in the UK alone suffer from incontinence. This is very much one of those problems which is “swept under the carpet” as many women are simply too embarrassed to admit they have a problem. This can lead to years of misery, depression, loss of self-esteem and indeed, even marital problems.During pregnancy, most women are advised that they should do a regular regime of Kegel exercises to minimize the risk of incontinence or prolapse. However, many women are unsure whether they are doing them correctly and end up giving up due to frustration and/or boredom. Years go by, and many do not even think about Kegel exercises again until they begin to leak urine. Unless something is done, this will become worse until either pant liners or even incontinence pads are having to be worn permanently. The Athena Pelvic Exerciser automates the boring and tedious Kegel exercises ensuring that they are carried out correctly and that the right muscles are worked. The design of the Athena is well thought out and the cordless design, discreet size and the small remote control device makes using it a breeze. Most women find that with proper use, they begin to notice significant results within a few short weeks and these results even apply to women with severe problems.The device works by electrical stimulation of the supporting muscles and tissues of the pelvic floor to strengthen and tone. In effect, it correctly performs Kegel exercises in the right way without any effort whatsover on the user’s part. The lipstick size trainer is simply inserted into the vagina and is no more uncomfortable than a tampon. The remote control device then controls the exercises, meaning that there are no messy wires. The Athena Pelvic Exerciser has two settings and can treat stress, urge and mixed incontinence.

If you would like further information about this product and to see details of where it can be ordered from in the UK, visit Athena Pelvic Exerciser

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The media is saturated with weight loss aids and adverts aimed at helping women to lose weight. However, according to recent reports, a greater percentage of men are overweight or obese – 67.1% of men compared to 56.1% of women – which making them vulnerable to serious health issues. How does this excess weight affect men and what can be done about it? For men, fertility is a major factor in encouraging them to lose weight. Being overweight or obese can reduce the sperm count by 25%, a major obstacle that greatly affects the chances of conceiving. Being overweight can also cause men to feel sluggish, have low energy levels, a diminished libido and low self esteem. Medical conditions such as high cholesterol – often a result of a poor diet – and insulin resistance [an early indicator of type 2 diabetes] also have the ability to impact sexual performance, which in turn impacts desire, particularly in men. Conception isn’t the only area where men feel their weight is holding them back. Many overweight men with families feel that they are missing out on a chance to enjoy family life to the full. Simple things such as not being able to play football with their children or the humiliation of not being able to take part in the fatherâ??s race at school sports day can have a real impact on their self esteem and family life. Finally, if a diminished sex life, fertility problems and an inability to enjoy family life to the full is not motivation enough, a survey has revealed that nine out of ten HR Managers would rather offer a job to a normal weight person than an obese candidate with the same qualifications. This may be something to consider if you are applying for another job or hoping for that long-awaited promotion. So, what can you do to shift those excess pounds but still maintain your masculinity? No-one is expecting you put on your leotard and join an aerobics class but there are plenty of ways that you can shift the weight. Why not join your local gym, arrange to meet your mates at a local park for a game of football or take up walking or cycling with your family on a regular basis? Try to build more incidental activity into your life, walking instead of driving to the local shop, getting active in the garden or taking the dog out for longer walks. If you are serious about tackling your eating habits as well as increasing your exercise then consider joining a slimming group. Slimming groups are no longer purely designed for women and now cater for a large number of health-conscious men.For men that are concerned about their weight – and want to lose weight fast – there are plenty of opportunities to do so. From joining a gym to taking the dog for longer walks, the opportunities for weight loss are endless.

UK consumers increasingly place great importance on, and give preferential treatment to, a product or service that has succeeded in placing within their mind a positive perception of the experience and range of benefits using that particular product will offer them.

The company, with its stylized brew of personality, vision, colours, graphics, accreditations and messages succeeds in convincing the consumer in advance that they will attain a range of benefits such as safety, security, health, wealth, wellbeing, social status, self esteem and so on just from purchasing the company’s product. The consumer is promised some of these benefits when they buy something as trivial as a hand bag or a magazine but this ‘brand promise’ is of critical importance to them when they buy something important like a car or a health insurance plan. It is the commercial equivalent of a referral from a trusted advisor, friend or family member and reduces the inclination and time spent raising and satisfying all their concerns prior to buying a product or service from an otherwise unknown entity.

