THE new Taking Shape store opens tomorrow, and the St Enoch's Square shop will offer a range of designs for the fuller figured woman.

It's a chance for shapely Glaswegians to look for festive outfits which are on trend and flattering.

With 130 stores across Australia and New Zealand, and 22 Taking Shape stores across the UK, this is only their second outpost in Scotland.

It prides itself on a fun, relaxed and friendly shopping experience for the plus-size customer, and offers advice on how to dress for your size with complimentary styling advice in store.

With the motto, 'Celebrate Your Curves,' Taking Shape is aiming to attract women from size 14 to 26 who have given up on fashion.

In a recent Taking Shape plus-size fashion survey some revealing statistics were uncovered about the feelings of Scottish ladies.They included:

l Scottish plus-size women are the most likely to feel ignored by the high street, with over 90% of women saying it does not cater for them.

l Scottish women are the least likely to feel comfortable asking for help in a store, with only one in 20 women comfortable doing so, compared to one in five in Northern Ireland.

l Scottish women are those most likely to want to get changed at home, with 82% of women preferring to try clothes on at home rather than in store.

"I am staggered by this research," says Alla Buinowicz, managing director of Taking Shape.

"Thousands of women in Scotland have been left in the cold by the major high street chains and, unsurprisingly, they have abandoned shopping on the high street entirely.

"These curvy women feel unwanted and they are certainly unrepresented.

"So many Scottish women have frankly given up on fashion and I want these ladies to come into our Taking Shape stores to rediscover their fashion mojo.

"Our goal is for women to enter as customers and leave as friends.

"All women should feel comfortable shopping for new clothes without dreading the experience and Taking Shape aims to bring back the feel-good factor to shopping."

TAKING Shape MD Alla Buinowicz shares her style tips for festive outfit success:

GIVE COLOUR A CHANCE

"I'VE lost count of the number of times I've heard a customer say 'Ooh no I never wear that colour' but then I get her into the fitting room and trying on all kinds of colours she wouldn't normally wear, and the rest is history.

"My tip is to have a play, step out of your comfort zone and try on new colours - Christmas parties are the perfect time to do that.

"The right colours for you can make you look healthy and glowing - people will notice and tell you how good you look this festive season."

LAYER, LAYER, LAYER

"MANY of us have parts of our body that we aren't fond of - an ample derriere or a pudding tummy are complaints I come across often.

"The Taking Shape range is full of cleverly designed styles that help take the focus off of these extra assets.

"My tip is, if you layer a long line body tank over trousers it skims lumps and bumps and creates a lean foundation to build an outfit from.

"Add a printed tunic, vest or top and a piece of chunky jewellery and you have an attractive outfit that you'll feel confident in this Christmas."

DIVERT THE EYE

"STRAIGHT lines across your body can be less than flattering and accentuate your middle.

"Mixing the lines, lengths and textures of your clothing this Christmas will create interest in your outfit and distracts the eye.

"My tip is to try asymmetrical hems, crushed fabrics, and textures such as mesh and lace to create stunning outfits."

£500 of Taking Shape vouchers to win

TAKING Shape are giving away £100 vouchers to five lucky Evening Times readers. All you have to do is answer this question: How many Taking Shape stores are there in the UK?

Email your answer, name and daytime contact telephone number to great.giveaways@heraldandtimes.co.uk

TERMS AND CONDITIONS: Closing date for all entries is Thursday December 4, 2014 at 23.59pm.

Usual Evening Times competition rules apply. The

editor's decision is final. No cash alternative.