Belle Curve offers beach chic attire for plus size women

Searching for clothing that is stylish and affordable can be a hassle, especially when you don’t fit into the traditional sizes offered in most stores. Carrie von Gorski, 34, who grew up in North Beach Haven and worked at an Island clothing boutique during her adolescence, had difficulty fitting into the shop’s available sizes as a curvier woman. Unable to find clothing that flattered her figure, she decided to open her own clothing shop.

“I always knew I wanted to have a boutique, and it was inspired basically from being at Sur La Plage,” said von Gorski. “I just loved the colors and everything changing every season. It was a blast. You always got to get dolled up and see the latest and greatest of what was going on.

“The defining thing was that I couldn’t always wear the sizes there because I’ve always been curvier. So I couldn’t always wear the clothing, and it killed me. I knew I was going to have to open a place where I could fit into the sizes. I’ve spent ages looking for things that are nicely made and nicely priced. It’s challenging for the size range,” she added.

Photo by Ryan Morrill
A hooded poncho made out of cotton,
bamboo and recycled plastic water bottles.

After graduating from Drexel University in Philadelphia with a degree in design and merchandising, von Gorski opened Belle Curve, a plus-size women’s boutique, in the historic district of Fayetteville, N.C. Homesick for her friends and family, she decided to move back to the area. Belle Curve reopened inside the Manahawkin Mart Shoppes on East Bay Avenue in February. The shop offers beach chic women’s clothing in modern cuts. Sizes range from large through 3x.

“The idea is to have things that are more contemporary because the problem with the plus-size industry is its always offered very boxy, muumuu, flowered, horrible, ugly things to wear,” von Gorksi said with a laugh. “It’s like being punished for carrying some extra weight. Like, why should you wear pretty clothes? But now I’ve found them,” she added.

Belle Curve’s clothing and accessories are available in limited runs. Nothing is ordered more than once, so everything is considered unique and individual.

“It’s always changing because I want everyone to have something special from here that’s just for them, that you’re not going to see all over the place,” said von Gorski. “It has to be special to shop here because why else would you come? It’s for the curvy beach babe. It’s for the girl who’s tired of muumuus.”

One of the shop’s latest available pieces is a black-and-white striped, hooded poncho made from cotton, bamboo and recycled plastic water bottles.

The store also offers a variety of accessories made by local artists. Oh Joy, it’s soy candles made by Manahawkin resident Linda Keil, are available in small and large sizes and a plethora of delicious scents. The all-natural candles are nontoxic, long lasting and clean burning.

Photo by Ryan Morrill
Beach chic jewelry goes perfect with any
outfit no matter what size you're wearing.

Babeedoll jewelry made by Manahawkin resident Angela Varone is also featured inside the shop. The vintage-inspired accessories sold “like wild fire” when first introduced in the shop in North Carolina.

“You can be any size and wear jewelry, for crying out loud. Earrings never make your butt look big,” von Gorski said, chuckling.

So far, von Gorski said, the responses she has received from women who have shopped at Belle Curve have been of relief and excitement. Some customers don’t even put the clothes on. They simply pick them out and take them home, she said.

“It’s been a drag for a very long time to try to find something fashionable if you’re bigger than a size 12,” said von Gorski. “So we’re celebrating it now that it’s available. It’s good to have some curves."

— Kelley Anne Essinger


This article was published in The SandPaper.