Without this ‘brand promise’ a consumer would constantly have to determine if the product or service they are thinking of buying is in the first instance safe, does it even work, who are the people behind it, do they share the consumer’s philosophy and values, will they do what they say they are going to do, what if it all goes wrong and so on.

Yet when a consumer refurbishes their home, (by refurbishment I mean a substantial project including the building of an extension or a complete renovation of a property) or to put it another way, when a consumer tampers with the very fabric of their biggest asset where for the majority of their lives their beloved family resides, this is exactly what they have to do. Why? Why is there not a brand in the UK home refurbishment industry that consumers can turn to with the same level of confidence they have when they are shopping in the UK retail, banking and telecommunication industries?

To get an insight in to why the UK does not have a national home refurbishment brand it is necessary to understand the restrictions that are placed upon anyone trying to create one. A general building contractor is predominantly a one man band and is the ‘brand’ of their company. If they are competent, likeable and trustworthy then a client may refer them on to another client and so on until they becomes well known to a few.

But is a recommendation sufficient? Does the builder have what it takes to satisfy all of the consumers concerns prior to their engagement? And can a builder grow indefinitely servicing an ever increasing geographical area leaving satisfied clients in their path? The answer to both these questions is highly unlikely because of the following predicaments:

a)  The home refurbishment industry is a fragmented and haphazard industry with little or no universal standards or processes. There does not exist any model sales and delivery process that is referred to by all practitioners, no benchmark payment process adhered to by all and no standard terms of business available to all clients. Instead each building contractor operates according to their own personally preferred and somewhat comfortable modes operandi that the client needs to reconcile with their concerns prior to engagement. Of course an element of flexibility and negotiation is normal in many business dealings but without an established process borne out of experience that withstands the test of scrutiny a client cannot be assured that the arrangement is to the mutual advantage of both parties and so suspicion is aroused in the client which the building contractor has to work against in order not only to win the contract but to maintain the contract as problems arise throughout the project.

b)  A building contractor cannot grow indefinitely because they suffer from severe skill shortages. A successful home refurbishment project requires consistent project management throughout. As it is the role of the proprietor to first visit a client and manage the pre contract phase it is necessary for their involvement throughout the whole project, a fact the client will insist on. The fact that they may be a one man band means also that the client has invested in the proprietor’s character and so does not want someone else to take over. The role is also communications intensive and calls for a personal touch and the authority to make executive decisions whilst maintaining the confidence and satisfaction of the client. This role also involves liaising with the project architect and engineer, engaging suitable trades and monitoring the quality of their work all whilst ensuring the project is on time and on budget. This is a very serious and time consuming role that a client demands the proprietor assumes, if they do not to start with, they will eventually. However a successful home refurbishment project also requires a foreman, someone on site day to day who is ensuring everyone is working according to the project manager’s instructions and that problems are resolved in real time and momentum is maintained. Normally the proprietor carries out this role as well as that of the project manager; if the proprietor is running two or three projects simultaneously they may have a couple of foreman to rely upon so that the project management function is not compromised however to grow beyond this so as to be running 10 or 20 or more simultaneous projects the proprietor has to find a working foreman for almost every project. The problem is that candidates for qualified foremen fall in to two main categories; they are either running their own general building contractor or they are already employed in the commercial sector for higher wages than they would get otherwise as a home refurbishment foreman for a general building contractor. They are therefore notoriously difficult to employ as foremen for home refurbishment projects.

These problems mean the proprietor cannot take on too many projects simultaneously as he or she will have to perform many of the foreman’s tasks and thus lose sight of the higher project management functions. This is why, even under the best conditions, general building contractors do not grow beyond the status of a local enterprise. It therefore follows that they do not acquire the resources or capacity, nor the inclination due to the nature of their repeat business, to engage communication strategists, PR advisors and brand creative’s to give their operation a professional well polished cooperate image with all the necessary elements to succeed in placing within their prospective client’s mind a positive perception of the experience and the range of benefits using them will offer.

Now let’s assume that a home refurbishment brand did exist, what would it look like?

