A tale of Two Crop Tops

I can not resist a sale.

So when I went shopping about 3 weeks ago with my squad and we found two sparkly crop tops, in my size, on sale, each for £5. I had to buy both. It was like the universe was telling me “Micha, 27 will be your year to rock the sparkly crop” so I answered with a resounding “Yaaaaaassss!”

I have recently worn both of these tops out and had a few negative reactions from the basic people of Norwich (who can not handle all of this).

I’m going to refer to these outfits throughout this post as outfit A, and outfit B. Outfit A is on the left, the A stands for “Alllll that tummy” and outfit B is on the right, the B stands for “Boobies? Please”

I went out for my birthday last Saturday and wore outfit A; Crop Top and Handbag (a generous gift) both from TopShop (they are both blue and sparkly all over but the image is a bit too dark to do them justice), Giant Earrings from H&M, Blazer from Dorothy Perkins, Boss Ass Blue Jeans and 90’s Shoes from New Look.

It was like the universe was telling me “Micha, 27 will be your year to rock the sparkly crop”

We went to an artisanal (read hispter) pub, with infused beers and gins. I had petals in my elderflower gin, I was a happy lady. That was until I realised one of my party had been gone for about half an hour so I went to look for her in the toilets. As I walked away from my table, a mid-20’s hipster noticed me, pointed, and laughed….along with two of his friends. Pointed and laughed! What is this middle school? One of them had a man bun! I didn’t point and laugh at him.

Don’t worry guys, this story has a happy ending. I found my friend, with help of another friend, outside on the phone. I told them about the point and laugh hipsters and pointed at them through the window, in my outrage I gestured at them with my middle finger, at that exact moment Man Bun turned and caught my eye, the three of them uncomfortably left not long after.

We went on to a club because (everyone who knows me will know) I love to dance. In the toilets of this particular club I have had many positive interactions with other women, exchanging compliments on lipsticks, outfits, hair, handbags, and general fabulousity. Last weekend I did have a fair few of these interactions and then I got one that was so almost nice it took me a little while to digest it. One of the girls in the toilet told me “I love your confidence”….

“I love your confidence”, not “I like your top” “I love how you’ve matched your top with your bag” or even a polite decline to comment on my appearance at all. “I love your confidence” is like a slap in the face of compliments, in fact she may have even been negging on me. “I love you confidence” says “Wow, you’re fat and you’re wearing a very revealing outfit that you shouldn’t be wearing”. “I love your confidence” says “I don’t think you look nice, but good for you trying to anyway”.

Those sort of comments make me start wearing less and going out more. 

Feeling a little confused by the comment I graciously thanked this person, but then she went on to say “I could never wear an outfit like that.” and “I can’t even wear a skirt without tights”. Now don’t get me wrong, I understand I was possibly speaking to an insecure person who may well have being saying “You’re brave and I wish I had the confidence you had” but you have to understand, if you’re a skinny, pretty person and you’re telling a fat, pretty person that their only redeeming feature is “confidence” there is a whole 26 years of previous comments, snipes, and downright bullying that mean I can’t hear “I love your confidence” and take it as a compliment. Next time you’re in a club and you see a fat girl rocking it, compliment something specific. Please.

Then lsat Thursday I went out in outfit B, Crop Top from Topshop, Baseball Jacket fro a Charity Shop (and it’s label less so there’s no real way of knowing who made it) Handbag from Peacocks, and Boss ass Jeans (again) and Brown Boots from New Look.

I went out for Karaoke with some girls this week and very much like outfit A I had 2 experiences, one Negative and one confusing with a possible positive spin, but ultimately insulting so it’s getting put on blast.

Walking with my friend along the river (towards the gay bar that is very gracious about CIS women using it’s safe environment to enjoy karaoke) a guy in a passing car rolled down his window on a frosty February night solely to shout at me “Put some clothes on fatty”. I shrugged it off as I so often do in these situations. Instead of making me put on more clothes those sort of comments make me start wearing less and going out more. My 2 thin friends (with fat hearts) were absolutely horrified, having been thin their whole lives they had no idea that this sort of thing happens to me fairly regularly.

Later in the night (about 3 songs in) my thin friends told me about an older man at the bar who hit on both of them and how he grabbed at them and poked at them, generally unpleasant stuff, that luckily didn’t lead to anything more sinister. Then it was my round the only spaces at the bar were near this guy, he seemed to have cleared the space with his creepiness. When I approached the bar he ignored me. Success! He’s one of those old school old guys that doesn’t like fat girls…..that was what I hoped, turned out he just hadn’t noticed me.

