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Hazel Easley: Company Namesake.
As a plus size young woman, Karol Jarvis, our head designer and founder of Plusologie by Karolina Easley was constantly unsatisfied with the apparel options for plus size woman. The clothes were both too frumpy and made her look older or they were too short and tight trying to reflect a young trend that simply came across as classless. Karol says, "I found myself looking too old before my time or like I was just trying too hard. I would either look too dressed up or too dressed down. I could never understand why the young casual sophisticated feminine look never made the plus size racks and I was tired of settling for less." And According to the U.S. market research firm NPD group, more than one-third of American women, or 38%, are size 14 or larger, and 48.8% are 12 or larger. That being said, we knew that we could help other plus size women like ourselves. In fact in doing our research, we found that there were apparel companies out there, who by the way do not offer plus sizes, that even go as far as to have a disclaimer on their size chart stating, “ ‘Too Small’ is the most frequent reason given for returning clothing”. Can you believe that?
With fashion design in Karol's background, she began sewing her own tops. She states, "Women would approach me wanting to know where I got my tops. When I would tell them that I made them, some even started asking me if I sewed for other people." She continued,"When you're standing in the middle of one of the largest retail suppliers of plus size clothing, and shoppers are asking you if you can sew for them . . . they're saying that this store doesn't sell what I want and/or need". Karol knew that she was not the only one frustrated with the plus size apparel options and that there was still a plus size niche unfilled. We have found that the industry offers either career wear, frumpy tees and sweats or clingy stretchy trends that are often not forgiving on a plus size frame. In short, the apparel industry is providing plus size clothing that is just simply practical and lacking the prettiness and expertise found within the pages of Vogue and Fashion Runways. Try packing for vacations with those options and let’s not even mention a romantic vacation. Or how about trying to find an attractive "walk-about-dress" that doesn't look like a tent or a casual chic comfortable dress to wear to a wedding, a graduation or just an afternoon lunch date. Karolina Easley has stepped in to offer casual clothing with a feminine prettiness. With Plusologie by Karolina Easley you'll no longer feel overdressed, underdressed, or inappropriately dressed.
The Plusologie brand name was a revelation when we realized that for over 20 years, we've been researching and living the plus size lifestyle. As a family owned business, we decided to name the company Karolina, after our head designer and Easley, after the matriarch of our family, Hazel Easley-Thornton, for she is the common thread for which our artistic abilities have been passed onto us from. Our goal is to provide sophisticated clothing that provide both comfort and style for other plus size women for which we inherently have a kinship with. We know the frustrations that exist for plus size women on a first hand basis and our focus is to eliminate those challenges. The Plusologie by Karolina Easley brand is all about looking fabulous without looking like you tried.
OUR MISSION: To provide a brand that is stylish, sophisticated, and comfortable for the plus size consumer reflecting the notion that the plus size consumers watch the same TV shows, read the same fashion magazines, love fashion, newness, color, and want to be just as fashionable and neat as anyone else. I’m sure that you’ll be pleased with our collection and will find it easier to figure out . . . ”What am I going to wear this morning?" View the Collection Now.
