Posts Tagged: wall of text

Challenges / Fatshion February / OOTD / Rant — 22 Comments
11
Feb 12

OOTD: Earning stripes

Call me stripe obsessed, because I am. Not sure when it happened but it went from a casual fling into a full blown “thing”!

The first item I reach for when getting dressed? Stripes. What draws my eye when shopping? Stripes. What did I buy when I finally got to a F21+? Stripes. I tweeted this picture on my trip to Los Angeles in January:

Sorry about the awful picture, my cell phone and I don’t get along…

The fact that I’m breaking one of “THE RULES” on a regular basis is just icing on the cake.

OOTD: Earning stripes

This was my outfit for day 3 of Fa(t)shion February!
Cardigan – New Look, UK 26
Tank – Old Navy, XXL
Skirt – Old Navy, XXL, here.
Teggings – Re/Dress
Ring – Evans
Necklace – F21 (p.s. it’s an elephant!)
Flats – Evans

This skirt is apparently sold out online in the larger sizes but if you like it, definitely go find it in the store. It could easily fit up to a size 30. When I saw this skirt, I knew I’d break one of my “personal shopping” rules but damnit, it was worth it.

I get the whole philosophy behind “make it work” and in most cases, I agree. But it depends on the context. Making it work with the tools you have at hand versus… seeking out clothing in smaller sizes to see if you can “make it work” are slightly different to me. And I’ve seen this phrase describing a myriad of fashion-y things and/or concepts.

OOTD: Earning stripes

OOTD: Earning stripes

Now, don’t get me wrong. The size on the tag means nothing. I have thrifted things in my closet that say small. A size “small”, I am not! I think that as purveyors of fashion we need to use all resources available. Any and all resources. If we didn’t, the world would be a sad, sad place.

Do I also need to say that these thoughts apply only to me and my shopping habits? I don’t care (or judge) what other people do. Good? Okay.

OOTD: Earning stripes

In my last post, I mentioned that I use my hard earned money to support stores that cater to my body. Stores that make clothing for ME. If I walk into a store that carries up to size large, is it possible that I can “make something work”? Absolutely, even as a size 28 and I’m not talking accessories. The oversized trend is like fashion’s gift to fat girls. Sure, that top was meant to hang off someone’s frame… but hey! If it works, it works.

So what’s my problem?

Economics. When I’m buying straight sized clothes off the rack, it is just a number to the company. Their stuff sells and that’s what they care about. If I’m buying their clothing, even if they don’t care to cater to plus sizes… why should they bother changing that? If I’m buying retail, I avoid buying from companies that don’t offer plus sizes.

But thrifing, eBay, second-hand, etc.? Everything is fair game. I’ve seen things in store that I have not bought and later sought out online (saves money too!) because of this.

OOTD: Earning stripes

OOTD: Earning stripes

Some companies offer limited plus ranges and for me, these are borderline – ASOS Curve, Eloquii, etc. Each time a plus line is launched and it stops at 24, babies cry. No joke.

For decades, the “industry leaders” have had lines up to size 28 and stopping short of that is just annoying. It makes me highly suspicious that these companies see clothing fat bodies as “promoting obesity” or that fat(ter) people don’t deserve clothing that makes them feel good but that is a rant for another day…

Old Navy makes my borderline list because they don’t carry their plus line in stores (but make up for it slightly with free return shipping). But the sad fact is that they offer a lot more options in straight sizes, and if a similar version makes it to plus – it is probably $20 more and not as cute.

OOTD: Earning stripes

OOTD: Earning stripes

I probably think way too much about this stuff but to me, it is important to consider all angles. I like cute clothes as much as the next person, but after 15+ years of wearing fat girl clothes I am fed up. Where I spend my money, giving constructive feedback and being vocal are some of the tools that I can use.

I took a picture of my tripod because I planned to make this a (funny to me, facetious) post about how much I love my tripod. In reality, I’ve been spoiled by handing off my camera to other people and having them snap pictures for me. Instead… I got distracted by a rant. I’ve realized that I prefer to either be behind OR in front of the camera – not both!

Do you make conscious choices about what or where you buy things? It doesn’t have to be clothes.

Fashion / Rant — 15 Comments
29
Aug 11

Fight for your right!

To paaaaaaaaaaaaarty. Okay, not quite.

Hi, I’m Nicole. And if you read this blog regularly, you might have noticed that according to standards set forth by our society, that I am “morbidly obese”. And you know what? Despite this, regardless of what size we are, we all deserve to find and wear clothing that we like and enjoy. If that clothing is not available? We have the right to demand it.