He turned to me and said “I hope you don’t mind me saying you’re very unusual” he then proceeded to try to awkwardly explain to me that he hasn’t seen many “larger ladies” that didn’t despise their body. I politely made conversation and then left, as I was leaving he grabbed my elbow and said “Will I see you again tonight?” I answered “Only if I have to buy another drink” and swiftly shook him off. I have all sorts of feelings about that interaction, and all the white men that thought they could have a say about my body this week. Ultimately I know society isn’t going to change in a hurry, I just have to keep being me until it does catch up.

That brings me to Today’s Fat Outfit.

Today I’m wearing my least cropped Crop Top from H&M and my Leather Jacket from River Island. My Boss Ass jeans and Brown boots (because I’m feeling them alright) again from New Look and my new Crown Pin I got as a birthday present. Because in the paraphrased words of Omar Little “If you come at the Queen, you best not miss!”

Boyfriend Fit Sweater Sunday

Something I hate about being fat is not knowing how the fashion industry works for thin people.

Is being skinny some secret club that I’m not a part of where they share all of their fashion advice to those they deem deserving? Are they hanging around, laughing at us fatties that can’t replicate certain fashion styles? Am I being super paranoid?

I really like the style of baggy fitting shirts and sweaters, also known as “boyfriend fit” I find it really hard to find large clothes in this style. I found myself wondering “How do skinny girls do it?” When I try on a top in my size that says “boyfriend fit” somewhere on the tag or label it doesn’t look like it, in fact it looks really tight and unflattering.

So skinny people can you fill me in? How does “boyfriend fit” work for you? Do you roll up to the clothes on your regular size hanger and it fits perfectly baggy? Do you go up a size or two when you see a boyfriend fit label to make it look baggy?

I wouldn’t be able to throw on a partners shirt and it cover my whole business, my boobs wouldn’t allow for that.

I have always assumed that under size 14 (UK sizing) “boyfriend fit” was a size bigger than advertised and then they stop adding more material for some unknown reason, either to save money or to make fat people feel worse about themselves. It wouldn’t be the first time the clothing industry has tried that. (See every plus sized section in every highstreet shop). I feel like this will always be an unsolvable mystery. I guess I could try going up a size or two when I see the infamous “boyfriend fit” label but the problem with highstreet shops is, sometimes they only go up to a size 22 and when I am currently fluctuating in each store between an 18-22 (occasionally a 16 in Primark) there isn’t always that option.

There’s also the other end of the “boyfriend fit” spectrum, the end where girls wear their boyfriends actual clothes. In Hollywood movies it was always a standard of sexiness and cuteness, that the “morning after” she puts on his shirt and he realises he loves her, or she now belongs to him…or some creepy nonsense like that.

But what about those of us who are much bigger than the men we find attractive? Does that mean we’ll never put on their shirts and the will never have that moment of realisation that they love us? Thankfully I can say from experience that isn’t the case! But I still feel like sometimes on a Sunday Morning I want to sleep in late, eat something greasy for breakfast, and dress androgynously. It seems unfair that media and society have portrayed women in their men’s clothes as cute while being desirable. I used to feel like wearing your man’s clothes is sexy but buying men’s clothes – even just for comfort – is sad, pathetic and desperate. I’m sure I’m not the only plus sized women that has ever felt that way.

Something I have come to realise is the women who wear their boyfriend’s shirts in movies are naturally quite androgynous. I wouldn’t be able to throw on a partners shirt, even if he were large enough, and it cover my whole business, my boobs wouldn’t allow for that. So I went out and bought myself a men’s sweater to wear when I want to dress comfortably and it was liberating.

I recommend women of all shapes and sizes do it, this isn’t something that only fat women who want to make a statement should do but it’s something that is freeing to all women. That way if you are single and you want to wear a man’s shirt, you can! If your partner has terrible taste in clothes and you wouldn’t want to wear anything of his but you still want to wear a man’s shirt, you can! If your partner is a lady and you both want to wear a man’s shirt, guess what guys…you can! Men’s clothes should be for everyone, not just men and the women in Hollywood movies that we’re supposed to be aspiring to. It’s taken a long time for me to aspire to be like me, no one else, and owning an item of men’s clothing for myself is something I’ve always wanted to do. So I went out and did it.