Well firstly it would possess the appropriate corporate image that its target audience could relate to and rely upon. It would also have policies in place that demonstrated the underlying logic of how the company operates bearing the customers interest in mind especially when things go wrong – this is of real importance given the whimsical nature of the environment home refurbishment operates within. It would have clear values and a mission driven by a vision that showed clients what kind of an entity they were dealing with and that it was not in the company’s interest to deceive a single client at the expense of a much bigger vision. It would almost certainly invite the client to become a part of this vision and in doing so greater facilitate the delivery of projects. It would also attempt to better the industry it operated within for all its stakeholders by researching and sourcing new methods and actively seeking constructive feedback.

Most importantly It would operate according to a standard sales and delivery process that assured a client that whether they were wealthy or on a tight budget, male or female, single or married, living in Edinburgh or in London their project would be subject to the same terms of business as everyone else’s and that they could understand what was going to happen next such as when they would be expected to pay, how much and why.

Next is achieving the task of making these standards available to the nation. What kind of an entity could achieve this given the problems of scalability? One business model available to achieve the transition from general building contractor to national home refurbishment brand considering the aforementioned dilemmas is the franchise model.

The franchise would be operated by a master franchisor who would own the goodwill and Intellectual property of the brand and would be responsible for, but not restricted to, the development and promotion of the brand; creating and producing marketing and advertising initiatives; developing and improving operating systems and processes; quality assuring the customer experience and workmanship; Signing off the workmanship whilst at the same time ensuring financial control; providing ongoing support, feedback and advice to all the franchisees and last but not least franchising. The master franchisor in return would receive an initial set up fee and ongoing commissions from all franchisees.

Ideal candidates for franchisees would be professional project managers, architects and other property related service professionals looking for an exciting and rewarding challenge. The franchisee would own their own business and have the right to use the goodwill, Intellectual property and operating methods of the master franchisor. They would operate a particular geographical area such as a borough of London or a small town. For business professionals with strong management skills looking for a bigger challenge there is the possibility of operating as a regional franchisee. They could be the regional franchisee for all of London or a region of the UK and sell smaller areas to franchisees. In either case the franchisee would perform the function of professional project manager whilst subcontracting the building works to vetted general building contractors.

The key advantage here to the consumer is that the franchisee can focus exclusively on the higher functions of project management; keeping the client happy, making executive decisions, managing the performance of the general building contractor, ensuring the project is on time and on budget whilst the proprietor of the general building contractor acts as the foreman and ensures their teams are being productive on site. This way the project runs more cost efficiently and completes faster.

The advantages here to the franchisee is that they can grow their company in scale and profitability beyond what would be possible if they were a general building contractor as they are not impeded by the foreman dilemma. Also as a result of the flexibility of owning their business mixed with the professionalism of being affiliated with the bigger corporate entity they can generate better quality sales with greater ease.

This also means that the general building contractors and tradesmen will benefit from repeat business from a major client – the franchisee; this will make it comparatively easier for the building contractor to win business whilst ultimately making their service more competitively priced for the franchisee and the client. The building contractor can also now focus on what they do best, building.

The arrival of a national home refurbishment brand with universal standards in the UK would represent a significant social change. It will remove so many stigmas and anxieties surrounding something as fundamental and necessary as improving the home environment. It will improve the relationships between general building contractors, building professionals and homeowners and possibly more stakeholders farther afield. For example depending upon the political nature of the leadership of the brand it could make it easier and quicker for new policies and technologies aimed at reducing CO2 emissions to reach their intended audience whilst achieving greater results.

If a national home refurbishment franchise emerged in 2009 and be operating in every major city and town in the UK by say the year 2020 then no doubt competition would emerge along the way that by 2020 would have helped produce a bigger, more sophisticated industry. This would then present viable options to consumers; who will be able to turn to a range of service providers that have succeeded in placing an affirmative feeling of the experience of using their service in the mind of their users.