As a consumer, we have two ways to let us be heard. Feedback and purchasing power. Even before I started this blog, I let companies know what I wanted. More often than not my feedback was met with the following excuses:

“We tried that, nobody bought it.”
“Production costs.”
And my favorite?
“Sorry, we’re not interested in doing that at this time.”

Since I was a child, I’ve always been at the top of what is the “currently available size range”. I’m sure part of this is because finding larger was also impossible to find and there were times when I probably wore things that were too small because that is what was available. Right now, I’m a 26/28, sometimes 30. And yes, there has always been a cap of what size is publicly available.

Ten years ago, there was nothing more in my surrounding area than Lane Bryant and Avenue that went to size 26/28. Outside of those stores, you couldn’t find anything above an 18/20. When I wore an 18, Old Navy brought XXL/20 into stores, department store brands started carrying 1X, etc. and it has increased over time. These days you can walk into Sears, Target and JC Penny to find plus lines going up to a size 24/26. Things have changed.

Sending feedback to companies to extend sizing, provide more accurate size charts, bigger models, better quality, more fashionable clothing, and more, is all helpful. The world is slowly changing. More companies, even high fashion, are starting to notice that plus size fashion is something… popular, wanted or even – necessary.

At one point, I figured it wasn’t worth it to send feedback. Would they listen to me? Probably not. But there are strength in numbers. I’d like to think that all of the e-mails I’ve sent to plus size retailers will some day benefit myself and others. I make conscious decisions about which companies I do and do not purchase from. Sure, I’m only one person but as a group, we are more powerful.

I try to be optimistic about the state of the plus size clothing industry. Providing positive feedback when things are done right, when companies start taking steps forward, but time and time again you see the same thing. Plus lines that stop short – at a 18/20/22/24. The same types of clothing. Trends popping up seasons behind. Shapeless clothing. When is enough, enough?

With the “ZOMG OBESITY EPEDEMIC” and the fat acceptance movement, I see these companies on tender footing. They are trying to please multiple groups – those that love their bodies, those who do not and are concerned about their company “image”. These companies make tentative steps forward – releasing capsule collections, extending sizing a little bit. Done right, these ventures are successful. Hello, ASOS Curve, anyone? But ASOS is one of those companies who has said, “We are not interested in extending our size range.”

Since ASOS Curve released I’ve sent an e-mail every couple of months, letting them know that if they extended their sizing, I’d be there to buy. Towards the end of the first season, I purchased a few pieces – some that fit and others were too small and it made me realize something. Regardless of how cute/amazing their (or another company) clothing is, I refuse to squeeze myself into clothing made by a company that does not want to cater to my size.

And while I’ve successfully resisted buying or even trying their clothing for over a year… I recently caved in and bought skirts and a dress with a couple of bags that I bought for school – which is why you’ve seen an influx of ASOS Curve stuff on my blog. ;) Nobody is perfect!

Part of me thinks that these companies are neglecting the upper part of this market intentionally. Because making clothing, fashionable clothing for the fatties is promoting obesity in the minds of some.

There is an unfortunate trend lately of companies cutting back their larger sizes, if they offer them at all. The above reasons and more have been offered as reasons why. Sadly, I think there is a little more to it. Because of the language used, I have a sinking feeling these companies don’t want to provide the fashionable clothing we yearn for because it is socially unacceptable to be publicly fat and proud. Catering to these larger sizes makes these companies look like they are “promoting” obesity. Sure, I might be (okay, am) a bitter fat girl, so my opinion is obviously biased.

I find “promoting obesity” a hilarious subject because I hardly think that fashionable clothing available to plus sizes is enough to make anyone want to be fat. Particularly when we live in a world where it is just fine, or even socially acceptable to villainize fat bodies. Where it is the norm to criticize yourself and your body, regardless of size.

There is a super awesome post over on Kath’s blog – A Fat Heffalump, on similar issues in the plus size clothing industry, with an added call to action! She inspired me to dig up this post (almost a year old, yikes!) and finish it. If you’re interested in helping change the status of the plus industry – go participate in her new Facebook group, Super Sizes!

Do you provide feedback to companies? Do you make conscious decisions about where you make your purchases? What are your feelings on the status of the plus size clothing industry?

Thoughts — 2 Comments
5
Aug 11

Hello world!

Things have been a little slow around here lately. Hopefully, that is about to change. I wrote this post, after a late night, earlier this week:

In blogging, I constantly struggle with how much is too much. I respect my privacy and that of others but also feel the need to write at random – good or bad. As a teenager I had a personal blog, similar to this but less pictures, fashion and more bitching about siblings. I have three younger brothers – can you blame me? My parent’s weren’t entirely thrilled with my blog but never told me to stop. Apparently my father printed out a ream of paper, with my words and showed them to my mother and grandparent’s. Thanks Dad!