That brings me to Today’s Fat Outfit:

 

Today I’m wearing the one and only “boyfriend fit” item in my wardrobe, my Maroon Sweater from Officers Club. It’s a great Lazy Sunday hangout sweater, but I actually like it enough to wear it out while socialising. To complete the comfortable and androgynous look I keep going on about I’m wearing the only style of trousers that I own, a pair of Party Pants from H&M.

My hair game is on point today btw, all I did was brush it.

2014 nail art round up

I love clothes, but I also like to find fashion in other places.

Something I’ve never mentioned on here is nail art. What I love about nails is that they don’t get fat! No one can ever say “She can’t get away with THAT” about nails, because there is no such thing as “skinny girl” fashion on nails. You can also do a lot with your nails, you can (I like to think) mix textures, patterns and colours that would be too adventurous on clothes. They’re only small so the only people who really notice them are my instagram followers and my most fabulous friends, they always approve.

In 2014 I went big on nail art, before last year I used to just do the occasional accent nail but not even every time! Today me would give old me a tip or two that’s for damn sure. Nail art (this is gonna sound so stupid) also cheers me up and saw me through a rough patch or two. I thought it would be only fitting to do a 2014 round-up of my favourite nail arts. I tried to cut it down to 5 but I just couldn’t, 10 was hard enough…so here we go.

There is no such thing as “skinny girl” fashion on nails

10. Godzilla Nails

 

I don’t know why these make me think of Godzilla in particular, he isn’t orange. But I do LOVE this scaly top coat by O.P.I and it takes zero effort to apply so it makes this a fast effective way to create pretty cool nails.

9. Summer Nails

 

I loved doing these nails, I already had the black and white Sally Hansen floral wraps on my nails but the red coat I had on the other fingers had started to chip away so I painted my nails an NYC Colour Show bright yellow and used a toothpick to colourise the wraps. Toothpick nail art is pretty satisfying.

8. Polka dots

More toothpick nail art! I finished that Gold nailpolish this summer I had it for 3 years, it lasted well. The coral colour is a Barry M Gelly Hi-shine. Don’t be surprised to find Barry M on this list, they are the BOMB.

7. Sherlock Holmes Nails.

These were a special for a Sherlock Holmes party we went to. I used some wraps of glasses (because Holmes was a smartypants) and Houndtooth (Houndstooth of the Baskervilles) on the rest of my fingers I use Barry M’s autumn Gelly Hi-Shine then covered it with a Matte top coat from Nicole by O.P.I. That’s what I think to your Hi-Shine! Seriously though folks, I love this top coat, I think it makes my nails look classy as fuck.

6. Leopard print nails.

This was my attempt at toothpick nail art and I was SO HAPPY with it! I did it to go with a dress that I haven’t posted about yet, but that can be found on my instagram feed. The pink was a limited edition by Barry M and I love it still.

5. Halloween nails

I love Halloween. I love Ghosts. I love Glitter. I used Barry M Glitterati for the purple and black glitter nails and, you guessed it, a toothpick for the lettering and little ghost buddy.

4. Classy Christmas nails

This is what nail art is becoming to me. I am adding more and more until no two fingers are the same. Not every time but  lot. I used Barry M Glitterati for the black glitter nail and an unknown brand for the burgundy. I love this tape, it creates the nicest lines and although I’m supposed to use it to make the lines then take the tape off I think it looks so good. I did these nails for my Christmas party this year and kept them nice for about 4 days (Miraculously) It all chipped of as soon as we boarded the train for Brighton! Nails can’t stay classy forever.

3. France Nails

I did these for Eurovision this year, I went as France. Maybe that’s why Britain didn’t come last this year I wasn’t rooting for them! These nails will always hold a special place in my heart but there is a good reason why they aren’t number one. There are those Sally Hansen wraps again. I like those, and some Barry M blue and L’oreal Red. These nails are special to me because they were my first real attempt at nail art. They were the first time I played with the idea of more than 1 colour on a nail, they were  my first attempt at Cavier and maybe even my first attempt at doing more than just the ring finger accent. They are not number one because look at those lines, they’re so messy! I’ve gotten good at straight lines these days but I owe a lot to these nails for getting me to think outside the nail box.

