about

Jill Alexander is a fashion designer whose specialty are fashion forward classics for sizes 12 and over. She is the founder and owner of Jill Alexander Designs™, which has established a reputation for fit, versatility and attention to detail. An expert in fabric and tailoring, Jill brings to the plus-size woman designs that are comfortable, flattering and easy to care for.

Jill has more than 20 years experience in the fashion industry, including visual merchandising for Ann Taylor and A Pea in the Pod. She consistently breaks new ground with coordinated looks for women of all sizes, and draws on her skill in stage costume design to experiment with a variety of unique fabrics and patterns. It was her work as a stylist and custom designer that gave her the focus for Jill Alexander Designs™. She understands firsthand the challenges curvy women face in finding high quality clothes that not only fit well but stand the test of time to become lifetime wardrobe classics.

Jill was honored at the Beach Museum of Art’s “Little Black Dress on the Red Carpet” design contest in 2009. She studied fashion design and manufacture at West Valley College in Saratoga, California, and has a BA in speech communications from San Diego State University.

Background on Jill Alexander Designs™

Jill Alexander started creating designs for herself, after becoming frustrated with what retailers had to offer her curvy shape.

“When I worked in retail visual merchandising, customers naturally assumed I was working the sales floor, so they would come to me for help,” said Alexander. “Curvy women would seek me out because I looked like them.”

Alexander was a success at visual merchandising because she understood that shopping could be a frustrating experience for any woman. For more than 20 years women of all sizes have requested her styling and design expertise. One thing Alexander fully understands is the challenge curvy women face when trying to find clothes that make them feel beautiful and confident.

Alexander founded Jill Alexander Designs (JAD)™ in June 2009 in response to ongoing requests for her custom designs. Alexander’s passion to design beautiful and comfortable clothing for curvy women led to her first collection at the fourth Annual fashionART Runway Show in Santa Cruz, California that same year.

JAD’s inaugural collection broke the mold on fashion for the curvy woman. Her designs departed from the solid, dark colors that curvy women have always been told to wear. Instead, Alexander incorporated bright colors, patterns, and sizing designed to flatter the natural curves of a woman’s body.

Jill Alexander Designs™ is committed to designing high quality clothing for the curvy woman size 12 and above. Unlike many designers who have seasonal collections, Alexander adds new pieces every few months to complement previous collections. In (month) 2011, JAD will unveil colors borrowed from nature in a new line of separates, staples in the curvy woman’s wardrobe.

One of the many unique qualities of JAD clothing is the high-quality construction and use of superior fabrics. Alexander’s continued belief is that clothing should be an investment in one’s self and some pieces of a woman’s wardrobe should last for a lifetime. Jill wants to shatter the idea of disposable clothing.

“To dress a full figured woman, you have to do it right by incorporating many techniques to give someone a proper fit,” says Alexander. “Women who need larger sizes shouldn’t have to pay more for their clothes. Traditionally, to save plus size women money, designers cut corners by using cheaper fabrics and creating designs that are boring and don’t hold up for more than one season.”

JAD uses natural fibers as often as possible, but no matter what the fabric, the quality must meet the designer’s high standards. A high quality fabric will stand the test of time and provide the feel and comfort that Alexander wants every woman to have. These are the cornerstones of her collections. She spends an extensive amount of time thinking about the curvy woman and incorporating these elements along with style in her designs.

“When I come up with new ideas, I see the entire line and where I can take it,” Alexander said. “I believe that a woman’s wardrobe should be versatile and one she can build on from year to year. Our clothes are made so that they can accommodate a change in size, up or down, and be versatile enough to incorporate more from us in the future.”