By Claire Armstrong


Have you tried finding just the right winning lottery numbers? Isn't it a difficult task? Similarly finding a good plus size dress is not the easiest thing to do, but it certainly is well worth your efforts. Plus size clothing for women has evolved in recent years and is offering better options to girls with more than just curvaceous figures. So if you are a plus size woman, then adding these fashionable dresses to your wardrobe is an essential alternative. Do not worry if you are unable to find such dresses easily. The following pointers will help you.

According to the president of Sydney's Closet, Phyllis B Librach, "When it comes to finding a plus-size dress that fits and flatters your curves, an A-line design always work". A profile that is slender at the top and then slowly opens into an A, compliments everybody. This is because the A-line dresses cover the buttock area and at the same time the upper body area harmonises with it. Not only does this kind of cut add to the curvaceous profile, it also makes you appear taller and thinner.

Now that you know what looks best on you on an informal occasion, here are a few tips for finding great plus size dresses for formal occasions like a prom night, wedding etc. There are many online stores that offer a huge selection of these dresses. So even if you are pregnant you will find something that will suit your curves and your style. These companies provide equally stylish and fashionable plus sized clothes for women as those offered to women of size 4 or 6.

Yet another tip is that dark colours are flattering and produce a slimming effect. So it would be a wise idea to consider deep tones like burgundy wine, deep brown and black. Pregnant women can wear plus size dresses with an empire waist. This will help you in hiding your tummy while highlighting the bust area.

Plus sized mothers of brides also face this challenge when their princesses are preparing for the big day. It might be the daughter's day, but the mother is also a point of attention and has to look equally stylish and elegant. Since your daughter's wedding day is an important one and you have to look your best for the ceremonies and wedding photos, you need to wear something that is appropriate. So you should select a fashion and fabric which reflects your persona and is right for the formal occasion. As a thumb rule, a long dress with flattering long sleeves will look formal and elegant rather than a knee-length dress. Many plus size 'mother of the bride' dresses are elegantly designed in chiffon and silk. These are comfortable and flowing fabrics.

Usually, plus size clothing is expensive. So here are a few tips for getting them cheap. Search for clearance sales in the 'non-plus size' section. Most of the stores which carry non-plus size clothes try to clear away their limited plus size inventory pretty cheap. You could also try to shop for your clothes out-of-season if you plan ahead and get away with some real good bargains.

So, you've decided that your company needs a web site. Now what? Since we are ultimately talking about your "online business image", unless you yourself have web design experience, finding that perfect web designer to create your company site is a very important next step. If you've never had a web site created before, you will find that there is quite a lot to consider if you want your site to be successful, and you may have to do a bit of homework to find the right person for you.

Regardless of the type of site you want, to be successful, your site will need to do, at least, these 3 things:

    * Look professional
    * Function properly
    * Get good positioning on the search engines

In achieving this goal, there's good news and bad news.

The bad news is that there are all kinds of designers out there, offering all kinds of services, and prices are pretty much across the board. The good news is that there are some simple points you can follow to help make this process easier.

So, how do you go about finding a designer?

Since there are so many different companies offering web design, you might start by making a list of what your specific needs are. Every site is unique so it's a good idea to know what you need before you start calling around or sending in estimate forms. Some things you might need to know are:

    * Will you be selling a product online?
    * Does your site require a database?
    * Do you also need web hosting? or a domain name?
    * Do you want to have your clients contact you through a form?
    * How many pages do you think the site will be?
    * Are there any pages or features specific to your business that you would like to have on your site?

Also, write down a couple of URLs of sites that you like. Or maybe you've seen a specific feature on another site that you would like to incorporate into your own site. Having a rough idea of the kind of site you're looking for will help you find the right designer for your project.

Referrals

One of the best ways I've found to find the right designer is to get a referral from someone you know personally who has already had their site designed and they are happy with the site, and their experience with the designer. So let your friends and family know that you are shopping around for someone to help you create your online business image. People who have had a good experience with their web design company will be more than happy to pass the information along.

If you do get a referral from someone, go and look at the designer's site and see what else they've done. If you're interested, you can fill out a free quote form on their site, or email the designer with the specs of your project.