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For the men’s Ed Hardy denim section, you can expect that Ed Hardy UK jeans will be the fantastic Ed Hardy jeans that are in style all over the world. You won’t have to worry about buying something that has gone out of style with Ed Hardy UK jeans, because Ed Hardy Denim is the best brand for what you want in style. While Ed Hardy jeans are semi-limited for men, it is only because the Ed Hardy UK focuses on what is popular and in fashion. Ed Hardy jeans quality means that even if you get a pair of “Fighting dragons” Ed Hardy jeans, those Ed Hardy jeans will last and look good for quite some time, making Ed Hardy denim a valuable investment.
Ed Hardy denim has become one of the major brand names. The women’s Ed Hardy UK jeans offer skinny Ed Hardy jeans that will hug one’s curves beautifully. With grey, light blue and dark blue Ed Hardy denim, you can wear Ed Hardy UK jeans that will be high-quality, fashionable and will last. Ed Hardy jeans look great and they will stand up to the wear and tear of just about anything. You can still show off the fantastic brand name: Ed Hardy denim.
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With Ed Hardy jeans, you can expect a level of fashion and quality to come together to make you feel as though you are a top socialite with Ed Hardy jeans. It is a great feeling, knowing that you have spent the money to buy high-quality Ed Hardy denim that will last, while also showing that you know what is fashionable now. Don’t pass Ed Hardy jeans up, and make sure you look for Ed Hardy UK jeans today.

Every year, thousands of women choose breast reduction surgery for a variety of reasons. For some women, the reason is as simple as their breasts are just too big and prevent them from having a normal life due to making some simple movements difficult, as well as causing back pain. For others, the size of their breasts can make them feel self-conscious because their chest is the subject of far too much attention, whether good or bad. There are a wealth of reasons why women undergo this type of surgery – maybe they cannot take part in certain sports due to the size of their breasts, or suffer from low self esteem thanks to disproportionate breasts compared with the rest of their body. Large breasts can also make your posture suffer too, which can lead to back problems. For many women, breast reduction surgery is a life changing experience. Following the surgery, where the breasts are decreased in size and sculpted to maintain a young, natural look, thousands of women go on to enjoy a happier life free from pain and embarrassment previously caused by the size of their breasts. They can take part in the sports they love, play with their children and even do simple tasks that were previously very difficult. For some women, the ability to walk down the street without attracting all kinds of stares and remarks is incentive enough, whereas others just want to be taken more seriously in the office. Breast reduction can make the size of your breasts proportionate to the rest of your body. This can restore a sense of self-confidence and self-esteem that many women have forgotten they ever had. It also lays down the pathway to a fitter, healthier life in the future as the weight of heavy, oversized breasts are no longer causing strain on the back, neck and shoulders – a benefit that has many women enjoying painfree living instead of being forced to put up with the continual aches associated with larger breasts. Undergoing a cosmetic surgery like a breast reduction is a serious decision, but if you find that your quality of life is being severely impaired because of the size of your breasts, then it may be worth meeting a qualified surgeon for a consultation. For many women, such a consultation was the first step towards an improved life where they could do the activities they always wanted to do – and wear the clothes they want.

Do you ever find yourself apologising for your size? It is a sad fact of life that many women do these days. We’ve become indoctrinated into thinking that big is bad and thin is beautiful, and that the emaciated waifs we see in the media have the perfect must have figure.

Yet, history shows it’s actually big women that men find most attractive. The works of Renaissance masters like Botticelli and Rubens show that even the Medieval female was the object of immense fascination and scrutiny. Yet, the women immortalised on these ancient canvases little resemble the super slim celebrities of the modern age. Rather, Renaissance women are often depicted as gloriously full figured, with full bosoms, ample tummies and large bottoms.

Yet, they were still celebrated as objects of beauty…

Centuries later, American WWII bomber crews painted beautiful, plus sized “blonde bombshells” on their aeroplanes for good luck, and during the great Hollywood era, film studios snapped up busty actresses like Mae West and Jayne Mansfield, more for their buxom features than their acting abilities. The celebrated “hourglass” figures  captured on these celluloid archives continue to fascinate men to this day.

Decades after her untimely death, buxom beauty Marilyn Monroe, a definite plus size by today’s skinny standards, can still hold her own even against the sultriest modern pinups; and who can forget Britain’s very own blonde bombshell, the late, and gloriously plus sized, Diana Dors, still oozing sex appeal at age 49, in Adam Ant’s “Prince Charming” video?

