Curvology: the study of plus-sized women’s attire.
“I felt defeated and unwanted and unloved and unnecessary,” said creator and owner of Curvology, Beth Fischer.
This is what Fischer experienced after walking into boutiques and seeing no representation for plus- sized women. After about six months of thought, she decided to open a boutique dedicated to plus- sized women. It officially opened in November of 2018 as the first and only plus-sized boutique in Peoria.
Prior to opening, Fischer said family and friends were hesitant to fully support the idea of a women’s plus-sized store.
“Seventy-four percent of businesses fail in their first year, so I think especially with my friends and family, I think that’s what they worried about,” Fischer said.
After a year of success, Fischer is more than satisfied with the triumph of the store.
Every item in Curvology comes from vendors and is brand new. In an effort to support local businesses, they also sell jewelry from local jewelers. Customers also have the opportunity to shop online.
Curvology does not give a discount to college students. However, it does give coupons for first time shoppers. Once a month, Fischer has a random special. Starting on Jan 23, the store had shoes on sale for $5.
Fischer said she feels her mission has been accomplished.
“Our main goal is so that when you walk in, you’re not walking out feeling worse about yourself,” Fischer said. “I feel like I have created a safe space for plus size woman to come in and find clothes that work for them.”
Customers shared their experiences with Curvology social media, along with their appreciation for a store that offers representation for plus-sized women.
“I stopped in for the first time and LOVED it,” Ashlie Hamilton said. “So much to choose from and the service was great! I will most definitely be back.”
“The owner is very nice and personable,” Jamie Kawolsky said. “The shop is small but full of great finds. Reasonable prices. What’s not to love?”
The store is open Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. They also encourage those who want to stay current on their new styles and customer experiences to follow their Facebook profile @MyCurvology.