Job sites

There are a number of online sites that will help you match your project with a number of designers who will then bid on your project. The one thing to be aware of is that these sites have all types of designers listed with their service from those with years of experience, to those who just bought themselves the latest version of Front Page and have now labeled themselves "web designer".

Although these job sites do make it harder for less experienced people to be listed as a serious prospect, when they ask for your project description, you can include on there that "only serious professionals need apply". You can sometimes eliminate the amount of riff-raff that will send in proposals for your project.

The biggest problem people have with using these job sites is that potential clients are usually overwhelmed with the number of quotes they receive for their project. Be aware that you may have to rifle through a lot of proposals that are not what you are looking for.

These sites usually offer a Designer's Profile and some kind of a rating system, which can help you learn a bit about a potential designer. Reading the reviews listed from previous clients can also help shed some light on your choice of designers.

Yellow Pages

Yellow Pages ads are expensive so chances are that you will find professional design firms to successful web design individuals listed there. They will usually list their URL in their ad and it's always a good idea to go to their site and see what they have to offer before contacting them.

What you should be looking for in a designer?

Possibly you have a couple of designers you are interested in. But how do you know for sure? There are a few specific things that you should be aware of when picking your designer.

Portfolio

First and foremost, you want to check out their portfolio! This is the body of work that this designer has recently created and it tells a lot about what they offer. All web designers should have an online portfolio that you can easily access.

Take a good look at their own site and other sites they've created. Do the sites look professional? Is the style of the designer something you would like to have on your own site? In addition, you can contact companies that have had their site designed and ask them about their experience with this designer.

Price

Another thing to consider, although this is not the top priority, is price. Although there is no clear-cut rule as to what an "average" price for web design is, this is one situation where, in most cases, you get what you pay for. This is simply not the time to cut corners. So in considering price, also consider that you are paying for this individual's expertise, as well as their time and experience.

It is more important to create a successful site that has a good position in the search engine and one that you are very happy with the look and function of than to save a couple of bucks. If you get a good site, your site will be able to grow with your company and, hopefully, that's for a very long time!

Search engine optimization

The number one mistake that most first time web site owners make is that they don't know what to do with their site after it's designed. It is very possible to have a beautiful site designed for you and no one ever sees it.

A good designer will not only help you create a professional looking site, they will also ensure that your site gets a good ranking with the search engines so that your site can be easily found online. Make sure that your designer will optimize your site for the search engines and submit it to the major search engines.

Specialized services

Will you be selling your products or services online? Will you need a database driven site? How about Flash or embedded video or audio? Not everyone offers these services; be sure to ask specifically about what you will need for your site.

A couple of other things to consider is web hosting and domain name registration. Make sure if you need these services that your designer can help provide them too.

Compatibility

Lastly, when you are talking to potential designers, it should be someone you seem compatible with. Does the designer seem friendly and are they willing to answer all of your questions? Do they respond promptly to your emails and/or phone calls? Basically, is this someone you "click" with?

Communication with your designer is crucial. You need someone who is willing to answer any questions and keep you up-to-date on the status of your web design. A good designer will keep in touch with you every few days, at least. You don't want to get down to the final days of creating the site only to find out you don't like it!

Testimonials

Most designers will have testimonials from previous clients on their web site. It's a good idea to see what their customers are saying about their services, and again, calling one or two clients regarding this web designer's services is a really good idea.

Summary

There are many factors involved in finding and picking the right designer to build your company's web site, but the key is to remember that this is your business image, one that you hope to have for many years to come, so you want to pick your designer as you would pick a real estate agent to find your "dream house". If you pick the right designer the first time, you won't be looking for someone to redesign your site in 6-9 months.

Be thorough, ask questions, look at samples, and you'll find the perfect web designer for you!

Teri Tucker is owner of T&I Grafix Business Web Design, a full service web design company that offers custom web design, logo design, search engine optimization, Flash animation and web consulting services. For more information on our design services, please visit our web site at http://www.tigrafix.com or email us at teri@tigrafix.com.

By Teri Tucker