Beauty and the Muse

LV: What was fashion like for you growing up?

PS: When I was growing up fashion was clean and classic. I had problems when I was younger because I was chubbie. My parents had to take me to NYC to buy my clothes because they had a section that was called “Chubbette”. Can you believe that? Having low self-confidence at that time was pretty self-explanatory.

LV: What was your inspiration for starting a plus-size clothing line?

PS: My daughter Alli was very sick with cancer, and she gained a large amount of weight (80 pounds) and had little to wear and not a lot of clothes were available for purchase in Canada. We always chatted about starting a line, but it was put on the back burner for many years after her passing in 2006. We only began to get moving when Whitney Thompson (First plus-size winner of America’s Next Top Model) came into the fold.

LV: What kind of styles do you plan on having available for next season?

PS: Our styling is going to remain classic, sophisticated, contemporary, and on trend. We are concentrating on using viscose from bamboo as our fabric of choice, but we are also adding some boiled wool and double knit. Our Brand believes in maintaining a sustainability factor to the line, so using bamboo and other sustainable fabrics is one way to achieve these beliefs. We also maintain a small carbon footprint as we manufacture in Canada.

LV: How did you decide on the face of Allistyle, Whitney Thompson?

PS: Whitney is the perfect face of Allistyle. She believes in being the person that you are, no matter what size. She was the only plus winner of ANTM. Whitney and I met at a gala at FFFWeek a few years ago. Although we are not concentrating our efforts into the plus-size community, Whitney is the epitome of perfection in this sector. I hope that as we move away from concentrating all of our efforts in the plus community she will remain the face of Allistyle.

LV: What fashion shows have you done, and/or plan on doing?

PS: Allistyle was the first brand to show at IMG World MasterCard Toronto Fashion Week in October 2012. We received extensive publicity around the event, and the show was extremely successful. We also participated in a curvy segment in Detroit, Michigan in June of 2013. I have no runway shows in the horizon at this time.

LV: What types of setbacks or obstacles have you faced as a curvy woman in the fashion industry?

PS: I believe that in Canada it is very difficult to be part of this sector. There is little opportunity out there in the mid-luxury market, where we are placed. Our products range from $50 to $300. We are made in Canada so our price point is a little higher.

LV: What are some big projects you are working on currently?

PS: We are continuing to develop new collections. We have been advised that we need to produce a pre-collection (making it 4 collections per year). To me those are pretty big!

LV: How would you describe your individual style?

PS: My individual style is class with a touch of fun. I always want to be comfortable in what I wear, so I work really hard bringing together a clean crisp look and build it up with accessories and other unusual pieces. I am a bag freak! I love good quality so you will never find me purchasing anything that is fake. Absolutely never!

LV: What advice would you give other women who are in your position or want to get to your position?

PS: The only thing I can say is you MUST have passion to make things happen. I have been the sole financial person in this, and it has been extremely taxing. Make sure that you have support both financially and emotionally because without it, your job will be excruciating.

I believe completely in this Brand and I know we will be one of the top brands in our sector in the next few years. If I didn’t have that belief I would be packing everything up!

LV: Leave us with an awesome quote.

Great belief, confidence, and a sense of humor are the elements needed to get through a day in the fashion business. Great style has no size, so grab your confidence, put one foot in front of the other and NEVER LOOK BACK!