At a time when the term “plus size” had yet to achieve common usage, Dors famously likened herself to a naughty seaside postcard, and shamelessly sold herself as “the first home-grown sex symbol…since Lady Godiva.” Loved in Britain for her larger-than-life off screen personality, Dors’ considerable acting skills all too often played second fiddle to her ample figure, as directors cast her again and again in the role of curvaceous siren.

As frustrating as this certainly was for talented actresses like Dors, they nonetheless made the most of their ample curves to forge highly successful careers and maintain massive male fan bases. It is curious also to note that  Dors, Monroe and West are all immortalised on the front cover of  the Beatles’ iconic album, Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band .

These women shot to stardom because the film industry and other mass media were dominated by men. At a time when Feminism was still in its infancy, it was men who dictated acceptable standards of attractiveness. Busty, curvaceous women were preferred over skinny woman because this played to the male fantasy of the perfect “hourglass” woman.

In contrast, modern celebrity women increasingly draw their self image from the plethora of glossy magazines published by women. Such magazines, full of air-brushed beauties and fascinating yet often misguided articles, play a significant role in our daily lives and have a powerful, sometimes negative impact on the way we see ourselves.

In recent decades, the dictates of such media have reshaped our perception of acceptable standards of attractiveness, fashion and size. Thin is good, fat is bad, and women the world over now live in constant fear of gaining weight. Authorities believe this has played a significant contributory role in the gradual erosion of female self worth.

Where women like Diana Dors were once coveted by a male mass media, now they are increasing the targets of ruthless criticism and ridicule. Where magazines once assisted women in their lives by offering practical solutions to everyday problems, today many serve to complicate life. “How much should I weigh?” “How young should I look?” “What diet should I be on?” are just some of the questions modern women are confronted with everyday by a celebrity-driven mass media obsessed with perfection. Indeed, recent research suggests that women today are more concerned about putting on weight than they are about developing breast cancer!

Each week, myriad magazines churn out the latest miracle diets and the latest, often  medically unsound advice on how to lose pounds and get ourselves in shape. The trouble is, these glossy gospels frequently contradict themselves and each other over what that shape is supposed to be.  As a result, confusion reigns in the modern woman’s mind.

Eating disorders, self harming and plummeting self esteem plague women today as never before. Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD), Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) and addiction to botox treatments and plastic surgery are likewise on the increase. And few can now doubt the contribution that the mass media has played, and still plays, in the development of these hitherto uncommon psychological occurrences.

Medical authorities are today rightly concerned about the power these magazines have over our daily lives. After all, on what authority do the female journalists behind these fonts of feminine “wisdom” base their advice? Aren’t they just as obsessed with their self image as the rest of us? Doesn’t the phrase “does my bum look big in this?” leap from their mouths as readily as it does from ours? Rather like Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz, we need only draw back the curtain to expose these self-appointed gurus for the fallible gossip mongers that they really are.

Perhaps there is more to be learned from the practical and simplistic world of men, where the term “plus size” is more likely to have a man rummaging around in his toolbox than looking in the mirror.

Not that men don’t care about how they look – they do. Indeed, men are just as vulnerable to the dictates of mass media ideas as women are. But where a woman’s self worth is linked directly to her physical attractiveness, a man’s, in contrast, is linked to his ability to wield strength and power. Even when it comes to bodies beautiful, a man’s motivation differs from that of women… Where the size of a woman’s cleavage can be indicative of her sexual prowess, the bulging biceps and rock hard abs craved by men are rather intended to intimidate other men than to attract the opposite sex.

Studies have shown moreover, that, where vanity is concerned, men are not hampered by the same doubts that plague a woman’s mind. Rather, men tend to see themselves as being slimmer and than they actually are; and, indeed, anyone who has been to a British football match will no doubt be familiar with the plethora of bare chests and naked beer bellies on display among the male dominated crowd. Such confidence and care-free exhibitionism has much to endear itself.

So, what is wrong, anyway, with having some beef on our bones?  Studies have shown that, when it comes to male expectations of a desirable female shape, women grossly exaggerate the importance of slimness in the male mindset. Moreover, history shows that men’s tastes in female body shape have remained more or less consistent throughout the centuries. Big hips, a large bust and a full bottom seem to be the order of the day.