2. Summer Wedding

These nails took me about 3 hours to do, I sat a meticulously cut triangles out of white sticky labels then designed precisely which fingers would have which triangles and then I had to make sure it was perfectly matched to the left hand. I loved these nails and still think about them sometimes. But not every nail art can be number 1, and it was a very close call between these and the ones I did pick for number one, another wedding look!

1. Gold and Matte wedding.

These are the winners! I loved these nails because they went SO PERFECTLY with my outfit and my handbag which were sort of a 1920’s Art Deco theme, and it was one of my best friends weddings so I went all out. I had Barry M mint and coral with my fabulous O.P.I Matte top coat, then I used the Barry M gold from their Aquarium Collection my other best friends daughter (who was not even 2 at the time) grabbed my hand, inspected my nails and said “Ooooh”. Girl after my own heart. She then showed me her nails with she had had painted but, being an infant, had all chipped away.

This list could not have been made without Instagram, my adoring husband who puts up with the corner of the bedroom getting more and more consumed with nail paraphernalia, and some good friends who inspire me to be my best. You know who you are.

Now it’s time for Today’s Fat Outfit…if you haven’t already given up on reading!

Okay, so this is actually last nights fat outit. I’m wearing a new Lace Top I bought from F&F in the sale I’m wearing it with my Shiny Skirt from H&M, my Lion Jacket, also from H&M and black leggins from Primark. I don’t just chill out in outfits like this, I went out last night.

And just to tie in with the rest of the post, my nails.

Mine are the top nails, the bottom picture is what happens when two drunk girls do their nails together! As you can see I’m still loving those Sally Hansen Wraps, I’m also using a Hi-Shine Barry M in a shade called Watermelon. and nail art as far as the eye can see!

Next Gen Mad Men

Hello, my name is Micha and I LOVE CLOTHES! 

I love all clothes; long clothes, short clothes, bright clothes, dark clothes, patterned clothes, clothes on me, clothes on you. They’re wonderful things which can be expressive as well as stopping you from being naked in public.

One the the problems with loving clothes and being fat, of which there are many, is being able to find clothes that flatter you; express you as you wish to be expressed; and fit. If you find something that does all 3 then you are winning at life, well done you.

Recently I realised a worrying thing, my wardrobe was full of clothes that I hadn’t worn in years. Some of these things had really beautiful materials, patterns or shapes but for some reason I just never wore them. I had an epiphany. Just because something fits me doesn’t mean that it looks nice on me. When I realised this I had 2 choices,; get rid of the clothes and start from scratch, or learn to sew. After filling 2 bags full of clothes for charity shops (with all they’ve given me it’s the least I could do) I had a whole other bag filled with clothes with elements I did like.

Clothes are wonderful things which can be expressive as well as stopping you from being naked in public.

Some had beautiful floral pattern but big puffy sleeves. Some had a nice shape but have no colour. There was one dress which was vibrant, had a good neck line, but it had no shape and made me feel super frumpy. When it come down to the crunch these clothes had too much I loved about them to just throw them away so I altered them in some way to make them suit me more, this took many forms; from chopping off puffy sleeves; sewing in a bit of colour; or transforming the shape dramatically.

Before.

After.

Voila! Not only have I instantly got a dress which is much more flattering, I have also satisfied some creative urges  from the far reaches of my mind.

This brings me to Today’s fat outfit:

 

I’m wearing the aforementioned dress which I call my Mad Men Dress because I wore it to a Mad Men themed party as Joan Holloway – it’s from H&M but my mum gave it to me (free from mum, my favourite charity!) because she realised she didn’t like it.. I’m also wearing my Amazing 70’s Shirt which I bought from a charity shop for about £2. To finish the look I’m wearing my Black Cardi from Dorothy Perkins and Black Leggins from Primark. It’s my “Mad Men meets the 70’s” look.

Skin Tight Comfort

People don’t always like fat people, or think they should be happy within their own bodies.

Those people may have their own issues; they may have once been fat and worked REALLY hard not to be so think no one else has any excuses, they may find it really easy to be skinny so assume all fat people are just lazy and greedy, or they may just be naturally hateful people and are finding that pretty much all other prejudices aren’t acceptable any more. I like to call the latter twats.

A friend shared a really interesting article from The Guardian earlier about fat shaming. I had never heard the term before but after reading it I realised how much it rang true with me.

