Shai Coggins

AOL.com Article - Clothing allowance not a perk for first ladies' fashion needs and wants

Pinup Girl Clothing Changing Lives By Design PR Newswire LOS ANGELES, June 4, 2014 LOS ANGELES, June 4, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Pinup Girl Clothing, a vintage inspired apparel company whose mission is creating American-made "couture for every body" celebrates their 15 year anniversary with a new campaign that shines the spotlight on their diverse and devoted clientele. "How PUG changed my life" is a photo entry contest taking Instagram by storm, connecting customers from around the globe who are sharing personal before and after stories of how the brand has not only changed their lives but empowered them. Submissions range from mind-blowing wallflower-turned-bombshell transformations to incredibly heart-breaking and inspirational stories, overcoming eating disorders, terminal illness and turning tragedy into triumph. One theme remains consistent, Pinup Girl Clothing is not just a clothing company but a community and lifestyle that resonates with women everywhere. Revolutionizing the fashion industry since its inception in 1997, PUG (as it's affectionately referred to by fans) began as an online clothier making custom garments for all shapes and sizes and continues to proudly produces their collections in sizes XS-4X. Pioneering the body-positive movement, they were the first to routinely feature models of all sizes and ethnicities on their site, often using customers as the face of their company. Laura Byrnes, founder and CEO, says, "My goal is to show women that you create your own beauty standard. Your beauty standard is you at your best." Byrnes is happy other companies are finally following her lead, carrying a wider range of sizes and featuring plus size models regularly, something she's been doing since she started 15 years ago. @xoxoaliie the winning contestant writes, "Daydreaming if I would ever feel normal again, let alone feel attractive. That's when I discovered @pinupgirlclothing.

MacArthur, Suite 100 Phone: 316-425-8836 Owner: Kathleen Perez Kathleen Perezs weight goes up and down. I didnt want to have to go out and buy new clothes with every change, Perez said. Im very much a cheapskate. I only shop in thrift stores. I wanted to be able to find a store that would carry all sizes. Figuring other women were in the same boat, she recently opened Fat Sallys, a used clothing boutique for plus-size women.

From basement to boutique: Store carries used clothing for plus-size women | Wichita Eagle

(Photo by Hulton Archive/Getty Images) This undated painting by Schapel shows AbrahamLincoln with his wife,Mary Todd Lincoln, and their two sons, Robert Todd and Thomas Lincoln. The location is not known. Living in the White House has its perks, but a clothing allowance is not one of them. First ladies feel all sorts of pressure to project a fashionable look, and over the decades theyve tried a range of cash-saving strategies to pull it off without going broke. Mrs.Lincoln considered selling manure from the White House grounds to pay the bills that she ran up for clothes and household items. (AP Photo) KRT US NEWS STORY SLUGGED: INAUGURATION KRT PHOTOGRAPH BY CH KRT US NEWS STORY SLUGGED: INAUGURATION KRT PHOTOGRAPH BY CHIP SOMODEVILLA/KRT (January 20) WASHINGTON, D.C. -- President George W.