As British rock band, Queen once put it:

I’ve been singing with my bandAcross the water, across the land,I seen every blue eyed floozy on the way, heyBut their beauty and their styleWear kinda smooth after a while.Take me to them lardy ladies every time!

Oh, you gonna take me home tonight?Oh, down beside that red firelight;Oh, you’re gonna let it all hang out,Fat bottomed girls, you make the rockin’ world go round.

Written by Queen guitarist Brian May, this celebration of the full figured woman was a 1978 UK hit single. The front cover of “Fat Bottomed Girls” controversially featured a curvacious, semi-naked woman on a bicycle, while the lyrics expressed in a humorous yet overtly sexual tone that bigger women are more seductive and sexually appealing to men.

British male television viewers seem to share this opinion. In 2006, plus size TV presenter, Fern Britton was voted one of the TV’s most desirable women; and in the world of comedy, larger-than-life comic actress Dawn French is still considered by many men as one of Britain ’s sexiest celebrities. So much so, that even Sheffield hunk, Sean Bean, star of Sharpe , Troy and The Lord of the Rings , couldn’t resist a cameo appearance with her in the hit UK sitcom, The Vicar of Dibley .

Clearly, women are missing something here. Perhaps men are not as fascinated by the emaciated skeletons we see in the media as we might think. Like men, perhaps we, too, should see ourselves as better than we actually are, rather than hating ourselves for what we’re not.

It’s easy to regard today’s super slim celebrities as the benchmark of feminine beauty. But it is worth remembering that the most beautiful woman in history is not to be found in the pages of our glossy magazines, nor is she seen strutting down the catwalks of the fashion world. Nor, indeed, is she captured by photographers on the red carpets of Hollywood .

Rather, she stares silently at us from the panelled walls of the Paris Louvre like a goddess…

She is, of course, the Mona Lisa , a woman whose mysterious, fulsome features, wry smile and enigmatic beauty have captivated the world for centuries.

Her creator, Leonardo Da Vinci obsessed over her, and for 500 years men have desired her. Some, perhaps, have even killed for her. And yet, she has never had a makeover nor purchased a new outfit.

Today, she’s worth more than £200 million…

What better endorsement of the plus size woman than that?

http://www.feminines-lingerie.co.uk/plus_size.php

Many women are unsatisfied by the look and feel of their breasts, for a variety of reasons. Unfortunately, this can have a major impact on the way we feel about our bodies and, ultimately, have a massive effect on self-confidence. Women who do not like the way their breasts look often suffer from extreme bouts of low self-esteem because they feel unattractive. Low self-esteem can be a serious problem and is one that affects millions of people worldwide – which is why, for some women, it is a big relief to know that there are some options available to help restore confidence. Whether women that consider breast enlargement surgery are doing so because they think their breasts are too small or they are misshapen or uneven, undergoing cosmetic treatment can reverse the psychological issues these physical problems occur. Breast enlargements can restore a woman’s self-confidence and make them feel far better about their bodies, allowing them the freedom to do far more as they are no longer restricted by a poor body image. For example, many women who do not like their breasts tend to cover them up with loose, baggy clothes that often furthers the notion that they are unattractive. With breast enlargements, the breasts are sculpted to the ideal shape, while still looking natural, and the self-esteem boost means that women who previously covered up under too-large clothes are now proud to show off their bodies, wearing the outfits they previously only dreamed about and enjoying the way they look. Breast enlargement procedures are becoming far more common within the field of cosmetic surgery as more and more women are realising the benefits offered by the procedure. Whether they are simply unsatisfied with their breast size or are hoping to correct a deformity like misshapen or uneven breasts, breast enlargement surgery can correct all of these issues. Surgery is not a decision to be taken lightly, however, and it is essential that anybody considering undergoing cosmetic treatment first attends a consultation with a qualified surgeon. That way, if you are thinking about getting a breast enlargement you can get a professional opinion on whether the surgery is right for you. The psychological effects of breast enlargement surgery can be overwhelming and many women agree that it more than makes up for the six weeks of recovery time that you’ll need following surgery. Breast enlargement is a big decision to make but it is one that can be life changing.