As I’ve mentioned previously I’ve had a long, hard journey towards self acceptance. I haven’t always been fierce and confident with myself, I haven’t even always loved myself, which is a real shame. The writer of this article, though apparently skinny on her little thumbnail, seems to understand the plight of the fat, and how difficult it can be if you really aren’t on good talking terms with your body.

She starts the article by talking about a “heavily overweight” teen in MacDonalds. One early brief sentence reads “like many overweight women, she may have been being restrained in public precisely because she was afraid of people judging her.” is skirted over and not explored deeper. This brought back a lot of memories for me, memories that I’m afraid to say I’m ashamed of now. Not ashamed that I am fat, but ashamed that I didn’t respect myself enough to treat my body properly. I feel that this sentence only skims the surface of this worry of judgement and doesn’t take into account the damage a young adult can do to themselves.

When I was in high school I really worried about judgement from my peers, I wouldn’t eat in front of anyone until I got to know them and trust them as friends, I would snatch moments for myself, walking between classes to eat an apple, or attempting to find a quiet place to have lunch alone so that I could eat. I like to think it didn’t damage my health in the long run but then I am only 5’2″. I got a lucky escape by finding some good friends at school that ate as much as me so I could eat and be happy!

This is, unfortunately, not my only experience of pretending that I don’t need food to function. When I was about 15 I spent a week at an all teens Christian resort, I had a small group of people that I hung around with there – a couple of guys, one larger girl and one really skinny girl who was also a bit of a sports fanatic. One of the guy we used to hang around, let’s call him “ironically chubby” used to be really mean to the larger girl because of her weight. I was in the middle of the girl sizes but wanted to not be bullied (as all teenagers do) and by someone I considered a friend – even less so. I wanted to be seen more like the skinny girl. This is where the damage-to-myself happens. This other girl didn’t eat a lot and when she did it was often late at night, bird sized portions of unhealthy things like chips and pizza. I pretty much copied every thing this girl ate for a whole week. I had lost a little weight at the end of the week but as soon as I got home and started eating again like I usually did I put it back on, obviously, but more than that. Because I had made my stomach shrink it went into fast mode so made me put on even more weight and I realised I had given myself stretch marks. This mortified me for years, I was the only person without children I knew of that had stretch marks, and all because I didn’t want one arsehole to think I was greedy for one stupid week.

I was so ashamed of how I looked in a swimming costume, even though the class was only girls….or maybe especially because the class was only girls.

Some of those issues have still not worked themselves out, I still ask permission of my husband to eat the treats that we have specifically bought for a movie night because deep deep down, I feel like he’ll think I’m greedy for wanting to eat something that I have bought to eat. He just thinks I’m silly. Luckily though those issues have mostly gone away. My brother-in-law and future sister-in-law can attest to that fact. Last weekend surrounded by their friends that I had only met one or two of before I was shouting “I’m so hungry, when can we eat?” for most of the night, then I ate a Chinese takeaway on the side of the road. ‘Cause I’m classy.

Another issue that is mentioned in this article is exercise. “They…became too ashamed to go to the gym and risk ridicule from the honed and toned.” This, again, is a feeling that is all too familiar for me. As a teenager my school offered swimming, had it’s own pool and everything. I had somehow managed to get out of this because I was so ashamed of how I looked in a swimming costume, even though the class was only girls….or maybe especially because the class was only girls. The great irony of this is, I am an adult with poor joints and old injuries, swimming is the best way for me to get exercise without risk or injuring myself further and I’m no good at it.

I’m glad I read the article, even though there are some questionable moral judgements in there “this isn’t a call for fat acceptance, for tactfully adjusting to a new norm.” (That’s ok for you to say, twig bitch) mostly I’m glad because scientific studies prove that I’m not the only person that has ever felt ashamed, and tried to hide the fact that I’m fat by not eating and not exercising (like hiding behind a super skinny tree – ineffective.) It also makes me feel even more fiercely now that people being unkind about people’s weight should no longer be accepted in our modern, forward thinking society. Not just because people may find it easier to try and be healthy, but mostly because being unkind is stupid and uncalled for. We’re all people, get over your own stupid issues and accept that I’m working on mine in my own way.

This brings me to Today’s Fat Outfit.

