Stefanie Augusteijn is the creator and owner of Canada’s very own SexyPlus Clothing, a clothing store with beautiful and fashionable clothes for plus-sized women. We got the chance to sit down with Stefanie so that she could share a little bit about her business, herself and her attitude towards clothing sexy, plus-sized women.

More of Me to Love: So, you’re a proprietress of a plus-sized clothing store, SexyPlus Clothing. When did you begin your business?

Stefanie Augusteijn: Proprietress – I love how formal that sounds! I registered SexyPlus Clothing in June 2009 but officially launched the website October 17, 2009. It was a magical event, including a full fashion show, free champagne and DJ dancing. The full write up can be found here.

MMTL: Oh, wow - that’s recent. What did you do before SexyPlus and why did you stop?

S.A.: I worked for Wells Fargo in Canada as a Marketing Manager for 10 years. While it was a great job and I learned so much, when I got laid off due to the recession in November, 2008 I decided it was time for something new. I took the plunge and started the business with my savings. It’s been scary at times, giving up benefits and the security of a weekly paycheck, but I am happy and I love what I do. That’s what’s important to me.

MMTL: Please share a little more about yourself so we can get to know who you are.

S.A.: I’m a happy lady with an appreciation for life. I love dancing and try to go at least twice a month. My weakness is old school – anything from a few years back, be it reggae, funk, R&B, pop; I can’t get enough. It’s good exercise that doesn’t feel like exercise.

I recently bought a home in Brampton, Ontario with my Mom because it just made financial sense, and we get along.

I love diversity in all things – culture, style, music, food. Diversity is the spice of life. I have a sister, brother in law, and a mixed Canadian-Chinese, wonderful, smart little niece who just turned 8. I’m in a serious relationship with an amazing guy. We’re committed and we’ve gotten to the point where we can make plans for the future. My dream is to travel with him, especially to Jamaica, his homeland.

My hobbies and passions right now are all about the biz, and delivering the great styles at the reasonable prices that are so hard to find in Canada and worldwide. I continue to search for suppliers that have new, figure flattering options that are also affordable. The combination of style and price is key for SexyPlus Clothing: it shouldn’t cost an arm and a leg for a funky plus-size garment, just because it’s plus sized.

MMTL: SexyPlus is a provocative name. How did you come up with it, and what do you hope to evoke with that name?

S.A.: The name SexyPlus is actually quite straightforward and serves two goals: to remind ladies that they ARE and CAN be sexy at any size, shape and age while letting them know what type of clothing we carry (sexy and plus size). I guess I have always considered myself sexy as well, at a size 16, and so much of what we do and produce as humans is auto-biographical, so maybe that’s part of it too.

MMTL: Why plus-sized clothing?

S.A.: I am a size 16 or 1X. I decided at the age of 25 that I was ok with my size and shape, and I believe this comes at different stages in women’s lives, though unfortunately, some never achieve this self-acceptance. Being a native Montrealer, I think I have a unique flair for style. I like to dress nicely, sometimes provocatively, all the while remaining classy - I was frustrated at not being able to find styles that suited these desires in Canada. When I did, despite some difficulty, find the styles I sought, I found them to be over-priced. And this is the principal on which I created SexyPlus Clothing: super cool, classy, affordable plus-size styles.

MMTL: Have you always considered yourself plus-sized? How has your own life caused you to recognize the importance of providing others with plus-sized fashions?

S.A.: As a kid, I was cute, but also chubby. I struggled with it all my life until the age of 25 when self-acceptance just happened literally overnight. I used to purposely fail gym class because I didn’t want to wear a swim suit in front of others. I never went to pool parties for the same reason. I avoided mirrors in shopping centers, and on and on. What a relief it was to realize at 25 that I didn’t have to fit someone else’s image of beauty. I started to find myself more and more appealing, and it showed because I started exuding confidence too, and people noticed and were drawn to me.

Providing women with figure flattering styles, cool prints, and more options than some have ever had before is a way of paying forward my own self-acceptance in the hopes that they will learn to dress for their size/shape and start to really see their beauty. As mentioned in our recent blog post, women need to focus on their assets, like their hair, face, curvy hips, round behind, and not always criticize their arms, or another body part, when they’re in front of the mirror.

MMTL: Do you find that your store makes a difference in people’s lives in more ways than merely clothing them? How so?

S.A.: Yes, and this is one of the best parts of my “job.” By understanding that a woman will achieve her best look by dressing according to her shape, size and age, I am able to help my customers see themselves through my eyes. And to me they are all gorgeous.

We are creatures of habit, and we tend to go for the same look, the same cuts, colors, etc., but when a customer has an open mind, is willing to step outside of her comfort zone and trusts my expertise, it’s amazing to see a new woman blossom and emerge from her shell. Sexy doesn’t have an age limit, and it should never compromise class. In fact, sexy can only be achieved with class. Plus, with our clothing being so affordable, regular customers can finally afford more looks and feel their sexiest more often.

MMTL: Your clothes are more than simply “big.” They’re fashionable and sexy. Why the distinction and why that direction?

S.A.: Because it’s the most needed in the marketplace. For too long the industry has under-served this segment, and assumed that curvy women don’t need or want to look sexy, classy and funky. And, since the fashion industry is new to me, I am quickly learning that there is an ugly disadvantage to being in the sexy plus-sized market: because designers and manufacturers still in large part ignore this segment, the prices are so much higher because the volume is just not there to justify bulk production. So it’s the consumer who pays in the end. However, I am still committed to finding the right styles at the right prices, through travel, persistence and commitment. I have found quite a few that I am very happy with.

MMTL: SexyPlus is now an amazing online store. Where do you hope to take SexyPlus clothing? More branches? More cities?

S.A.: We currently have a fully stocked online store – in fact, this is where the most styles are available. We have partnered with Curvaceous Consignments, a specialty boutique offering quality second-hand clothing. We have a room dedicated to SexyPlus Clothing inside their charming and spacious store in Toronto.

MMTL: Are you active in the plus-sized world (e.g. Fat Activism, Size Acceptance, Health at Every Size) in ways other than your store? If so, how, and if not, do you plan to be?

S.A.: I support all organizations/entrepreneurs that endeavor to help women in any way. I believe that we all need to lend each other a helping hand to create awareness.

MMTL: If you could travel anywhere in the world where would it be? Why?

S.A.: Without hesitation I would travel to Los Angeles to find more suppliers/wholesalers. Maybe in a few years I’ll be able to go to Jamaica with hubby.

MMTL: If you could have one mentor (dead or alive), who would it be and why?

S.A.: My mentors have always been my parents. My father is passed but my mother is still with us. They have always set the example: give to the world, and it will give back.

MMTL: What else can you tell us about SexyPlus Clothing and/or yourself?

S.A.: I understand that a great shopping experience is more than finding great merchandise but providing great service every step of the way. This includes an easy to use website and the safety of customer information on our website, our friendly return policy, our convenient “shop by shape” and “shop by size” functionality, our newsletter with new arrivals, sale information, resources for the fuller woman and more, and how we will go the extra mile to find an item or a size that a customer just has to have. We also provide customer service on Facebook and Twitter, to ensure communication is convenient and that we are accessible. We want our customers to be happy, to feel and look great, and to come back so we do everything it takes to make that happen. Is that sexy service or what?

SexyPlus Clothing. Sexy. Affordable. Finally. Check out SexyPlus Clothing today.

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