While past experiences and respecting the privacy of others make me hesitant to share certain things, it is also the uncertainty of how the words I write now will effect me later. The internet has grown. Many years ago blogging or exposing intimate details of your life to the internet, was a foreign concept to many. Now it is commonplace, particularly with the success of social media where we have the ability to share the minutia of our daily lives with whoever we choose to be “friends” with.

I’m a college student, after I graduate – I want a career. Over time, my internet pseudonyms have combined with my real identity. Things I do and say, are clicks away from professors, peers and potential employers. I like control. Not that I’m ashamed of anything I have or will say (I’m not at all), if not I would have not created this blog. But I am cautious, because that is my nature. I like to make sure I have all my bases covered.

But my caution also presents a hurdle. For the reasons above and others. Most of my writing occurs at night, like this post. I can sit for hours during the day, fingers poised over the gleaming white, keys – aching, even straining for the words to come but they don’t. Most of the time, I’m trying or almost asleep and inspiration strikes. Strings of words come together in my mind and hey – sometimes they sound good. Good enough for me to get out of a warm bed, to turn on the computer and attempt to write them down. Problem is, in the time it takes for my computer to boot up, my eyes blinded by the bright screen – I start to forget. These seemingly brilliant strings of words, now just concepts or ideas. I jot them down, write what I can and draft the post. Always intending to return to it and post it to the blog. But it rarely happens. In the light of day, my notes – things jotted down and broken sentences, sometimes make sense, sometimes not. Starting fresh is almost always easier but by then another outfit, another event – something else has happened.

I’m not entirely sure why I’m writing all this down. If anything, maybe to discover where my hurdles lie so I can find a way past them. While I do enjoy blogging, particularly in a community that I’m passionate about, I find my blog – as a hobby, is neglected when other responsibilities arise. Which is always what I intended – responsibilities over fun but I’d like to find more balance.

The last few months I’ve accumulated a lot of FA oriented posts as drafts because they require heavy thinking and re-thinking. Outfit posts? Not so much. I hope to remedy that and get back to the balance I once had.

Rant — 14 Comments
8
Jun 11

Can I opt out?

Have you ever ordered from companies owned by Redcats? Woman Within, Roaman’s, OneStopPlus, Jessica London, Avenue… and a couple of others.

Do you have this problem?

This is a week of catalogs – 18 total. Just last week, I recycled a big stack of them – 53 CATALOGS. This is insanity! Right? Then add in the Lane Bryant, Simply Be and Joe Browns plus all of the random catalogs that I’m now “on the list” for that I’ve never heard of or ordered from. Is there a way to opt out of this stuff!?!

I realize that the stock for these companies are always changing. The catalogs don’t. Once (maybe twice) a season. I get multiples. Then they slap a different cover on the same catalog and mail me more. I don’t mind getting mail or catalogs that have in-store coupons (like Lane Bryant) but this is getting out of control.

I do most of my shopping AND browsing on the internet. I very, very rarely go through the catalogs unless I’m really bored. I tear off the pages with my name/address and throw the catalogs in a pile for the recycling bin. Sometimes I use them as scrap paper in craft projects. I even saved them for a short time for that purpose but they come so frequently that I can pretty much count on one to come within a day or two. I also have 3-4 catalogs rolled up inside my boots to keep them upright.

But I’ve run out of ideas, so in the recycling bin they go.

It seems like a waste of paper and resources for these companies to keep sending me catalogs that I do not want. Every site I have ordered from, I have looked for a way to successfully opt out of receiving their catalogs with no luck.

When you do order something… guess what you get? Another 2-3 catalogs in your package! YAYYYYY! If I place a multiple item order, most of the time they come in separate packages which means… more catalogs!

According to their websites you OPT IN for catalogs and e-mails. This is a screenshot using OneStopPlus.com:

As you can see, I have one option checked – for Avenue e-mails. Ironically, they are one of the only companies who doesn’t send out a catalog but I do like getting their e-mails for coupons. My profile for every other company is blank – no boxes checked. Yet I still get catalogs like clockwork and this has been going on for years.

You want to know what is really funny? I moved three years ago. My parent’s STILL get these same catalogs (and volume) at their address, in my name.

Do any of you have this problem? I’d love to know if you look through/order from them or browse online. What do you do with the catalogs after? Recycle? Reuse? Toss them out? Let me know!

In the end, I’m tired of them filling up my mailbox and recycling bin. I might be writing a strongly worded letter very soon. It costs them money after all! Why send something that isn’t wanted?

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