Pretty pieces in plus sizes

Deborah Friedman is like so many women in the fashion business these days.

When she couldn't find what she wanted in stores, she decided to sell it herself. In June, Friedman opened Plussizeplum.com, a Durham-based Web site selling better lingerie for larger women.

Friedman, a former fit model and fashion writer, says she's not surprised by the traffic already coming to the site. The plus-size market is ripe for new retailers, especially those selling better quality merchandise that's not always easy to find in Triangle stores.

"I just found that people who are in the business, they don't really understand what the customers are looking for," she says. "This site was a result of my frustration."

Friedman said she has "cherry-picked" the best of what's on the market. She's a picky shopper herself, she says, so her merchandise has to be soft and well-made, something she knows that plus-size women appreciate.

"When you have a plus-size figure, you can't wear something that doesn't fit," she says. "You want fabric that doesn't cling."

Top sellers already are bustiers and baby-doll sets. She also sells lingerie sets, body stockings, loungewear, panties and robes. Most of it ranges in size from 1X to 3X. A few styles run to 6X. Prices range from about $25 to $104.

Autumnal rumblings

Spring fashion might be all over the runways in New York, but back home in the Triangle, everyone is looking ahead to fall. Here's a roundup of some of the fashion and beauty events going on in the area this week:

* Saks Fifth Avenue will show off fall fashion Tuesday at a fashion show and charity shopping event from 6 to 9 p.m. The event is free and wine and hors d'oeuvres will be served at the Triangle Town Center store. If you shop, 5 percent of the sales will go to the Frankie Lemmon School. And if you spend more than $300 on your Mastercard, you'll get a limited-edition patent clutch (as long as they last). Bring a date. The event will also show off the new 2008 Mercedes Benz C class sedan. And you might even see a local celebrity on the runway. Show models are either supporters of the Frankie Lemmon School or NBC 17 news reporters.

* Ciao Bella at The Arboretum in Cary will have a trunk show Wednesday and Thursday of the fall collection from Teri Jon. The line, which appeals to a broad customer base because of its traditional suits with modern touches, wedding wear and separates, ranges in price from $200 to $800. Shoppers can buy from the collection or place an order, which will arrive within a week.

* Fiquet Bailey, owner of Luxe Apothecary in Raleigh, has invited back Becca national makeup artist Lynn Furge to teach a makeup class Thursday. The subject: how to re-create all those fall looks you're seeing in fashion magazines. The class, which runs from 6 to 8 p.m., costs $50, but the money is redeemable that night in makeup. Call 881-7828 to reserve a spot. Can't make it? Schedule a one-on-one appointment with Furge on Friday.

* Talbots will have a fashion show Friday at 6 p.m. at the Cary Towne Center store. The show's six models are store customers who will show off what's new for fall from Talbots. The event is free and refreshments will be served.

Did you miss out on the store closing sale at Rouge? Don't fret. You can still find some of the merchandise available at Revolver Consignment Store in Raleigh. Jeans, tops, dresses and shoes are being sold at or below cost.