I’m wearing an amazing 80’s Floral Shirt that I bought in a Charity Shop. This is one of my Charity Shop purchases that isn’t just an item of clothing from Primark or H&M, I genuinely don’t recognise the brand name (Bentalls?). This shirt is such a favourite of mine because when I bought it the guy serving me told me “I love this shirt, it used to be mine.” and I love everything about that. When I bought it, it had some pretty ugly buttons on it so I took them off and added my own. I’m also wearing my Green Basic Skirt from H&M which is like a short version of my Primark stretchy pencil skirts. I love stretchy clothes. I’m also wearing my Black Leggins (again) from Primark. This is my Skin Tight Comfy Saturday look.

Friday Night Freakum Dress

It’s here! The Lion Jacket arrived today!

I’m off out with my girlfriends and in true diva style I’ve arranged a whole outfit around it. Now I know they say you shouldn’t do boobs AND legs, but when you’re fat boobs are like the perk, and I like my legs too, so sometimes you suckers just gotta deal.

Tonight’s Fat Outfit

If ever I owned a Freakum Dress this is definitely it. i bought it from Primark and it once had a piece of material in it for modesty but I cut it out, not because I’m not modest but because it was weird and baggy, now I pin it together. I’m also wearing some diamond tights to go with the quilted texture of the Lion Jacket  (H&M) and my party boots from Evans. I’m also wearing my Tiger Belt, because it’s a big cat night. I also thought it would be a good Party Bag night, I know it’s patterned too but I think it works. I’ve topped off the look with smoky eyeshadow and I’m ready for a night on the town!

Enjoy my favourite diva who can get away with boobs AND legs.

Rainy Day Drabulous

Today I’m shopping, in the rain.

The worst conditions to shop in, because it’s not cold so I want to be wearing something warm and dry enough to be rained on but not a big waterproof coat to get sweaty in. Trying clothes on when sweaty is the worst.

Luckily clothes aren’t my main mission for today, I’m out shopping for a 5 year anniversary present (wood) and my anniversary is this Friday! So clothes are a happy distraction from the ever encroaching despair of being surrounded by plastic and clueless of what to buy. A huge distraction has been the dilemma of the H&M Lion Jacket – I mentioned it briefly yesterday. I want it so much but I am very aware of the fact that it is $30 and it will not go with ANY of my wardrobe, I want to wear it and clash with everything every day for the rest of my life but I’m afraid even I’m not brave enough for that. The Jacket it question does have a matching Top and Skirt…

So here is my question to you readers which item of the set should I buy? The Top is more practical (I can wear it with plain bottoms) but the Jacket is more everything. The Skirt is maybe me, maybe not? I’m not convinced. Please decide for me and comment below which I should buy! Or should I just buy the whole set and rock the look harder than H&M ever intended when designing these pieces?

Trying clothes on when sweaty is the worst.

Anyway, back to shopping – When I do go clothes shopping I like to have a layer of non-removable items underneath to make changing easier i.e. leggins and a vest top, then I choose my feature item of clothing around those. I do this especially when I’m shopping on my own, because I go to charity shops mostly on my own and they sometimes have curtains taken down from their changing rooms to prevent stealing, so I like to wear clothes I can get undressed from without flashing strangers. I don’t ask for much.

This brings me to Today’s Fat Outfit

Today I’m wearing mostly charity shop clothes actually. I’m wearing my Aztec Skirt originally from Primark which I bought in a charity shop for £1.50!!! Sale rails in charity shops are the tits! I then took it home and sewed lots of pretty colours into it because black and white just doesn’t do it for me for a feature piece.

I also bought this Vest from the same sale rail, same charity shop, same day for £1, a whole outfit for £2.50 is really not to be sniffed at. Finishing off the Almost Autumn look I have my Black Leggins from Primark and my Grey Cardi originally from Zara, but I stole it from a lost and found – after a couple of months, and during my student days I hasten to add. I’m also wearing a necklace designed by my husband’s mum (at designsforhopejewellery.com) which adds a little more colour and really brings out the colour of my hair -like I needed any help doing that. And there you have it, my Shopping-in-the-rain-doesn’t-have-to-be-drab look.

Thanks for your continues support and please remember to #todaysfatoutfit with all your #ootd’s! Peace and love.

Practically Pyjamas

Wow! I’ve been overwhelmed with how positive people have been about my last post. 

Thanks everyone! I’ve been requested to continue, so as long as I’m wearing clothes I’ll keep going! You may be surprised at how many days I don’t wear clothes…

I won’t have a shopping story to tell every day but I will hopefully be able to share a little insight into what it is like being big and wearing clothes. 

When I find a pattern I love I have to have it!

Something I find when shopping in plus sized sections and stores designed just for plus sized women is the lack of colour, everything is either black or just one muted tone, rarely do you find an outstanding pattern. That’s why when I find a pattern I love I have to have it! (Don’t ask my husband about the H&M ‘Lion Jacket’ I will not stop talking about…)

This brings me to Today’s Fat Outfit

My pattern of choice today is a pair of Party Pants. These Party Pants were originally from Dorothy Perkins but I picked them up at a charity shop for around £2.50, I picked them up from the rail and walked straight to the till without trying them on, from the moment I picked them up the woman behind the till laughed uncontrollably and continued to do so until I left the shop. My theory is she and another volunteer decided the Party Pants were too wacky and no one would buy them.

I’m also sporting one of my only Plain Tops, with all the wacky patterns I have this top gets a LOT of wear. I bought it in Peacocks and an identical coral coloured Plain Top. You won’t have to wait long to see the other. I’ve also just painted my nails with a new Barry M called Watermelon. So that’s it, my so-comfy-it’s-practically-pyjama’s, Sunday lounge act.

Cosy, Comfy, Hangover Glam

I am fierce. I am a feminist. I am fabulous…I am also fat.

Being a fat girl in England isn’t as bad as it used to be, I used to be bullied, pestered every time I saw a doctor, ashamed, and I used to hate shopping! In the past few years people are learning to accept fat people and let us continue to be so – thanks society! Not only that but people of all body shapes and sizes are publicly stating how much they love themselves and their bodies, and encouraging others to do the same. Wonderful people like Lesley Kinzel of XO Jane, Meghan Tojnes of #thebootyrevolution, and Rebel Wilson of Fat Amy fame. Yes it really is a great time to be fat in the West.

The women I’ve mentioned above are just some of the people that have inspired me, inspired me to wear stripes, inspired me to love my body, inspired me to know what styles suit me rather than just buy whatever the ‘curvy girl’ sections of shops tell me to.

Even with society slowly changing (no doctor has told me to lose weight in 3 years!) it is still very very slow, and the highstreet shops haven’t quite caught up.

It really is a great time to be fat in the West.

This week I went shopping with two friends; one of whom fills her clothes as magnificently as I do, the other is much more on the skinny side, we were shopping in H&M and found our way H&M+ Plus Sized section, which in itself is a miracle. In a large 3 floor shop, this section is the smallest, tucked away in a corner containing only 1 rail and 1 and a half wall displays, hidden amongst the maternity and sale sections. I had always accepted how plus sized sections of shops were doomed to be small and almost forgotten this fact until my skinny friend showed shock and amazement at just how small this section was and at how much uglier and ‘tentier’ the clothes were compared to the rest of the store.

This is of course very depressing but it is a life I’ve learned to accept. Something I will say about H&M is that their regular person clothing range is not as restrictive as other stores, they have their Basic Range that comes in sizes XS, S, M, and L and almost all of the Basic clothes are stretchy so the L is almost always going to fit. Even some of their non basic clothes (going up to a meagre size 16) are also stretchy so will also stretch to fit. Which is…nice?

This brings me to Today’s Fat Outfit.

Today I am tired, I stayed up until 2am playing SingStar and drinking Vodka so I have a mild hangover, I want to be as comfortable as possible while still being fabulous, of course. I am wearing my basic H&M dress which I affectionately call my France dress. This is because (obviously) it is black and white stripes, and I bought it last year before going on holiday to France, double purpose. I am also wearing my ‘amazing’ cardi. This I picked up in a charity shop for £4.95 and it is amazing for a few reason, firstly just look at it, there are so many colours! There are flowers and vines and gold buttons, it brings out my inner joy just to see it on my shelf, it is also soooo warm. I love it. This is my cosy, comfy, fab look of choice.

I’ll be posting instagram pictures of my favourite fat outfits with the hastag #todaysfatoutfit and I welcome you all to do the same, even if you’re skinny, because as Fat Amy says in Pitch Perfect “Even though some of you are pretty thin, you all have fat hearts, and that’s what matters.”

UPDATE: H&M respond about their plus-sized departments!

@PleaseMrsButler We've received a lot of feedback regarding this and so our stores are being modified to make the sections larger!

— hm_custserv (@hm_custserv) August 30, 2014